Candle Colors for Magical Purposes

Because I'm no longer writing for Examiner (I just don't have the time to commit to it right now), I'm moving some of my articles here for future reference.  Some of you might have read these already, though I may add a bit more info.  =)

If you've read this blog for a bit, you know how I love a simple candle spell.  Sure, you can do any type of work with only your intent, but for those of us who still prefer or need a bit of help with focusing our concentration (amid the chaos of everyday life, lol!), a candle is the perfect tool - inexpensive, easily stored, easy to use.

A white candle can be substituted for any color for any spell or ritual, and it's great to have a few extras on hand.  Stock up when you find a sale (IKEA always has great prices on bundles of  plain candles of all colors and on Etsy you can find every type of candle imaginable!).  Dressing a candle in specific oils and rolling them in corresponding oils can give an added boost to your work as well.

When you want to really get your mojo working, though, sometimes you'll want to reach for a candle for a specific need. Here are some choices you might consider:

Black candles can be worked with when dealing with wisdom, self control, banishing bad habits, protection, mourning, meditation, protection, banishing negativity in all forms.

Blue (primary) candles are used when working with deep emotions, opening blocked channels of communication,  honesty, peace, honesty, truth and harmony. A dark blue (midnight or navy blue) candle is good for concentration, meditation and patience.Light blue candles are good for peaceful homes, empathy and loyalty.

Brown candles come in handy for earthy work, groundings, banishing sorrow, business success, prosperity, concentration, learning, home and hearth.

Gold is the color to use when dealing with prosperity, wealth, safety, creativity, self-confidence and anything dealing with the sun or solar energy.

Gray candles work well for groundings, stabilizing a negative influence and getting rid of bad habits.

Reach for primary green candles when dealing with nature, balance, healing, prosperity, business success, garden or plant magic, personal goals, finances and luck.  Emerald green attracts love and helps with fertility. 

Orange candles represent warmth, motivation, endurance, law, creativity, selling and ambition.Orange-red works for high energy and successful competition.

Pink candles stand for nurturing love, friendship, emotional healing, affection, feminine confidence, well-being and innocent romance. Peach candles combine the energy of orange softened by pink.

A purple candle would be the one to choose when working with spirituality, power, psychic works, the need for focus, independence or tolerance. Lavender tunes into intuition, nostalgia, active dreaming and intuition.

Primary red  candles represent love, desire, passion, lust, victory, anger, the military, sexuality, luck, childbirth, health, career goals and courage.  Dark red or maroon candles can be used for respect, wealth and power.  Magenta candles  are used for spiritual healing.

Choose silver candles when working with lunar energy, understanding, female power, clarity, self-worth or the Goddess.

White candles can be used for anything, but can be used specifically for purification, purity, harmony or enlightenment. 

Yellow is the color to pick when doing candle work for happiness, cheerfulness, luck, alertness, wisdom, action, communication, concentration or solar energy. Yellow-green works for confidence and new growth.

Choosing an appropriate candle color can help the domestic witch to create simple, speedy rituals of all kinds.  Need an inexpensive way to build up your candle color choices?  Try birthday candles!

This article is © Kris Bradley.  It may not be reproduced in any way without express written permission of the author.  Photo courtesy of Rehinhard Krichner, via Wikimedia Commons.