When one performs a candle spell, often there is leftover wax remaining. Some people like to use this wax to detect shapes, which they perceive will relate to the final outcome of the spell.
The images or symbols one will see can generally be broken down into four categories, which are:
NATURE.
Shapes to do with the organic world, such as flowers, mountains, branches, stars, etc. These can be indicative of circumstances that are beyond your power to control, and the general environment in which the spell is cast.
PEOPLE.
Shapes to do with human beings, such as full-body silhouettes or body parts like hands, ears, mouths and so on. These are said by some to be indicative of the role we, or the spell target, is playing or will play. Others also say that they represent actions which are being taken or will need to be taken.
ANIMALS.
Shapes that resemble animals found in wax are sometimes said to represent personal qualities that we, or the spell subject, are expressing or secretly feeling, based on the behavior of the animal in question. Additionally, there are animals like owls and snakes which usually have their own symbolism associated with them, and many people will read such shapes by whatever ideas the creature is usually felt to represent.
OBJECTS.
These are any man-made objects like cars, tools, hats and so on that one might perceive in the wax. These are said to demonstrate what is being done or will need to be done in relation to the magic spell. They can also show what the final outcome that has been created will be.
Additionally, one will rarely have the fortune of finding actual words spelled in the wax, though it's advised that the spirits "can be a little shakey in their spelling." In these cases the word should be interpreted within the context, to the best of one's ability.
Not all candles will produce shapes in the wax; in fact some candles will even burn very clean and leave nothing behind at all. I knew a fellow from South America (grew up in Peru and then moved to Brazil) who said he was taught that if the candle burns with no leftover wax, it is a bad omen that means someone is working against you. Meanwhile, the attitude I've found amongst most American hoodoo practitioners I've talked to, has been that little or no wax is a favorable sign and that it means the spell is working unhindered or that there isn't going to be anything "left behind" after the spellcast that would need further work.
Personally, I like it better when they burn clean because then I don't need to scrape out the candle holder.
Certain figures and symbols are of so frequent occurrence that it may be well to emphasise their general significance by referring to them here, in addition to their meaning being given in the dictionary.Among those which threaten misfortune, or sorrow, are the following: crosses, snakes, spades, pistols, guns, toads, cats.Joy and success are indicated by such symbols as a crescent moon, clover leaves, flowers, trees, anchors, fruit, circles, stars.
This is from the book Telling Fortunes by Tea Leaves, by Cecily Kent. Fortunately, the symbols are very much the same for candle wax divination -- if you're the kind of person who needs an interpretation list instead of just working intuitively. Below (should be if I did the html right) a little window that shows the correct excerpt from her book and provides the meanings of various symbols you may perceive.