#ceromancy
Versatile tools in divination, candles are multi-useful and can be used for three different types on divination… given that the environment is condusive to working. Taking out any mundane disturbances such as wind, irregular wick lengths, oils and wax colorants, remembering that not everything is a sign, candles can be interprested in a number of ways.
-Capromancy, divination by smoke.
-Ceromancy, divination by wax.
-Pyromancy, divination by fire.
Starting with Capromancy…
A lot of smoke coming from a burning candle is neither a good or bad sign. It means that the element of communication and observation, Air, is present. It means that you need to use your mind and eyes to read the situation yourself. Watch the smoke and see what more may come of the working.
Thick, Black Smoke coming from your candle says that negative energies are present in the work space, bad energies are opposing the work being done, or there is some other conflict present. Cleanse yourself and the work space before trying again.
White Smoke is a good sign when working spells or divining for answers. It means good things are coming or your spellwork was successful.
Smoke coming toward you can be a good thing, depending on context. If you’re working a blessing or trying to attract something, this can mean that you’re getting positive results. However, if you’re working curses or hexes, this can mean that you’re not hitting the intended target or you won’t be able to escape responsibility for your work.
Smoke going away from you is also dependent on context for meaning. It can mean energies moving outword, symbolizing something not quite within reach. When working influential magicks, such as healing, blessings, manipulation, it can mean that the smoke is travelling and working toward your goal. Watch to make sure it’s on track.
Soot in a jar candle is a common occurence, although some can use the amount and location of soot as another way to tell if a working has been successful or not. A little amount of candle soot only around the top of the jar means that any opposition has been overcome. If it covers the entire jar above the wax and wick, the spell needs to be reworked. White soot can mean spirits are aiding in the completion on the working.
Moving on to Ceromancy…
When your candle burns and forms a crater with tall walls of wax around it, this means that the energies forming the spell have been blocked. The energies weren’t strong enough to overcome barriers. Maybe try again at a different time.
If your candle burns quickly it can mean that excited energies are working to complete the spell quickly. Use the melted wax to read the shapes and divine other messages you may be receiving.
If the wax falls down only one side it can mean something about you or the spell was off balance. Thinking about left brain and right brain, you can figure out what may be off balance by what side the wax dripped down. Left side could be an emotional or psychic imbalance, whereas the right side could be your own personal beliefs or reservations getting in the way. The results of the working will be incomplete.
If the wax forms waterfalls it can mean that while the working has been successful, there may be trouble along the path. Strife, tears, hard work.. this is more likely if the structures remain even after the candle has burned out completely.
If you find little bits of debris in your candle, it means you need to look out for unintended consequences of your spell. There will be clean up and loose ends to take care of.
If there are no wax drips, CONGRATS. Everything went as planned!
If the candle has a chaotic end such as an explosion, the jar breaks, or really anything else off the wall, the spell just isn’t going to work. Cleanse your space and yourself, and let it go until you find out why.
If the candle wax forms shapes after burning, use your intuition to decide what those may mean. There’s no truly universal list of correspondences to say for sure what they mean. These lists are more of a guideline.
Finally,Pyromancy!
If your candle just won’t light it means that the spell you’re trying to use won’t yield the results you need or even work at all. The outcome may have already been decided or it’s simply out of your hands. Use this time to either divine what may be blocking you or refocus your intention altogether. If you’re trying to divine an answer to a question, this can mean that now is not the right time to ask.
If the candle goes out the work is complete. The energies are working out in the world. Alternatively, it could mean that a stronger, opposing force has put an end to whatever manifestation you may be working toward. Either way, leave it be. if it goes out before you get an answer to a question, it can mean that now isn’t the right time to ask.
If your candle won’t go out it’s a sign that you missed a message or you’re not done. There is more to the answer that you need to hear. Revisit your work for some time and when you feel it’s been settled, try again to extinguish the flame.
If the flame on your candle is small, it means that the energy you’ve put into your spell is weak, or it’s simply not the right time. It will flicker and bend, ultimately don’t expect favorable results. If the flame drowns in the wax and goes out, that’s a telltale sign it won’t work this time. In a yes/no scenario, this is a no.
A small but steady flame seeks patience and focus. It’s a good sign your spell will work, although not as swiftly as you might have hoped for. If the flame grows, it means the energy working behind the spell is also growing. If the flame stays low and you’re asking a yes or no question, this is a no.
Atall and strong flame means powerful energies are working toward the goal. Expect a quick and positive result. Similarly, a good clean burn, although boring, means positive results as expected, though not as quickly. When seeking a yes or no answer, this is a strong yes.
Apopping candle flame and uneven burn can signify interference or communication from spirits or energies that are working against you. Try to refocus your energies or concentrate your intention and energy. If the resistance feels too great, cease the work and try again later. A dancing or popping flame when asking a question means you need to refocus and ask again. It can also mean there isn’t a simple yes or no for your answer. A violently flickering flame is a STRONG no and a warning.
Adual flame means you need to wait for your answer just a bit longer. There’s some thinkng involved. A flame leaning to the left means yes, and a flame leaning to the right means no.
Ablue or blue-white flame is rare, but can signify angelic or faery presence. Higher, divine beings have taken an interest in your work. Red or yellow flames mean a more mundane, though still strong, energy is fueling the spell.
image credt - vvhatavvitch.tumblr.com
Laws of Candle Care
Candles, while popular in religion and magik, are rarely properly cared for. Many who use them don’t even know how to take care of them. And when you don’t take care of your candles, especially candles used for divination, you use them up much quicker and get a lot of false responses.
This guide is important for anyone who burns or wants to burn candles, regardless of how much you think you know.
Vocabulary
There are many, many types of candles. This isn’t anywhere near all, but the four kinds you should be aware of:
- Tealights: (small, round candles, usually about an inch in diameter)
- Pillars: (freestanding cylindrical candles of varying sizes)
- Container candles: (candles poured directly in a container–includes prayer candles, which are tall glass pillars)
- Tapers:(Tall, thin candles that stand in holders–includes chimes, which are miniature tapers)
Wick: The string, wood, etc. in the center of a candle that you light. Usually a cotton string coated with wax.
Hugging the edges: The process where the outer edges of a partly melted candles are pushed in to extend burn time.
Burn time: The amount of time it takes a candle to burn out when properly maintained and/or the amount of time a candle is being burned
Double boiler method: Heating wax in a pot inside another pot of water. This prevents it from catching fire or burning.
General
Location: Burn candles at least 1 foot from other flammable materials. Never burn a candle directly under anything–candles need at least a meter/yard of space above them to burn safely. Be careful when burning candles on a desk or near other candles. If burning a non-container candle, make sure it’s on a heatproof surface like a plate to catch wax.
Wicks: Always trim your wick to ¼ inch before burning, no exceptions. Wick trimmings should be removed from the candle, not left to accumulate in the pool.
Holders: Use a properly sized holder. This is a holder that the candle can sit in the bottom of, but will not shake or fall if lifted.
Burning: Not all candles can burn unattended. In fact, very few can. Always assume that you can’t let a burning candle out of your sight. The main exceptions to this are container candles, but even so, not all container candles can burn alone. Prayer candles are designed to burn continuously, but still require clear, safe space, and should be checked on.
Melting: The first time you burn any candle, you must allow the wax to melt up to the edge of the candle before extinguishing it. Ideally, you’d allow this pool to reach the edge every single time. If you don’t, the candle will tunnel, shortening its lifespan.
Extinguishing: Blow, pinch, or snuff a candle. Never use water to extinguish a candle–this makes it more likely to explode in future.
Troubleshooting
Candle wont light: Check if the wick is too short. If it is, hold a flame near the wick and pour out wax in increments until it can light.
Candle is tunneling: Burn it all the way out to the edge. You may need to manually melt the edges with a separate flame. You might also have forgotten to hug the edges.
Flame is smoking: There’s a few possible reasons;
- Wick is too tall: This one’s easy, simply trim it.
- Too long burn time: If a candle burns too long (usually 3+ hours at a time), the wick may curl or “mushroom.” Extinguish and trim.
- Insufficient air: Most smoking comes from a flame not having enough oxygen (which the above two can cause). This can also come if your space isn’t well ventilated, or if there’s wind, breezes, or other moving air.
Only one side is melting: The candle’s wick is likely poorly centered, or you’re burning it with one side in a hotter/colder place. You may be able to move it the wick to the middle when melted, or move the candle. Otherwise, it’s usually fine to ignore on its own.
“Oh no, what do I do if my candle…”
Spills: Surround the pool with paper towels. Wait for it to cool, then pry off wax with a knife. Beeswax peels easiest. If there’s still wax and it’s on fabric, put paper to blot on both sides, and iron. Wash as normal.
Explodes/Cracks: If it didn’t put itself out, extinguish it immediately. Clean spilled wax and, if present, glass. Do not try to re light the candle, even if the candle is still usable.
Has a curling wick: Extinguish, trim, and wait to fully solidify before burning again.
Catches something on fire: Immediately extinguish both. It’s best to own and use a fire extinguisher for this, as water doesn’t always work or cool it down well. Avoid blowing if at all possible, as this can feed the flame. Do not reuse the candle afterwards.
Candle FAQ
Q: How are candles made?
A: It varies based on the candle! The most common method is by melting down wax in a double boiler and pouring it into a mold, or dipping string repeatedly in a vat of wax.
Q: How do you scent a candle?
A: Typically, you would mix in fragrance or essential oils when the wax is melted before pouring it into a bowl.
Q: Can you put herbs in candles?
A: Certainly! But please don’t do this if you aren’t experienced in candle care, it can be dangerous when they catch fire if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Q: How do you color a candle?
A: You use specific wax coloring! It’s very important to use colors designed for wax, because those are designed to burn safely. Things like food coloring can and will explode or ruin your candle.
Q: What kinds of candle wax are there?
A: There’s a few, but the three you’re most likely to find are paraffin, soy, and beeswax. Paraffin is essentially plastic, making it the least ecofriendly option, but it’s cheapest. Soy wax is from the soy plant, and generally fairly cheap. Beeswax burns the cleanest and longest, and is the best for the environment, but it’s the most expensive. They can generally be told apart by texture if there’s no label; paraffin is usually hard, flat, and bumpy, soy can be flaky and greasy, and beeswax is smooth and sometimes slightly rippled.
Candles in Magik & Divination
Chances are, if you’re here, this is what you use candles for. While it’s exciting to see candles doing weird things, remember you should always check for mundane reasons. Fire isn’t a toy, and an oddly behaving candle can be a hazard, not just symbolic.
When doing a spell with candles, make sure anything on or around the candle(s) is safe to burn. For example, ensuring you used cotton thread or yarn to tie the candle, not adding dangerous herbs to inhale, and keeping an eye on the type of paper you’re burning indoors. (Rolling paper is ideal for burning sigils.)
It’s a bit disappointing to learn a “sign” was only a poorly cared for candle, but it’s far worse to burn your house down over a false sign from an unsafe candle. So take care of them.
More questions? Send in a DM or ask! Feel free to add on in RBs or notes.
Well, I am hardly an expert, but I can point you in the direction of others who are!
Introduction
Tarot Cards
- How to Get Started in Tarot
- How to Read Tarot Cards When You Don’t Know Shit
- Tips for Interpreting Tarot Cards
- Reverse Tarot Cards
- Yes/No Tarot Tips
- Moon Phase Tarot Spread
- How to Cleanse your Cards
Cartomancy
Tasseography
Lithomancy
Scrying
Runeology
- A Guide to Greek Alphabet Divination (Runes)
- An Introduction to Norse Runeology
- Elder Futhark Rune Correspondences
- Blooding Runes
Candle Work
Misc.
