Ex Penna

I seem to be the only witch who isn't amazed by the idea of using birthday candles for spells.  There are tons of reasons why it's dumb, but here's just a few:

1. First, it's unlikely that you have only two minutes in which to cast a spell and this is what you chose.  You must realize that there is a big wide world of magic at your disposal and many varieties of spellcasting are quicker than candle spells.  Next time, think about spoken charms, formulas, knots, sigils, or even the use of thoughtforms and golems.  You can do better!
2. Birthday candles don't come in many colors, and what you can find are either pastel, covered in glitter, or decorated with other colors in grooves or stripes.  You need a gray candle?  A brown one?  Good luck.
3. You can't use them for some of the most interesting and powerful methods of candle spells, namely inscribing and loading.  I guess you can dress and dust them, but you'll spend twice as long doing so as it takes for the candle to burn.
4. Unless you're sticking that thing in a cake, get ready to have a hard time making it stand upright the whole time.
5. If you've tried to get around any of these problems just so you can keep saying that they're a workable substitute, you're trying too hard. 

So, now that I've got that off my chest, here's a better way.  If you simply must have candles for your spell, plan ahead and make tea light spell candles.

They are small, portable, fast burning, inscribable, stand securely on their own, and you can easily make them any color you want.  Here's how:

• Pop out the candle from its tin

• Remove the wick and set aside

• Fill a frying pan with 1/2 inch of water and heat on medium-low on the stove top
• Put the empty tins in the pan.  They should float on the water at this point.

• Dye your candles to match your intention: Sprinkle shavings from crayons in each tin (or, if you're a pro like me, just add liquid candle dye)

• Add a few drops of condition oils and/or powders or finely ground herbs to match your intention
• Drop into each tin the chunk of white wax
• Allow the warm water to slowly melt the wax (without boiling! It's too messy and can flip over your tins)

• Once all the wax is melted, and the color is to your liking, remove from the heat and let cool
• Before the candles solidify, put the wicks back in the center of each one.

• Sprinkle each candle with powders or ground herbs.  Make sure that the surface is cooled and solid or everything you add will just sink to the bottom.  I like to include some glitter, too!

• Now you're ready to cast a quickie spell any time, anywhere in style and with results as strong as a full-sized candle!

The following is an excerpt from my as-yet unpublished manuscript, The Master Witch's Cheatbook: Transform Your Spells into Natural, Affordable, Powerful Works of Art, a guide to the gritty, fantastic world of magic for the beyond-beginner spellcaster.  If you enjoy this little snippet, let me hear about it!  Share your thoughts here in the comments, on Facebook, Twitter, private message, email, or Etsy.

Having a familiar is similar to finding True Love: everyone assumes that there will only ever be one.  But that all depends on you.

There are a few pieces of magic that I do often that are so much a part of my daily round that I nearly forget about them.  The Glow is one of them.

You probably already know this one but might call it something else.  There's many uses for it and whether you've done it before or no, it should definitely be in your repertoire.  It's a bit of glamour that causes you to get noticed in whatever way you desire.  It's a handy way to get help when you need it (like when your car breaks down) or to get found when you're separated from your group in a crowd.  Even if just used for fun, the Glow causes other people seek you out, pad your ego, and strike up conversations when you're lonely.



Using the Glow

Close your eyes and envision yourself in your current state.  From the center of your body, feel a warmth beginning to grow.  See this warmth as a soft orange color.  It spreads through your body like liquid, then extends past your form until you radiate light and heat like a miniature sun.  At this point you can infuse this light with the kind of response you want to get from others (like sexual attractiveness, leadership, or intelligence).

Let your light shine brighter and brighter until it encompasses a large area around you and all the people inside that radius.  When you have hit the peak, let this brilliance collapse, turning that outward flow around and rapidly drawing everything to you, like a black hole or water running down a drain.  Be inescapable!

Use this technique to bring an awareness of you as a highly magnetic individual in the people around you.

Last week we talked about Licorice root and its powers of persuasion, and I promised to share with you a spell that uses it to impressive effect.  I think you'll be pleased with the pay-off of your patience.

What follows is my go-to spell for all those times when I need to change someone's mind, make them do things my way, give a gentle nudge in the right direction, or outright control their behavior.  Of all the formulas, spells, poppet rituals, and spoken charms I have to make these things happen, I use this little spell twice as much.  It's my own work so although I can't make you credit me (or can I?), it would be nice if you gave a nod to the source when sharing this spell or copying it to your BoS.

The best advice I can give a spellcaster of any rank is to diversify.  You should know 3 ways to attain any goal--a big, extensive spell with all the extras; a solid standard spell for a regular day; and a quickie emergency type that can be done while away from tools or in a rush.  At some time in your life, all of these will be important.

It's also good to diversify when it comes to storing information: keep a long-term Book of Shadows, an indexed reference, and a pocket-sized book to carry or keep in your desk at work.  These three do not have to contain all the same information.   Far from it! It's actually better that each book be tailored to fit the circumstances of its use.

The carried book should be full of easy, on-the-spot spells, charms, and sigils and be arranged according to problems you might have while away from home.  The reference should be organized by what works for you, be it by title of the spell, its purpose, or the items it uses (example indexes being "candle spells" or "knot magic").  Try out your method a few times before committing to it; it should make finding the spell you need fast and effective.  Your Book of Shadows is the place for longer pieces, rituals, and explorations into concepts and theories.  You'll want to revisit these ideas, but not often.

Think today about how you can branch out and diversify in your practice.  In what ways can you open up and make magic that much easier for you?

There is one simple method by which you can give strength to any magical object, no matter what its purpose--bury it in the ground.  Let it there for as long as you can up to one full moon cycle.  If it is made of a material that will be damaged by such a long period of time, just leave it there overnight.

To begin, give the object its initial charge.  Give the amount of energy and power that you are able from your visualization and projection; the Earth will do the rest.  Wrap the object in cloth or place inside a box if it's ornate, easily damaged by moisture, or very small.  Otherwise, you may place it directly into a hole you have dug for this purpose.  Give the object one final charge, noting specifically its function.  Cover the object with the dirt you removed while requesting that the earth give power to your work and turn this simple object into a great talisman (or whatever it may be) of uncanny magical strength.  Remember to be humble; this is a request, not a command.

When it is completely covered, mark the place with something you will remember, like a colored stone, a stick stuck upright, or just note the number of paces from another landmark (3 paces West of the maple tree, for example).  Return home and write in your almanac that place marker on the day you are to retrieve your object.  Try not to think about it until that day comes.  Then you may unearth your talisman and receive the strength and nobility of the earth itself.