Ember Grant
For the summer solstice, here are two spells that utilize candles with mirrors. In honor of the longest day, we celebrate the sun’s strength; soon it will begin to wane. For now, let’s revel in the light of both fire and sunshine.
Healing Light
For this spell, you need a small pocket mirror you can carry—a compact is ideal, but any small mirror will do. In addition, you’ll need enough candles to make a circle around the mirror. You can use any size or number of candles you wish, but try to use white, yellow, orange, or red—or a combination of these colors. If you wish, carve sun symbols into the candles.
Your goal is to charge the mirror with both sunlight and candlelight and then use the mirror as a symbol for healing light. Imagine the mirror as a battery. You’ll charge it with both candlelight and sunlight. Imagine both types of light as healing fire—the candle flames and the radiant light of the sun. Harness both into the mirror. Every time you look into it, visualize that healing light reflects back to you.
You can do this in whatever order you choose—sunlight first, then candles, or candles, then sunlight the next day. Place the mirror outside in full midday sunshine. Leave it there for at least one hour. Do this on the summer solstice or any bright day. Visualize that you’re capturing the light—this is one reason a compact works well because you can close it, figuratively capturing the light. For the nighttime portion of the spell, open the mirror in a dimly lit area and light the candles in a circle around the mirror. Let the candles burn out.
Any time you look at your reflection in that mirror, imagine the sunlight and candle flames and chant:
Sun and fire, day and night, in this glass I hold your light;
healing rays of summer days, bring magic when it’s in my sight.
Visualize the light flowing through you with energizing, healing power.
Radiance Spell
Summer represents the full bloom of life, a flourishing, vigorous time. No matter what your age, this spell is intended to help you channel the full splendor of a beautiful summer—the magic of warm evenings, fireflies, lush trees, and cool water. If seasons are life, then summer is the height—be your summer self, your most strong and beautiful inside and out. Embrace the fullness of life wherever you are. You are radiant.
For this spell, you will need a large mirror, such as one you may have in your bathroom or bedroom—one that lets you see as much of yourself as possible.
You will need three candles of any size or color, but make sure that you can hold one of them comfortably in your hands without burning yourself. (Use a container if necessary.) You will hold one candle as you stand in front of the mirror and place the other two on each side of you on a counter, table, or dresser. Try to catch the light of the candles in the mirror with you, if possible.
Light the candles and, as you view your reflection, say these words:
Let the flames of candles three
show the traits that flatter me;
inner beauty brought to light—
I’m radiant and shining bright.
Stand or sit that way as long as you can. Meditate on you—your inner and outer beauty. Feel it. See it. Shine with the radiance of self-love. Reflect on who you are and who you want to be. Are you your best self? If not, why? What changes would you like to make? Take time to reflect on more than what you see, but how you feel. Know that you have the power to be your best self.
When you’re finished with your self-reflection, extinguish the candles or keep them burning as long as you wish. Keep using them for this purpose over time until they burn out.
Simple Midsummer Protection Spell
Ancient people all over Europe are known to have celebrated Midsummer. According to scholar Ronald Hutton, Midsummer (as well as Midwinter) celebrations were common throughout ancient Britain and almost certainly employed fire. There is evidence of “the making of sacred fires at the opening of summer and at its solstice, to bless and protect people and their livestock from the dangers of the season” (Hutton 2013, loc 7698). Fire was used to purify with smoke, and to provide protection.
Use a red votive candle and carve it with protective symbols such as pentagrams. Imagine ancient tribes of people at Midsummer creating protective fires for their livestock and villages. You are connecting with your ancestors and all those who came before by utilizing the power of fire, even if you’re merely lighting a candle. The fire is symbolic. It is pure power. As you light the candle, visualize the element of fire forming a protective shield around you that deflects all negative energy and harm of any kind. You can imagine a circle of fire, a series of fires in a ring around you, or a sphere of fire that encompasses you like a ball. Even though fire can destroy, in this case it’s warding all harm away from you. Say these words three times:
Fire is power, and it’s mine to wield; fire is power, and it is my shield.
Allow the candle to burn out. Anytime you need to evoke the protective shield, repeat the phrase and visualization.
Reference
Hutton, Ronald. Pagan Britain. Yale University Press: New Haven and London. Kindle edition, 2013.