Manifestation has become a widely talked about topic over the past few years, showing up more and more in everyday conversations. You may have heard someone say, “I manifested that,” or seen a spiritual coach on TikTok talk about how you can create the life you want through manifesting. On TikTok alone, the hashtag #manifestation has reached 15 billion views. Between March and July, Google searches for the word “manifestation” went up by 669 percent.
The main idea behind manifestation is simple — you set an intention by focusing your thoughts on what you want until it becomes real. This idea became well-known through books like The Secret, although people still share many different views on how it works. With so much information online, it can be confusing to know where to begin or what to focus on. Some videos even claim that you can manifest your physical appearance.
There are many ways to practice manifestation, but one popular method involves using candles. Candles are not only used to create a peaceful setting, but they also represent your personal energy and willpower. In spiritual practices, fire is often seen as a symbol of strong intention. So, when you use candles in your manifestation routine, it’s a way of giving power to your thoughts and goals.
If you are interested in using manifestation candles to set intentions, Los Angeles-based diviner Porsche Little, who shares tarot readings through her Instagram, offers a few simple steps you can follow:
Prepare Your Space
Before you start, make sure that both you and your space feel calm and spiritually clean. “You can do this by burning sage or using frankincense and myrrh,” says Little. After your space feels clear, the next step is to write your intentions down in detail. Try to be specific. For instance, instead of writing that you want a relationship, write about the qualities you want in a partner.
Plan Ahead and Set a Time
“Choosing the right day to manifest can help your process,” says Little. She suggests that if you want to bring in new chances or changes, doing your candle ritual during a new moon is helpful. If you want to bring love into your life, burning a candle on a Friday works well.
Little also mentions that there are ways to make your candle work stronger, but the most important thing is to clearly set your intention and fully believe in it. Some people like to add oils, scents, or glitter to their candles. While these can add a personal touch to your ritual, they are not required.
Choose a Candle Color
Little explains that many people believe different candle colors can help with different goals. “Brown is helpful for staying grounded, green can be used when you want to attract money, and red is good for passion,” she says. Still, you can use any candle color that feels right to you, as long as you focus on your intention.
Shop with Purpose
When buying candles, Little suggests following your own gut feeling. “Visit your local botanica and support community spiritual workers,” she says. Supporting local practitioners helps build community and keeps traditional practices alive. She also recommends staying away from large companies and online stores like Amazon, which she says take from spiritual communities without giving back.
Little has created her own spiritual bath product called Eshu’s Ashe, which she says works well with a white candle and a prayer to the deity Eleggua. This can help remove obstacles and open up new paths in your life.
If you still feel unsure about where to start, the candles listed below are a good starting point to begin your manifesting journey.
