Lit candles help create a mystical and magickal atmosphere during a ritual. They bring the element of Fire, and can be used to release or initiate something. The flame, of course, can also be used to ignite incense or burn materials. The light of a candle can also serve as a beacon for invited spirits.
However, the colour of a candle will have an effect on what type of energy it brings to the ritual, and thus some colours are better for particular kinds of spells.
Below is a list of candle correspondences by colour, where you can choose which one(s) feels most appropriate for each situation, spell and ritual. (If you don’t have the right candle, using a white candle will generally cover your needs – since white contains all colours – but it helps if you visualise the desired colour throughout the ritual.)
You can also carve symbols, runes, initials and more into the candle – things that represent the result you wish to achieve.
(Note – for the candle to have the most effective and focused energy, remember to cleanse, consecrate and charge it. There is a section detailing these steps in The Essence of Magick.)
Candle colours
White contains all colours. It symbolises purity and innocence, and the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. Use for purification, peace, healing, truth and sincerity, cleansing, spirituality, clarity, wholeness and joy. It can also protect, repel negative energy, relieve tension and aid in meditation.
Yellow is the realm of intellect, inspiration and creativity. Use for confidence and charm, persuasion, wisdom, mental strength, concentration, communication, memory, logic and learning. It stimulates your personal power and self-esteem, and promotes cheerfulness and an optimistic outlook. Use it to invoke or represent the element of Air.
Orange is energising and promotes stimulation, joy and success. Use for good fortune, prosperity, power, action, energy building, and courage. Aids in legal matters, achieving goals, cleansing negative attitudes and bringing in happiness and enthusiasm. Also used for attracting friends and inspires emotional healing.
Pink represents all variations of love – friendly, romantic, spiritual, and universal. Use for love magick, compassion, forgiveness, joy, harmony, sensitivity, emotional and spiritual healing, and self-love. Promotes spiritual awakening and opening of the heart.
Red is the colour of fire and passion. It represents activity and action, blood, love, sex, fertility, potency, power, vitality, and courage. It instils energy and strength and can thus be used for health, vigour and defence. It also symbolises the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. Use it to invoke or represent the element of Fire.
Purple is a highly spiritual colour and is associated with psychic abilities, spiritual awakening, and ancient wisdom. It is the colour of the third eye chakra where your psychic vision and inner eye reside, so purple can be used to open your third eye in order to invite visions and enhance intuition. Use also for spiritual protection, healing, respect, honour, wisdom, purification, sensitivity, progress, spiritual growth and dissociating from the ego. Meditate regularly with a purple candle to reduce stress or insomnia.
Magenta is used to facilitate quick changes and fast results in spell work. Burn with another candle to increase the energy of that candle’s purpose and intent. Also used for exorcism and spiritual healing.
Blue is a soothing colour and is connected to spirituality, inner peace, and harmony. Promotes wisdom, truth, tranquillity, rest, healing, serenity, patience and kindness. Burned for dream magick and prophetic dreams. Encourages loyalty, understanding, and a peaceful home. Use it to invoke or represent the element of Water. Meditate with a blue candle to help focus your mind.
Turquoise is used for stress relief, focus and intellect. Aids in storing knowledge, improving memory, and finding logic in any situation.
Green is associated with nature, growth, and fertility, and is a symbol of the Goddess and her green earth. It is also a colour often linked to money and financial success. Use for luck and prosperity, abundance and generosity, earth magick, physical and emotional healing, rejuvenation, and renewal. Assists agriculture to encourage a good harvest. Use it to invoke or represent the element of Earth.
Brown is the colour of earth, and holds a grounded, balanced vibration. Assists in clear thinking and decision-making. Promotes concentration, intuition, material gain, wealth, common sense, and stability. Also encourages intuition and telepathic abilities. It is said to help locate lost objects. Also used to protect and heal animals.
Silver (or grey) is a neutral colour and can be used to deflect and neutralise negative influences. It brings protection against otherworldly entities, stabilises energies, and promotes inner peace and serenity. Also a symbol of the Goddess, and can be used to invoke any female deity.
Gold is associated with the God and solar deities. It is believed to attract the powers of cosmic influences. Encourages success, wealth, communication, persuasion, victory, masculine energy, and confidence. Use when invoking any male deity.
Black absorbs all colours, and is often used to absorb or banish negativity. It reverses curses and hexes. Use for protection, banishing, repelling black magick, and ridding of bad habits. It enhances inner strength, resilience and self-control, and can be used in meditation to delve deeper into the unconscious. Also burned for powerful healing and support through loss and grief. Represents the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess.
Choosing Your Candles
For one-spell candles, it’s common to use chime candles due to their small size. Longer rituals, which may be performed over a few days, usually require taper or votive candles. The longest-lasting candles are pillar candles, or alternatively jar candles, which are traditionally used in folk magick to send prayers and magical intent straight to the spirit world.
If you want to add some extra oomph to your spells, you can use ritually charged candles, which have been created and charged with a specific magickal intent. In fact, it’s not even necessary to cast a spell – many people simply light the candles while stating their intent. A spell candle works while it is burning, whether in a formal spell or not. There’s a wide range available – from love spell candles to protection candles (click here to see a great selection).