Basic Candle Magick

The basic principle of any spell-casting is focus, and it's no different with candle magick. Some witches use crystals, some herbs, some incense, etc.; many prefer fire. In addition to the elemental associations, fire is also a very easy focal point, and full of energy. Both the heat and light are tangible, and can be used to add to your spell when you know how to concentrate it.

The way I choose to perform basic candle spells is by lighting a single candle and placing the palms of my hands over the flame- far enough not to burn, but close enough to feel the heat. I close my eyes and meditate for a while, taking in the warmth, focusing the energy both from the flame and from my body. When I feel I have concentrated enough energy, I turn my hands palms-up, say the spell aloud, and release the energy into the air.

Another popular way to use candles in spell-casting is to use the wax as a seal. When casting spells on/for others, you can drip the wax on a photo of the subject, a lock of their hair, etc. When casting a spell on yourself, you can do the same, or- my preferred method- drip a tiny bit of wax on the palms of your hands, for example. (The trick to this is to hold the candle far enough away from yourself that the wax is mostly cool by the time it touches your skin.) A nice thing about wax seals (especially on inanimate objects) is that you can engrave it quickly and easily- runes and symbols are simply sketched into the dried wax with a pin or needle.

Historically, fire has been a huge part of pagan practices- perhaps best known are the famous tales of skyclad witches dancing around bonfires in the Old Days, and the cremations of ancient "heathen kings" of legend. Candle magick is simply a new incarnation of this age-old tradition.