Simple Magick: Candle Replacements

Many people are not able to use candles in magick. They might be in rented, elderly or student accommodation; or there may be a health reason as to why using candles is not suitable. Candles don’t need to be used at all in magick, but when you DO want to use them - and can’t - what are the alternatives?

COLOURED ROCKS 

In terms of decorating your altar, coloured rocks can be used in place of candles. You can state aloud your intention to use them as a replacement during spells and rituals as part of the ritual itself. They can be used to represent the Goddess and God; they can be painted with colours, flames, or other designs that appeal to you - there are so many possibilities! Pebbles are perfect for mini-altar sets.

CRYSTALS

In the same way that you can use coloured rocks, crystals can be used in place of candles, too. Choose crystals that have associations connected to light, solar energy, or fire.

ELECTRIC TEA LIGHTS AND CANDLES

These are the obvious choice. You may be able to wrap them in washi tape if there is a particular colour that you need, however it is possible to use a white candle (most electric or LED candles seem to be white) in place of any colour.

CANDLE BURNING APP

This is not something I’ve personally tried, but apparently there is a candle burning app where you can view footage of a candle burning. The idea is you use the energy that is produced by the device and mentally push it out into the universe using your magickal will at the appropriate time.

FLYING WISH PAPER

Available outside the U.K. (and does involve a little bit of fire) Flying Wish Paper is a great substitute for candle magick. You write your intention on the paper, roll it up into a tube, and light it. It floats up into the air, and extinguishes after a few seconds. Whilst not marketed specifically as a witchcraft item, I think these are a great idea.

Have you tried any of these suggestions? Are you restricted when it comes to burning incense and candles? Do you have any ideas?

NEXT - Simple Magick: Magickal Practice
NEXT - Simple Magick: Birthday Rituals
NEXT - Review: The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita
NEXT - Simple Magick: Kitchen Candle Magick
NEXT - Witchy Quotes: Rae Beth - Hedgewitch

Simple Magick: Magickal Practice

“An important point about witchcraft is that it is a craft, in the old sense of the word, the Anglo-Saxon ‘craeft’, implying art, skill, knowledge. The word ‘witch’ means ‘wise one’; and a person cannot be made wise, they have to become wise. There are arts and skills and traditional knowledge which, used in the right way, will help you to become a ‘wise one.’ This is the real meaning of witchcraft.”

~ An ABC of Witchcraft, Past and Present - Doreen Valiente

Valiente explains that people can only change their lives by changing themselves, and to do that it involves learning, and becoming experienced at something.

I get messages from those who want to know if magick is real, and from others who are worried they have done a spell or a ritual wrong, and are anxious that the consequences are going to be disastrous. Both questions can be answered in the following Valiente quote:

“Rituals are not always successful, of course. The technique employed may be wrong. The operators may have misjudged the situation. The conditions prevailing at the time of the ritual may be adverse. However, I have seen a sufficient number of successes scored, to believe in the power of witchcraft.”

As a practitioner, this means you should keep trying. It is only by trying, and failing, that you work out what will succeed, and indeed, one should apply this to all areas of life.

I have seen an unsuccessful spell compared to a failed cake cooking session. In getting the spell “wrong” it can be likened to omitting the sugar. The cake won’t taste particularly nice, and it might not rise because the texture will be all wrong, but you are not suddenly going to be changed into a person who never wants to eat again!

Yes, you need to be sure of your goal, and be clear before any action is taken, but if you knock over a candle, or miss out one of the steps of the spell, it is unlikely that anything drastic will happen. More likely nothing will happen.

When did you come to believe in magick? How long have you been practising? Have your spells always worked? Have you had any go disastrously wrong? What about funny spell/ritual stories, do you have any of those?

NEXT - Simple Magick: Spell-Working Ethics
NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Beltane
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Yew 

Simple Magick: Spell-Working Ethics

The ethics of spellworking are there to help us create fair, considered and effective spells. They are a set of principles that can help us avoid harming ourselves and others.

Selfish and irresponsible spellwork often bounces back on the caster, known as the Boomerang Effect (not to be confused with the Threefold Law, which is a code of conduct that I will explain later).

Good ethics for magick/spellcasting can be summed up as follows:

1. Never work to harm anyone, including the self. 

2. Never manipulate anyone against their will or natural development. 

3. Never assume you know all the facts about a situation or person.

4. Never work for your own gain at someone else’s expense.

5. Word spells carefully and precisely, so that rules 1-4 may be observed.

The Wiccan ethical motto “An it harm none, do what thou wilt” does not mean “anything goes”, it means “have your legitimate aim clearly in mind, and work to achieve it.”

Ethical spellworking is not centred around power, or self-gain for selfish reasons. It is a positive action focused on fruitfulness, problem solving and progression. It is not angry, arrogant or destructive; instead it is designed to flow in a state of balance and harmony to bring about positive results.

NEXT - Simple Magick: Baphomet Explained
NEXT - Simple Magick: The Mind
NEXT - Introductions: From One Witch To Another 

Review: The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita

Today I thought I’d share one of my favourite books - The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita.

Madame Pamita is an expert on all things candle; including how to make them. Not only does she teach the reader how to make their own candles, but how to load them with magick intent. You can learn how to plan an amazing spell, how to customise candles, candle numerology, and candle spell layouts. There is so much to work through and ingest, but the concise layout and clear headers make it a fantastic reference book to dip in and out of.

I read this book back at the beginning of the year and it has been a constant companion since then. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing with purple pages and illustrations, but it is packed full of helpful and interesting information.

It comes highly recommended from me.

NEXT - Review: Witchy Birthday Cake by Shannon Holdsworth

Introductions: Hail & Welcome!

With so many of you following the Instagram page recently (thank you and welcome!), and me not doing a proper introduction since October, I thought it was time for me to introduce (and reintroduce) myself properly.

My name is Wren, and I’m a witch, holistic therapist, pagan model, writer, fire spinner, wife and mum from the South of England, living on a cemetery.

These introductions always feel a bit forced, so I’ll just tell you some of the things I like!

I’m a hugely sensory person. I love aromas (it’s no wonder I trained as an aromatherapist), music, and colour. I adore cats, although we’re currently waiting for the right time (will there ever be one?) and the right cat to come into our life. I love the outdoors, herbal lore, visiting sacred sites, and history.

As a terribly shy person I’m frustrated that Instagram is moving its focus away from still images (which I LOVE) to the “entertainment” value of videos, Reels and Stories. Gahhh. Get ready for some daft (but hopefully still educational) Reels.

(BTW. You can see more of the content you love by saving, commenting and sharing the things you enjoy; and it will really help small businesses and educational pages be seen.) 

NEXT - Introductions: From One Witch To Another
NEXT - YouTube Viewing: My Witchcraft Journey

NEXT - Simple Magick: Find Your Magick 
NEXT - Simple Magick: Candle Replacements