Colors are most commonly associated with candle-burning, but you don't
have to stop there. Visualizations, ritual garb, or sympathetic magick
pieces can all "match." Color, like the elements, is another
easy component to work with because of how it bypasses words and intellect
straight into senses and emotions, and the subconscious.
WHITE: This is the "spiritual" color, often associated with
purity and holiness. It's also considered an all-purpose candle by bringing
a higher direction when burned with any other candle. On its own, white
can be used for purely religious rites, or for issues of protection or
"cleansing"-oftentimes a black film will appear on the rim of
the candle, which can be taken to mean that there's a lot of negativity
in the air that's being "caught" by the candle. White is also
a good color for truth coming to the surface, which is why it's popular
for stopping gossip.
RED: Red is the number one color for love
spells, typically to enhance attraction or heighten sexuality. It is also
a color for courage, drive, and forceful energy.
ORANGE: A vibrant color that brings forth
creativity and energy.
GOLD: Sometimes it's easy to confuse gold
with orange in darkened little shops-gold is the darker, duller one. This
is the practical color, most commonly used for work and employment issues.
But it's also used success for creative endeavors-the orange is good for
helping you write a story, gold is for helping you get it published.
YELLOW: Happiness and friendship.
GREEN: The most popular use of green is
for money gained by luck and gambling, although you can also pair it gold
for a raise at a job or whatever. Green can also be used for healing and
growth, which I think makes it an excellent color to get married in.
BLUE: The candle of peace and tranquility.
This can be used to "cool down" a simmering situation. It's
also commonly used for healing.
PURPLE: The power color. This is a color
that can be paired with other colors to add extra power to specific workings,
or can be just fine on its own.
PINK: Affectionate friendship, more intimate
than yellow but not as hot as red.
BLACK: Interpretations vary over this controversial color. Yes, traditionally it's been used for hexing. Yes, it's common practice to always, always burn a white candle beside it. But it's also all of the colors mixed together, whereas white is the absence of light. While using your subconscious impressions is a good guide for your crafts, I think modern culture has been a little too quick to swallow judgments and prejudices about (gasp) the darkness-black is not always bad. I myself prefer a cool midnight to a blinding white light(which the Japanese regard as the color of death). Then again strange things have been known to happen when you burn these suckers. Do what you will.
