In the practice of witchcraft, colored candles are commonly used as tools to enhance and focus intentions during rituals and spells. Each color has its own symbolic meaning, which can help to manifest specific desires and intentions. Understanding the hidden meanings of colored candles in witchcraft can be a powerful tool for practitioners. **Black candles** are often associated with protection and grounding. They can be used to banish negativity or to protect oneself from negative energy or harm. They are also commonly used in divination and scrying rituals.
Gayelette is the eternal sorceress who rules from the Ruby Palace in the lands of the North. She is a sorceress who exists in a different time than normal people – she does not ever age. She is more than one hundred years old. Her constant research keeps her too busy to pay attention to either matters of state or family.
Gayelette researches the power of dreams, probing into the mystery, “Why does nobody in Oz dream?”
Glinda is a kind-hearted, brave, calm and compassionate witch who will do anything to free her people from Evanora s rule and create a peaceful kingdom for Oz. Under Oscar s guidance, the townspeople create elaborate mechanisms and magician s equipment while the Wicked Sisters prepare for battle in the Emerald City.
They are also commonly used in divination and scrying rituals. **White candles** symbolize purity, spirituality, and divinity. They are often used in rituals to invoke higher guidance or divine intervention.
Symbolism of the ‘Wizard of Oz’
Symbolism of the ‘Wizard of Oz’
Practically everyone has either seen or heard The Wizard of Oz and Dorothy story. The Wizard of Oz over the years has become one of the truly classic movies among children and adults alike. If you have not read the book or seen the movie, you have probably at least heard the well known phrase “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore” or heard of Toto, Dorothy’s dog.
It tells the story of a young girl who ends up in a tornado and gets carried from her Kansas farm home to a land that is not like anything she has seen ever before. After Dorothy’s house falls on and kills the Wicked Witch in Munchkin Land, Dorothy is welcomed to her new land by the Munchkins. The nice witch Glinda then explains to Dorothy that to find out about getting back home she needs to follow the yellow brick road and ask the Wizard of Oz. Along her way down the yellow brick road Dorothy meets some new friends who all have something they want to ask the great wizard. However, when they finally get to the Emerald City and meet the wizard, they discover he is just a fraud and that everything they had been searching for they can find within themselves.
Whatever you may have seen or heard from the classic book or movie, what most people don’t know is that it is suspected that The Wizard of Oz referenced several late 1800 political issues. Speculation began in the 1960s with a history teacher of parallels between the novel and U.S. history. Henry Littlefield used the movie in his lecture and had students of his help to find the parallels between real life and the movie. The parallels were published in 1964 in American Quarterly and sparked years worth of debate.
Whether any of these speculations are true or not, none of us know for sure. However here are some of the symbols that have been suggested for The Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy: it is believed that Dorothy represents American values or people. She proves to be loyal, resourceful and determined. Another speculation was that she represents the U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt. Some people put more faith in this theory more than the other one due to similarnames (The-o-dore and Dor-o-thy).
Toto: a small dog that seems to go unnoticed, it is Toto who reveals what a fraud the Wizard is. It is thought that Toto also represents average Americans.
Uncle Henry: Henry Cantwell Wallace was a well known farmer and editor for a leading farm magazine in the late 1800s. He was called Uncle Henry by most everyone.
Cyclone: it is thought that the tornado represents the free silver movement or political upheaval. During the time that the story was written, American farmers were suffering from the effects of federal deflation. Their debts were growing larger as they were getting less money for their crops and other goods. The farmers wanted the dollar value to have fixed ratios of both gold and silver. Some politicians supported this movement and others didn’t.
Munchkins: The little people, the munchkins, are said to represent the common people or ordinary U.S. citizens. The Lollipop Guild is seen as representing child labor.
Silver Slippers: In the novel, Dorothy’s slippers are silver and not ruby. Silver is related to the monetary political issues of the time where farmers want to have the dollar’s value to have fixed ratios for both silver and gold. Another speculation is that the silver slippers are a representation of the power to vote.
Yellow Brick Gold: is a representation of the gold standard, with the gold road leading to power.
Oz: an abbreviation that stands for gold, a hot political topic of the day where people were rallying for fixed gold and silver ratios.
Tin Woodman: is a representation of industrial workers who often experienced being dehumanized. The Tin Man was immobile and rusted, which is something many factory workers felt when many businesses began to shut down due to a national depression. They felt helpless after they lost their jobs.
Scarecrow: represents western farmers. He complained about not having a brain but wound up as the most adept problem solver among the four travelers.
Cowardly Lion: In the late 1800s William Jennings Bryan, a politician, was a supporter of the free silver movement. It is said that the Cowardly Lion represents Bryan, who was viewed as someone having a load roar, but no power or bite.
Wicked Witch of the West and East: The Wicked Witch of the East represents eastern business and the Wicked Witch of the West represents the politician William McKinley who defeated Williams Jennings Bryant during the time of the free silver silver movement.
Good Witch of the South and North. The Good Witch of the North represents northern workers, and the Good Witch of the South represents southern farmers. This provides a contrast between wicked industrialists from the west with the railroad moguls in the west.
Flying Monkeys: in political cartoons flying monkeys are used for poking fun at politicians. Another speculation is they represent Native Americans. Dorothy and friends are told when they meet up with the monkeys that they were once a free people who happily lived in the forest where they flew from tree to tree eating fruit and nuts and doing whatever they pleased without having to call anyone master. This was years before Oz appeared from the clouds to rule over the land. This appears to relate well with the fate of Native Americans who had been forced from their land by Americans migrating from the east.
Emerald Palace and Emerald City: the Emerald Palace is believed to represent the White House and the Emerald City to represent Washington D.C.
Wizard: it is thought that the Wizard of Oz represents Mark Hanna, who was the Republican party’s chairman, or perhaps president of the United States. In the book, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Dorothy all saw the Wizard quite differently. This symbolizes the cynicism that exists in politics due to the fact that politicians tend to change face with different people.
By Julie Harmon On September 7, 2009All photos made available via creative commons licensing courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Glinda – Glinda is a good witch who rules over a peaceful kingdom of simple, kind folk. Beautiful Glinda is not only a compassionate and benevolent witch, but also a fierce protector of her people. Though Glinda sees through Oz’s facade early on, she knows genuine goodness lies within and helps Oz achieve his true destiny.
White candles can also represent the element of air and can be used in spells and rituals that involve communication and clarity. **Red candles** are associated with passion, love, and sexuality. They can be used to enhance feelings of love, desire, and attraction. Red candles are often used in love spells and rituals to bring about romantic relationships or to reignite passion in existing ones. **Pink candles** are similar to red candles but have a more gentle and nurturing energy. They represent love, harmony, and compassion. Pink candles can be used in spells and rituals that focus on self-love, healing relationships, and attracting friendship. **Orange candles** represent creativity, success, and abundance. They can be used to enhance motivation, stimulate creativity, and attract abundance and prosperity. Orange candles are also associated with the element of fire and can be used in spells and rituals that involve energy, strength, and courage. **Yellow candles** symbolize intellect, communication, and clarity of thought. They can be used to enhance mental clarity, improve communication skills, and stimulate logical thinking. Yellow candles are often used in spells and rituals that involve studying, problem-solving, and decision-making. **Green candles** are associated with growth, fertility, and abundance in the natural world. They can be used in spells and rituals that involve attracting financial prosperity, promoting physical and emotional healing, and enhancing personal growth. Green candles are also often used in earth-based rituals and in spells that involve nature magic. **Blue candles** symbolize peace, tranquility, and spiritual healing. They can be used to promote calmness, relaxation, and emotional balance. Blue candles are often used in spells and rituals that involve healing, meditation, and spiritual growth. **Purple candles** represent psychic abilities, intuition, and spiritual protection. They can be used to enhance psychic abilities, promote spiritual growth, and protect against negative energies. Purple candles are often used in spells and rituals that involve divination, psychic development, and connecting with higher realms. **Brown candles** symbolize stability, grounding, and the physical world. They can be used in spells and rituals that involve finding stability in life, grounding oneself, and attracting material abundance. Brown candles are often used in earth-based magic and rituals focused on the physical plane. **Gray candles** represent neutrality, balance, and harmony. They can be used in spells and rituals that involve meditation, balancing energies, and promoting harmony in relationships. Gray candles are also often used in rituals that involve protection and neutralizing negative energies. Understanding the hidden meanings of colored candles in witchcraft can empower practitioners to enhance their intentions and manifestations. By choosing the appropriate colored candle for a specific spell or ritual, witches can tap into the specific energies and vibrations associated with that color, amplifying their intentions and bringing about desired outcomes..
Reviews for "Beyond the Flame: Tapping into the Symbolism of Colored Candles in Witchcraft"
- Jennifer - 2 stars - I was really excited to learn about the hidden meanings of colored candles in witchcraft, but this book just didn't deliver. The information was very basic and lacking in detail. I was hoping for something more in-depth and insightful, but unfortunately, this book fell short.
- Mark - 1 star - As someone interested in witchcraft and candle magic, I was disappointed by this book. The author didn't provide any new or unique information about the hidden meanings of colored candles. It felt like I was reading a summary of basic candle colors and their general associations that I could have found on any website or introductory book on witchcraft. I was hoping for a deeper exploration of color symbolism in candle magic, but this book didn't deliver on that front.