Magick…it’s as easy as striking a match and lighting a candle– it is, really. It’s called ‘candle magick’, and there is a rhyme and reason behind it.

(I know, this post might be boring for all the practicing witches out there who do this type of magic all the time, those who’ve done it for years, those who can do it blind-folded. But there are so many new witches on the horizon, so many emails and questions coming in, bear with me– and definitely feel free to leave your own advice in the comments below. Everyone has their own little way of doing things, everyone has discovered magickal little tweaks that work for them, there is a gazillion ways to do magick. Pass your information along.)

First…Intention

What do you want? What are you trying to change? What’s your magickal intention?  You have to know; you have to be specific; you have to have thought this out, have it squared away in your head.   It has to be strong and definite in your mind, or you will not be able to successfully move the energy along to manifest this intention into the world.

Second…Candle Color

Once you definitely know what you want, what you’re trying to accomplish with this magick, you have to decide on what color of candle you’ll need.  This is important.  The color of the candle is associated with very definite images, intentions, magick; connected even to the elements (earth, air, fire, water); connected to the planets (astrological/magickal associations).  Everything is so connected it’s unreal; most people have no idea.

Red Candles

For the element of Fire, for the planet Mars– it’s all about hot sizzling passion, whether your intention is for physical passion with a prospective mate, or just that wild over-the-top passion for justice or a particular cause.  Red candles will create the kind of energy that moves things along like gang-busters.  Think of those phrases:  “too hot to handle”, “red-hot”, “I’m seeing red”; there’s a reason for these confirmations.

Green Candles

For the element of Earth– health and money, two basic necessities of life.  Face it, you won’t be living very well if you don’t have enough of either one.  The green candle for planet Earth– Mother Gaia, the embodiment of our world, a metaphor for the Mother Goddess, representative of our physical world (our bodies).  Just as people of other spiritual paths request healing and prosperity from their god(s), so the witch turns to divinity, but in her case, it’s not a request, as divinity is part of the witch and the witch is part of divinity.  It’s a different relati0nship within the metaphysical realm.

Yellow Candles

For the element of Air, for the planet Mercury– communication, creativity, mental endeavors. it’s all about pure thought, our mind, that intangible part of ourselves that make us who we are.  Those cliques that are coming to me right now: “thoughts move mountains”, “what we think is what we are”.  The mental aspect of us is the most powerful, some believing that it embodies our soul, our spirit, that which will survive eternally.  It’s also about communication– communication with other human beings, with divinity, with ourselves.  Use the yellow candle when you have something to say, something that needs to be heard.

Blue Candles

For the element of Water…light a blue candle to invoke the Goddess, to enhance your dreams and intuition.  Use the blue candle to come to terms with your emotions, for understanding, for resolution, for enhancement.  The blue candle for the heavenly body, the Moon:  pagan spirituality, the goddess (all three aspects), magick, blessings, running with the tide (waxing and waning– drawing in, sending away).  Use the blue candle for women’s issues, with the knowledge that you are tapping into something indescribably ancient and indescribably wise.

White Candles

You can use a white candle as a substitute for any other color.  But the white candle is also used particularly for cleansing and purification.  Use a white candle for House Blessings, or for cleansing any space.  Use a white candle for invoking and honoring divinity.  Use a white candle for pure energy.  Use a white candle for inspiration, for clarity, for peace.

Black Candles

The black candle, for the planet Saturn…use the energy of this candle to return-to-sender negative energy, bad thoughts, curses, ill-wishes sent your way.  Use the energy of the black candle for retribution and justice.  Use the black candle to catch the bad guy, to banish something (or someone) nasty.  Use the black candle to regain personal power taken from you through injustice.

The following information is a paragraph taken from my online book, “Natural Magick the Gray Witch Way”:

You can work with tea candles, votive candles, pillar candles, or hoodoo seven day candles.  You’ll allow these spell candles to burn themselves out at one sitting, or you’ll light them at appropriate times over the course of a period of time. You will save the wax from these candles to be used in mojo bags; you’ll bury it; throw it into running water; or toss it in the trash. You will prepare these candles to work their magick when you anoint (dress) these candles with a variety of magickal oils– or a little olive oil, if you don’t have a stock of magickal oils on hand.  You will use your athame, or another sharp object, to carve into the spell candle the name of your target, sigils and symbols relating to your intention, or designs of your own creation. You will roll these oiled candles in a variety of pulverized crushed herbs depending on your intentions and the desired outcome you wish for your magick.