The Language of Candles

     When you light your candle you will notice many things happening.  They are the way the smoke moves as well as the flame, and what sounds are being made.  What direction the flame and smoke move are indications of what the candle is saying as well.  No two candles will ever react the same way when lit even when they are homemade. Though undedicated( not anointed and charged), a candle has unique properties that individualize it from others of the same batch. When dedicated and lit, each candle displays its unique personality that is communicated by the tiny Salamander within the flame. Communication with you will vary slightly from candle to candle depending on the task assigned it and how well you have aligned your intention.  As your candle burns, free your mind and concentrate on the candle. Watch how the smoke rises and the flame dances and listen to the sound it makes. Ask  yourself how these actions relate to your magickal working.

The Flame

     Your candle flame will frequently waft, dip, and bob regardless of how carefully you shield it against drafts. This is called a dancing flame, one of the ways a candle communicates with you. The dance has meaning and, once understood, can help you determine how your magick is progressing.

 A Strong Flame indicates that power and energy are going into your desires for manifestation. This is a very good sign. When a figure candle is used, a strong flame generally indicates that the person represented by the figure is winning or angry or is using authority over another. When two figure candles are present, the higher and stronger flame represents authority over another.

A Weak Flame can show you that you are facing heavy opposition and must redo the magick several times in order to overcome the power you are facing. The weak flame can also indicate, on a figure candle, that the subject is losing the battle, argument, etc., against another.  A weak flame that goes out usually means that you have missed your target altogether. Start over and be more careful of the intentions.

A Jumping Flame is an attention getter. It can indicate raw emotions along with explosions of energy, depending on the candle used and its intended purpose.  When two figure candles are being used, a jumping flame usually means that an energetic or heated discussion or argument is taking place.

A Rainbow Flame is composed of various colors. They have the same meanings as those listed in the colors section.

Flame pointing North: Something physical is manifesting. This can be of long duration.

Flame Pointing East: Something mental is manifesting. New Ideas, intuitions.

Flame Pointing South: Something is happening that is aggressive in nature, a steamy, hot situation.

Flame Pointing West: Something emotional manifesting. A good sign of success.

The Smoke

The following general rules apply when interpreting the direction your candle smoke takes:

North:

     You will have to work for what you want. Success will not be easy or rapid. Perseverance is the key here. In the case of health, it can mean a condition can get worse. Look to other omens for more information.

East:

     Success comes with thought and strategy. Carefully review the situation. Patience is the key here.

South:

     Success comes rapidly with your request. In the case of health, your recovery is immanent.

West:

     When the smoke wafts to the West, the issue is too emotional. Step back.  Look at the situation from a detached point of view to clear the mind. Then, reanalyze the problem.

The Talking Candle

     Candle chatter denotes communication on some level. That level will depend on the magick you are performing. Chatter is most common when using figure candles and can denote who is getting told what and by whom.

Soft, infrequent Chatter: Indicates intimate conversation and, at times, pure thoughts.

Mild, Frequent Chatter: Someone in a position of authority is giving orders or directions.

Strong, Frequent Chatter: Denote Arguments, quarrels or loud disagreements.