12 replies to this topic

[meaculpa]

A little background:

Sunday I lit 2 vigil glass encased 7 day candles. One is for health for my mom and the other is for my deity to help me out. I have 2 vigil altar lights as well - making the healing candle in the middle of a triangle.

Now, at first the deity's candle was burning just fine. Then the next day I noticed its going waaay faster than my moms candle and leaving a bit black on top of the glass. Today at first the blackness got even worst before the flame becoming normal again. The whole time my moms candle is burning clean and slow - well, slow compared to the other one.

I have read about black burning - but on the actual petition candles, not on the deity. Does anyone have any idea what can it mean when its happening like this?

[vulnera]

impurities in the "wax" and wick will result in black, charry burning. but since there is no such thing as coincidence... i would say there is an imbalance you need to address before your petition is accepted. there is some sort of conflict.

[PheonixAlpha]

I tend to find a candle burning fast means the spell is going to work and work quickly but sometimes I find the effects may be short lived.

However this is a diety candle burning fast and could indicate that the diety is working hard for you to achieve the goal. The blackness you mention is soot right? This could mean theres opposition to the force of the candle. Together this suggests to me the force of the candle is having to work hard as there are obstacles (indicated by the black soot) that it is trying to overcome.

If the candle burns clear from now on it could mean the obstacles or opposition has cleared, if it carries on at the bottom it could mean the working was unsuccessful so you should try again.

[meaculpa]

Yes, I meant soot...forgot the correct word for it - sorry :-(

I am kinda in between what both of you said. I am not sure if the Goddess's candle is doing the hard work FOR my moms.....or is the Goddess "protesting" in a way and rejecting to help on the issue. The glass now is almost half black from soot, but so far is burning clean and normal. My moms healing one is still nice, clean and steady.

[Michael]

If your candle is burning "sooty" - it could just be that you didn't trim the wick down enough before you lit it. One of the candles I got from Lucky Mojo had a mile of wick that needed to be trimmed off....

Just a though from an old candleburner :-)

Michael

[PheonixAlpha]

Oh yes im an idiot I totally forgot to mention you MUST check the candle for mundane reasons for strange activity first.

Usually I find if the diety is "protesting" the working the flame tends to be small and burning very very slow OR the flame tends to go out. You need to go with your instincts on this, if you have a relationship with the diety then you could ask them what is happening and offer more prayers and petitions for help. Also now would be a good time to perform a divination on the matter.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it and do extra workings after to help. For instance if I had included a naming paper or petition paper in the working then after the candle burning is done I would burn this (usually in the vigil glass) along with incense and herbs as an offering to the diety.

[meaculpa]

Omg, yeah - the Lucky Mojo's wicks are a mile long, but the dollar store white candles I use as altar lights are about 2 miles long...lol....unreal :-)

I did trim the wick pretty low. What caused it to burn that way at first was that the wick kinda bent to the right and went a little in the melted wax. After it straightened out it kept burning clean. I did put more herbs than usual....but hey - nothing is a coincidence :-)

My instinct is telling me that she is working really hard for my mom and doing most of the work, since its her candle that is giving me all these signs. I have been her devotee and never asked anything of her, just my worship. I cry and laugh with her at her shrine. This is the first time I am petitioning her for help in spell work.

Much thanks to you, Pheonix, you have been really helpful :-)

[PheonixAlpha]

No probs, glad to be of help :-)

I think it is good you noticed it and thought to ask. Recognising and learning the signs of how a working is going from a burning candle appears to be a somewhat neglected art, but a highly beneficial one.

[Caliban]

A black burn can indicate a couple different things. One is that the force is having to work against strong opposition. I agree with PA's entire line of reasoning here. Sure, candles burn funny from time to time anyway. But when they do it in spellwork, it is significant.

One thing I will add is a fast and vigorous burn does mean a lot of power coming through, but a black burn means more opposition or hardship to overcome. I would burn another candle for your deity, and don't neglect the shrine in the meantime, as well. An offering or such can be a nice gesture of recognition that help is being given.

[meaculpa]

I am trying to learn as I go about flame, wax and etc and the signs in them.


i think I made a mistake :-( As her candle on the altar is already done (my moms still burning), I lit identical candle on her shrine - together with offering and saying thanks. The flame is so low that it seems it will drown in wax (trimmed it the same as her previous one). I spilled little wax to see what happens - good flame to the time I count to 3 and went down to the liquid wax again,....I think she is not taking it, maybe because the work is not done :-(

[meaculpa]

never mind....the flame picked up after HOURS of burning.

[Caliban]

The longer you work with jar candles like that (I love them and have used them for years, to great effect - its a mainstay of my practice) and simply observe and listen to your intuition, the better sense you will have for what different burns mean. You are doing well to have noticed this as remarkable. Keep it up!

[meaculpa]

Caliban said:

The longer you work with jar candles like that (I love them and have used them for years, to great effect - its a mainstay of my practice) and simply observe and listen to your intuition, the better sense you will have for what different burns mean. You are doing well to have noticed this as remarkable. Keep it up!

Thanks Caliban :-) I read that at the Lucky Mojo site and I want to perfect that art :-)

Just wanted to add that her second candle has black soot at the top 1/4 of the glass. Very dark too. My moms candle finished burning, with just a tad bit gray matter on the top.