In witchcraft and spellcasting, candles are often used as a powerful tool to enhance and direct energy. The color of a candle plays a significant role in spellwork, as each color is associated with specific intentions and energies. When choosing a candle for a particular spell or ritual, witches consider the symbolism and meaning associated with each color. White candles are commonly used in witchcraft as they represent purity, spirituality, and protection. These candles are often used in rituals to invite positive energy, purification, and healing. Black candles have a connection with the element of earth and are used for banishing negativity, protection, and grounding.
Purple candle magick
Wisdom, dreams, and psychic vision. That’s what it says on the product page for our Basic Purple Candle. But what if you want to know more? Welcome to the first installment in our advanced color magick series. This article takes a long look at aaaaaallll (well, most) of the things you can do with a purple candle.
Purple is one of the most versatile and magickal colors. Here’s an overview of the types of spells you can cast with just a simple purple candle:
Wisdom and spiritual attainment
Honoring and remembering the dead
Friendship spells (lavender)
Healing and cleansing the aura
Creativity (especially the visual arts)
Success in business
Connecting with guardian angels and spirit guides
Discovering the truth
Magick involving Sagittarius (zodiac sign corresponding to purple)
Balancing the emotions
Just triumph over enemies
Altar candles and devotionals
To repair someone’s reputation
Attracting a same-sex lover (lavender)
Harvest, abundance, gratitude
Glamour and seduction
Spells for safe travel
Finding a mentor
Getting attention for accomplishments
Conjuring the ghost of Prince (just kidding)
Correspondences of purple candles
Purple is often attributed to the kingly planet of Jupiter. When used for protection and wisdom, purple shows its Saturnine qualities. And its association with dreaming and psychic matters means there is some Moon energy in there, as well.
In modern Paganism, a purple candle tends to correspond to sky gods and gods of wisdom. A notable exception is the Egyptian pantheon. Purple was not one of the pigments that ancient Egyptian artists had at their disposal, so it is rare to see the Egyptian gods honored with purple.
A color of luck and abundance, purple most closely matches the zodiac sign of Sagittarius. Like the centaur, purple is a compound creation, a fusion of blue and red. As a symbol of spirituality, purple nudges Sagittarius’s philosophical mind toward greater heights of awareness.
Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Moon
Deities: Zeus, Jove, Hecate, Dionysus, Bacchus, Athena, Shiva, Odin, Oya
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Tarot card: Temperance
Variations of purple candles
Purple candles come in many shades, from palest lavender to inky dark violet. Obviously, they’re not all interchangeable. Each shade has a slightly different energy and a different effect in magick. You’ll want to be mindful of this when choosing a purple candle for a spell.
Generally, lavender-hued candles are used for spells of healing, blessing, and wishcraft. They combine the high spiritual vibration of purple with the purity of white.
Lavender is historically associated with gay love. Sometimes queer folks will substitute a lavender candle for the more common pink candle in love spells.
Vibrant, medium purple is the color of royalty and riches (both temporal and spiritual). This is the shade that corresponds most closely with the third eye or brow chakra. True purple is the classic choice for divination and astral workings. It’s also good for Jupiter magick—good luck, expanding success, wisdom, and justice.
Purplish-red is called burgundy, after the classic French wine. It carries an Earthier version of purple’s power. A burgundy candle may be employed for workings of passion, willpower, and manifestation.
Purple candle scents
Usually, candles used in spellwork are unscented. This is so the magick worker can add their own herbs and scents—or so that they can avoid being distracted by candle smells while casting the spell. However, as every Witch knows, you don’t always have an unscented candle handy when you need one. Sometimes you’re stuck with whatever’s at the dollar store. In those cases, it’s good to make sure that a candle’s scent isn’t working at cross-purposes with your intention.
A stroll through the local Yankee Candle outlet reveals that the most popular purple candle scent, by a long shot, is Lavender. (Lilac and other variations on the light-floral theme make up the rest of the purple candle shelf.) Fortunately, Lavender is a time-honored magickal herb and is quite appropriate for most purple candle spells. Its fragrance is mood-enhancing and relaxing, and will do nothing but complement most beneficent spells.
Lavender candles are usually pale, but dark purple candles often come in food flavors. Luscious Plum, Vineyard, and Boysenberry Pie carry the jovial energy of generosity and indulgence. These mouth-watering scents are just groovy for good luck spells and offerings. (But don’t let them make you too hungry during meditation or astral travel. Nothing like a grumbling stomach to spoil your concentration!)
Rounding out the purple candle category are heavy oriental and exotic blends: Musk, Amber, and Opium. They often show up on eggplant-colored candles with names like Midnight Tryst. Use these ancient scents for the darker side of purple candle spells—glamours, dream magick, communing with ancestors.
Purple candles for psychic development
Purple corresponds to the Third Eye Chakra (or in some systems, the Crown Chakra). Clairvoyance, intuitive wisdom, and openness to higher spiritual planes are some of the functions of these important energy centers. According to color magick theories, viewing or even being near a color stimulates the energy of the corresponding chakra. Purple candles are a great choice for opening the third eye and astral travel.
If you practice divination (for example, reading Tarot cards or runes), you may wish to keep a stash of small purple candles on hand. Bless the candles under the light of the full moon, and keep them in a closed box with a Quartz crystal or Moonstone. Light one candle each time you perform a reading.
Another simple psychic development ritual is to burn a purple candle while meditating upon the flickering flame. Watch the flame for approximately a minute, then close your eyes and see it projected behind your eyelids. Imagine that the candle flame is warming and caressing the third eye. Draw energy from the candle’s light, while at the same time allowing it to burn away any part that is stagnant or wounded. This exercise of good for anyone who works with their upper chakras a lot, including psychic readers, artists, priests and priestesses, and healers.
Whenever you perform magick to unlock psychic powers, don’t forget to set your intention that any psychic openness you receive is for your highest good. There are good and bad reasons to pursue psychic development; there are good and bad results that can occur from it. Sometimes our psychic access is limited for our own well-being. Sometimes (as annoying as it is), our elder spirits, guardians, and guides really do know best. Seek to awaken psychic gifts only at the pace of your ability to handle them.
Purple candles for spiritual strength
Purple is associated with high magick and spiritual attainment. As a compound color, purple blends red (passion, physicality) with blue (wisdom and intellect). The integration of these opposites is also the aim of the magickal adept. If a red candle is for Power and blue is for Truth, the purple candle ritual is performed for Understanding.
Purple, as it relates to the Crown Chakra, symbolizes oneness, consciousness, and openness to enlightenment. Mindfully burning a purple candle is a way to signal to your higher self that you are ready to receive spiritual advancement. In times of trouble, a purple candle ritual can help to balance the emotions and keep your mind on the big picture.
In Christianity, purple candles are a symbol of penance, used only during Advent and Lent. Along with white, it is considered one of the most spiritual colors, and invites contemplation of the divine. Purple candles are appropriate for most rituals of devotion and prayer. Try them on your meditation or deity altar.
But that’s not to say there aren’t Low Magick uses for purple candles—there are many! Purple candles may be used for protection from evil, and even triumph over enemies when you know your cause is just. Most commonly, the candle is dressed (or anointed) with a ritual oil and burned while reciting an incantation. Here a few traditional uses for a purple candle from American Hoodoo:
To cast out corrupt influences from a person and place
To overcome attackers and robbers
To quiet gossip and slander
To regain your reputation
To avoid persecution in court
These purple candle rituals summon divine protection and judgement, using a spiritual hue to signal that the spell-caster is taking the magickal high road. Due to its high vibration, purple is not an especially good choice for hexes and tricks. The nastiest possible outcome of a purple candle spell is that everyone will get what they deserve.
Purple candles for expansion and ambition
Purple has been known for ages as the color of royalty. The dyes used to make purple cloth were rare and expensive extracts of sea snails, so these garments were reserved for kings and emperors. Ripe fruit is purple, and so is wine, a consummate beverage that has long inspired poets and epicures. Purple is a lucky color—it’s hard not to feel blessed when your eyes alight on this rich hue.
As the color of royalty, imperial power, and riches, purple is an excellent choice for spells of earthly success. Don’t be shy about using it to get what you want on the physical plane. Purple corresponds to Jupiter, the sky god, who can grant boons to the deserving and undeserving alike. You can use a purple candle spell to stir up an advantage in almost any area of life—love, business, politics, or travel. Light up that purple candle and let your ambition fuel your magick!
The relative scarcity of purple in the natural world makes it a head-turning color to this very day. Burn a purple candle when you want to be noticed and praised for your accomplishments.
As purple is a color of completion, I find that success spells with purple candles are best performed as you approach the final stages of your efforts. Save that purple candle until you’ve done at least some of the (non-magickal) work. Then use the energy of purple to culminate and expand your projects, and savor the glory of your success.
Herbs and oils for purple candle spells
Choose herbs or essential oils to further empower your candle-burning ritual. Oils are usually used to “dress” the candle prior to burning it. Herbs can be placed in a ring around the base of the candle. Alternatively, you can melt the candle wax slightly (a hair dryer works great) and roll it in the crushed herbs.
Here are some suggestions of herbs to use with your purple spell candles:
Success: Orris Root
Psychic vision: Bay, Anise
Lucid dreaming: Jasmine
Meditation and spiritual growth: Palo Santo
Gemstones for purple candle spells
Purple candles can be used alongside these stones in ritual:
Examples of spells with a purple candle
Now that you know all about purple candles, it should be easy to craft your own purple candle spells and rituals. Need more inspiration? Here are some sample purple candle spells from various authors:
For Mental Clarity
Excerpted from The Secret Language of Color by Inna Segal.
Light a Purple-colored candle and focus your attention on it. Become aware of any negative thoughts or feelings you are experiencing, saying each aloud as you burn the candle. Imagine the negativity being consumed by the flame of the candle, then say the following statement, “Divine Intelligence, please delete this negative thought from my mind, body, and energy field.”
Now focus on creating a positive state of mind. Say positive affirmations that can help you feel more inspired and peaceful in your life. Say: “Divine Spirit, please install thoughts and feelings of clarity, peace, and gratitude.”
Keep practicing this exercise until your mind is purified of all negativity.
To Attract Healing and Good Health
Excerpted from Firewolf's Practical Candle Magick by Kyle Brandon Leite.
To attract Good Health and Positive Healing Energies; dress a PURPLE (VIOLET) CANDLE with one teaspoon of ground LAVENDER, one teaspoon of ground LEMON PEEL, and one teaspoon of ground CHAMOMILE. Using a PIN/SHARP NAIL, inscribe your name or the person’s name that is need of Healing. Anoint the CANDLE with LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL, charging the CANDLE with intentions of Healing and Good Health. Light the CANDLE and allow it to burn out completely, you may want to state aloud a prayer or magickal incantation, focused on Healing and attracting Good Health.
To Share the Same Dream
Excerpted from The Love Magic Book: Potions for Passion and Recipes for Romance by Gillian Kemp.
Decide with you absent lover to dream of a future special occasion the two of you will attend. Synchronize your bedtimes for the same hour on the same day of the week. Both of you should light a purple candle for half an hour before going to bed. One person may dream the premonition before the other, but by repeating the formula, both of you will dream, perhaps on the same night. Tell each other your dreams and watch as the events seen in the dreams transpire.
Psychic Attunement Bath
Excerpted from Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham.
Have a light purple candle burning as you bathe, and ring the candle with amethysts to sharpen the “sixth sense.” Some keep an amethyst with their tarot cards, I-Ching yarrow stalks or coins, or rune stones to heighten their inner energies.
Find more witchy knowledge in the archive!
Ask A Witch: All About Candle Magick
Question: I’m really attuned to candle magick and want to learn more about dressing candles for different situations. Any suggestions on working with oils and anointing (without burning the house down) would be awesome!
Answer: Oh, candle magick. I love it so much. Most of my really intense spells incorporate candles because they’re such an easy and powerful way of focusing energy, especially if you’re using them over a period of time. If magick equals intention plus energy plus action, then candle magick is the action part of the equation. By working with candles, we have a visible way of seeing our magick at work.
Below is my guide to working with candle magick, though there are many ways of doing this. My suggestion is to see what feels best for you and then stick with it. This way the process is the same, and the ritual becomes charged because it’s personalized and repeated.
1) Set your intention: The first thing to ask yourself in candle magick is [whether] you want to attract or banish something. Getting clear about what you’re trying to do will make the rest of this process much easier. If you want to carve your intention into your candle, make sure you’re concise and know what you want to write. You can also write this on a piece of paper (known as a petition) and have it near your candle when it’s burning.
2) Pick your candle and color: You can use white candles for pretty much anything, though they work especially well for attracting and manifesting, while black candle work is best for repelling or banishing. You can also look up colors specific to your intention, and select your candle from there. (Just to get you started, use red for sexual energy and passion; pink for love or self-love; orange for creativity and vitality; yellow for inspiration; green for money; blue for peace and health; purple for psychic connection, etc.)
Next, think about what kind of magick you’re going to be doing. If you’re only going to be working on the spell for one night (like on the full or new moon), then you may want to pick a chime candle or votive candle. If you’re doing a spell over a period of days (like from the new moon to full moon), you may want to pick a bigger candle like a seven-day candle or a taper candle, which will burn for longer.
3) Pick any oils or herbs you’re going to use to dress your candle: Anointing your candle is the process of dressing it in herbs and oils. You can always use extra virgin olive oil or an oil blend specific to what magick you’re working (like a love or money oil). These oil blends are available online and in metaphysical and witchy shops. You can also use essential oils and herbs that correspond to your magick as well, like rose for love, eucalyptus for healing and protection, mugwort for psychic connection, etc. You can look online for herbs specific to your magick or check out this list.
4) Anoint your candle: Thinking about carving your intention into your candle? Now is the time. You can use a pen and inscribe your candle with any magical symbols or runes, or simply write your intention on your candle. When writing your intention, write from the top to the middle, and then the bottom to the middle of the candle. When you’re ready to anoint your candle, rub your chosen oil in your hands and then, if you're manifesting, put it on your candle from the top to the middle, and then the bottom to the middle. If you're banishing, put the oil on from the middle to the top, and then the middle to the bottom. Do the same thing with herbs, sprinkling them on every side of the candle. You can also use another candle in the same color to drip wax atop of the herbs so they stay. Either way, you don’t need a ton of herbs; you want your candle to light without catching any excess herbs on fire.
5) Create a ritual or spell: Once you have your candle ready to go, it’s time to ritualize it! Think of your own practice and your intention and get crafting. Try cleansing your space with sacred herbs like palo santo, sage, or sweet grass; also, think about taking a salt bath and putting on some relaxing music. Let any roomies or significant others know not to distract you, and start to connect to your breath. If it’s in your practice to cast a circle or ground, do that! You can also create an altar dedicated to your candle spell and what you’re calling in or releasing.
When you’re ready, light your candle and state your intention. Take some time to meditate on the flame, or simply reconnect to your body and breath. If your candle spell is only for this day, let your candle burn all the way down. If it’s going to stretch over a few days — and this is important! — use a candle snuffer or a fan to put out your candle. Don’t blow it out! Relight your candle every day until the spell is finished. When you’re done with your ritual, connect back to Earth (my favorite way is by pressing my head into the Earth like in child’s pose) and thank the universe for her magick.
6) Disposing of wax: If you can, find an intersection where you can throw away your wax. You can also throw it out normally (i.e. in the garbage) if necessary. You can also keep a jar of your candle remains.
Question: How do you feel about reusing candle jars that you’ve used for specific spell work or rituals? Do you reuse and repurpose? Or recycle?
Answer: I think this is case-by-case! I have some candle jars on my altar that I’ve filled with dried flowers. I have others I’ve recycled. My suggestion is to see what your gut is telling you to do. When you think of reusing the same jar, do you feel excited and energized? Or icky and heavy? Sometimes our bodies know what our magick needs more than our minds do. I would say if you do choose to reuse the jars for magick, use them for the same type of magick. Have a designated manifestation and abundance candle jar, or one for love, for money, and so on. This way the energy has the same intention, though the nuances of it will be different. You can also think about how you can repurpose the jars on your altar. Can you make them into a vase? Or fill them with other wax pieces to dispose of at a later date? If not, recycle them. Again, tap into your intuition and see what comes up for you.
If you want even more candle magick and witch 101 expertise, you can order Herstik’s book, Craft: How To Be A Modern Witch.
Candle Magic Colors and Meanings Explained (Learn More. )
In the practice of witchcraft, candles are usually used as the sacred tool to connect to God as well as other Higher Forces. With the element of fire, the candle is believed to bring light and clear away the darkness.
Due to its ancient symbol, candles have become one of essential materials in rituals, love magic spell casting sessions, and more ceremonies.
Believe it or not, candle magic colors carry display different sources of energy and effects in every ritual. Not all colors have the same meaning, so you need to select the right candle color for some certain spells.
Continue reading for more info!
Table of Contents
Black candles have a connection with the element of earth and are used for banishing negativity, protection, and grounding. They are often employed in rituals related to shadow work, divination, and protection against malevolent spirits. Red candles symbolize passion, love, courage, and strength.
Basic Facts of Magic Candles
Each color holds a particular vibration and influences a particular facet of your life; that’s why you need to know exactly what you want to attract as well as what changes you want to make in the future before casting a spell with candles.
Choose the color corresponding to your desire!
Let’s have a look at some basic facts of candle magic colors and then we will dig deeper into the meaning behind.
1. The candle color
Once you light up a candle, its color and vibration will be awakened, released, and built up. While the flame is burning, the color’s power is also scattered everywhere around you and leave its effects. Blowing the candle means you break the magic or stop the spell casting process; thus, it’s advisable to leave the candle burn out itself.
2. When burning a candle…
You’re suggested to start a ritual with candle during the waxing moon if you wish for a fresh beginning or new achievements. In case you want to remove or get rid of anything negative, then the ideal time to burn a candle is when the moon is waning.
3. In order to enhance the candle’s magic…
The key is to carve some letters, symbols, or runes in your candle. Depending on your intention, those words have to clearly describe the desire of your inner self regarding love, success, wealth, or health. In some cases, you have to engrave both your name and the name of the person you want to cast a spell on to perform the ritual.
4. The candle shape
Don’t need to pay much attention to the shape of the candle; instead, finding the right color to your circumstance accordingly is more significant. In fact, whether it’s long, short, round or square, all can be used to perform a spell casting session.
Most importantly, you shouldn’t leave a candle burning unattended.
These candles are often used in rituals that involve matters of the heart, such as love spells, fertility rituals, and increasing personal power. Pink candles are associated with love, romance, and emotional healing. They are often used in spells related to self-love, attracting new friendships, and fostering harmony in relationships. Blue candles represent peace, tranquility, and spiritual healing. They are commonly used in rituals for emotional healing, meditation, and enhancing psychic abilities. Green candles are associated with abundance, prosperity, and growth. They are often used in rituals for financial success, fertility, and attracting good luck. Yellow candles symbolize intellect, communication, and clarity. They are used in spells to improve mental abilities, increase creativity, and enhance communication skills. Orange candles represent energy, passion, and success. They are often used in rituals for motivation, career success, and increasing personal influence. Purple candles symbolize spirituality, intuition, and psychic awareness. They are commonly used in rituals that involve divination, meditation, and connecting with higher spiritual realms. Each candle color carries its unique symbolism and energy, making it an essential consideration in spellcasting and witchcraft. By harnessing the power of candle colors, witches can enhance and direct their intentions effectively. It is important to note that personal intuition and intention are also crucial factors when choosing and working with candle colors in witchcraft..
Reviews for "A Guide to Harnessing the Energies of Candle Colors in Witchcraft"
- Jane - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Candle color meaning witch". I found the information to be extremely basic and lacking any depth. The book simply lists the different candle colors and their meanings without providing any context or background information. I was hoping for more in-depth explanations and practical advice on how to incorporate candle colors in my witchcraft practice. Overall, I felt like I wasted my money on this book as I didn't learn anything new or useful.
- Mark - 2 stars - "Candle color meaning witch" was a letdown for me. While the book does provide a list of candle colors and their meanings, I felt like it didn't go beyond an introductory level. The information provided was generic and could easily be found online for free. I was hoping for more insights and practical tips on how to effectively use candle color symbolism in my spellwork. Unfortunately, I didn't find this book to be worth the investment and would not recommend it to others.
- Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who has been practicing witchcraft for a few years, I found "Candle color meaning witch" to be too basic and lacking substance. The book mainly consists of a list of candle colors and their meanings, but fails to provide any in-depth explanations or practical applications. I was looking for a more comprehensive guide that delves into the symbolism and history behind each color, as well as tips on how to effectively incorporate them in rituals and spellcasting. Regrettably, this book fell short of my expectations.