Some of us make our own candles and some of us buy readymade candles either way candles usually have a prominent place in spells or rituals. Remember to never let any size or type of candle burn without proper supervision especially in a home with children, pets, or elderly people. I believe that a candle holds the power and spell you infuse it with and can be relit over and over again to help bring the spell to fruition or I use a smaller candle if I want it to burn all the way down while I am awake.

I have found freezing any candle not only makes it drip less but it has a longer burning time. Also, living for many years without air conditioning in hot weather my candles did not melt together. Make sure to take the candle out of the freezer so it has time to come to room temperature before lighting it. I have had candles explode in and out of glass containers. Thankfully no one was ever seriously hurt when this happened, but it was still a lesson that was well learned.

I will sometimes make a candle if I want to infuse the entire thing with my intention for a spell. At other times I use a birthday cake size or four-inch chime color in an appropriate color for the element or topic the spell is for. Other times I will buy the candles encased already in a glass holder. Depending on the size I want I will either but the different color plain “saint” candles at a dollar store or the shorter, wider ones from Walmart or another discount store. I am always on the lookout when in a thrift store for unused candles also.

When using a candle that is already in a glass holder, I write the sigils or runes or symbols on the glass with different color permanent markers. If needed I will dig a small hole in the top of the candle to place herbs or essentials oils or flower petals or whatever it, is I want to include for the spell I am doing. I than place it on a heat proof dish or trivet. I usually use these tall candles for a long-term spell where I need to light it for seven days in a row. I let the candle burn for one hour on each day with allowing it to burn down completely on the seventh day. I strongly suggest, if at all possible, to have the seventh day fall on a day that you will be home and awake for at least three to four hours. An example of this is my healing candle – I use a four-inch, melon scented green candle that comes in a glass holder with a lid that I can but at Walmart for around $6.00 to 7.00 USD. I bless it by repeating a healing spell I wrote many years ago nine times to give the spell extra strength. Then when I light it either for myself or someone else, I say, “Candle burning bright, release your power to ______ with all its might.” I have had excellent results doing this. I let the candle burn for around thirty minutes each time I relight it and it usually lasts me months.

Birthday cake size candles are great for a spell that you want to have the candle burn down completely in a very short amount of time. But it is almost impossible to crave or write anything on this size candle. When I use this size candle, I have a burn proof container about 2 inches deep and about 6 inches in diameter that has about 1-inch of sand in it. The good part about using these is the burn out in under 10 minutes and multiple candles can be burned at the same time with all the drippings falling onto the sand. When done I just pick the candle wax off the top of the sand and bury it. I do this for my ancestor altar on Samhain with my ancestor who I have called in knowing they are to leave when their candle has burned out.

For chime and taper candles which are about 4 inches or 10 to 12 inches tall respectfully I have various holders. I place the holders on a heat proof plate or trivet. I use these when I am doing a whole ritual not just spell work. These and taper candles are the easiest to be tipped over accidently and therefore should only be lit when you are close by and can keep an eye on them. I save taper candles to use for my personal candle and also when I host a family dinner to help everyone get along. Taper candles are easy to engrave deeply or barely a cut on their surface.

For a personal candle I suggest finding a candlestick (actual name of candle holders) that really calls to you. Then carve your pagan or given name or both into it with your atheme or ceremonial knife. On mine I also carve a personal sigil, the names of my totem animals, and used my favorite, all-purpose essential oil Sandalwood to bless it with. Your personal candle is the one you can use for every spell or ritual to light your incense, other candles, anything you may need to burn. This is a candle that gets put out after each time you use it so it will last a while. After I take it out of the freezer the first time, I bless it I do not refreeze it. When lit this candle is the only one, I set right on the surface I am using for my spell work or ritual. Why? No idea that is just what feels right to me.

I hope this article has given you some ideas on where to buy candles from, how they can be used, and how to use them safely.

Lady Beltane 2022