Lisa Chamberlain - Wicca Candle Magic: A Beginners Guide to Candle Spellcraft (Mystic Library): A Beginners Guide to Candle Spellcraft

For all who dare to let their light shine

FOR WITCHES AND MANY NON-WITCHES ALIKE, THERES JUST something about a candle flame that inspires a sense of mystery. This guide will help you tap into the source of that mystery and harness the power of candles to increase your well-being.

Whether you realize it or not, you most likely started practicing a very popular form of candle magic in childhoodthe blowing out of candles on a birthday cake. While this simple tradition isnt exactly like working a spell, it demonstrates the basic gist of magic: communicating a desire to the Universe in a focused, ritualized manner.

Magic is a way of harnessing the unseen energy of the Universe to effect a change in the physical world, whether that change is tangible, such as more money in your pocket, or intangible, such as a more positive outlook on a situation that seems to be keeping you down. Candle magic uses the power of the Element of Fire to send an intention into the Universe, and it is a particularly beginner-friendly form of spellwork.

Wiccans and other Witches have long known that candles are great tools for transformative magic. Candles are excellent symbols of the cocreative relationship of the Elements. The solid base of the candle represents Earth, as does the wick, which provides the grounding mechanism for the flame to stay alive. As the wax melts, it emulates the shape-shifting qualities of the Element of Water, which can be found in solid, liquid, or gaseous form. The smoke released from the burning wick evokes the Element of Air, one of the ingredients needed for the flame to exist in the first place. And the flame itself, of course, represents Fire.

Although this guide is written from a Wiccan perspective, its important to note that not all Wiccans consider themselves to be magical practitioners, Wiccans, or Witches. Some only use candles for ritual and devotional purposes. Others may practice magic independently from any religious or ritualized context. No matter how you describe your spiritual practice, however, this guide is for you if youre interested in learning more about the magical qualities of fire and its uses in candle magic.

Since candle magic is first and foremost a form of fire magic, we will start this beginners guide with an introduction to the energy and magical properties of the Fire. In part one, well take a brief look at fires role in the magical lives of our ancient pagan ancestors as well as other occult traditions that have inspired the modern practice of candle magic. Well also cover basic principles of magic, including the role of color in candle spells.

Part two offers a guide to choosing candles and preparing them for spellwork as well as tips for making the most out of your candle magic experience. In part three, youll find a selection of candle spells to try on your own and ideas for DIY candle-related crafts. Hopefully, these pages will leave you inspired and excited to begin using candle magic to transform your reality!

Blessed Be.

OUR EARLIEST HUMAN ANCESTORS LIVED FOR HUNDREDS OF thousands of years before discovering how to create fire and harness its power. Before that, fire was only witnessed as a force of Nature, roaring across a vast savannah or climbing the heights of an ancient forest. All it took was a single bolt of lightning to create a potential catastrophe for people and animals alike. Imagine how astounding it must have been to discover how to control such a forcenot to mention the sudden possibilities for more favorable living conditions! Cooked food, warmer shelters, and protection from predators were just the first of many benefits that fire would come to provide. And though in the twenty-first century we tend to take these things for granted, there is still something mysticaleven magicalabout fire, even for many people who arent aware that magic is real.

Although archaeologists believe the use of fire may go back a million years or more, no one knows exactly when or how humans first learned to create and control fire. This mystery is at the heart of many origin myths from around the world. In these tales, humans dont get the credit for this momentous achievement. Fire is often acquired from elsewhere. Often, deities or other mythological figures give fire to humans. One well-known example is the ancient Greek story of Prometheus, who steals fire from the lightning of Zeus and gives it to humankind to advance civilization. Spider Grandmother, an important figure in many Native American cultures, steals fire from the Sun in a Cherokee myth and gives it to the people so that they may be able to see in the dark. A Hindu story tells of the immortal figure Mtarivan (or Agni) who brings the fire from its hidden place in the sky to the Earth and teaches the people how to kindle it using sticks.