Tag: Solitary Witchcraft

In European-American traditions, many people
bury candle wax and other remains after a spell
is cast. Burial toward the appropriate quarter of
the compass is considered a thoughtful way to
go about this. Some neo-pagans dispose of
ritual or spell remains in a bonfire or fireplace.
If the intention of the spell is positive or
involves matters around your own home, like
blessing, love-drawing, money-drawing, or
home protection, it is perfectly acceptable to
wrap the materials in a cloth or paper packet
and bury them.
If you are removing hexes or opposing
negativity, you would burn the packet, bury it,
flush it into a stream or allow it to blow away
on the four winds as far away from your own
home as possible. Many people follow tradition
and throw the packet over the left shoulder
(into the face of the Devil) and walk away
without looking back. If the intention of the
spell is not centred on matters close to home, or
if you do not have a suitable garden, you can
wrap the materials in a cloth or paper packet
and throw them in running water over your left
shoulder and walk away. Alternatively, you can
take the materials to a crossroads – any place
where two roads cross – and throw the packet
into the centre of the crossroads over your left
shoulder and walk away.

Generally a fast burn is good, but an overly fast burn means that
although the work will go well, its effect will not
last long. Again you might wait before retrying
the spell, though sometimes a fast result is
required. You should use your own judgement.

This can mean that the spell you are
using is not the most appropriate one and you
need to use stronger means than you first
employed. It can also mean that someone is
actively working against you. In this case it is
wise to go back to the beginning and start your
whole spell over again.

This indicates that things will go well to begin
with, but there are other conditions that have
not yet revealed themselves and will need to be
resolved. Someone may be working against the
required outcome, so the correct timing and
correspondences of further spells are crucial

while burning This gives you an opportunity
to observe the flow of wax for signs. Quickly
melting wax shows there is a good deal of
positivity available. If one side burns quicker
than the other, a balance can sometimes be
achieved by turning the candle round and it is
useful to note how many times you do this,
since this can indicate the number of
adjustments the person may have to make to
ensure success. Other people prefer to let
nature take its course and to watch the wax run
for signs, without interfering in its movements

Check first for draughts and then decide
intuitively whether there is a pattern to the
flaring and guttering. If you are performing the
spell with someone in mind, you may feel the
recipient of your spell is trying to block your
efforts. Sit quietly for a while until you feel you
have grasped the significance of the pattern,
which may be because the spell itself is not
right for the time. In this case simply be
prepared to try again another time

This might be called a successful burn and suggests
the spell will most likely achieve the right
result. If a glass-encased candle burns and
leaves no marks on the glass that is best. If a
free-standing candle leaves little or no residue,
this is by far the best result.

Not every magical practitioner takes heed of
the manner in which spell-casting or ritual
candles burn; there is often a great deal to be
learnt from understanding a little bit more
about how to interpret the way a candle burns.
In voodoo and Afro-Caribbean magic, for
instance, spiritual workers who ‘set lights’, as it
is called, for clients will automatically take
notice of such details and incorporate their
findings in any further work.
It is worth remembering that some candles
are simply poorly made and will burn badly no
matter what you do with them. If the wick is
the wrong size, for instance, the candle may be
no use for magical work. It is nice to make one’s
own candles, although there is quite an art to it
and the novice may end up feeling rather
frustrated, if the intention behind the candle is
not quite right.

External factors can also play a huge part in
how candles burn. The way the candle is placed
in the holder, the temperature in the
surrounding area, an open window causing a
draught, and other such things can all make a
difference. Equally, the candle can be affected by
your own mood and really until you have
learned how to meditate using a candle flame
you need not worry too much to begin with. All
that having been said, here are some of the
things to watch for when burning candles

Dressing (anointing) and charging candles are
perhaps candle magic in its simplest form.
Dressing a candle performs two functions. By
anointing it with oil you ensure that it burns
safely and you also have the opportunity to

infuse it with the required vibration for your
working. Charging a candle ensures you fix the
intent of your magical working and also
dedicates the candle to the appropriate
purpose.

There are several things you need to remember
when choosing a candle:
1.Choose your candle type as above.
2.Candles used for magic should always be
virgin (unused) at the start of the working,
unless you have deliberately cleared them of
past influences. Using candles that have been
previously lit can have a detrimental effect on
your spell. They may have picked up
influences from previous use.
3.Charge your candle before using it. This can
be done by anointing it with oils associated
with the magic you intend on performing, or
by simply touching it and filling it with your
own energy (see below)
4.The oils used in the anointing of your candle
should, where possible, always be natural
fragrances. While charging the candle,
smooth from top to bottom when drawing
energy toward you, bottom to top when
sending energy outwards. Particularly when
anointing candles for altar use, anoint from
the middle to the top and from the middle to
the bottom to signify the union of spiritual
and physical realms (see below).
5.If you enjoy craftwork, it is a very good idea
to make your own candles for magical use. It
is a whole art in itself – you infuse your
candles with your own energy and thus
increase the magical potency of the candle
many times over. It is relatively easy to make
your own candles: simply heat the wax until
it is liquid and pour into a mould which is
threaded with a wick. The wax should now
be left to cool, after which the mould can be
removed. Oils and colours can be added for
extra potency