We are a magical religion. It is your Goddess-given right to use the spark of divinity within you to make your life better, more fulfilling and loving. And, as a continuing "bonus", working magic keeps you young and healthy!

Your first spell will help you be successful in your studies, and can be used for any class, whenever you want to retain what you read, etc.

First, you will need a yellow candle. Yellow is the color of intellect. You can use a household candle which will burn for approximately four (4) hours, a jumbo candle which will burn for approximately twenty-four (24) hours, or as we suggest. A jar candle, which should last around 7 days (if burned continuously, of course).

You will need an anointing oil, and the recipes we suggest are: Knowledge and Retention, Ancient Wisdom, Vision, or Meditation. These are used to charge the candle.

You need bath salts, the suggested varieties being: Success, Meditation, or a good all-purpose substitute, Dragon's Blood.

Next is the incense. We suggest: Success, Meditation, or Dragon's Blood. To burn your incense you will need incense charcoal (sold here at the store) and a censer or at least a heavy ashtray filled with sand to absorb the heat.

When burning incense or candles be very cautious; think fire-safety!

Lastly you need a lighter and lighting stick.

Clean the candle physically: remove dust, wax drippings, etc. It must be perfectly clean!

Run a warm bath (not too hot or too cold) and pot approximately three (3) teaspoons of bath salts. Wait until the salts dissolve before getting in - "bath salt butt" hurts!

While in the bath relax, forget about the problems of the day, and focus on the job at hand. When you are done with your bath, you must air dry - no towel drying! The salts are very purifying and the oils in the salts are aimed at a magical purpose - so don't wipe them off!

Now light the charcoal, its going to spark and sputter, and when it is done spitting then sprinkle some incense on it. Smells good doesn't it! Incense sets the mood, consecrates the room, and traditionally is used to carry hopes, prayers and aspirations to the Gods.

Most authorities suggest getting your right hand nice and oily and while holding the candle with the left, grasp the candle at the top (with right hand) and bring your oily hand to the center. This coats the top half of the candle with oil. Then flip the candle and rub from bottom to center, this coats the bottom half. Since you want to draw success to you, you want to bring that successful energy to the center of the circle. Repeat this anointing process until you feel the candle is sufficiently charged, or until you can no longer the visualization.

The more common sense method we are taught by Lady Morgana is as follows. Hold the candle in your left hand, at the base against your solar plexus. Get your right hand nice and oily. Now start at the top of the candle and bring your hand to the base, thus bringing that successful energy to you, through the candle. Visualize successful studies, retaining what you read, finding good answers and answering correctly in class! Repeat this anointing process till the candle is charged to overflowing, or you can't visualize any longer.

For a jar candle, dip you finger in oil, and rub the wax inside the jar clockwise, or deosil. Visualize strong successful studies, successful classes, etc. continue anointing a deosil circle till the candle is charged with your energy and aimed by your visualization.

When your candle is anointed (whichever method you choose) you will light the lighting stick and with stick-light the candle. NEVER use matches for magic - the smell offends the Salamanders (the spirits of Fire) and it also brings to mind "Hellfire and Brimstone" - which are not part of are religion!

Now it's time to study. Read the assigned chapter. Read it again, looking for important facts, dates, theories, etc. Read it again and write these important parts down in the form of a question: what is, where was, who is, when did, etc... on the next line write the answer as given in the book. When you have pulled as many questions from the chapter as possible, shelve the book and memorize your questions and answers.

The Book of Shadows we teach with was constructed this way. By thoroughly scouring each chapter for important facts, your notebook will (should) have more questions and answers than we will actually ask. This will make you a more well-rounded student, and while you are required to give textbook answers, we also expect you to understand, and be able to explain, the material.

When you are done studying, extinguish the candle by snuffing the flame. NEVER blow out a magic flame, this offends the Salamanders and blows away all the energy and aspiration you put into the spell.

When your candle is completely burned out (remember light and snuff as needed) you will gather the wax, places it in a paper bag, and place it in the trash. If you use (and we suggest) a jar candle, place the glass in a paper bag, smash it with a hammer, and throw it away. Smashing the glass jar releases the final bit of energy and sends it to the goal. NEVER re-use a jar from a spell candle.

Traditionally, one buries the remnants of the spell themselves: leftover wax, broken jar, charcoal, incense ashes, etc., but in these modern times, most of us let our professional garbage men do it for us.

The learning candle is the basis for almost every kind of candle spell. Colors, recipes, and shapes of candles change, but the procedure remains fairly constant. Most times you will burn a spell completely from the start, but remember this candle is extinguished when the study session is over, and is only anointed once.