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Practical Candle Magic: Witchcraft with Wick & Wax
Light that flame and set your magic in motion with bestselling author Rachel Patterson's guide to candle magic. Featuring more than thirty-five spells and exercises, this book guides you through every aspect of working with wick and wax, from the fundamentals to creating your own candle magic. Rachel teaches you how to choose a candle, charge it with intention, dress it with oils and herbs, and complete your spell. She also shows you how to amplify your magic with color, crystals, sigils, grids, tarot cards, and Zodiac signs. Discover candle spells for luck, prosperity, peace, protection, and love. Explore candle divination, candles in ritual and worship, candle work to cast out negativity, and much more. This book makes it easier than ever to start or advance your practice.
- GenresWitchcraft
304 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2023
2 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Patterson
44 books237 followersRachel is an English witch who has been walking the Pagan pathway for over thirty years.
A working wife and mother who has had over 30 books published (so far), some of them becoming best sellers.
Her passion is to learn, she loves to study and has done so from books, online resources, schools and wonderful mentors over the years and still continues to learn each and every day but has learnt the most from actually getting outside and doing it.
She likes to laugh...and eat cake...
Rachel gives talks to pagan groups and co-runs workshops with the Kitchen Witch Coven.
High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven and an Elder at the online Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchcraft.
A regular columnist with Fate & Fortune magazine, she also contributes articles to several magazines such as Pagan Dawn and Witchcraft & Wicca. You will find her regular ramblings on her own personal blog and YouTube channel.
Rachel is host for the Pagan Portals Podcast, produced by Moon Books Publishing.
Her craft is a combination of old religion witchcraft, Wicca, hedge witchery, kitchen witchery and folk magic.
Her heart is that of an English Kitchen Witch.
Rachel was added to the Watkins '100 spiritually influential List' for 2023.
For more information www.rachelpatterson.co.uk and www.kitchenwitchhearth.net
She lives in Portsmouth, England.
Website: www.rachelpatterson.co.uk
Personal blog https://www.rachelpatterson.co.uk/blog
You Tube:
her YouTube channel features lots of videos with talks, information and short reference films.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Kitchenw...
Social Media:
Personal Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/racheltansyp...
Author fb page https://www.facebook.com/RachelPatter...
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/racheltansy...
Twitter https://twitter.com/TansyFireDragon
Kitchen Witch fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitch...
A working wife and mother who has had over 30 books published (so far), some of them becoming best sellers.
Her passion is to learn, she loves to study and has done so from books, online resources, schools and wonderful mentors over the years and still continues to learn each and every day but has learnt the most from actually getting outside and doing it.
She likes to laugh...and eat cake...
Rachel gives talks to pagan groups and co-runs workshops with the Kitchen Witch Coven.
High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven and an Elder at the online Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchcraft.
A regular columnist with Fate & Fortune magazine, she also contributes articles to several magazines such as Pagan Dawn and Witchcraft & Wicca. You will find her regular ramblings on her own personal blog and YouTube channel.
Rachel is host for the Pagan Portals Podcast, produced by Moon Books Publishing.
Her craft is a combination of old religion witchcraft, Wicca, hedge witchery, kitchen witchery and folk magic.
Her heart is that of an English Kitchen Witch.
Rachel was added to the Watkins '100 spiritually influential List' for 2023.
For more information www.rachelpatterson.co.uk and www.kitchenwitchhearth.net
She lives in Portsmouth, England.
Website: www.rachelpatterson.co.uk
Personal blog https://www.rachelpatterson.co.uk/blog
You Tube:
her YouTube channel features lots of videos with talks, information and short reference films.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Kitchenw...
Social Media:
Personal Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/racheltansyp...
Author fb page https://www.facebook.com/RachelPatter...
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/racheltansy...
Twitter https://twitter.com/TansyFireDragon
Kitchen Witch fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitch...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 4, 2023
We’re heading towards the time of years where I have candles lit everyday. With my tea in the morning, as we hit twilight, with dinner and baths. I quite literally burn through them. I’ve purchased magical intention candles, and always light candles during ritual or ceremony, and so very curious about candle magic. As I hoped, this book is great fun! I started with candles for the sabbats and really appreciate the suggested chant and oil suggestions. Rachel Patterson did an outstanding job describing how to do candle spells from start to finish including oils, symbols and ritual that’s easy to learn and practical to implement. I made a Ganesha oil blend that’s perfect to incorporate in the New Beginnings Candle Spell. Grateful for the inspiration ✨🔮🕯️
December 16, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Llewellyn Publications for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve always had a minor (okay, major) obsession with candles. You can always find plenty of scented candles in my room, but it was only recently that I realized how vital candles are to the practice of witchcraft. As an aspiring witch, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and starting to reach out to others. But some books speak to me more than others. This one stood out from the pack.
It seems like the books describing witchcraft fall into two categories: either a very surface-level description of a lot of different aspects of magic and witchcraft, or a super-detailed exploration of one aspect. I was kind of expecting this one to be the second type, but was surprised to find it completely broke the mold and turned out to be a hybrid of both kinds.
While Patterson focuses exclusively on candle magic, she takes her readers on a pretty thorough journey through all of the different ways it can be used, and all of the different aspects of candle magic to consider—what type of candle, color, how to charge it, choosing oils and herbs to dress it with and how to do that, how to enhance the spell through the use of sigils, rules, oracles, tarot cards, and/or Zodiac signs, as well as making use of the solar/lunar/day of the week/crystal affinities of the spell effects. There are spells and guidance for using candles in divination and meditation.
Patterson manages to make this book appropriate for both beginner and advanced practitioners. Throughout, she urges readers to trust their own intuition, and go with whatever feels right for them and the spell that they are choosing. However, for the beginners, she also provides simple and easy to follow directions. Each of the spells require items that are easy to obtain, most of them directly from the pantry, and the lists of items aren’t long. I left a ton of bookmarks in my copy, and can’t wait to start practicing candle magic of my own, now that I know how to set up protection, charge items with intention, and feel confident in doing this safely.
I loved the personal tone that Patterson takes with her readers. It allowed me to feel like I was listening to a trusted mentor or friend who knew more about a topic than I did, rather than reading a blurb of information and then a list of instructions. Her little vignettes add a touch of fun to the book, and this is someone who clearly knows her stuff. Overall, this was a wonderful book that taught me a lot, and will teach me even more with continued readings. If you’re interested, even a little, in candle magic, this is the book for you.
I’ve always had a minor (okay, major) obsession with candles. You can always find plenty of scented candles in my room, but it was only recently that I realized how vital candles are to the practice of witchcraft. As an aspiring witch, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and starting to reach out to others. But some books speak to me more than others. This one stood out from the pack.
It seems like the books describing witchcraft fall into two categories: either a very surface-level description of a lot of different aspects of magic and witchcraft, or a super-detailed exploration of one aspect. I was kind of expecting this one to be the second type, but was surprised to find it completely broke the mold and turned out to be a hybrid of both kinds.
While Patterson focuses exclusively on candle magic, she takes her readers on a pretty thorough journey through all of the different ways it can be used, and all of the different aspects of candle magic to consider—what type of candle, color, how to charge it, choosing oils and herbs to dress it with and how to do that, how to enhance the spell through the use of sigils, rules, oracles, tarot cards, and/or Zodiac signs, as well as making use of the solar/lunar/day of the week/crystal affinities of the spell effects. There are spells and guidance for using candles in divination and meditation.
Patterson manages to make this book appropriate for both beginner and advanced practitioners. Throughout, she urges readers to trust their own intuition, and go with whatever feels right for them and the spell that they are choosing. However, for the beginners, she also provides simple and easy to follow directions. Each of the spells require items that are easy to obtain, most of them directly from the pantry, and the lists of items aren’t long. I left a ton of bookmarks in my copy, and can’t wait to start practicing candle magic of my own, now that I know how to set up protection, charge items with intention, and feel confident in doing this safely.
I loved the personal tone that Patterson takes with her readers. It allowed me to feel like I was listening to a trusted mentor or friend who knew more about a topic than I did, rather than reading a blurb of information and then a list of instructions. Her little vignettes add a touch of fun to the book, and this is someone who clearly knows her stuff. Overall, this was a wonderful book that taught me a lot, and will teach me even more with continued readings. If you’re interested, even a little, in candle magic, this is the book for you.
January 23, 2024
EN: Through various exercises in "Practical Candle Magic," Rachel Patterson teaches us how to use candles in magic for a variety of situations and needs.
With very simple and captivating communication, Rachel guides us through the entire process, providing a step-by-step approach but explaining all the details and reasons, ensuring this is not merely a "recipe book" but a book that leads us to deepen our knowledge in this area of energetic work.
With this book, we learn thousands of correspondences for many different everyday situations, such as anointing the candle, reinforcing the power of the work with plants, colors, crystals, and symbols, using candles for divination, and even making our own candles.
I have been reading books on this topic for many years, but this book pleasantly surprised me, standing out from all the books I've read. The author gives the reader great independence to practice according to their beliefs and experience, also providing many tips for those on a tighter budget. I appreciate the message that with little, one can achieve much, as the power is not in the tools but in ourselves.
Rachel also emphasizes the importance of our intuition in relation to her guidelines. These should be just guidelines, and what we feel should never be underestimated. Each case is unique, and symbolism can be understood and felt differently by each of us, so everything can and should be personalized.
Something else I value is Rachel's very balanced view on the role of ethics and morality in these practices. Over the years, I have become accustomed to finding authors who are extreme, seeing everything as either black or white. Authors who understand that there are many shades of gray between the extremes and explain it as Rachel does here are crucial.
In this book, I would only change one thing: I would add images to the tutorials, especially when teaching how to make candles. I got lost in the details and steps. Some images would make all the difference.
In conclusion, this is likely the best book I've read on this topic, and I recommend it to anyone interested in this practice. It's a book I'll want to keep for reference.
I want to express my gratitude to author Rachel Patterson, Llewellyn Publications, and NetGalley for providing this eBook. The opportunity was truly appreciated.
PT: Através de vários exercícios, em "Practical Candle Magic", Rachel Patterson ensina-nos como utilizar as velas na magia para as mais variadas situações e necessidades.
Com uma comunicação muito simples e cativante, Rachel guia-nos em todo o processo, dando-nos um passo-a-passo a seguir, mas explicando-nos todos os detalhes e razões para que este não seja meramente um "livro de receitas" e sim um livro que nos leva a aprofundar os nossos conhecimentos nesta área do trabalho energético.
Com este livro aprendemos milhares de correspondências para imensas situações diferentes do dia-a-dia, como untar a vela, como reforçar o poder do trabalho com plantas, cores, cristais e símbolos, como usar as velas para a adivinhação e até mesmo como fazermos as nossas próprias velas.
Há muitos anos que leio livros desta temática, mas este livro surpreendeu-me pela positiva, destacando-se de todos os livros que li. A autora dá uma grande independência ao leitor para praticar de acordo com as suas crenças e experiência, dando também muitas dicas para quem tem um menor orçamento. Valorizo a mensagem de que com pouco se consegue fazer muito, uma vez que o poder não está nas ferramentas mas sim em nós mesmos.
Rachel também destaca a importância da nossa intuição face às suas diretrizes. Estas devem de ser linhas guias e o que sentimos nunca deve ser menosprezado. Cada caso é um caso e a simbologia pode ser entendida e sentida de maneira diferente por cada um de nós, por isso tudo pode e deve ser personalizado.
Algo que também valorizo é o facto de Rachel ter uma visão muito equilibrada sobre o papel da ética e da moral neste tipo de práticas. Ao longo dos anos tenho-me habituado a encontrar autores que são pelos extremos, que vêm tudo como sendo branco ou preto. São muito importantes estes autores que percebem que existem muitos tons de cinzento entre os extremos e que o explicam como Rachel aqui o fez.
Neste livro apenas mudaria uma questão: adicionaria imagens dos tutoriais, sobretudo quando ensina a fazer as velas. Perdi-me completamente nos detalhes e nos passos. Algumas imagens fariam toda a diferença.
Concluindo, este é, muito provavelmente, o melhor livro que li desta temática e recomendo a sua leitura a todos os interessados nesta prática. É um livro que vou querer manter para consulta.
Quero expressar a minha gratidão à autora Rachel Patterson, à Llewellyn Publications e ao NetGalley por disponibilizarem este eBook. A oportunidade foi verdadeiramente apreciada.
With very simple and captivating communication, Rachel guides us through the entire process, providing a step-by-step approach but explaining all the details and reasons, ensuring this is not merely a "recipe book" but a book that leads us to deepen our knowledge in this area of energetic work.
With this book, we learn thousands of correspondences for many different everyday situations, such as anointing the candle, reinforcing the power of the work with plants, colors, crystals, and symbols, using candles for divination, and even making our own candles.
I have been reading books on this topic for many years, but this book pleasantly surprised me, standing out from all the books I've read. The author gives the reader great independence to practice according to their beliefs and experience, also providing many tips for those on a tighter budget. I appreciate the message that with little, one can achieve much, as the power is not in the tools but in ourselves.
Rachel also emphasizes the importance of our intuition in relation to her guidelines. These should be just guidelines, and what we feel should never be underestimated. Each case is unique, and symbolism can be understood and felt differently by each of us, so everything can and should be personalized.
Something else I value is Rachel's very balanced view on the role of ethics and morality in these practices. Over the years, I have become accustomed to finding authors who are extreme, seeing everything as either black or white. Authors who understand that there are many shades of gray between the extremes and explain it as Rachel does here are crucial.
In this book, I would only change one thing: I would add images to the tutorials, especially when teaching how to make candles. I got lost in the details and steps. Some images would make all the difference.
In conclusion, this is likely the best book I've read on this topic, and I recommend it to anyone interested in this practice. It's a book I'll want to keep for reference.
I want to express my gratitude to author Rachel Patterson, Llewellyn Publications, and NetGalley for providing this eBook. The opportunity was truly appreciated.
PT: Através de vários exercícios, em "Practical Candle Magic", Rachel Patterson ensina-nos como utilizar as velas na magia para as mais variadas situações e necessidades.
Com uma comunicação muito simples e cativante, Rachel guia-nos em todo o processo, dando-nos um passo-a-passo a seguir, mas explicando-nos todos os detalhes e razões para que este não seja meramente um "livro de receitas" e sim um livro que nos leva a aprofundar os nossos conhecimentos nesta área do trabalho energético.
Com este livro aprendemos milhares de correspondências para imensas situações diferentes do dia-a-dia, como untar a vela, como reforçar o poder do trabalho com plantas, cores, cristais e símbolos, como usar as velas para a adivinhação e até mesmo como fazermos as nossas próprias velas.
Há muitos anos que leio livros desta temática, mas este livro surpreendeu-me pela positiva, destacando-se de todos os livros que li. A autora dá uma grande independência ao leitor para praticar de acordo com as suas crenças e experiência, dando também muitas dicas para quem tem um menor orçamento. Valorizo a mensagem de que com pouco se consegue fazer muito, uma vez que o poder não está nas ferramentas mas sim em nós mesmos.
Rachel também destaca a importância da nossa intuição face às suas diretrizes. Estas devem de ser linhas guias e o que sentimos nunca deve ser menosprezado. Cada caso é um caso e a simbologia pode ser entendida e sentida de maneira diferente por cada um de nós, por isso tudo pode e deve ser personalizado.
Algo que também valorizo é o facto de Rachel ter uma visão muito equilibrada sobre o papel da ética e da moral neste tipo de práticas. Ao longo dos anos tenho-me habituado a encontrar autores que são pelos extremos, que vêm tudo como sendo branco ou preto. São muito importantes estes autores que percebem que existem muitos tons de cinzento entre os extremos e que o explicam como Rachel aqui o fez.
Neste livro apenas mudaria uma questão: adicionaria imagens dos tutoriais, sobretudo quando ensina a fazer as velas. Perdi-me completamente nos detalhes e nos passos. Algumas imagens fariam toda a diferença.
Concluindo, este é, muito provavelmente, o melhor livro que li desta temática e recomendo a sua leitura a todos os interessados nesta prática. É um livro que vou querer manter para consulta.
Quero expressar a minha gratidão à autora Rachel Patterson, à Llewellyn Publications e ao NetGalley por disponibilizarem este eBook. A oportunidade foi verdadeiramente apreciada.
December 1, 2023
Great Reference Material
The author discusses candle magic and states that it starts with the candle, but it relies heavily on your INTENT. She states that if one's will and desire is strong enough, it will transfer to the candle and help move the magic along.
She discusses the fact that candles also employ the element of fire, and that once you light a candle, you set the spell in motion using the power of that element. Additionally, FIRE is ruled by King Djinn, a warrior who controls the power of life, courage, inner strength, and transformation, and above him is the Archangel Michael, believed to be the first angel created. Michael is the Archangel of fire and sun who brings justice and defence. He is often called in to bring protection and to help you achieve your goals. He can be found in several fire-related stories throughout the Bible, although it should be noted that angels were found in cultures that predate Christianity. Stories of the Archangels can be found dating back to the Bronze Age.2 Think of Archangels are being universal to all faiths. Some Wiccan traditions call in the Archangels at the quarters when in ritual. These are referred to as “Guardians of the Watchtowers.” The Archangels are called “The Watchers” because they look after, or “watch,” human beings. Archangels are incredibly powerful!
This book, Rachael Patterson provide information on how to select the best candles for your spellwork, how to charge it with intention, dress it with oils and herbs, and complete your spell. She states that it is best to give an offering of Thanks and discusses various ways of doing so.
Of particular interest to me is the Energy Ball Exercise. She states that this exercise is great to help you recognize and get the feel of energy, and if you practice it regularly, you will soon be working with energy without even thinking about it.
She provides several spells and suggests the type of candles that should be used for various spells, one such spell is The New Beginning Spell.
This is a great book, full of cherishable information that is well suited for beginners and may serve as a reference book for advanced practitioner. I highly recommend this book.
The author discusses candle magic and states that it starts with the candle, but it relies heavily on your INTENT. She states that if one's will and desire is strong enough, it will transfer to the candle and help move the magic along.
She discusses the fact that candles also employ the element of fire, and that once you light a candle, you set the spell in motion using the power of that element. Additionally, FIRE is ruled by King Djinn, a warrior who controls the power of life, courage, inner strength, and transformation, and above him is the Archangel Michael, believed to be the first angel created. Michael is the Archangel of fire and sun who brings justice and defence. He is often called in to bring protection and to help you achieve your goals. He can be found in several fire-related stories throughout the Bible, although it should be noted that angels were found in cultures that predate Christianity. Stories of the Archangels can be found dating back to the Bronze Age.2 Think of Archangels are being universal to all faiths. Some Wiccan traditions call in the Archangels at the quarters when in ritual. These are referred to as “Guardians of the Watchtowers.” The Archangels are called “The Watchers” because they look after, or “watch,” human beings. Archangels are incredibly powerful!
This book, Rachael Patterson provide information on how to select the best candles for your spellwork, how to charge it with intention, dress it with oils and herbs, and complete your spell. She states that it is best to give an offering of Thanks and discusses various ways of doing so.
Of particular interest to me is the Energy Ball Exercise. She states that this exercise is great to help you recognize and get the feel of energy, and if you practice it regularly, you will soon be working with energy without even thinking about it.
She provides several spells and suggests the type of candles that should be used for various spells, one such spell is The New Beginning Spell.
This is a great book, full of cherishable information that is well suited for beginners and may serve as a reference book for advanced practitioner. I highly recommend this book.
February 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for a honest review.
As a person who always has candles and oils in my home I found this book to be so handy in incorporating them together and using the candles with more intent that I would usually. I found the instructions and ingredients to be more basic that other books I have read which meant that I had most of these in my home and did not have to fork out for things that I rarely used.
A great guide for everyone interested in candle magic.
As a person who always has candles and oils in my home I found this book to be so handy in incorporating them together and using the candles with more intent that I would usually. I found the instructions and ingredients to be more basic that other books I have read which meant that I had most of these in my home and did not have to fork out for things that I rarely used.
A great guide for everyone interested in candle magic.
September 27, 2023
Practical Candle Magic by Rachel Patterson is a detailed and thorough book on candle magic. This book far exceeds anything that I have ever read on the subject. (And believe me that's saying something). This book gives history and information about how candles are used in religion as well as Witchcraft. It gives you easy to follow instructions on candle magic that you can use right away. This is a great book I highly recommend it.
September 20, 2023
I have read quite a few books on candle magic. They often cover the color associations and how to prepare a candle for work, dressing it. This book covers this as well, but then it takes you even further by incorporating in other oils you can use to turn up the power!
I really enjoyed this one and learned a few new things as well. A great Yule Gift for all of your coven and friends.
I really enjoyed this one and learned a few new things as well. A great Yule Gift for all of your coven and friends.
October 12, 2023
NetGalley Arc Review App
I may be a little biased, but I am never disappointed by Rachel Pattterson.
This book is well thought out, and the layout makes it accessible and useful to anyone at any time after a read through.
Must buy must have, great beginner book.
I may be a little biased, but I am never disappointed by Rachel Pattterson.
This book is well thought out, and the layout makes it accessible and useful to anyone at any time after a read through.
Must buy must have, great beginner book.
December 26, 2023
I read whatever Rachel Patterson writes as her books are always easy to follow, full of ideas and do not request bizzarre or expensive material.
This is another good one and I learned a lot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is another good one and I learned a lot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 10, 2024
This was such a great introduction to candle magic, and I appreciated how many correspondences were given and that no closed practices seemed to be touched on!
January 31, 2024
Myself and a friend were both gifted eARCs from NetGalley and had heaps of fun going through it together!
Highly recommend this to anyone wanting to get into candle magic! :)
Highly recommend this to anyone wanting to get into candle magic! :)
December 26, 2025
A basic guide on candle magic. Great for beginners!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews