Using Candles to Fulfill a Need
Remember, magick responds to genuine need, not merely something that would be nice and/or helpful to have. Magick for selfish motives is rarely successful, for this reason. Also, your magick must never harm anyone or anything. Think carefully about what need you are trying to fulfill, and anticipate the possible repercussions if you should get it. If it would hurt someone in thought, word, or deed, don't do it. Don’t try to mentally justify a selfish desire. If it’s wrong, don’t do it.
The last thing to remember about magic is, always ask for the equivalent or better. This is the safest way to "hedge your bets", and allows the spell to work if it were to inadvertently work against someone. If you don't have preconceived notions on how the spell will work, you allow more opportunities for it to manifest. Allow the magic to fulfill your need in the best way, not how you might think is the best way.
CANDLE SPELL TO FULFILL A NEED
You will need a Candle, Water & Salt, Incense, a slip of Paper, String or Cord made from natural fiber.
Your candle can be either a taper or a pillar, but it should be able to stand freely above its holder. A votive candle would be difficult to work with for this spell. The color of the candle can be orange (common "magnet" color for attracting energy) or any other color appropriate to the purpose of the spell.
(This only needs to be done once, unless you have used the candle for other spells or rituals. The following cleansing and dedication is designed to make the candle a channel for building and directing your energy. As such, if the candle is used for other purposes besides this spell, it should be "recharged" each time.)
Take the candle outdoors, and try to find a patch of bare earth. Roll the candle in the dirt, feeling all of the negative energy of the candle being picked up by the bits of dirt and being drawn down into the Earth. Begin building your own energy at this point. Become aware of your body sitting on the body of the Earth. Let the Earth Energies ground all of your scattered thoughts, emotions, and negative energies. Connect your inner energy with that of the Earth, so that there is an inward and outward flow between you and the Earth, with the candle as the focus. (Obviously, this process should not be rushed. Give yourself time to establish a connection with the Earth energy, and focus it through the candle as it is placed on the dirt.)
*If you can't find bare earth, grass will do as well. If it is Winter, and you can't even find the ground, then try to make the same energy connection indoors, using salt, pebbles, potting soil, whatever. The important thing is to cleanse the candle with the Earth, and then direct Earth energy to flow through yourself with the candle as the channel and focus. When you have established the energy connection, brush the excess dirt off of the candle.
Find a bowl (or pot, or cauldron) large enough to completely submerge the candle. (If available, a flowing stream, or a clean lake/pond/ocean works even better.) When you have filled your vessel with water, gather a bit of salt in your hand. Charge the salt with the Earth energy you have built within yourself, transforming the salt into a purifying agent. When the salt is charged to your satisfaction, place three pinches of salt into the water, concentrating on purifying and cleansing the water. Establish a connection with the Water, as you did with the Earth. Feel the blood rushing through your body, the saliva in your mouth, the tears in your eyes. Place your hands in the water and swirl them around. Anoint yourself with the water, if you wish. Feel the Water Energy soothe your emotions, and wash calm and healing through you. Once you feel the energies of Water flowing through you, take your candle and hold it completely under the water. As you use the water to clean any last pieces of dirt or salt clinging to it, visualize the Water cleansing the candle of any negative energy that might be on it. Concentrate on letting the candle be a flowing channel for the energies of water, focused through you. Gently shake or wipe off any excess water.
Light the incense of your choice, and watch the smoke spiral upward and begin to move with the currents of air. Establish your connection with Air Energy. Use the incense to smudge yourself, cleansing you aura. Become aware of your breathing, as you slowly and calmly inhale and exhale. Blow into the smoke, and watch it swirl away. Allow the Air to clear your mind, and still your thoughts. When you have made an inner connection to the energy of Air, pass the candle through the smoke, letting the incense carry away any negative energy that might be on it. Keep passing the candle through the smoke until you can feel the candle has been made a channel for Air Energy, focused through you.
For the element of Fire, you will light your candle. First, picture a flickering flame in you mind. As you concentrate, let the flame in your mind grow steady and bright. Feel the energy of Fire build within you. Feel the heat, and the energy of Will begin to surge through you in gentle pulses with the beating of your heart. When you feel connected with the Energy of Fire, strike a match and slowly bring the burning tip to the wick of the candle. Concentrate on transferring the Energy within you into the candle. When the candle is lit, focus on the flame, building the energy within you and the candle so that the candle becomes a focused channel for the energy you will be directing through it.
At this point, any personal blessing or prayer you wish to add to bind this candle to you and to the energies of the Divine may be said. If you wish to name the Deities or Spirits of your choice to stand guardian over the work you do with the candle, now would be an appropriate time to do so.
If your candle had been previously cleansed and dedicated, now is the time to light it. (If you have just finished cleansing and dedicating the candle, leave it lit.) As you light the candle, concentrate on opening the channel of focused energies that you have established between you and the candle.
By the light of the flame, write on your scrap of paper a word or two that best describes your need. Resist the urge to write a full explanation. If you still need that much space to write down your need, then you spend a bit of time focusing your need to a key issue.
Pick up your string or cord. Hold it in both hands by the ends, and stretch it out until there is physical tension. As you draw the string tightly, imagine that the energy you've summoned within yourself is flowing our of your hands and into the string, creating a circular flow of energy. Allow this string to become like a strand in your own personal web of energy, allowing it to become a part of you.
Firmly tie the piece of paper to the base of the candle, safely away from the flames. Holding your hands around the tied paper, imagine the need written there to join with the channel of energy you've created within the candle. As the candle burns, this energy will stream out into the universe, seeking the solution to your need.
You may meditate on the candle as long as you wish, concentrating on sending your energy into the candle, to help it do it's work. When you are done, safely extinguish the flame. You may re-light the candle as often as you feel necessary, (a half hour to an hour a night seems reasonable if the need is great.) When the candle finally burn down close enough to the paper that there is danger of it lighting, remove the paper and string by sliding them down and off the base. Once you've lit the candle and re-established your focus, burn the paper in the flame and allow it to safely burn itself out in a fire proof container. (This is why you only want a scrap of paper, not a five page essay!) Place the string in a safe place: an amulet pouch, altar, or other such location. As you wait for the spell to take effect, you may use this string as a focus.
It is done. Allow it to happen, and it will!
~Flame RavenHawk
1994