Not so long ago, if a Spiritualist was trying to encourage marriage
between a couple he/she might burn one marriage figural candle a night for nine
nights. But, if the client did not have much money and the work really needed
to be done, the Spiritualist would divide the candle up into nine sections for
nine days of burning.
Figural candles have always been expensive. Any molded candle
is difficult to produce. With today's rising petroleum prices, wax is more expensive,
as is the transportation to ship the candles from points around the world. In
the above example, a modern-day Spiritualist would pay over seventy dollars ($70)
for nine marriage candles. Most cannot afford this. So, the technique of measuring
a candle is still relevant to most practitioners.
Measuring a candle is the the traditional term for dividing a
candle into a predetermined number of sections by inserting needles or pins into
the wax. This is the actual practice that became the legend of "voodoo
dolls" in New Orleans. Reporters, not comprehending what they were seeing,
made the assumption that the needles inserted in a wax figure were for doing harm.
In actuality, the figures were being measured for work.
 HOW
TO MEASURE THE CANDLE
Dividing the candle up into sections is easy. You might measure
the length of the candle with a ruler and divide it up by the number of sections
you need. But, you are setting yourself up to deal with fractions of inches. It's
just too tough of a job. The sections don't have to be exactly even to the centimeter.
If they look evenly spaced to the eye when you have finished, it's a fine enough
job.
One needle or pin should be inserted right at the point where
the wick sprouts out of the wax. If you are doing drawing work, this is the last
needle inserted because you insert them from the bottom to the top of the candle.
If you are removing, the "wick needle" is the first one placed.
It's an easy process.
Remember, that it takes an even number of needles / pins to make
an odd number of sections. However, we always want to work with an odd number.
This is why the needle is inserted at the wick.
 NEEDLES
OR PINS, DOES IT MATTER WHICH I USE?
It doesn't matter if you use needles or sewing pins.
Many sewing pins have plastic balls on the tip, so they are easier to push into
the wax. When inserting needles, I end up using needle nosed pliers. Needles are
rough on the fingertips - something akin to sticking a hundred cloves in a ham!.
For love work I like to pick out all of the red capped pins from
a package of multicolored ones. You might use all green for money work or all
yellow for success, etc.
Ideally, use needles for works designed to remove bad luck, crossed
conditions, hexes, jinxes and witchcraft. They are also used in protection work.
Many folks from the South and Caribbean break the eye (see
above illus.) on the needle when they are working on or against another spiritual
person. The belief being the worker and their actions are spiritually obscured
from the enemy. A broken eye makes it more difficult for the target to
find out who is causing their problems via a reading or spiritual consultation.
Needles with broken eyes are used for break up, confusion, crossing,
revenge and reversing spells. They might also be used for uncrossing or protection
when a Spiritualist feels it's better for the client's enemies not to know they
have sought out help for their condition.
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A
Double Cross Pattern is used to dispose of seven candle needles.
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DO I BURN THE "MEASURED" CANDLE A SPECIAL
WAY?
When burning a measured candle, allow the first needle at the
wick to fall out, and then let the candle burn to a point right above the second
needle. It is important that you pray or meditate for the entire time the candle
is lit. Each day, burn through one needle - allowing the needle to fall and up
to the next needle. Remember, NEVER BLOW OUT A CANDLE you are doing
work with. You can pinch the candle out or use a proper candle snuffer.
The needles or pins should be reserved for use at the end of the
candle burning ritual - so keep them in a safe place. I like to cover them with
herbs or powders and leave them on my altar until I am ready to work with them.
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A
Triple Double Cross Pattern is used to dispose of nine candle needles.
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In most cases, the needles should be inserted into the name
paper or petition that was sitting underneath the candle. For a "seven
needle" work make two "X's" on each side and a "double
cross" in the center of the paper. The double cross consists of one vertical
needle and two horizontal needles (see above illus.). Since this pattern is used
for drawing work, you will want to place it with your other ritual remains - the
incense ash, bath water, candle wax, etc. Many drawing or love spells instruct
you to keep the ritual remains. Some may call for remains to be buried at the
front door of your home or even in the backyard. I have been told that in love
drawing work, this paper should be placed between the mattress and box springs
of the bed. If your spell does not offer instructions on how to dispose of the
needles and or name paper - do what feels right to you.
To finish a nine needle candle work, use three needles to form
three double crosses. Once again this paper is disposed of with the rest of the
ritual remains. One exception I am aware of is when using war
water in a spell. If your intention is to cause havoc in a home, and you plan
on breaking or leaving ritual remains on an enemy doorstep - add the needles independently
to the contents.
Now that you have the basics of working with needles and pins
and know how to properly measure a candle, we can move to the final step of candle
dressing - Naming the Candle >>
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