Mansions of the Moon for the Green Witch: A Complete Book of Lunar Magic - Ann Moura 2010

Cleansing Candles for Ritual and Magic
Additional Components for Lunar Magic

I use three altar candles, a working candle, and sometimes a spell candle for magical work. Altar candles represent the deities as both the Goddess and the God, bringing spiritual influence to the ritual and the magic. The working candle is used as a focus for energy relating to the magical work, and it is only lit at the start of that work. Usually it is red for strength and power, but the working candle may be another color as desired. The spell candle is only used for candle magic, and the color relates to the goal. All of these candles need to be cleaned with spring water or blessed water, trimmed of excess wax, blemishes, and if needed, wiped with rubbing alcohol to remove dust or dirt. For jar candles, remove labels, price tags, glue remains, and any other debris. The wick should be trimmed to about a quarter of an inch to half an inch in length, although specialty candles will have bits of colorful charges in the wick, so you could leave those untrimmed for the full effect. Using an essential, olive, saffron, grapeseed, or almond oil as desired, anoint the bottom of the altar candles with the symbol of the solar cross with the + drawn first and the circle around it drawn deosil.

The working candle and spell candle (if used) should be anointed with the solar cross with the circle made deosil if doing a drawing or blessing work, or widdershins if doing a banishing or repelling work. During the actual magical work, the working candle and spell candle will be dressed with a relevant essential oil. The working candle represents Elemental Fire for the charging of spell work and should be placed to the between the middle altar candle and the pentacle or in the God portion of the altar. At the appropriate time, and using a thin beeswax taper, the working candle is lit from the central altar candle. A spell candle is lit from the working candle. When I dress working and spell candles, I see the entire candle as the current situation and rub the oil from top to bottom to draw in energy or from bottom to top to remove energy, but you may use whatever method is your custom. I also light incense from the center altar candle or with the taper to bring the ritual and magical energy together.