Candle Consecration

Whether a candle is hand-made or store-bought, it should be consecrated before use in even the simplest of spells or rituals. Even for a candle whose sole purpose is to provide light while a spell is read aloud should be appropriately consecrated.

How to Consecrate a Candle

The easiest method of consecrating a candle is to ‘dress’ it. This doesn’t mean breaking out the doll clothes! Dressing a candle means to anoint it. This is done with a small amount of oil, usually during the waxing phase of the moon. However, the Full Moon works as well. The dates of the Full Moon can be found on most calendars these days.

Dressing the candle does two things: it consecrates the candle, and it charges it with magickal energy. This makes it ready for use in ritual, ceremony, or spellcraft.

Anointing Oils

There are many types of anointing oils that can be used to dress a candle. Personal preference generally dictates which is picked. Anointing oils can be purchased from most New Age shops, or they can be made, as the recipes below will show. As an alternative, olive oil, available at all major grocery stores, can be used as an acceptable anointing oil. Jojoba oil can also be used, but it harder to come by.

When making anointing oil, swirl the ingredients in a clockwise direction in a clear glass jar. This mixes the oils together. Then, leave the oil to sit for at least twenty-four hours, so the ingredients to blend. Finally, if any herbs or other solid matter (such as gemstones) has been used, strain the oil, usually through cheesecloth, to remove any particles. The oil is now ready for anointing.

When it comes to choosing any of the below recipes, it’s mostly about personal preference. The recipes can be adjusted or completely rewritten. There are no clear rules.

Goddess Anointing Oil

• ½ cup olive or jojoba oil for base
• 5 drops lavender or jasmine oil
• 5 drops rose or rosemary oil
• ½ teaspoon powdered myrrh or sandalwood
• 1 teaspoon powdered basil or daisy
• ½ teaspoon powdered yarrow or willow

Spirituality Anointing Oil

• ½ cup olive or jojoba oil for base
• 5 drops mint or peppermint oil
• 5 drops myrrh or sandalwood oil
• 1 tablespoon powdered rosemary
• 1 tablespoon powdered sage
• 1 tablespoon powdered violet or willow
• 1 pinch powdered turquoise or jade, if desired (powdered using a metal nail file)

Many other oils and combination oils can be used. Olive or jojoba make the best base oils, and jojoba oil tends not to spoil as quickly as other oils, and so is a good choice. If a particular ingredient cannot be found, substitutions are permitted. Most recipes will present some options when it comes to certain ingredients; even if they don’t, alternative ingredients are always available.

Consecrating, or dressing, candles before they are used in ritual or spellcraft is a necessary step in candle magick. It not only cleanses them, but it also imbues them with magickal energy. This makes them more effective in magickal workings.