Ben Carter
Novena candles, also known as vigil or devotional candles, are used in Catholic religious rituals, as well as in candle and fire magic. The name 'novena' comes from the Latin 'novem', meaning nine, and these candles are burned continuously for nine days alongside prayers or intentions. While the original devotional candles were made from 100% beeswax, modern novena candles are often made from paraffin wax and come in a variety of colours, each with its own significance. For example, a white candle symbolises purity and is used for protection, while a red candle is used to stimulate energy and power. Novena candles can also be ''dressed'' with anointing oils and herbs, and some practitioners melt the wax and add their own herbs or oils to personalise their candles.
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What You'll Learn
Novena candle colours and their meanings
Novena candles, also called vigil candles, vigil lights, or devotional candles, are used in Catholic religious devotions known as "novenas". A novena is a 9-day prayer ritual with the intention of seeking aid and building a relationship with a specific saint, usually for a specific purpose. The candles are often placed in a safe spot indoors, away from children and pets, and are left to burn uninterrupted for nine days.
While the colour of the candle holds no significance in the Catholic Church, it may carry personal significance for the person praying or for practitioners of esoteric arts. Here are some of the meanings associated with different-coloured novena candles:
- Green: Green candles promote luck, success, and healing. They are also believed to help develop telepathy and repel negative feelings like jealousy, envy, and grudges.
- Blue: Blue novena candles are recommended for administrative matters, such as solving problems or achieving success in business or trade. They are also said to aid in attaining serenity, security, understanding, hope, trust, loyalty, and sincerity. Blue candles are believed to protect against bad influences while stimulating creativity and imagination.
- Violet/Purple: Purple or violet novena candles are associated with esotericism and are recommended for developing intuition, clairvoyance, mental focus, and spiritual prowess. They are often used during meditation and relaxation practices.
- Red: Red novena candles are associated with healing.
- White: White novena candles are also used, though the meaning of this colour is not specified in the sources provided.
The colours mentioned above refer to the colour of the candle container, usually made of plastic or glass, rather than the colour of the wax. The wax of novena candles is typically odourless and made from pure vegetable oil, which allows the candle to burn continuously for nine days without producing black smoke or soot.
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How to prepare a devotional candle
A devotional candle, also known as a novena candle, is a candle that burns for nine days and is accompanied by prayer. Novena candles are often encased in glass, and the colour of the candle is significant, with different colours associated with different intentions. For example, a white candle is used for purification and protection, a red candle is used to defend against evil, and a green candle is used for financial success.
To prepare a devotional candle, you can follow these steps:
Write a petition
Write down your intention or prayer for the candle. This could be a request, thanksgiving, wish, prayer, or expression of gratitude or bereavement. You can also include specific saints or deities you would like to invoke.
Prepare the candle
Choose a candle in a colour that corresponds to your intention. If you are using a plain candle, you can dress it with anointing oils and herbs. You can also add your own herbs by melting the wax and pouring it into a mould with the herbs inside. Alternatively, you can use a pull-out candle that can be dressed with oil and slid into a glass holder.
Set the candle
Place the candle on an altar or in a sacred space. You can also add other items to your altar, such as tarot cards, prayers, or other symbolic objects.
Light the candle
Once the candle is lit, recite the appropriate prayer for the next eight days. Allow the candle to burn uninterrupted for nine days.
Dispose of the candle
After the nine days are over, ritually dispose of the candle remnants. This may involve burying or immersing the remnants in water.
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Using pull-out candles
Pull-out candles, also known as refill candles, are a type of novena candle that can be purchased from spiritual supply stores. They are made of solid real wax and are sturdy enough to burn as stand-alone candles without a glass casing. Pull-out candles are usually two inches wide and seven inches tall, and they come in the ten standard colours used in candle-magic symbolism.
To use a pull-out candle, you can carve it with names and petitions and dress it with oil before sliding it into a glass holder. You can reuse your favourite glass holder repeatedly. Because of their width, pull-out candles do not fit into every brand of novena or vigil light. Wide-mouth novenas made in glass jars can accommodate pull-out candles, but narrow-mouth novenas in the "sanctuary style" cannot.
When dressing a pull-out candle, you can rub it with appropriate anointing oils such as Fast Luck, Compelling, or John the Conqueror. You can also dress the candle by dripping oil and magic herbs into holes poked into the top of the candle with a nail.
If you wish to add your own herbs to a pull-out candle, you can melt the wax by placing the candle in a pot of hot water, but do not use a microwave as this could cause an explosion. You can also place the candle in a very low oven, but be careful not to overheat the glass.
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Adding herbs to a novena candle
Novena candles are traditionally encased in glass, which makes it impossible to load them with herbs without damaging the glass. However, there are a few methods you can use to add herbs to your novena candle.
One way is to carve a hole in the side of the candle, add your herbs, and then pack the remaining space with wax to seal them in. You can also melt the wax of the candle and add your herbs, but this method can be dangerous if you're not careful. Make sure to use a wire rack in a pot of hot water to melt the wax, and be very cautious as overheating wax can be dangerous.
Another option is to poke holes in the top of the candle with a sharp tool, such as a nail or screwdriver, and then sprinkle dried herbs or a dried herb mix on top. It's important to use finely ground herbs and to keep them away from the candle wick to avoid any fire hazards. You can also add a few drops of ritual anointing oil to the herbs before sprinkling them on the candle.
When choosing herbs for your novena candle, select ones that are ritually appropriate for your intention. For example, use sage for cleansing and purification, red rose petals for love, ginger for protection, and deer's tongue leaf for academic success.
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The history of novena candles
Novena candles are religious candles used in Christian communities, especially Catholic communities, to accompany prayers and specific requests to God. The word 'novena' comes from the Latin 'novem', meaning 'nine', and novena candles are traditionally burned for nine successive days or weeks.
The use of candles in devotional practices has a long history in Christianity, as well as in magic and folk magic. In Catholic communities, devotional candles were originally made from 100% beeswax and burned for nine days. They were sometimes affixed with a paper prayer card, and later, with large paper illustrations of particular saints. In the early 1940s, devotional candles began to be advertised in spiritual supply catalogues as 'religious' goods.
The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, when the disciples gathered in the Upper Room and devoted themselves to prayer, is often considered to be the first novena. In some Christian communities, such as in Africa, Latin America, and the Philippines, novena traditions are popular and include devotional rituals such as liturgies, congregational prayers, and processions. Novenas are also linked to funerary rituals.
In the 21st century, novena candles are typically made from dyed paraffin, a petroleum by-product. The wax is whipped with air to create a softer, malleable product that can be easily poured into glass containers. While traditionally, novena candles burned for nine days, today's candles last an average of 4-5 days.
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Frequently asked questions
A novena candle is a candle used in Catholic religious devotions known as "novenas", which are 9-day prayer rituals with the intention of seeking aid and building a relationship with a specific saint.
The practice of dressing candles involves rubbing them with anointing oils and magic herbs. Since novena candles are glass-encased, you can use a nail to poke holes in the top and drip oil and herbs into them. Alternatively, you can use pull-out refillable novena jars, dress the candle, and then slip it into the jar.
Novena candles come in different colours, each with its own significance. The most classic and most used colour is white, which is associated with purity and protection. Red candles are recommended for defence against evil, while pink candles are suitable for prayers concerning love and friendship. Orange candles are beneficial for prayers seeking a speedy recovery, and green candles are used for prayers involving money.
Novena candles are meant to burn continuously for nine days, accompanied by prayers or intentions. The colour of the candle can have an impact on your intention, so choose accordingly.
When melting wax to add your own herbs to a novena candle, avoid using a microwave to prevent explosions. Instead, place the candle on a wire rack in a pot of hot water to slowly heat the wax.
