Xangô (Shango) candle
The votive candle of the King of Oyó for just causes, spoken truth, and firm decisions
Xangô candle
7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias
The Xangô candle is the votive candle of the orixá (orisha) of justice: it features his image on the label and comes in red and white. It is sought by those who have an ongoing cause, an unjust accusation on their backs, or a decision that weighs heavily. Unlike a candle of just one color, it is born with a specific purpose. Whoever lights it knows who they are calling, and this changes the posture of the prayer request.
Xangô was the fourth Alafin of Oyó, a king who commanded lightning and who, according to the itan, ascended to heaven when he felt his power was already too great for a man. The two-bladed oxê cuts on both sides, and therefore he judges without favoring anyone. Wednesday is his day. In Ketu Candomblé and in Batuque the beads are red and white; in Umbanda many houses consecrate Xangô with the brown of the quarry. Both customs are legitimate.
At home, this candle asks for truth from the one who lights it. It is no use asking Xangô to hide a mistake: his fire illuminates, it does not cover up. It is good company during a week of hearings, interviews, or difficult conversations, and it is not for revenge or for hindering another person's life.
What is it for
What the Xangô Candle Is For
The Xangô candle brings the label of the orixá and the colors of Ketu, red on the bottom and white on top. It is lit to ask for justice in a cause, courage to speak the truth, leadership firmness, and respect at work, always on the scale of the king who takes no sides.
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Justice in a case that is taking a long time
Action, inventory, alimony, or land dispute. Light it requesting that the case moves forward and that whoever decides sees the facts clearly, accepting what is just.
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Undo slander and gossip
When your name was dirtied by a lie, the candle of Xangô requests that the truth appears at the right time. The ritual work is to reveal, not to return the attack in the same coin.
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Respect and leadership at work
For those who assumed a position, will lead a team, or need to be heard in a meeting. Xangô is king and helps to speak with authority without losing politeness.
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Exam, competition, and study
Xangô protects those who deal with laws and knowledge. A candle on the eve of the exam requests clear memory and serenity to answer without rushing.
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Courage to make a decision
When you already know what you need to do, but lack resolve to take the step, the flame of the lightning helps to leave doubt behind and assume the choice with dignity.
Who rules this candle
Orixás and spirits of the Candle of Xangô
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Xangô
Alafin of Oyó, owner of the oxê and the thunder
The candle carries his label and the colors of his beads in Ketu, red of fire and white of righteousness. Wednesday is his day, and he receives the prayer request of those who want to be judged with balance.
Know Xangô -
Iansã (Oya)
Oyá, queen of the winds and lightning
Iansã shares the lightning with Xangô and walked by his side in the wars of Oyó. Many houses remember her when the cause of justice also demands courage to face a storm.
Know Iansã
Also settled for
- Caboclos of Xangô
- Caboclo Sete Pedreiras
- Caboclos of the Thunder
- Pretos Velhos of the Xangô line
Prayer to light
Candle prayer of Xangô for justice and truth
“Kaô, my Pai Xangô, king of Oyó, lord of the thunder that speaks from the top of the quarry. I light this candle and come before your throne without hiding anything, because before you, disguise is useless. Look at my cause with your eyes of judge. Where there is a lie, let your lightning clarify. Where there is delay, let your oxê open the path. Where I have been wrong, give me humility to recognize and courage to fix. I do not ask you that the other loses, I ask you that the truth wins. Set my voice when I need to speak and my silence when it is time to wait. May this flame rise straight like your word. Kaô Kabecilê!”Light the candle and pray
Step by step
How to set the Xangô Candle
- 1
Choose Wednesday
Start the candle ritual on a Wednesday, preferably in the morning. If the cause has a set date, count the days so that the candle is still lit at the moment of the decision.
- 2
Arrange the plate like a small throne
Stone in the center, candle firm next to it and the six bay leaves in a circle. Six is a number linked to Xangô in many houses, and the stone reminds one of the dwelling of the orixá.
- 3
Speak the cause out loud
With the candle still unlit in your hands, tell the situation as you would to a judge: without exaggeration, without offense, just the facts. Xangô likes those who speak correctly and look into the eyes.
- 4
Light and greet the king
Light with a match, say Kaô Kabecilê and deliver the candle to Pai Xangô. Perform the prayer and, if you wish, leave the okra slices on a saucer nearby for one day, as a reminder of the amalá, and then remove them so they do not spoil.
- 5
Close the firmeza with respect
Let it burn until the end and never blow it out; if necessary, smother and relight it. At the end, the wax and okra go to the trash wrapped up, the bay leaf can dry, and the stone returns to nature.
Precautions before lighting
- The 7-day candle burns for many days: leave it on a firm plate, away from curtains, wood, children and animals, and never inside a closed cabinet.
- Xangô does not accept a prayer request to harm the other party, buy a decision or imprison someone. Ask for justice; what comes from it is what is yours.
- The candle walks alongside the lawyer, the deadline, and the document, never in their place. Do your practical part with the same seriousness as the prayer.
- Assentamento (consecrated altar), amalá prepared with foundation, and Xangô's obligation are matters for the leader of your terreiro. The candle at home is devotion and does not replace that.
Ceromancy
What the flame of the Xangô Candle shows
Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.
- Good sign
High, straight, and bright yellow flame
Many houses read this as a request accepted on the throne of Xangô. The cause may still take time, but it is being looked at with attention.
- Good sign
Clear glass until the last day
In the 7-day candle, the cup that ends clear is usually read as firmeza without interference. The burning was peaceful from beginning to end.
- Attention
Flame that jumps and crackles loudly
May indicate a heated fight surrounding the cause. Avoid discussion in the coming days, take care of the paperwork, and reinforce the prayer on the following Wednesday.
- Attention
Black glass from soot
Read as a weight on the path or bad intention nearby. It is not a condemnation: repeat the candle calmly and, if it persists, seek a trusted terreiro.
- Observe
Low flame that almost disappears
First check the wick, accumulated wax, and air currents. Many times it is just the candle. Once resolved, proceed with firmeza and redo the request.
Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)
Herbs that combine with the Xangô Candle
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Stonebreaker
Phyllanthus niruri
Linked to Xangô in umbanda terreiros. A ritual bath from the neck down on the morning you set the candle helps you think clearly before asking the king for justice.
See the herb -
bay leaf
Laurus nobilis
The honest victory leaf. The six leaves in a circle on the plate accompany the Xangô candle and can then be kept in the wallet or the case folder.
See the herb -
Cipó São João
Pyrostegia venusta
The orange flower of winter, linked to Xangô. A branch next to the candle decorates the prayer request during the June festivals and in cases that ask for just victory.
See the herb -
Para-Raio / Saint Barbara
Melia azedarach
Herb of Xangô and Iansã. A branch behind the door while the candle burns protects the house from heavy charges coming from a dispute.
See the herb
Virtual Candle
Light the Xangô Candle now
Choose the type, write your request, and pay by PIX. The flame stays on the altar and you follow along through the link.
Place on the altarFrequently asked questions
Questions about the Xangô Candle
What is the Xangô candle for?
It serves to ask for justice from Xangô. It is lit in lawsuits, calumnies, evidence, difficult decisions, and when someone needs respect and firmness in work. The prayer request is always for balance and truth, never so that the other side suffers.
What is the best day to light the Xangô candle?
Wednesday, the day of Xangô in Candomblé and Umbanda. Many people start the 7-day candle on a Wednesday and finish on the next. In a case with a set date, light it a few days before so that the flame is alive at the moment of the decision.
What is the color of the Xangô candle: red and white or brown?
Both serve. Red and white are the beads of Xangô in Candomblé Ketu and in Batuque; brown is widely used in Umbanda and recalls the quarry. The votive candle comes in red and white. Follow the custom of your house and, if in doubt, ask the zelador.
What is the difference between the Xangô candle and the red and white candle?
The Xangô candle has the orixá label and is already born dedicated to him. The red and white one without an image can be offered to Xangô and, in many Umbanda houses, also to Ogum (Ogun). To consecrate to Xangô alone, the votive candle makes the destination clearer.
Can I blow out the Xangô candle and light it again?
The ideal is to let it burn until the end. If you need to leave, smother it with a saucer or a spoon, without blowing, and relight it when you return, resuming the request. Blowing is seen as undoing the request with one's own breath.
Can I light the Xangô candle at home without belonging to a terreiro?
You can. The candle is devotion and anyone can request justice from Xangô with respect. What is of fundamento, such as assentamento and obrigação, stays with a terreiro. At home, a safe place, a calm mind, and truth in the request are enough.
What to do with the glass and the remains of the 7-day candle?
Wait for it to cool, remove the remaining wax and throw it in the trash wrapped in paper. The glass cup can be washed and recycled, but do not use it for drinking. The stone returns to nature and the bay leaf can be kept with the papers of the case.
