General Guidelines

We will start this page with giving you some general information about what this means, and then towards the end of the page, I’m going to give you some specific information about specific types of candles.

Interpreting the wax remaining in a glass jar after burning a spell candle can provide insights into the effectiveness of your spell and the energy surrounding your intention. Here are some interpretations based on the characteristics of the wax left behind:

1. Amount of Wax Remaining

  • Little to No Wax: This often signifies a successful spell. It suggests that the energies were strong and that your intention is manifesting well.
  • Moderate Wax: If a fair amount of wax remains, it might indicate that there are some blockages or that additional work is needed to fully realize your intention.

2. Shape of the Wax

  • Smooth Buildup: A smooth layer of wax may suggest that your energy is flowing well, and the spell is progressing positively.
  • Crystallized or Uneven Buildup: If the wax has a crystallized appearance or is uneven, it could indicate resistance or obstacles that need to be addressed.

3. Placement of Wax

  • Centered Wax: If the remaining wax is mostly centered, it could mean that your intention is focused and that the energy is aligned.
  • Wax Clinging to the Sides: Wax adhering to the sides can suggest that there are lingering issues or energies that need to be cleared.

4. Color of the Wax

  • Darker Shades: If the wax is darker than the original color, it might indicate the presence of negative energy or unresolved issues.
  • Light or Clear Wax: This can symbolize clarity and positive energy, suggesting that your spell is on the right path.

5. Additional Observations

  • Soot or Smoke: If you notice soot marks or smoke residue, this could imply that the spell faced resistance or negativity during the process.
  • Floating Debris: Any debris in the wax can symbolize external influences or obstacles affecting your intention.

Each piece of wax left behind can tell a story about the spell’s progress and the energies at play. Reflecting on these interpretations alongside your intention can help you understand the outcome and what actions to take next, whether that involves additional spells, cleansing, or adjusting your focus.


Interpretation for wax remaining in a crystal like manner around the interior of the jar:candle jar magic, when you see the wax look like a crystal buildup on the side of the jar.

In candle jar magic, the appearance of wax that looks like crystal buildup on the sides of the jar can have several interpretations:

1. Energy Resonance

  • Interpretation: The crystal-like formations may indicate that the energies of your intention are being amplified. It suggests that the spell is actively resonating and building power.

2. Manifestation Process

  • Interpretation: This can symbolize that your desires are solidifying and manifesting in the physical realm. The buildup indicates progress in your spell work.

3. Blockages or Resistance

  • Interpretation: If the buildup appears uneven or in large clumps, it could signify blockages or resistance to your intention. This might suggest that there are obstacles to overcome before your desires can fully manifest.

4. Purification

  • Interpretation: Crystal formations can also represent purification. This might mean that negative energies or influences are being cleared away as part of the process.

5. Connection to the Spiritual Realm

  • Interpretation: Such formations may signify a strong connection with spiritual energies or guides, indicating that they are actively involved in your spell.

What to Do Next

  • Reflect on Your Intention: Consider the clarity and focus of your original intention. Make adjustments if necessary.
  • Cleansing Rituals: If you sense blockages, perform a cleansing ritual to clear any negative energies that might be interfering.
  • Continue with Gratitude: Regardless of the interpretation, maintaining a positive mindset and expressing gratitude can help enhance the results of your magic.

By observing these signs and reflecting on your situation, you can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your candle jar magic.

DUME OR CURSING CANDLE

When a dume candle (a type of candle often used for banishing, protection, or spiritual work) does not finish burning all the way to the base of the jar and produces lots of black smoke on top of the jar, it can be interpreted in a few different ways, depending on the context and your intention behind the spell.

Here’s a breakdown of what these signs could mean:

1. Incomplete Burn (Not Reaching the Base of the Jar)

  • Resistance or Blockages: One of the most common interpretations when a candle doesn’t burn completely is that there are spiritual or energetic blockages that are preventing the spell from fully manifesting. This could be related to the target of the spell (such as someone you’re trying to banish or protect against) or could indicate that there is resistance in the energy you’re trying to shift.
    • What to do: You may need to repeat the spell or adjust your intention. It might also be worth checking if there are any external blockages, such as lingering negative energies or unresolved emotions that could be interfering with the work.
  • The Work Is Not Finished: Another possibility is that the energy of the work is still unfolding. Sometimes, a candle will not burn to the bottom right away because the work is ongoing or has not fully manifested yet. This could indicate that you need to remain patient and allow the process to complete in its own time.
  • Not Enough Energy or Focus: If you’re not focused or committed enough to the ritual, the candle may struggle to burn fully. Lack of energy, intention, or focus can cause the candle to burn unevenly or not finish. This can also indicate that you may need to revisit your intent or make sure you’re aligned spiritually with the work you’re doing.

2. Black Smoke (Indicating Negative Energies)

  • Banishing Effect: Black smoke is often associated with negative energies, unwanted spirits, or banishing forces. In the context of a dume candle, which is often used for protection or removal of negativity, black smoke can indicate that the spell is working to remove something harmful from your life. The smoke may symbolize the purging of negativity or an energy cleanse.
    • What to do: If this is what you intended—such as banishing negativity or removing someone’s influence—the black smoke can be seen as a good sign that the work is effective. Continue the process and trust that the negative influences are being driven away.
  • Lingering Negative Energy: However, excessive black smoke can also indicate that there is a strong presence of negativity still lingering in the space, even after the candle is burned. This could be the presence of a spiritual block or persistent negative forces.
    • What to do: If the black smoke is overwhelming or continues for an extended period of time, it might be necessary to cleanse the space with additional rituals, such as smudging with sage or sprinkling protective herbs like salt or black salt. You may also want to refocus your intention and revisit the work, as this suggests that the energy has not been fully cleared.

3. Weak Flame and Black Smoke

  • Conflict with the Target: If the flame of the candle flickers weakly or produces a lot of black smoke, it can indicate that the target of your spell (such as a person, entity, or situation you’re trying to banish) is resistant to the energy you’re trying to push. This might suggest that the person is either energetically shielding themselves, or there is some force protecting them.
    • What to do: If this is the case, consider strengthening your protective barriers and amplifying your intention. Adding extra ingredients like banishing herbs (e.g., wormwood, graveyard dirt, or black pepper) to your spell can help to break through this resistance.
  • Unseen Forces at Play: The presence of black smoke with a weak or flickering flame can also suggest unseen forces at play, such as negative spiritual influences or the influence of someone actively working against you. If you’re working on a protection spell or curse removal, this could indicate that there’s someone or something trying to interfere with your success.
    • What to do: Perform a spiritual cleansing (using holy water, smudging, or salt baths) and consider repeating the ritual with more powerful tools or spirits for assistance.

4. Overpowering Black Smoke

  • Spiritual Overload: If the candle produces excessive black smoke throughout its burning, it may indicate an overload of negativity or spiritual energy that is being purged. In some cases, this could be a sign that the negative energy is too strong or deeply embedded.
    • What to do: In this case, it might be wise to break the spell down into smaller steps. You may need to perform multiple smaller rituals to slowly unravel the negativity instead of trying to tackle everything in one go. You could also use other spiritual tools, such as protection amulets or spiritual baths, to help manage the buildup of negative energy.

5. The Candle May Need Time

  • Extended Burn Time: If the candle is taking longer than expected to burn and produces black smoke, it could indicate that the energy being worked with is intense, and the situation might require more time to fully manifest. This is often the case when you’re working with heavy spiritual blocks or difficult circumstances that need to be broken down slowly over time.
    • What to do: Be patient. You may need to keep repeating the work until the energy has been fully shifted or use other spells to support the process. The extended burn time could indicate that the situation is more complex and needs further intervention.

Key Takeaways

  • Black Smoke: This could indicate banishing, cleansing, or the removal of negativity, but excessive black smoke may also signal lingering negative forces or resistance.
  • Not Burning to the Base: This could suggest blockages, incomplete work, or spiritual resistance, and you may need to revisit the spell or cleanse the space before continuing.
  • Flickering or Weak Flame: A weak flame or one that flickers could suggest external resistance or that the energy is struggling to manifest. Additional protective or banishing work may be needed.

The key to interpreting these signs is to tune into the specific purpose of the spell, assess the situation, and trust your intuition to guide you toward the right course of action.

For us here in Black Witch Coven, when we see a big wax plug at the base of the candle….. tells us to break down the petition into smaller pieces and work on it again using a smaller, more focused petition. It’s also important to burn in a series of candles, especially if the request is difficult. So if you’re cursing someone or banishing, someone, you really need to burn a minimum of three candles against the situation.

And of course read the last candle don’t micromanage the series.


Environmental causes for wax remaining around the interior of jars in magic

Let me start off by saying that we don’t light candles and believe that their messages are fake or that magic is fake but we’re just hoping it may take affect. You will never get results in magic if you’re not believing in what you’re doing. In saying that, there are mundane reasons as to why candles react in a certain way, and so I’m going to discuss the very ordinary reasons, why candles behave as they do.

1. Manufacturing Process

  • Quality of Wax: Lower-quality waxes may not adhere well to the sides of the jar, leading to excess wax pooling outside as the candle burns.
  • Wick Size and Type: If the wick is too large or not suitable for the candle, it can create excessive soot or cause the candle to burn too hot, leading to wax runoff.

2. Temperature Changes

  • Environmental Conditions: Rapid temperature changes can cause the wax to contract and expand, resulting in a gap between the wax and the jar. This can lead to wax dripping down the sides.

3. Burning Conditions

  • Burn Time: If the candle is not burned long enough, it may not fully melt down to the bottom, leaving residue along the sides. I recommend to always leave the candle burning once you start it, because if you start and stop all the time it does disrupt the spell and the burning of the candle.
  • Drafts: Burning candles in drafty areas can cause uneven melting, leading to wax accumulation on the jar’s exterior.

4. Candle Design

  • Aesthetic Choices: Some candles are designed with decorative finishes that may result in more wax being left on the jar when burned.
  • Jar Style: if you’re in the USA you’re probably love the candles from the dollar store or from Walmart that are very cheap, but with that normally comes a candle that is quite narrower then the typical spellcasting jar candle. These type of candles with the narrow jar are great for spells or praise where you don’t want to interpret the wax. Quite often, either the candle will not burn down to completion, or there seems to always be a plug of wax at the base of the jar. Don’t torture yourself with trying to work out the meaning of these candles. Just except that appraise candle is exactly just for that. It’s just for praising the spirit and not for the spirit to do something for you where it requires interpretation.

5. Scent Oils and Additives

  • Additives:
    • The inclusion of fragrance oils or color additives can affect how the wax burns and adheres to the jar, sometimes resulting in excess wax.
    • If you add to much more oil in the jar or on the wick, the candle will probably not light or even burn down to fast to where the candle is now unable to burn without digging out a whole lot of wax and discovering the wick once again.
    • Also if you pack your candle with too many herbs, the flame will just to consume the herbs  – at worst, the jar will crack at the top or become completely black with the intensity of the heat.

Buy Jar Candles

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Do you have a question about your candle?

Drop a comment hear about your candle, and perhaps send in a photo for us to review. When it comes to reading the wax, let us know a little bit about your situation and show us what your candle did and we can give you some feedback.

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