I was making a spell candle for the Imbolc ritual I’m hosting for the coven tomorrow and figured: why not turn it into a little tutorial? So here is my version of the spell candles!
What you need: (note: I made a candle for creativity and inspiration, so everything matches that goal. Change herbs, colours and stones to match any goal you want/need!)
🕯 a base candle, either white or a colour that works for your goal
🕯 through-and-though coloured candles for dripping in colours that match your goal. I usually use two or three, in this case yellow for happiness and inspiration and orange for creativity
🕯 herbs, I used basil (creativity), rose (passion/motivation), mistletoe (fertility for ideas) and mugwort (creativity)
🕯 small stone chips, I used aventurine, citrine and burnt amethyst (all for creativity)
🕯 oils, I used jasmine (creativity)
🕯 ribbon and charm (optional, but pretty!)
🕯 baking paper to protect your work surface
Start with carving some words or symbols into the candle. Today I used a bindrune for creativity, the runes kenaz (inner fire), wunjo (happiness) and gebo (gift).
Now drip the first colour. Make sure to first go around the edges for the pretty drips and then fill in the top.
Next are the herbs, stones and oil. Simply sprinkle them on top and arrange the bigger pieces so they are spread out a bit. Press the stones gently down into the still soft wax for sturdyness.
Drip the last colour, making sure to set but not drown the herbs, and tadaa! One pretty spellcandle! But wait, there’s more!
Tie the ribbon around the candle with one knot.
Slide on your charm and knot again, fitting it snuggly against the candle.
Make a pretty bow and trim the ends,and you’re done!
Burn it during your spell (note: remove the ribbon before it catches and reuse it!), place it on your altar or even make them to give away as gifts!
Also, feel free to tag me if you make one with the tutorial, I’d love to see them! 🌙
This post is not intended as curse/ill-intended spell shaming. This is for anyone who is uncomfortable using a curse for any reason. In my case, I don’t like to curse people I live with, and the deities I worship are very specific about when curses are appropriate, so I have to have alternatives on hand.
All associations are based on my personal practice and research.
I do not write my spells down when I create them (I am a fountain of bad witchy habits), so most spell links are from natural-magics lovely collection.
1. Cast a protection spell
The first step to handling someone you cannot curse should always be to increase your personal protections. If you can’t interrupt the flow of harm, you can build up your protections to at least make it less painful.
Runes: Elhaz (to protect and maintain dignity without a fight), Thurisaz (to resist/fight passively), Dagaz (to hold back darkness)
FOR THE NEXT THREE SECTIONS: I tend to work by feel on the fly, so I had a hard time finding written spells to accomplish these tasks. I encourage writing yourown, but linked spells to give you an idea of what you’re working toward.
3. Cast a spell of understanding/teaching
If you don’t feel right cursing them, making them understand what their actions have caused might be more your speed. It’s important to the healing process or creation of remorse.
Runes: Sowulo (stark illumination in the dark), Kenaz (the light shed upon new knowledge), Ansuz (the truth)
I especially like to have people who’ve harmed me consider their past, how much kinder they once were, and all of the good people they have left in the dust. I know such instances of rememberance make me more compassionate, and hope it has the same effect on them.
Runes: Gebo (gratitude/love for those that have helped you become who you are), Eihwaz (endings and beginnings, the doors of choice)
5. Cast a spell to call their better traits forward
This is what I go for when nothing gentler works, and there is no way I can remove them from my life.
Runes: Mannaz (support from shared experiences), Berkana (rebirth/revitalization). If they come from a tradition of service or goodwill, Othala (inherited cultural wealth) could also work.