One of the wonderful things about a candle spell is that it can give you feedback from the spirit realm as to what to expect from your spell. The primary way to interpret candle remains are to look for soot or smoke on the glass (if applicable), to look for excess candle wax and to read the candle wax remains.
For Vigil Candles and Candle Burned in Glass Holders:
Black soot or smoke indicates spiritual blockages around your intention. The amount of soot indicates the level of blockage (a small amount indicates small blockages, a lot of soot indicates heavy blockages). Re-do your spell again or start with an Energetic Purification, Spiritual Cleansing, Block Buster, Open Roads or Van Van candle to remove spiritual blocks and then, when this cleansing candle has burned cleanly and completely, light another candle for your original intention. Additionally, you may want to enhance your work by doing a series of cleansing baths with Energetic Purification Bath Crystals.
Grey or white smoke indicates that your spirit guides are surrounding you on this issue and would like to help you with your situation. If you would like more help connecting to guides, listen to Magic and the Law of Attraction podcast episodes 9 and 10.
Wax remaining in the bottom of the glass indicates that there is material world work and effort that needs to be done to support your outcome. Wax burned completely indicates that there is no extra work or effort that has to be done on your part.
A broken glass indicates that someone is working against you having your good outcome.
Looking at any candle remains, you can see shapes or symbols which can be interpreted as you would interpret tea leaves in a tea leaf reading.
For Free-Standing Candles on Plates or Trays:
Wax spilling over the side of the tray or dish indicates that you are revealing too much in the situation - either too much information or too much emotion.
Wax “pillars” standing up indicate blockages - large or tall wax pillars indicate large blockages, short ones indicate small blocks. Many pillar indicate many blocks, a few indicate only a few hurdles. Wax pillars that were standing at one time but have fallen over by the end of the spell indicate blockages that have been removed or overcome through the spell work.
Excess wax drowning your candle flame before it has burned completely indicates that there is material world work and effort that needs to be done to support your outcome. Wax burned completely indicates that there is no extra work or effort that has to be done on your part.
A broken dish or tray indicates that someone is working against you having your outcome.
Looking at any candle remains, you can see shapes or symbols which can be interpreted as you would interpret tea leaves in a tea leaf reading.
If you are working with a figure candle, you can see any particular part of the candle that remain as a message also. For example, if the feet are remaining, you interpret that symbolically as you need to get your “foot in the door” or your “feet on the ground” or that you need a “better footing” in the situation.