By folk magic author Rowan Hart
Candle Magic & Divination
The oldest magic in the house: a single candle and a clear intention. Learn what each colour means, when to light it, and how to read the flame, the smoke and the wax.
Choose a candle whose colour matches your intention: pink for love, green for money, black for protection, white for anything. Light it on a fitting moon phase and day, speak your intention as you light it, and watch how the flame, smoke and wax behave. A steady flame and a clean burn are traditionally the best signs.
Where it begins
What is candle magic?
Candle magic is the everyday magic of the kitchen table and the windowsill. Long before spells were written in books, people set a light in the window for someone at sea, or burned a stub of tallow to keep a house safe through the dark months.
At its simplest it needs only three things: a candle in the right colour, a quiet moment and a clear intention. Carving, oils and moon timing deepen the work, but nothing matters as much as the attention you bring to the flame.
The first choice
Candle colour meanings
Choose the colour that matches your wish. These are the traditional associations Rowan Hart uses in her own practice.
Cleansing, peace, new starts. Stands in for any colour.
Protection, banishing, closing a chapter.
Passion, courage, strength.
Self-love, friendship, tenderness.
Joy, creativity, success.
Clarity, study, confidence.
Money, luck, growth.
Calm, truth, restful sleep.
Intuition, wisdom, divination.
Home, grounding, animals.
The moon, dreams, reflection.
The sun, success, good fortune.
Timing
Best moon phases for candle magic
The moon adds its own energy to a spell. See tonight's phase on our moon calendar.
Set intentions and begin quietly.
Draw things towards you: love, money, opportunity.
Power, gratitude and bringing things to completion.
Release, cleanse and let go of what no longer serves.
Best days for candle magic
Each day of the week is ruled by a planet with its own gifts.
Success, confidence, recognition
Dreams, intuition, home
Courage, strength, action
Communication, study, travel
Abundance, luck, growth
Love, friendship, beauty
Protection, endings, banishing
For beginners
How to cast a simple candle spell
Seven quiet steps, from choosing your candle to closing the work.
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Use a sturdy holder on a heat-proof surface, away from curtains, children and pets.
- 1Choose your candle
Pick the colour that matches your intention. Small spell or chime candles suit a single sitting.
- 2Cleanse it
Wipe the candle with a soft cloth, pass it through incense smoke, or hold it and breathe out any doubt.
- 3Carve your intention
Carve your name, a word or a symbol into the wax with a pin or small knife.
- 4Dress the candle
Rub oil from the middle up to draw something in, or from the middle down to send something away.
- 5Light it with words
Say your intention aloud, plainly and in the present tense, as you light the wick.
- 6Sit with the flame
Watch how it burns. Let it burn down safely, or snuff it and relight it on following nights.
- 7Close the work
Give thanks, dispose of the remains respectfully, and take one practical step towards your wish.
Dressing the candle
Herbs and oils for candle magic
Rub a little oil on your candle and roll it in a pinch of dried herb to add a second layer of meaning.
Peace, calm and restful sleep
Love, self-love and friendship
Protection, remembrance and clarity
Abundance, warmth and quick results
Wishes and success: write your wish on the leaf
Blessing, cleansing and spiritual work
Meditation, calm and protection
Joy, luck and new opportunities
Pyromancy
Candle flame meanings
How the flame and smoke behave is read as a sign. Always rule out a draught first.
Traditionally the best sign: the working is clear and well supported.
Something is resisting, or more effort or patience is needed.
Energy is moving and the spell is active; some say spirits are near.
A great deal of energy is being raised, often quickly.
Messages or communication; some read it as interference to clear.
The working may need to be repeated, or the time is not yet right.
Obstacles or heavy energy being burned away.
A good sign: blessings, clarity and a favourable outcome.
Ceromancy
Candle wax reading
When the candle has burned, the wax tells its own story. Some drip melted wax into cold water and read the shapes, like tea leaves.
Smooth progress and a clear result.
Look at what that side represents: the person or matter may need more attention.
The intention is focused, but something may be holding it back from spreading.
Read the shapes: tears are often seen as emotion released, long runs as energy flowing out.
The work is moving quickly and meeting little resistance, though some read it as needing to be repeated to hold.
The timing may not be right, or the intention needs to be made clearer before you try again.
In jar candles, black soot is read as obstacles or heavy energy being cleared; clear glass is a good sign.
A glowing, mushroom-shaped wick is often read as a sign the work is strongly charged. Trim it before relighting.
The book · eBook (PDF)
The Complete Guide to Candle Magic and Divination
by Rowan Hart · Hedge Magic edition · 128 pages
Everything on this page and much more: the history of candle magic, choosing and preparing your candle, reading the flame, smoke, wick and wax, colour, day and moon correspondences, crystals and tarot with candles, seasonal sabbat workings and 36 candle spells for love, prosperity, protection, comfort, clarity and new beginnings.
- Instant download, emailed to you as a PDF
- Clickable contents and quick-reference charts
- Read on phone, tablet, Kindle or computer, or print
Or get the eBook and your own personal candle spell together for £15 Choose the bundle
By Rowan Hart
Your personal candle spell
Tell us your name and what you would like to bring into your life, and for £9.99 receive a one-off candle spell created just for you from Rowan Hart's candle magic method: the right colour, the best moon and day to cast it, how to carve and dress your candle, the words to speak and what to look for in the flame. It arrives as a beautiful PDF in your inbox within minutes.
Candles for your spell
All ritual & spell candles
Holders to burn them safely
All candle holders
About the author
Rowan Hart
Rowan Hart is a British author who writes about folk magic, divination and the spiritual traditions of Britain. Her interest in candle work and divination goes back many years, and her love of British folklore led her to write about the smaller traditions that are easily lost: household beliefs, protective customs, local folklore and the ways of reading signs that were passed between ordinary people. She writes practically as well as historically, separating what is documented from what grew up later, and asking what these old customs can mean for people practising today. Rowan founded Hedge Magic to bring those traditions together with the candles, crystals and incense to practise them.
Books by Rowan Hart
- The Complete Guide to Candle Magic and Divination (eBook): candle colours, timing, moon phases, reading the flame, smoke and wax, and 36 candle spells.
- Lost Folk Magic of Britain
- Lost Goddesses of Britain
Candle magic: questions and answers
What is candle magic?
Candle magic is one of the simplest and oldest forms of folk magic. A candle is chosen for its colour, sometimes carved with a name or symbol and dressed with oil or herbs, then lit with a clear intention. As the candle burns, the intention is held in mind, and the flame, smoke and wax are often read for signs.
What colour candle should I use?
Choose the colour that matches your intention: pink for self-love, green for abundance, blue for calm, purple for intuition, black for protection and white for cleansing or any purpose. If you only have white candles, white can be used for anything.
Do I have to let the candle burn all the way down?
Many practitioners let a spell candle burn down completely, which is why small chime and spell candles are popular. If you need to stop, snuff the flame rather than blowing it out, and relight it later with the same intention. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
What does it mean when a candle flame flickers?
In candle divination a flickering or dancing flame is traditionally read as energy moving and the working being active. Always check for draughts first, as a breeze is the most likely cause.
What is ceromancy?
Ceromancy is divination by wax. Melted wax is dripped into cold water, or the shapes left by a burned candle are studied, and the forms are read as symbols, much like reading tea leaves.
Is candle magic safe?
Candle magic is safe when you treat it like any open flame. Use a sturdy holder on a heat-proof surface, keep candles away from curtains, children and pets, never leave them unattended and keep loose herbs well away from the flame.
What colour candle is used for love?
Pink candles are traditionally used for self-love, friendship and tenderness, and red for passion and desire. Love spells in Rowan Hart's tradition are always about opening your own heart, never about influencing another person.
What colour candle is used for protection?
Black candles are traditionally burned for protection and banishing, and white for cleansing and a fresh start. Many people burn a black candle to clear a space, then a white one to bless it.
What colour candle is used for money and luck?
Green candles are the traditional choice for money, abundance and growth, and gold for success and good fortune. A Thursday, ruled by Jupiter, during a waxing moon is the classic time to light one.
What does black smoke from a candle mean?
In candle divination, black smoke is traditionally read as obstacles or heavy energy being burned away. Practically, it often means the wick is too long, so trim it to about 5mm.
Can I blow out a spell candle?
Tradition says to snuff a spell candle or pinch it out rather than blow it, so the intention is not "blown away". Relight it later with the same words, and never leave it burning unattended.
How long should a spell candle burn?
Small chime and spell candles usually burn for one to two hours, which suits a single sitting. Larger candles can be burned for a set time over several nights, such as seven nights for a seven-day working.
How does the personal candle spell work?
Tell us your first name, what the spell is for and your wish in your own words. Your spell is created for you from Rowan Hart's candle magic method, with the right candle colour, the best day and moon and the next good date to cast it, how to prepare and dress the candle, the words to speak and what to watch for in the flame. It arrives as a beautiful PDF by email within minutes, for £9.99.
How do I get the eBook?
The Complete Guide to Candle Magic and Divination is a 128-page PDF eBook for £9.99. It is emailed to you straight after payment with a download link, and you can read it on any phone, tablet, Kindle or computer. You can also buy it together with a personal candle spell for £15.
Can a candle spell guarantee a result?
No. Candle magic is a practice of focus, intention and reflection. It can help you think clearly about what you want and take steps towards it, but no outcome can be promised, and it is never a substitute for medical, legal or financial advice.