Candles have long been a staple in practices involving magick, serving as beacons of intent and transformation. For those of you looking to incorporate a bit of magick into your daily life, dressing a store-bought candle is a fantastic and accessible way to start.
Whether you’re aiming to attract prosperity, ward off negative energies, or simply set a peaceful mood, the right candle can act as a powerful focal point. This guide will walk you through each step of selecting, preparing, and personalizing your candles for magickal use, ensuring that even the most ordinary candle can serve an extraordinary purpose.
Understanding Candle Magick Basics
Candle magick is as practical as it is mystical, fundamentally based on the idea that different candles can represent various elements of our lives. The magic of a candle lies not just in the flame but in how the flame’s energy can be tailored to manifest specific intentions.
Colors play a crucial role here. For instance, a green candle might be used to encourage financial success, while a blue one could be called upon for healing vibes. It’s all about aligning your candle’s color with your magickal goals, creating a harmonious energy that resonates with your desires.
Selecting the Right Candle
Choosing the right candle might feel a bit like picking the right tool for a job. First off, you’ll want to consider the type of candle. Pillar candles, with their long burning times, are perfect for extended magick workings, whereas smaller votives are ideal for shorter rituals. Tapers are elegant and useful for more formal magickal workings due to their classic shape and even burn.
When shopping, try to opt for candles made from natural waxes like soy or beeswax—these materials tend to hold energies better than their synthetic counterparts. Plus, they burn cleaner, which is always a plus for both your magick circle and your living space!
Preparing Your Candle for Magick
Before you start dressing your candle, it’s essential to cleanse it. Even though it’s fresh from the store, who knows what kind of energies it’s picked up on its journey to your home? You can smoke cleanse it with sage or even pass it through the light of a full moon to clear out any lingering vibes.
Some folks like to bury their candles in a bowl of sea salt overnight, which is another excellent way to scrub any residual energies. This step ensures your candle is a clean slate, ready to be charged with your personal intentions.
Dressing Your Candle
Now, let’s get to the fun part—dressing your candle!
Dressing, in magickal terms, means preparing your candle with oils and herbs that correspond to your intent. Starting from the base and moving towards the wick, anoint your candle with an oil that matches your goal. For instance, if you’re looking to draw something into your life, like money or love, you’d anoint upward. Conversely, to banish something, you’d anoint from the wick down to the base.
Next, roll your oiled candle in herbs that align with your magickal needs. Lavender is great for peace, cinnamon for success, and black pepper for protection. Each herb adds its own little spark of energy to your magick.
Carving Symbols and Words
Carving symbols, words, or sigils into your candle can significantly amplify your magickal intentions. This act of carving is not just decorative; it’s a way of inscribing your will into the very wax, making it a deeply personal emblem of your desires.
You might carve a rune for protection, a symbol for love, or even a whole word that embodies your intent. When doing this, use a small, pointed tool—a toothpick, a needle, or a specially dedicated awl. The key is to carve deeply enough that the marks will clearly burn down with the candle, intertwining your intent with the flame as it consumes the wax.
Charging Your Candle
With your candle now dressed and carved, it’s time to charge it. Charging a candle is about imbuing it with your personal energy and intent. This can be done through visualization or meditation, focusing intently on what you wish to achieve.
Hold the candle in your hands, close your eyes, and visualize your goal manifesting. Feel the energy flowing from your body into the candle. Some practitioners prefer to chant or speak affirmations aloud as they do this, reinforcing the magick with their voice. This step is crucial, as it’s the moment your intent is set and the candle begins to embody the magick you wish to cast.
Feel free to experiment with different oils, herbs, and carvings as you become more comfortable with the practice. Magick is highly personal, and the more you tune into what feels right for you, the more effective your practices will become.
