The Ways of Magick

A Study of the ancient Art of Change

Magickal Candle Making
Candle making can be very fun and enjoyable. All it takes is some wax, a little time and patience. There are basically three types of candles: dipped, molded, and container. Candle dipping may seem daunting at the start, but once you get used t0 it it becomes like second nature. Even so, I like the molded and container variety for general purpose spells because of their diversity. They are simple, quick and fun to make. You can layer different colors into the overall design for striking effects. Note that dipping and carving can result in far superior effects when it comes to color and design.

Be sure to consecrate the ingredients and final products before using them as it saves time when you need to cast a short spell quickly or "on the fly."
Let's begin with the most difficult procedure first, in other words, we'll start with dipped candles. Imagine a time when things were simpler and mankind depended upon the fundamental cycles of our Great Mother and her Ways. The very act of making a candle could be seen as a Magickal Rite on its own merit. This was a time when candles and lanterns were staples to provide light for everyday living. It was the spellcasters who recognized and made use of the flame's beauty and scrying potential and created candles for the express purpose of Magick. The mundane became the extraordinary, the common became sacred... Magick had begun.

Equipment and supplies that you will need are as follows: A deep double-boiler. (You can make one as well, for example, take a large sauce pot and a tall smaller pot that is at least four inches deeper than the tallest candle that you want to make and about half the diameter of the large pot), wax (bee's wax is traditional), a coloring agent if you are going to make colored candles, you will also need small weights, scissors, an electric hot plate (it needs to be large enough to hold the larger pot or container comfortably), small dowels, wicks, and finally, you will want to purchase or construct a custom made drying/cooling rack designed specifically for this purpose. I suggest that you acquire your supplies at a crafting shop or a store dedicated to people who make their own candles. If you happen to be a purist and desire to make the dipped candles completely from scratch, gather the bee's wax that you need during the full or waxing moon (this can be a bit tricky) or purchase it from a beekeeper who is sympathetic to your Magickal needs. Do not quibble over the price of the wax (or any other Magickal item that you purchase from someone else for that matter). Wicks can be made in the following manner : take COTTON string and toss it into melted wax. Stir occasionally to make sure it is completely saturated with wax. Remove it from the wax and hang it about to dry. Note that you can get strings of varying thickness and with different weaves, experiment with different sizes and brands until you find the perfect thickness and weave for your needs. Cut the string into lengths four to six inches longer than you want the candles to be and dip each cut end into the hot wax up to the length that you want, leaving a "loop" that has no wax (you will be using it to hold the candles while you dip and when you hang them on your drying rack). I've found that an old wooden clothes-drying rack works exceptionally well because it already has long open rungs and dowels. Another benefit is that it can be folded up when not in use. Use logic when you are designing or purchasing a drying rack, it needs to have rungs and/or dowels spaced at least a few inches apart as this will allow the candles to dangle in the air without touching or banging into each other. Keep in mind that wax is flammable, use extreme caution and care throughout the procedures, do not under any circumstances use an open flame to heat or melt it. Using a double boiler prevents the wax from getting too hot and reduces the risk of the wax flashing into flames (keep a lid handy to cover the wax should it flash off. Place the wax into the tall pot and water into the large pot. Put the tall pot into the water filled large pot and turn the hotplate on. If you desire to make colored or scented candles, add the coloring and/or scent when the wax is completely melted. You will want to add the color and/or scent slowly until it looks and smells good to you. When the wax is completely melted you may begin the procedure of making your tapers. Tie two small weights on each side of the wick and allow the wick to dangle straight down. Don't worry about the "trailer" (the extra wick that you use to tie the weights to), as this will be trimmed before you put your newly made candles away. Make sure that there is enough wax to dip the wick up to the intended length of the candle without bending the wicks. This is very important, you don't want to have lopsided candles. I would suggest that the level of the wax be at least four inches deeper than you want the length to be. More is better in this situation; there's nothing more frustrating than to run out of wax with the diameter of your candle smaller than you want (especially if you found the perfect color or scent). In other words, don't run out of wax. You can always add more wax, but you may find that the intensity of the color or scent diminishes and if you do add more scent or colour to compensate for the loss, you may not get the balance exactly the same. Be sure to write down what you do in your book of shadows so you can replicate your results as best you can when you do it again. To hold the wicks while you dip use a y-shaped holder much like a slingshot. You can devise a similar holder or you can dip and keep them separate by hand. Make sure the candles don't bang the side of the pot or each other. Now comes the tricky part, you want to build wax on the wicks without melting the previous layer. In order to prevent this, make sure that each layer is completely cooled to room temperature before you dip again and when you do, dip quickly. It is the process of dipping that builds the diameter of your candles, but if you keep the wicks in too long, the diameter will decrease or melt completely. It will take time to get the technique down. Don't get discouraged if the first candles don't turn out like you want them to. Practice is the key. One last note (angelic voices sing), making dipped candles can be a wee bit sloppy. Plastic or newspaper should be covering the floor, table or any other surface that could potentially come in contact with your hot wax.
There is not much difference between a molded and container candle, one is released from a mold, and the other is contained within a fireproof container and not removed (fancy glass containers work exceedingly well, they are fire resistant and look beautiful). The procedure is really quite simple and straightforward. Melt your wax and add any coloring or scenting materials (herbs tossed in the wax can produce interesting container or molded candles). Pour the wax into the mold or container. Molds can be created with various containers found around the house or purchased at most any crafting shop. The thing to remember about molded candles is that the candle needs to be released easily from its mold. You can use "throwaway" cartons or containers (a good example being the waxy paperboard that milk comes in) or you can use more permanent molds that you have made or purchased.
Below are a few "artsy" examples for you to try. Above all else, have as much fun with them and be as creative as you can, there is literary no limit to what you can do with simple containers and molds. It's amazing how a little wax and string can completely transform the mundane into a beautiful work of art. One of my favourite molded candles goes something like this: Cut a quart sized milk carton in half so that it is about half its original height. Get a wick and wrap some of it around a dowel. Place the unwrapped side of the wick into the center of the candle making sure that the bottom of the wick is secured to the bottom of the carton (I use tape but you could use most anything that has weight -you don't want your wick to float to the top of the candle. Rest the dowel end on the top of the carton and take up any extra slack. Here's the fun part, go get some ice from your freezer and toss it in the container. It is better to have large cubes than small ones, but try varying sizes until you find the one that suits you. It is important that you keep the wick as centered as possible because you don't want to have the candle burn unevenly. Now pour your melted wax into the milk container. I suggest that you have the milk carton filled with ice and the wick already in place, then the entire apparatus can be stored in the freezer while the wax melts. What happens here is the wax becomes hard almost instantly and leaves holes throughout the candle. When it is burnt down to about halfway in the center, you can place a votive candle in the well made from the flame. I suggest that until it reaches the "halfway" mark that you burn it no longer than an hour or two at a time. When you do burn it, keep pouring the wax out of the center well and reserve it for future use. You will find that each candle made this way is a unique creation -no two of these will ever be the same. You may want to add a second color to your candle and by all means do so, simply drain the water that is leftover from the ice and pour the next color into the holes that the ice left behind. This simple technique can produce dazzling results and many will wonder exactly how you created it. Another way to enhance a candle is to line your mold or container with fresh sprigs of cedar or any other hearty greenery, then pour the wax into the container and let it solidify. Pop it out of its mold and you have imbedded sprigs trapped within a beautiful candle. Another way is to line a cut glass container with sprigs and pour about four centimeters of wax into the bottom of it. This will anchor the sprigs to the sides. When the wax is completely cooled and the sprigs firmly in place you can add the rest of the wax (which should be cooled to a thick syrup- like consistency). As you can see, there are many many different ways to make candles. Try different techniques until you find one that you are comfortable with. Search antique shops and other places for things that can be made into a mold or kept as is for a container. Candles are a part of your Magick and help in generating a Magickal state of Mind so make them personal. The more energy that you put into them, the more likely you are to have successful results.

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