How to Carve and Charge a Candle for Candle Magic

Candle magic is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to cast your intention and work a spell! And, it is the perfect place for a practitioner who is new to Witchcraft to start.

What you'll need:

  • A candle
  • Something sharp, like a pin, a small knife or possibly even a toothpick
  • Optional: anointing oil
  • Optional: a piece of blank paper or parchment, and a pen

The Candle

Candles come in many styles and many colors. A few things to think about when choosing the candle for your spell:The color: white works for anything, so having a supply of white candles is always a good idea!There is another article about the correspondences of the various colors here:

To Carve the Candle

I often use a safety pin, or a small knife I keep with my altar tools for this purpose. BE CAREFUL! Candles can be a slightly awkward shape for carving, and if the knife slips, your spell could end up with you getting stitches! It doesn't take a lot of pressure, just sort of draw with the point across the candle to leave the letters or symbols you wish to add.

What to Carve

You can carve words and actual sentences IF the candle is large enough and you have the patience and ability to write that small...OR you can use symbols such as hearts for love, dollar signs for money, etc. Any symbol that represents your intent to you is fine. Remember: this is all about accessing the magic in you! If you like the Witches runes and fine that one of them sounds prefect for the spell you wish to cast, go for it. If you want to use a symbol for  a planet or astrology sign - that's fine too.

Anointing the Candle

Once the candle is carved, it's time to anoint with oil (if using). Anointing oil can be something you acquire from a shop or subscription box, or something you make yourself. You can charge olive oil from your kitchen and use that and it can be completely effective. Again, the magic comes from you!To anoint a candle, you can use a specific pattern, or always work in a specific direction. Some practitioners like to always work clockwise to attract, and counter clockwise to release or banish. Some like to work from the bottom to the middle, then the top to the middle, always ending in the middle...others just charge the oil on the hands and rub it into the surface of the candle. Some people feel you need to activate the oil be shaking the bottle, clapping it in your hands or similar before applying it, others just slap it on. 

There truly is no "right" way. Do what feels correct to you. I would encourage you to try it several different ways and journal the experience and results. Keep a journal and record what you experienced, how it felt, which method made you connect with the magic best.

Creating the Written Spell

Some Witches prefer to write out their intention on paper, and place that paper under the candle, or fold it, light it on fire from the candle and allow it to burn to ash, or bury it outside. I do this sometimes, although if burning paper, I generally go outside to my back deck. Lighting paper in my living room would absolutely set off my smoke alarm and that would not be a nice ritual experience.If you choose to create a written spell component, write out your intention and remember to sign it! Be sure you think of it as written instruction for what you wish to accomplish, and sign your name! Some practitioners actually sign it three time, or even 9 times. See what feels right to you.

Casting your Candle Magic Spell

Once you have completed the above, light your candle! 

  • Pick a time and place where you won't be disturbed.
  • Pick a time when you can devote yourself to focusing on the candle and your intent.
  • Do not leave lit candles unattended.
  • If you must extinguish the candle before it is burned all the way down, use a snuffer or the back of a spoon, do not blow it out. Many practitioners (including me) feel that blowing a candle out sort of cancels the intention.

Stay with your candle while it burns, visualizing the result you want. Picture the outcome. Imagine yourself with the extra money, or new job, or whatever your spell was about, and picture being happy, excited. Let yourself experience the emotion of getting the object of your spell. This is the actual magic folks, so it's critical!Once the candle has burned down, you can put your materials away. Sometimes I put some of the spent wax from the candle into a mojo bag with other items charged for the spell. More on those in a future post!

Wrap-up

Candle magic is fun, creative, easy and best of all affordable! Candles are everywhere, and can usually be burned without  casting suspicion or needing any special altar tools. This makes them one of the best options for a new Witch, a Witch in the broom closet, and even for an old Witch like me!May all your candle wishes come true!

Bright blessings,

Alison