CLEANSING WITH CANDLES

I am sure many people do not think about this because I have never read it anywhere, especially in Hoodoo, which is odd. There are plenty of books on hoodoo candle magic and fixing candles, but more is needed on using a candle as a cleansing tool. A lot of bathing and cleansing revolves around herbs, as it should. However, herbs are only one medium that can be used for this purpose. Candles and wax can be as well. Even in a tradition like Solomonic Magic, there are ways of working with candle wax to prepare special spirit seals where one prays over the wax and melts and remelts it, adding herbs and layer upon layer of prayer leading up to the finished product. There is a belief within practices like this that wax is very absorptive spiritually. In this case, we use that idea to turn a candle into a cleansing tool. This method is most effective if you have a preexisting devotional spirit relationship and an altar to said spirit, because that spirit is going to do the heavy lifting of purification.

Assuming you have such a spirit, you will need two stick candles of any size. Some use two white candles, while others will use a black one and a white one if they have both. Color is not immensely important to this, but it can be used to bring greater focus to the cleansing. A black candle is understood in many traditions to draw to itself. It is thus an ideal candle to draw something out of yourself or someone else. We do this in Hoodoo by swiping the candle from head to toe (and under your feet, moving OUT from heel to toe). You can do this cleansing motion a specific number of times or keep repeating it until you feel something being lifted off of you.

You will swipe the other candle, usually white, on your body in the opposite direction, from toe to head. As you wipe up on yourself, pray for the negativity to be removed and replaced by the blessings of that spirit you’re working with, good health, mental stability, and so on. This can also be repeated several times as needed.

You then place the two candles at opposite ends of that altar space. Light the black candle or cleansing candle first, then light the white candle. White is understood to reflect or send out.

Additional elements, such as psalm recitations, can be incorporated but are unnecessary. You can sit and meditate before the altar for a few minutes while the candles burn. Rest assured, these candles will work to relieve any negative energies.

If you’d like to learn more about this, check out my ongoing intro class on Hoodoo here: https://www.theblackthorneschool.com/courses/working-the-roots/.