Pagan Journeys

Pagan Journeys => Beginner's Chat => Topic started by: FairyQueen on December 20, 2011, 11:21:32 PM

Title: Leftovers?
Post by: FairyQueen on December 20, 2011, 11:21:32 PM
So I did some very primitive magic today. Pretty much just lit a candle when my husband was at his interview. I then had him visualize the desired outcome (getting the job) and then blow out the candle (thus sending the "request" to the powers that be) when he got home.  We'll see...  :fingerscrossed:

Anyway, I'm not sure what to do with my leftovers (salt I used to cleanse the white candle and green ribbon I used and then the half a candle that's left and the ribbon). I was thinking I'd take the salt outside and say my thank yous, but that leaves the candle/ribbon. Could I sew up a bag to put the candle remnants in, so I can melt them down into new candles later? Can I reuse the ribbon?
Title: Re: Leftovers?
Post by: Mongo on December 21, 2011, 12:04:46 AM
Usually one does not reuse a candle used for a specific purpose. Depending on who you talk to this is either an insult to the powers that be, confusing since you have the residue from the previous spell(s), or just flat does not work.

Personally my belief is that if I use something for one spell then I am using the magical properties of those items for *that* spell and do not want to dilute it between several spells.

What I usually do in situations like that is to take the bits of the spell (the consumable goods and not tools and/or crystals and the like) and create a sachet out of them and keep them around.

For example I would have had him not only visualize him getting that job, but him enjoying a long and enjoyable career at that firm for as long as he wants to remain there.

That way keeping the sachet keeps the magical energies close at hand. And it's always nice to be able to pull it out and place it on the altar and give thanks whenever something good happens at the job such as promotions, bonuses, raises, etc. That way the magic is also keep up to date.

In your case however, since the two spells are related, should he get the job do the same thing but this time have him visualize the aforementioned successful career at the firm...etc, etc.

Then make the sachet and keep it for as long as he has a job with that company.
Title: Re: Leftovers?
Post by: FairyQueen on December 21, 2011, 12:32:04 AM
Usually one does not reuse a candle used for a specific purpose. Depending on who you talk to this is either an insult to the powers that be, confusing since you have the residue from the previous spell(s), or just flat does not work.

Personally my belief is that if I use something for one spell then I am using the magical properties of those items for *that* spell and do not want to dilute it between several spells.

What I usually do in situations like that is to take the bits of the spell (the consumable goods and not tools and/or crystals and the like) and create a sachet out of them and keep them around.

For example I would have had him not only visualize him getting that job, but him enjoying a long and enjoyable career at that firm for as long as he wants to remain there.

That way keeping the sachet keeps the magical energies close at hand. And it's always nice to be able to pull it out and place it on the altar and give thanks whenever something good happens at the job such as promotions, bonuses, raises, etc. That way the magic is also keep up to date.

In your case however, since the two spells are related, should he get the job do the same thing but this time have him visualize the aforementioned successful career at the firm...etc, etc.

Then make the sachet and keep it for as long as he has a job with that company.

Thanks Mongo! That helps a whole lot!

Next question: What should we do with the leftovers if the magic didn't work and he didn't get the job (for whatever reason). Do the leftovers then have any magical lingerings to worry about? Can I just discard them as I would any rubbish? Or, should I treat them just as I would a successful spell? If so, why?
Title: Re: Leftovers?
Post by: Mongo on December 21, 2011, 01:41:29 AM
This is why I use tea lights. They're cheap, they're small enough to be disposable, and you're not as narky about chucking one after a single use.

I like to think of them as "single use" candles. To get the color effect you can get a set of colored votive candle glasses.

If I am looking to dispose of spell components, I like to take the organic ones and take them outside and bury them in a ritualistic way. Giving thanks to the Earth and to the Mother that created the herbs and/or the food and asking that the energies be absorbed by the Earth and cleansed and made ready for future castings.

For candles I use water to rinse the energy away from them and I simply dispose of them. Unless I can get Soy or Palm wax tea lights then I just peal off the metal (purify it first) and then chuck it into recycling since it is aluminum and bury the wax with the rest of the organics as soy and palm wax will biodegrade over time.

Short answer, purify and recycle what can't biodegrade, bury and ask the Earth and what nature aspect that you have a connection to to recycle the rest.

Also for organics *and* wax, you can always burn the lot in a nice fire. Fire purifies quite a lot and breaks down the materials into ashes that get absorbed into the ground. Again doing a ritual to the powers that be that you are connected to and that have a vested interest in such matters.
Title: Re: Leftovers?
Post by: Fox on December 21, 2011, 07:36:43 AM
I will second Mongo on the future use of tea lights.  Usually if I do any kind of candle work (which really isn't often anymore), I will let it burn fully out and what is left is usually just the metal tab that holds the wick (probably not even on all candles) which I just toss in the trash.

For this time, though, I'd probably keep what you have on your altar or in a bag as Mongo suggested at least until you get an answer on the job.  Once you get that, then you can decide what to do with the rest.
Title: Re: Leftovers?
Post by: earthmuffin on December 21, 2011, 10:27:16 AM
Birthday candles also work like the tea lights for spells and come in different colors. As a kitcheny/hedgy witchy, I tend to reuse stuff as much as possible and save my candle bits for later melt down and making into a candle. I feel the process of melting and transforming them is enough to destroy the leftover spell energies. I also don't like to bury stuff in the earth that isn't biodegradable. But that's my own quirkiness.. lots of witch's do.