Welcome back to Saffron’s Cauldron! Saffron’s Cauldron is a monthly article that discusses spells and information that can be used in doing spell work. I’ll be keeping you posted on new and old spells, Rituals that you can use for the upcoming Sabbaths, loads of information pertaining to spell work, charms and tools that you can use in your daily life.
This month we celebrate Samhain! It’s the time of year where most think of carved pumpkins and candy apples. You hear many folks buzzing about parties and costumes and the stores are filled with spiders, bats and black cats to decorate our homes with. But it is also a time for remembering the dead and celebrating their wisdom that has been passed on generation by generation. Celebrations world wide like the “Day of the Dead” in Mexico will honor those who have passed before us with brightly lite bonfires and huge feasts! Be sure to take some time in your own private rituals to honor the ones who have passed before you and left behind their wisdoms for you to share with the next generation.
This month I will continue talking about making your own ritual. This will be PART THREE, of a series on Creating Spells and Rituals. The two months prior contained information on Time as it relates to spells and rituals and the other related to Tools and their intended use.
This part of the Series on Creating Spells and Rituals will be about Color and Candles. Just as time and tools are important to the success of a spell or ritual, so too are color and candles.
COLORS
You will find as you work with colors you use during spells or ritual can add a specific intent or energy to your work. You will also find that all colors can have more than one intent and you will need to decide which quality you would like that color to portray for you before starting. It has always been my practice to meditate on the spell or ritual and ask the guide I am working with to advise on the best use of color (as well as other things) for my spell or ritual. You will find as you create your own spells and rituals that you too will find the best means of deciding on a color or colors for your work too.
Following are some basic and traditional uses of color that have been passed down through the years. You can use this as a guide, but will most likely find other uses and other colors to add to your BOS for use.
CANDLE COLOR MEANINGS
• White: Truth, cleansing, protection, purification, peace
• Red: Strong love, strength, health, passion, energy, lust
• Orange: For strong love and the courage to pursue it.
• Yellow: Intellect, communication, attraction, new beginnings
• Green: Money, wealth, prosperity, healing, growth
• Light Blue: Healing, patience, happiness
• Dark Blue: Claming, happiness, peace
• Pink: True love, friendships, and success
• Purple: Universal power, wishes, spirituality, meditation
• Black: Protection against negativity, dispelling evil
• Brown: Courage, house blessing, grounding
As color is often associated with candles and their use, I am including in this article information on basic candle magic and how to prepare your candles for spell work or rituals.
CANDLE BASICS
Before you do anything... you should sit with the candle...breathing in and out and with each breathe you take (long deep ones) on the outward breathe send the candle your energy... focus on the intent the whole time and when you breathe out send that intent rushing into the candle until its saturated with intent. Then mark the bottom of the candle with a Rune symbol or witch symbol appropriate to the spell or ritual. Once you have done that you need to seal the candle so the intent remains till you are ready to do the spell or ritual. There are a couple of ways to do this... the way I like to do it is to use my energy ball.
The way to get the ball going is to rub your hands together vigorously then face your hands palm to palm.... if you move your hands in and out toward each other (still palm facing palm) you will feel the energy between them.... focus on that energy as a bright white protective energy and build it up till its hard to push your palms close together.... once you have this form it into a ball and bring it down over the candle so the energy ball is pierced through the center by the candle... visualize it sealing in the candle energy as you move the ball up and down the candle length. Sometimes I envision this as a hot flaming ball sometimes a ball of ice depending on what is needed. When you make the final pass on the candle and your hands come up with your left hand (the hand of intuition) snatch hard at the air above the candle to seal the top off. I often use a little twist motion as well.
You can prepare loads of candles at one time doing this.... or just the one you need. I tend to do a whole lot of candles and then wrap them in silk or cotton to keep them clear. I can tell which is which by the symbol on the bottom of the candle and the color of the candle.
Candles hold energy so very well.... The beauty of doing this to candles is when you are ready to do the spell and the circle is cast or even if you don't cast a circle (you don't need to) all you need to do is Say or think as you light the candle... "I release your energy to do its work here… so mote it be".... or something similar to that. When you light the candle you pierce the seal and the energy will flow. Anytime you have a high positive energy level is a good time to "infuse" candles.
This concludes part three of this series, but before I leave you I will give you a Ritual that you can use to Honor the Dead that have passed before you.
Ritual to Honor the Dead
• 1 white candle in a tall candle stick
• A small bowl of sea salt
• A small bowl of water
• A stick of frankincense incense
• A picture of your loved one
• A glass of red wine or dark grape juice
• A piece of rye bread or a plain bagel with poppy seeds on it
If you have one, set your altar in the center of a clean area. If not, simply sit/kneel/stand on the floor in the center of a cleared area. Arrange the items in a semi-circle in front of you with the candle directly in front of you and the photo resting at the candle's base.
Light the white candle. Envision a circle of white light around you (and your altar). Repeat the following:
"Guardians of the Northern Winds
I call thee to this space
My circle of remembrance is open to thee
Lend me your strength
(light the incense and pass your right hand through the smoke)
Guardians of the Eastern Valley
I call thee to this space
My circle of remembrance is open to thee
Lend me your strength
(touch the sea salt with your finger tips)
Guardians of the Southern Flame
I call thee to this space
My circle of remembrance is open to thee
Lend me your strength
(pass your hand through the candle flame)
Guardians of the Western Seas
I call thee to this space
My circle of remembrance is open to thee
Lend me your strength"
(touch the water with your finger tips)
Now, close your eyes and let your mind go quiet. Repeat the following:
"My circle honors those who came before, the memories of my blood.
My heart is open to the love of my ancestors.
My mind is open to the memories of those who have gone before.
Bless me with your wisdom, with your fire and with your serenity."
If you are sensitive to the dead, you will feel the air around you go cold, then warm, as if someone wrapped a blanket around you on a cold night. Comforting you. You may hear the voices of some of your ancestors; you may even see strange flashes or images in your mind's eye. Memory fragments that are not your memories, but the memories of your ancestors. If not, you will still feel a sense of peacefulness. You are ready to proceed to the next step.
Open your eyes and look at the picture of your loved one. Study his face until you can hold it clearly in your mind. Close your eyes and repeat the following:
"(First and Last Name), I call to thee
My (Father/Lover/Child/Friend), my guardian, my guide
Your memory thrives in my heart
Though you are gone from this plane
Your legacy lives on in me
Bless me with your wisdom
This night I honor your passing
And know we shall meet again soon."
Eat the bread and drink the wine as a celebration of your loved one and your ancestors. Let your mind fill with memories of your loved one. Picture your skin beginning to glow softly as your mind fills with memories and emotions. Some of them yours, some of them his as his spirit shares energy with yours. Your skin may begin to tingle. When you are ready, release the positive energy created (push from the center of your chest and the energy will slide off and dissipate). Take a moment to catch your breath and relax. You should feel a strong sense of peace and love. Thank your loved one for sharing this gift with you.
Release the 4 elements by saying the following:
"Guardian of the Western Sea
Hail and well met
Thank you for aiding me this night
Go now with my thanks
"Guardian of the Southern Flame
Hail and well met
Thank you for aiding me this night
Go now with my thanks
"Guardian of the Eastern Valley
Hail and well met
Thank you for aiding me this night
Go now with my thanks
"Guardian of the Northern Wind
Hail and well met
Thank you for aiding me this night
Go now with my thanks"
Picture the light of your circle flashing brightly, raise your hands above your head and push the energy downward. The positive energy you raised will sink in to the earth below you helping you ground and center.
Until next month, I wish you all a Blessed Samhain!
PLEASE NOTE: Now you KNOW that all the graphics on this page
ARE copyright, so please do not copy them for your own use.
We don't want to have to hunt you down and seek magickal retaliation. Thank you!
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