Notes from Candle Power by Cassandra Eason

I recently flicked through Cassandra Eason's book Candle Power and made the following notes, which I thought I could share with you.

Candle Time
This can be used when a family discussion is needed. Take a candle and etch equal intervals down the side of the candle. When talking, each member gets the time for their section on the candle to burn down and they can talk freely and uninterrupted. It can be helpful to hold discussions in candlelight as this can help calm emotions.
I really think that this can be a useful practice I can include in my home-life.

Candle Gazing to resolve a problem
Choose a quiet place and light a white candle. Gaze into the candle, eyes half-closed, whilst chanting your question like a mantra. Focus simply on your question and the candle flame. Once the candle has burned down, take a warm bath with 10 drops of lavender / rose / geranium oil, then go to bed. Ask for the Goddess' guidance with your problem. On awaking, try to remember any symbols from your dreams and write these in your journal.

Pins in Candles
Great banish ritual - best done on a waning moon.

Endow a long pin with the feeling of whatever you wish to banish from your life by holding the pin between your hands and saying:Sharp pangs cease,
Hard times end;
Into the candle flame,
Bend pin bend. 

Light a purple candle for wisdom and spirituality and as the wax softens, pierce the wick of the candle with the pin, about 2.5cm down, whilst saying:
Burn candle burn,
Turn sorrow turn,
From pain to joy
Bad times destroy
Burn sadness burn


Leave the pin hanging loosely and keep a heat-proof tray underneath the pin so that it catches the pin when it falls.

Burn tiny pieces of wool in the candle flame. With each piece of wool name a regret, disappointment or sorrow and as each is burned say:
It is gone
It is done
No more to return
Burn candle burn

Wait until the pin falls from the candle and catch a small piece of molten wax on the tray. Say:
Pin fall
Do not recall
The pain you caused.
Pin die,
Let my
Heart be
Free
From your thrall
Burn candle all

As the molten wax cools, fashion it into a square (a square is a symbol of limitations) and mark it with a + as an extra banishing symbol.

Let the candle burn down and as it does take a sheet of white paper and write down positive steps for the future.

The following day, bury the square of wax in a pot of earth and plant fast-growing seeds so that daily you can see hope and new life growing.

Mother's Love Spell

This spell is taken from Marie Bruce's Witch's Almanac. A great spell in preparation for Mothering Sunday.

Purpose of ritual:
to give thanks for your mother's love

You will need:
a photo of your mother, one red rose, one pink rose, two pink candles and holders, rosewood oil, a gift or flowers for your mother, a pink balloon, a pink ribbon, a small slip of paper

-- Set up an altar dedicated to your mother and your love for one another. Place her photograph in the middle and surround it with a circle of red and pink rose petals. Place the gift or flowers nearby.

-- Anoint the pink candles by rubbing the rosewood oil into the wax. Set them in holders on each side of the photo and light them.

-- Sit for a while, thinking of your mother, of all that she's done for you and all that she means to you. Give thanks to the Goddess or your chosen divinity for the gift of your mother's love.

-- Now think of a wish for your mum, a gift she'd like or something like improved health.

-- Write the wish on a slip of paper, roll the paper into a scroll and pass it through the neck of the balloon. Add a couple of rose petals, blow up the balloon, tie a knot in the neck and attach the ribbon.

-- Allow the candles to burn down, and complete the ritual by releasing the wish balloon into the air on the next windy day and presenting the gift to your mother.

Witchy Books

In my last post, I talked about going through all the books that I had on the subject of Paganism, Wicca and my spirituality. I thought it would be a good time to go through what I've actually already got to hand. I will be doing a video on this topic soon.

So let's have a look what's on my shelf, shall we?

 The first book on my shelf is 'The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft' by Judika Illes. This is rather a hefty tome and although I've dipped into it several times, I've certainly not begun to brush the surface with regards to all the information it contains. The blurb on the back of the book states:
"Meet mythic witches, modern witches, sacred goddess witches, even demon witches, male and female witches, witches from all over the globe. Take a journey through witchcraft's history, mythology, and folklore; discover a miscellany of facts including magic spells, rituals, potions, recipes, celebrations, traditions and much more."

I found this book in my local charity shop and paid a whopping £5.99 for it - I think the book normally retails at around £20.00 / 29.50USD / 42.00CAD. You can purchase it from Amazon here.

Scott Cunningham's 'Wicca in the Kitchen' book is a relatively new addition to my collection, but I already love it. It covers the health and magickal benefits of food and is perfect for any kitchen witch. Whenever I'm cooking - for mundane or magickal reasons, I usually dip into this book and have a look at the magickal / folklore properties of the ingredients I'm using. It's really opened my mind to bringing magick into my daily life.
From the back of the book:
"Food Magic: Simple, Sacred, Transformation at Your Table. There's a reason caviar has a reputation as a love food, but a little vanilla or peppermint can work wonders too! You'll savor mushrooms like never before after experiencing their intuitive-raising effects and a munch of celery will resonate with new meaning as it boosts your sexual desire and psychic awareness. [...]"
Check it out on Amazon here.

Another personal favourite, 'Spell Crafts' is perfect for anyone who loves to make things - it gives so many ideas for how to furnish your (already) magickal household. Instructions on how to make spell boxes, gods' eyes, sigils, brooms, magickal potpourri... pretty much everything you've ever wanted to know how to make. This book shows you how to take everyday objects and turn them into vehicles of power. If you're in any way crafty.... get your hands on Spell Crafts.

 Are you seeing a pattern to my books here? This is another excellent book by Scott Cunningham - recipes for incense mixes, oils and general potions and brews. It's easy to read, contains a wealth of information and is fun. This is another book I do need to become more familiar with though, as I have only take a cursory look through its pages.

The book can be bought from Amazon here.

 'The Magical Household' is just the most interesting book I've read by Cunningham so far. Basically, it's an instruction manual for how to bring your spirituality and magic into your home and your daily life. I will be starting out with this book in my babysteps research, as it's been a long while since I read it. I can only recommend this book as an excellent tool for anyone wanting to make the mundane magickal.
Find it on Amazon here.

 Eileen Holland's 'The Wicca Handbook', was the first book about Wicca I ever bought. It has an easy-to-follow introduction, telling you about the tools, beliefs etc., but then also contains a grimoire section with a host of correspondences.
It's available to buy from Amazon here.

Whatever your thoughts about Silver Ravenwolf, her Ultimate Book of Shadows is a useful reference tool, in my humble opinion. Although there are some questionable pieces of information provided, I still think this is a really good book for those starting out and want something that is user-friendly. Plus, it's a massive tome!

You can buy Silver's UBOS from Amazon here.







In addition to the above-mentioned books, I also have a host of reference material on crystals, herbal medicine, alternative healing etc etc. I haven't included these on this list as the books above do tend to focus more on a Wiccan / magickal path. I will do a separate post about my other books at a later date - perhaps.

So, what's on your shelf? What's your favourite Wiccan/faith-centred book? I'm interested to know what our combined Pagan library looks like :)

Blessings <3 <3