EP3 Lit Zodiac Candles, Now What?

[Thunderforge]

This is a spin off from this topic. I've gotten to a point in Episode 3 where I'm utterly stuck. I got Fan's candle lit and I can light the zodiac in the Druid's hut (unfortunately the Druid isn't around to help me out). Here's what I've figured out:

• Lighting all twelve candles puts the "Crying Baby" Easter Egg in the fire pit, which I found not knowing what it was
• Out of all the items in my inventory, Graham will only put the Nightshade and the shears in the fire pit. I have no clue why. Everything else I'm told he "doesn't want to empower." Why I'm empowering stuff in the first place, I have no clue.
• When I put either item in, some magical energy appears that eventually turns red, explodes, and kills Graham
• The same thing happens when I snuff out most of the candles, leaving only the Earth, only the Air, only the Water, and only the Fire candles lit (my guess was Air + Nightshade w/ Banshee Scream = A Female Subject's Voice).
• I can combine the Nightshade and the shell and the narrator says something about how Graham "hopes it will work." Again, no clue why he thinks that. If I try to put the combo in the fire, the Narrator says to separate them first.
  

So that's what I know so far. I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

[wilco64256]

There's some local reading material available on the Isle of the Crown that can help you figure out which candles to light so that using those items in the pit has a safer result.