TOOLS SERIES - Candles

 Merry Meet, friends!

I do apologize for coming in late today. I just could not stay awake this morning so I went back to bed. Then I awoke to rolling thunder and pounding rain, so no internet. I guess that means, I'm right on time.

AI generated from Pixabay

Candles have so many purposes in our magic tool box. 

Let's start with the colors. I LOVE colors. Like stones or the clothes we wear, each color has its own vibe and correspondence.  If you want to attract money, use a green candle. Love, red or pink are the colors to use, black for shielding or warding of negativity, and so on. White, a non-color can be used for anything. Just visualize the color and the intent and you're good to go.

If you've made a wish and blown out a birthday candle, you've been practicing magic. Though, we now know, you should never blow out a candle. Either snuff the candle or let the flame burn down, depending on the spell. 

Candles are great for those still practicing in secret, or 'in the broom closet'. If someone askes, just tell them you felt like using a purple candle today or a specific scented candle. No one will be the wiser. Remember, the intent comes from within. 

I'm in the process of revamping my magic area. Such a jumble of things, including a tub full or books I need to find shelf space for and a vintage wardrobe from the 1800's that serves as my altar - or should be.  I'll get there. 

AMAZON

AMAZON

One of the books I love on candle magic is Magical Candle Crafting by Ember Grant. This is a great resource for creating your own candles for spells & rituals.

I love the 'chime' candles for spells. They're only about 4" tall and the size of your pointer finger. If you don't have some place local for chime candles or their small ceramic holders, do a search on Etsy for chime candles and holders. You'll be shopping for awhile. I especially like this Selenite holder. Adds a little something extra to your intention. 

You can also search for Candle Magic Guides if you'd like pintables for your BOS.

If you like things a bit more visual, there are several on YouTube. This one by Ethony has great basic information. Even if you've been doing candle magic for awhile, sometimes going back to basics sparks something you'd not thought of or forgotten.  I will say, she's a bit 'entertaining' but the information is there. 

When talking about intentions, colors are not the only thing to keep in mind. You can enhance the intention by carving sigels, rune signs or other images such as hearts or dollar signs into the candle for added umph. 

However you work with candles, always keep safety in mind. Your candle should be placed in a sturdy base, small cauldron, terra cotta dish or similar item. Adding a base of sand is also a good idea. Never leave a candle unattended. If you're doing candle magic that requires you to burn from one marking to another over a period of five days, for instance, always make sure you have the time to be vigilant with the candle the entire time it needs to burn. Always extinguish with a candle snuffer. I've picked mine up at Dollar Tree. 

Here are a few links to magical candle supply shops on line. NOTE: I've not shopped from any of them, so please do your homework - and shop local when you can.

Click the word to be taken to their shop:

Velvet Witch  

Until next time...

Blessed Be!

~ Rain

WEDNESDAY BOOK CLUB - Lighting the Wick

Merry Meet, everyone!

As I type this, I'm hoping fall is on the way. I've been scheduling posts ahead of busy spots in my life so that (hopefully) I won't leave you hanging. I'm working on consistency. Maybe that should be my word for 2023.

Today's book is:

FiveBelow

Amazon

Lighting the Wick is a collaboration between Sandra Mariah Wright and Leanne Marrama. They have co-authored several other books. 

I've always been fascinated with candle magic and have several books. So what makes this new addition to my collection different. Simplicity.

Sometimes we just need to get to the heart of something, not take the longer journey. Among things listed on the back cover, there are these seven bullet points:

*  FIND, REPAIR, OR END A RELATIONSHIP

* GUARD YOUR BOUNDARIES AND KEEP NEGATIVE ENERGY AND TOXIC PEOPLE OUT

* GROUND AND CENTER

* ACHIEVE COMMON HEALTH GOALS

* BREAK BAD HABITS, BOLSTER MOTIVATION AND INCREASE WILLPOWER

* MEDITAT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF CANDLES

*USE THE FLAME AND WX TO NOT ONLY DIVINE THE FUTURE BUT CREATE A BETTER ONE FOR YOURSELF AND THOSE YOU LOVE

You can find out more by following Psychicteas on Facebook and ThePsychictea on Instagram

Blessed Be

~Rain

SABBAT - Imbolc

I found this image from pixabay to be so serene. As Imbolc is anchored in candles and the Goddess, Brigid, this picture called to be downloaded and shared with you.

While I'm really focusing on practicing the craft and spirituality, I am still getting caught last minute with 'oh, it's Imbolc' kind of moments. So I'm holding ritual tonight with bare bones of supplies. Candles I have. LOTS of candles and in the appropriate colors. I need to find an altar cloth combo in White and Red.

I did get up this morning and start cleaning like a mad woman. LOL I warned Bob ahead of time and let him now that I was on a cleaning spree. By the time I sink into the ritual bath this evening I will have the laundry caught up and my altar area spiffy.

I did stop at a flower shop yesterday and purchase flowers in white and yellow. I have two white carnations, a yellow spider mum and a yellow rose backed by a sprig of leather leaf.

When I asked Bob to get a vase down for me, I needed one with a wide enough mouth to hold the five stems. The only one I had that had a bulbus bottom I really didn't trust on the altar when Spirit Kitty decides he needs to investigate the changes I make there. Bob reaches down a wine bottle. Yes, I believe the vessel is perfect for this occasion.

My word for this year is RESET. I just want to hit the reset button on my life. My plan is to rid myself of things I don't need to do and focus on the things that will bring me joy. Imbolc is the perfect Sabbat for me to set things in motion. My other plan for tonight is to charge the ruler I'll be using to tear the edges of my BOS pages as well as consecrate my new tarot deck (you'll see that post tomorrow). 

When I'm finished with ritual tonight, I'll make notes about the tools I would like to have on hand for the next Sabbat as well as for Imbolc next year.

May Brigid join you this Sabbat and your intentions prosper throughout the year. 

Blessed Be

~Rain

A New YEAR!

Merry Meet, everyone!

What a beautiful evening last night for the first ritual of the new year. Hubby worked earlier in the day to help me set up the hard surfaces marking my area of the yard. As I prepared for the evening, I took mental notes of things that need to be included in the book. I also learned the importance of the book. I've spent time all week making sure I had the necessary supplies lacking in my cupboard. What I failed to do was pull existing items from the cabinet and gather everything together.

Lesson learned - Have a Basics Casket. This will include the candles necessary to mark the quarters as well as the God/ Goddess candles, salt/ water receptacles, bell, snuffer.  I'll actually have 2 sets of these items. One set will remain on my permanent altar in the house and the other set will be kept in a container to be for  outside rituals.

As we turn the wheel towards the Yule season, I have finally found Bayberry candles. They are called a Holiday Bayberry and available through Yankee Candle. Not the least expensive by any means but they are available. However, you're only going to find them during the holiday season, though you might be able to order them on-line throughout the year. The tealights/ votives cost about .99 each. So as we begin preparing for Yule, now is the time to check the Yule Casket.

Blessings on your new year!
~Rain

A New Year

How was your Samhain? If you were lucky, like my friend Deborah Blake, you had snow on the ground for ritual. I know it's not exactly the weather we want for the biggest ritual of the season, but if the weather cooperates, I don't think there's anything quite so peaceful as a dark sky full of stars above and a blanket of snow beneath... and stillness all around. It's like the polar opposite of a raging thunderstorm for me.

For my Samhain, I had neither. What I did manage to do was finally get my altar the way I wanted it. Well except for the lack of candles. I can not believe with all the candles I have in this house - and in my ritual cabinet - I didn't have a single Yellow or Gold. :: shakes head in disbelief ::: But otherwise, I finally have a permanent altar. I've warned hubby NOTHING gets put on it.

So tomorrow when I go on a Quilt Shop Hop I'm going to buy the candle colors I need - at least two sets. I want to have a set I can use for a temporary altar. Hubby is gone 3 weeks at a time and home 3 weeks. It's part of his job as a river boat captain we've lived with for years. When he's gone, I can get up in the morning and visit the bedroom altar. But when he's home, he likes to sleep in at least til 8 and I'm an early riser. So I'm putting together a altar box I can keep in the living room and use a TV tray in front of the big East facing picture window.

As the holiday candles hit the shelves, now is the time to pick up the Gold and Silver candles in particular. With Halloween behind us, now is also the time to pick up the black and orange ones going on clearance. Learning from my own lesson, it's one of the things I'll stress in The Organized Witch.

As soon as I have those candles in place, I'll post a pic of my altar. I'd love to hear about yours. Is it traditional or is it more eclectic with things that mean something to you personally?