Candle Figures in Magick

What are the meanings of figure candles in magick?

Candles are the most popular form of spells and magick in many different practices whether in hoodoo, conjure, witchcraft or the occult.

The use of candles in ritual and magick has been done for thousands of years and still captivates the mind to bring focus, concentration and reflection.

Many occult and magickal practitioners will use candles that range from tea light candles to seven day glass candles.

Seven day glass candles can be interpreted based on the wax, soot and flame of the candle. Get the How To Do A Candle Spell Reading E-Guide.

Tapered candles are also affordable and effective which can be made from different materials such as soy, paraffin and beeswax.

Beeswax has been used for centuries in cultures such as Eastern Europe, including for divination and healing. Read about witchcraft and divination with beeswax here.

Candles may also come in the form of figures or shapes which add an extra element to any particular magickal working, ritual or spell.

The shape of the candle is intended for certain workings and the colour of the candle also adds another layer to the working.

For more about colours, be sure to read about candle colour correspondences.

What are the Meanings of Figure Candles in Magick?

Here are the purposes and meanings for the most common figure candles, including colour associations for each figure candle.

Skull

Skull candles can be used for “targets” (i.e. the person that you spell is focused on.)

Skull candles can be utilized in magick, rituals and spells for:

Healing: e.g. depression, mental issues, heal negative thoughts / create positive thoughts matters involving the physical head, brain or psyche.
Clarity: e.g. to get clarity about a situation or problem.
Obsession: e.g. to remove or cause an obsession, obsessive thoughts
Addiction: e.g. to heal addiction or cause addiction.
Mindset: to shift one’s mindset or way or thinking.
Psychic: to enhance psychic abilities or spiritual abilities.

For skull candles, the colours have specific associations.

The most common colours for skull candles are:

White skull candles can be used for healing, cleansing and positive work.
Black skull candles can be used to cause obsession, addiction, negative thoughts; however this colour can also be used for banishing obsessions, addictions, negative thoughts or any negative attachments that may be affecting the mind, psyche or head.
Green skull candles can be used to create a positive mindset around money and prosperity.
Red skull candles can be used for love, romance, to think and focus on love, sex, passion and/or self-love.

Lady / Woman / Female

A Lady / Woman / Female candle is designed to work on a target on a female or feminine gender.

Depending on the colour of the candle and the working, this candle can be used for a variety of purposes such as:

Healing
Love
Success
Influence
Friendship
Boss / Manager

Gentleman / Man / Male

A Gentleman / Man / Male candle is designed to work on a target on a male or masculine gender.

Depending on the colour of the candle and the working, this candle can be used for a variety of purposes such as:

Healing
Love
Success
Influence
Friendship
Boss / Manager

Witch

The image of “Witch” candles are often designed as the stereotypical image of the “hag” witch: pointy nose and pointy hat.

Traditionally, this candle is used to counteract malicious witchcraft, remove hexes, curses or jinxes.

Black is a common colour for the type of candle.

In some cultures, the terminology “witch” or “witchcraft” is deemed as harmful and negative, even by those who practice folk magick. The difference is the old terminology between harmful and beneficial magick.

Phallic

Phallic candles can be used be masculine / male “targets” (e.g. the person that the working or spell that the working is about.)

Phallic candles can be utilized in magick, rituals and spells for:

Sex: e.g. increase or decrease libido, to bind a male sex partner, to improve virility, to cause impotence.
Health: e.g. urological, prostate, testicular health matters.

For phallic candles, the colours have specific associations.

The most common colours for phallic candles are:

Red phallic candles can be used for increasing passion, sex, virility and libido.
Black phallic candles can be used for binding, impotence, causing harm to a male ego or sex drive.
White phallic candles can be used for healing, cleansing or treating issues around male libido, male health issues, male sex issues.

Vulva

Vulva candles can be used be feminine / female “targets” (e.g. the person that the working or spell that the working is about.)

Vulva candles can be utilized in magick, rituals and spells for:

Sex: e.g. increase or decrease libido, to bind a female sex partner, to improve fetility.
Health: e.g. gynecological issues, pregnancy, periods.

For vulva candles, the colours have specific associations.

The most common colours for vulva candles are:

Red vulva candles can be used for increasing passion, sex, fertility and libido.
Black vulva candles can be used for binding, decreasing libido, causing harm to a female ego or sex drive.
White vulva candles can be used for healing, cleansing or treating issues around female libido, female health issues, female sex issues.

7 Knob

Seven knob candles are burned for seven days – one knob is burned each day, then extinguished at the end of the day.

Each knob can represent a separate wish or desire or can be for the same wish or desire.

The colour of the knob candle can be associated with the desire or wish.

For more about colour and candles, check out the colour correspondences for ccandles.

A makeshift 7 knob candle can be made at home with a regular long tapered candle and inserting seven needle pins in the candle spaced apart equally. When the flame reaches each needle pin, the flame can be extinguished and then relit the next day.

For a 7 Knob candle, the working should be done daily for the duration of the candle, burning one of the “knobs” of the candle each day for seven days.

If there’s a break within the working or a day is missed, it may be recommended to start over with a new candle. The consistency of the working each day builds each day towards the goal.

Coffin

Coffin candles can be used for:

Ancestor work
Endings
Working related to death or funerals

Black may be the most preferred colour for the coffin candle, however other colors may be used depending on situation, circumstances, personal colour associations or correspondences. Grey and white may also be preferred.

Cat

Cat candles may be used for cat magick, femininity, protection, money, gambling and good luck.

Common colours for cat candles may be green, red, white and black.

Black cat candles can be ideally used with products that are labeled “Black Cat” or “Lucky Black Cat” such as herbs, powders or oil. “Black Cat” oil and products may be used for gambling and luck.

Cross

A cross candle can be used to bring faith into your working or to boost the working with faith.

The candle may add protection and energy to a working depending on what the working is about.

Because the cross is associated with spirituality and Christianity, it may be considered by people who work with these beliefs in their practice. However, the cross is seen in other scriptures and practices has a form of protection, while some people may be adverse to the symbolism of the cross.

The use of the cross candle may depend on one’s spirituality and personal beliefs whether the cross is a symbol of faith, protection and reassurance.

The colours of the cross candle may vary and the colour may depend on what the working is intended for. The cross candle can be added to instill faith, protection and to boost blessings of the working.

Devil

The use of the Devil image candle may depend on the personal beliefs of the practitioner and how he/she/they view the concept and image of the Devil.

For some practitioners, the Devil candle may be used to destroy evil, banish evil or negativity which may be paired with an oil such as “Run, Devil, Run”. However, some practitioners who are Left Hand Path practitioners may work with a Devil candle in other ways as a partnership or alignment with a working or petition.

Some shops may market the Devil candle as a candle to drive away evil and negativity, it may also be used for protection, or to petition demons/daemons. Some may use these candles to punish evildoers or those that have harmed others terribly.

The candles used for those specific workings should not be taken lightly and in those situations may be reserved for severe cases in which there is abuse or physical harm involved which the practitioner has been called upon to help the victim be protected and the abuser to be held accountable.

Lovers / Adam & Eve / Eve & Eve / Adam & Adam

This candle has different variations and colours.

In general there are two main types of this candle (which vary depending on the gender of the candles). Some of these candles may be found in different shops online – a specific search for the gender of the persons of the candle may be specified depending on your working or intention.

Type 1: The figures are facing each other.

This type of candle is used for bringing a couple closer together, strengthening a relationship or bond, healing a relationship. The most common colours for this type are red (for passion or desire), pink (for fidelity, love, romance, sweetness, tenderness) or white (as a general working, substitute for another colour, healing, cleansing). If yellow is used for this candle shape, this may be ideal for working that involve forgiveness and healing emotions centered around forgiveness or reconciliation.

Type 2: The figure are facing back-to-back.

This type of candle is used for separating a couple, breaking a couple up. The most common colours for this type are black or red.

For polyamourous relationships (if desiring to use a figure shape candle) it may be suggested to use individual figure candles (a candle of a person image, male or female, etc) and use a person-figure candle for each person in the relationship; i.e. if there are three persons in the relationship, then there would be three person-figure candles in the working.

If the working is to bring the people together, then the faces of the figured candles would be placed facing each other or facing a main candle in the centre of the working with the three figures around the main candle.

If the working is to dissolve the relationship, then the figure candles would face away from each other or the main candle.

When working with figure candles, especially when there is more than one human figure candle in the working, it may be ideal to carve the name that the candle will represent.

Marriage

This figure candle often depicts a male and female in wedding attire.

There are different colours for this type of candle. This candle can be used for getting married, improving / repairing / healing a marriage.

Red, pink, yellow and white candles may be for positive workings on bringing love and passion to the marriage, while black would bring problems or negativity to the marriage.

Pyramid

Pyramid candles may be used to enhance the energy of the working.

The use of Pyramid candles may heighten a working to harness the energy to a single purpose or goal.

Pyramid candles come in a variety of colours and can be dressed (herbs/oil) for any purpose in which you want to amplify your working.

Prayer Hands

Prayer Hands may be used to have prayers heard and answered.

These candles may be commonly used for healing prayers, ie to heal from illness, disease or health problems.

Psalms may be used in addition to prayer hand candles or other forms of prayer.

It may not be recommended to use prayer hand candles for personal gains but rather if you’re in desperation or experiencing hardship, such as health problems, unemployment, financial hardships or financial insecurity, safety concerns, etc.

White is one of the most common colour for prayer hand candles.

These are just a few of the most common figure shaped candles used in magick, spells and spiritual practices.

Preparing or Working with Your Figure Spell Candle

Preparing your figure spell candle can be aided with the use of ritual oils, herbs and crystals that match your purpose or intention for the working.

Intention or prayer is recited over the herbs or oils to “activate” or “awaken” the properties of the herb or oil. This can be done with any intention prayer or energy work.

As a basic rule for applying ritual oil to candles or other objects:

To draw something towards you or someone else:

Place oil at the bottom/base of the candle and the top of the candle and draw the oil from both the top and the bottom towards the middle portion of the candle.

To repel or banish something from you or someone else:

Place the oil at the middle portion of the candle and draw the oil in opposite directions towards the top and the bottom of the candle starting from the middle portion of the candle.

For more info, read how to do a 7-day candle with oil, herbs and moon phases.

For more about magick and tarot, check out the Simple And Easy Money Magick & Witchcraft e-book.