Candles are a standard tool used in rituals and spells. They come from fire and earth and embrace the air. They contain energy. Candle magic is easy to get into, is inexpensive, very versatile, and will grow with you as you progress in your practice.
Choosing the correct candle color is essential in witchcraft. Everything has symbolism. Understanding color representation will help you learn how to concentrate their own energy on a task. Candle magic helps us to focus our energies. There is something very compelling about a candle flame.
Candles are made of wax which comes from animals or plants and relate to the earth element. We light the wick and the fire provides a natural catalyst, a spiritual warmth which attracts the Universe's attention. The smoke from the candle relates to air and send our messages upward.
Fire and light have long been associated with divinity. Light symbolizes cleansing, purification, and spiritual illumination.
How To Use Candles
You may use candles for an offering to honor a specific god. Ah Muzen Cab is the ancient Mayan god of bees, honey, and beekeeping. He appreciates offerings of beeswax candles.
The melted wax can be used as an offering to Deities or recycled into another candle if its soy and not paraffin.
What is Color Magic?
So what exactly is color magic? Color magic is where the practitioner learns what each color symbolizes and uses these colors for a specific purpose in their spellwork. For instance, if someone is trying to find a new job, they may focus on the color green, which stands for prosperity, employment, and good luck.
You could use the color green in various ways. In addition to using a green candle magic, using green crystals, wearing a green pendant, or even wear green clothing when going to an interview.
My cat, Pixie, is drawn to my altar and candles! Photo by author
Individual Color Meanings and Symbolism
White
White is your most basic color. They represent Purity, Cleansing, Healing, and Protection.
White is your most foundational candle and can be used to replace any other color. They are used in cleansing and protection spells as well as healing. Stock up on white candles because you will use them often.
Candles pair well with crystals that match their intensity and work together to amplify your intent. White candles and clear quartz are a natural pairing. They both are excellent for cleansing. I use them together when doing readings because they help with clarity.
Black
Like white, black is a basic candle that is used frequently. It works well in spells to get rid of negativity, to add protection, for grounding, and getting in touch with the subconscious. Black is also essential for banishing and binding spells. They are used in curses, hexes, and spells of negativity.
Black Tourmaline absorbs negative energy and creates a strong protective shield during heavy reflection or cord-cutting rituals. Black Obsidian is a powerful volcanic stone used to cut ties, sever toxic attachments, and banish persistent negative influences.
Silver
Silver: visions, dreaming, intuition, and also represents the Moon and the Goddess. Silver gets you in touch with the ebb and flow of your emotions.
Silver is a great color to burn when you want to honor a lunar deity. Silver represents spiritual awareness and is often used in ancestor communication, vision quests, and astral travel.
Gold
Gold: Longevity, confidence, willpower, life force. It also represents the Sun and God/Goddess. Food for money spells where speed is of the essence. Works well with red in love spells.
Use Gold when you are working with a sun deity and you want to draw in positive energy. Gold represents that life force and is also great for spells to increase your confidence. You can compliment these colors by wearing silver and gold jewelry.
Brown
Brown candles are used for grounding, stability, and connecting with the energy of the Earth. I used them a lot in grounding exercises and connecting with spirits. Brown represents the natural world, making them ideal for communicating with animal guides, honoring earth spirits, or working with familiars. I often hold a tigers eye crystal when I am connecting with animal guides.
Brown candles support spells focused on financial security, protecting the household, and caring for family, pets, or property. Brown and green candles compliment each other really well. We will get to green in a moment but it is commonly used in manifesting money. That green and brown together are very solid. Very strong.
Red
Red is famous for love spells, attraction, and passion. However, its also known for endurance and willpower. It's a great color for athletes to work with. Red can also be used in job spells especially if you are seeking a raise or a promotion. Pink candles are the warmer side of love and relationships. They can also be used for attraction-based bonding. Dark Red Candles such as maroon are for a stronger commitment and binding energy. Used for marriage, engagement, fidelity, and seduction spells.
Two crystals that go well with red candles are Garnet: Amplifies deep romantic passion, devotion, and commitment.
Red Jasper: Enhances stamina, physical strength, and deep grounding protection.
Purple
Purple: Success, power, commitment, psychic, tranquility, spiritual awareness, and wisdom. Purple helps you get in touch with your spiritual nature and increases divination skills and psychic abilities.
For thousands of years, purple has been a color aligned with leadership and spirituality. Its a color of wisdom. They also promote tranquility, calmness in a home.
Light Purple candles are great for when you wish to increase your psychic abilities. I use lavender along with a purple candle when I am working to increase spiritual awareness or learn to use a new divination tool. Lavender is linked to intuition and spiritual insight.
I tend to do a lot of justice spells since I work in environmental issues and wildlife conservation. Justice spells frequently call for a combination of blue and purple candles. Purple for leadership and decision making and blue for truth and honesty. Amethyst and quartz crystals for clear thing and intuition.
Green
Green: Beauty, fertility, growth, health, nature, good luck, employment, and prosperity. Green is well known to use in money spells but it also works well for job spells. Use green when working with nature and protecting the environment. Pair a green candle with a corresponding plant.
Orange: Pride, empathy, confidence, winning, success, new opportunities, career, legal. Use an orange candle for spells to gain confidence, resolve a legal dispute, or win an athletic event.
Yellow: Intellect, wisdom, creativity, travel, imagination, focus, charisma, learning, concentration, and action.
Blue: Guidance, patience, peace, healing, happiness, truth, and religion/faith. Light blue is often used in offices because it increases productivity. A bright blue color increases communication. Blue is a good choice for spiritual development and dream work.
Head over to my RESOURCES PAGE for a FREE download slide deck on Candle Colors.
Check out my video on sourcing candles.
Examples
Now that you have a reference point to many of the things that each color represents, here are some examples of how you can use this in spellwork and rituals.
Counting Your Blessings
This is a month-long daily ritual that focuses on what you are grateful for. In doing so you open yourself up to positive energy and further blessings from the Gods.
Materials:
You will need something to hang your blessings from such as a houseplant, potted tree, or fallen tree branch. Place the plant at your altar.
Small squares of paper cut in 3x3 in pieces with a hole in the corner
Red string for hanging the papers on the plant
Red-colored pen or pencil for writing blessing
White tapered candle in a stand.
Procedure:
Each day during your altar time you will write your blessing on the paper and hang it on the plant.
Next light your candle. Say your blessing out loud.
Focus on the flame and concentrate on your blessings for three minutes.
Extinguish the candle flame and end your ritual.
Do this each day for thirty days. (You may follow a calendar or a lunar month)
At the end of the time period take all of your blessings to your outdoor firepit or some other safe area where you can burn them.
Burn the papers where you wrote your blessings, offer thanks to a deity of your choosing. This releases your blessings and gratitude into the universe.
Restoring Energy
I love this one and first learned about it from a workshop with Richard Webster.
We all have times when our energy level is low and we need to rev ourselves up. This spell will help you restore enthusiasm and vigor.
Materials:
3 candles in green, blue, and purple placed at the forefront of your altar.
Procedure:
Light each candle and either sit or stand where you can look directly upon them.
Start by gazing at the green candle for one minute. Next, inhale deeply while you envision your body filling with green energy. Exhale slowly.
Do the same process with the blue and purple candles. Take your time. Focus on their energy filling you.
Gaze at the three candles and envision yourself doing something requiring energy such as winning a race, climbing a mountain, or keeping up with young children.
See yourself full of energy and vitality.
Give thanks to Mother Earth and/or your chosen deity.
Extinguish your candles.
Have a powerful day!
If you are a baby witch or just need some ideas check out our article Altars: Beginners Guide.
Altar to welcome spring. Here I have a green candle for growth and fertility . The white candle represents new beginnings. Photo by author.
Color Magic and The Elements
Many witches work with the various elements and weave the elements into spellwork and ritual magic. Each of the elements has an associated color.
Earth: Green
Air: Yellow
Fire: Red
Water: Blue
Spirit: Orange, White, or Violet
If you are using the elements, you might want to add in other factors. You can read our article 4 Pagan Cardinal Elements to learn more about this.
Candles are a standard tool used in rituals and spells for both pagans and witches. Candles are energy. Candle magic is easy to get into, is very versatile, and will grow with you as you progress in your practice.
Take Away
One of the reasons candle magic is so popular is because it is easy to incorporate in various spellwork. Color meanings are universal and there are many ways that you can utilize candle magic into your practice.
This is an area where anyone can feel comfortable practicing magic and connecting to various deities and the Universe.
Creativity has a place in this form of magic. Although this article provided the building blocks of the color correspondences and different ideas on how to work with candles, you should certainly listen to your own instincts.
Author, Ame, likes to joke that she is 1/2 pagan and 1/2 Catholic due to her Native (Cree) and Italian heritage. She is a lifelong pagan, an environmental educator, and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Ame writes about honoring nature and animal spirit guides.
A candle dressing is an oil or rub which is applied to a candle. It is used to create a greater effect and energy output during burning and to prepare your candle for a ritual. Dressing a candle helps you compose your thoughts and energies and focus your powers.