Wish Magick

With the exception of love-magick, wish-magick is perhaps the most popular form of white magick practiced in modern times. it is relatively easy to perform, and can be as simple as wishing on a star, breaking a wishbone, or dropping a coin into a fountain or wishing well.

Many magically minded folks firmly believe in the power of the seven-knob candle (or "wish-candle" as it is sometimes called) to make wishes come true. It is a magickal tool especially popular among practitioners of hoodoo folk magick in the southern regions of the United States.

Seven knob candles are easily obtainable in most occult supply shops and are available in a variety of colors. When used correctly, they can work powerful magick, but be careful what you wish for, as the old expression goes, because you just might get it!

To perform the following wishing spell, you will need a blue seven-knob candle, myrrh oil, and a consecrated athame. Write your wish on each of the seven knobs of the candle. Anoint the candle with the myrrh oil and say:

I consecrate and bless this candle
in the divine name of the Goddess
Let all negativity and hindrance
be cast forth hencefrom.

Pick up your athame with your right hand. Place the flat side of the blade on top of the candle and envision magickal energy as a white light flowing from your body through the athame and into the candle. When you begin to actually feel the energy flowing say;

I charge thee now
With magickal power
In the divine name of the Goddess

Charge the candle for at least five minutes, return the athame to the altar, and then light the top knob of the wish candle, Say the following incantation seven times;

Seven magick knobs of blue
Make this wish of mine come true.

As the candle burns, concentrate upon the thing you desire and visualize yourself already in possession of it. Extinguish the candle after the first knob has burned down, and repeat the entire spell for the next six nights in a row, burning only one knob of the candle each time.

by Gerina Dunwich


Update: Since I found this spell a few days ago I have been looking for a blue seven knob candle to no avail. No one I have called has them. One place I called had never heard of them coming in blue. Now I did find places on the net where you could order them but I wanted it now. So I went looking for the significance of a seven knob candle and this is what I found.

SEVEN-DAY and
SEVEN-KNOB CANDLES
Whereas Catholic religious practice presents us with the novena (nine-day) candle, in hoodoo, we see instead the seven-day candle, sometimes referred to by older practitioners as the "7-day vigil candle," due to its being burned for difficult cases or ongoing situations over the course of seven days, while one watches and waits for divinatory signs.

There are four types of 7-day candles used in hoodoo:

The candle divided by seven needles or pins:

I believe that this is the oldest form of the 7-day candle. To make one, take a regular offertory or jumbo-size candle and seven needles or pins. Poke the needles into the candle, dividing it into seven equal parts (the seventh needle or pin can go at the top or at the bottom, but no one i know ever uses SIX needles or pins to divide the candle into seven parts). Write your wish (or seven wishes) on a piece of paper. Turn the paper 90 degrees sideways and write your full name over the wish or wishes seven times, crossing and covering the previous writing with your name. Place the paper under the candle. Dress the candle with an appropriate oil. Burn it for seven nights, pinching it out (NOT blowing it out) each time a needle falls. Save the needles when they fall. When the last needle falls, stick the needles into the paper in the form of two X patterns surrounding one double-cross pattern (that has two lines crossing one upright line). Dispose of the ritual remains in an appropriate way : Bury the paper and any leftover wax under your doorstep if your intention is to draw something or someone to you. Throw the paper and wax away at a crossroads, in running water, or in a graveyard if the intention is to get rid of something or someone.



THE SEVEN KNOB CANDLE:

I have seen ads for these under the name "The Famous 7-Knob Wishing Candle" dating back at least to the 1930s; they might be older, but i do not know. They are mentioned favourably in Henri Gamache's "Master Book of Candle Burning" (written in 1942) and they are very popular in the African-American community, which seems to indicate that they are efficacious. Seven-knob candles generally come in four colours, with the usual symbolism implied (white for blessing or wishing, red for love or sex, green for money or gambling luck, black for destruction or revenge). Carve a brief wish on each knob -- either the same wish seven times or seven different wishes, one per knob. Dress the candle with an appropriate oil. Burn it for seven nights, pinching it out (NOT blowing it out) each time a knob is gone.

THE SEVEN CHARM SORTILAGE CANDLE:

This is a hand-made candle that contains seven tiny metal charms (milagros or ex-votos) inside, which are revealed one per day as you burn the candle down over the course of seven days. It is more common in Latin America than in the USA. Often the charms are religious as well as lucky, and they may include a cross, an angel, the powerful hand of God, a man's head, a woman's head, and so forth.

THE SEVEN-WISHES GLASS ENCASED CANDLE:

This style of 7-day candle only became popular from the 1970s onward. It is made with seven layers of wax in different colours, poured into a tall, narrow glass container. Burn one layer each day with appropriate prayers or wishes. It's interesting to note that this is the same size and shape of candle which the Catholics call a novena candle, although they expect it to burn for nine days. For many more examples of glass encased candles in both the Catholic and hoodoo traditions, see the sections below on glass encased religious candles and glass encased vigil candles.

So I chose to go with a blue pillar candle that I divided with the seven pins. Hope this helps all of you. Blessings