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Ever Heard of a Candle Meditation?

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It happens to all of us. You get a lovely fancy candle, maybe as a gift or a treat from you to you, and then it just sits there collecting dust because you don’t want to “waste it.” (Side note: Attempting to dust sticky wax is not only fruitless, but highly annoying.) 

Even Suraiya Nanji, founder of Vancouver-based Homecoming Candles, says she’s guilty of it. “It’s like, what’s the point in having those nice things if we’re not going to use them?” 

mindful meditation
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That’s why Nanji likes to enjoy something called candle meditations. It’s a great way of “coming to terms with burning a candle,” she explains. “The idea of a candle meditation is just taking time to quiet your mind and sit and watch the flame. You’re using all of your senses, you’re striking that match, you’re slowing down. And if you’re really enjoying it and being mindful, then that’s not a waste at all.”

People have actually been meditating to candles for hundreds of years. The practice is referred to as trataka in Sanskrit and dates back to at least the 15th century. “Trataka is a traditional asana or postural practice and one of the many steps on the path to meditation,” explains April Ria Qureshi-Davidson, a certified professional coach, yoga and meditation teacher. “During trataka, the gaze is focused on an external object in the near distance, such as a candle or ocean waves.”

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It can be a nice alternative to meditating with your eyes closed, says Cassidy Thedorf, a meditation and mindfulness teacher. “It’s accessible, especially for anyone with trauma in their history. Closing the eyes or even following the breath isn’t available to everyone. Trataka offers a beautiful alternative to both of these practices. I also find candle gazing to be an incredible practice on a cold day—you feel your soul warm up!” 

If you’ve ever sat cross-legged with your eyes closed and found yourself replaying a frosty interaction with Linda from sales or listing off all the items your partner forgot to buy at the grocery store, then you might find it helpful to stare at a fixed point. “It gives you something else to focus on for people who can’t just sit there and calm down,” says Nanji. 

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It’s also really easy to do at home.“All you need is a candle and a comfortable place to sit without distraction,” says Qureshi-Davidson. She recommends starting with five minutes and working your way up to 20. Sitting comfortably, take a few deep breaths into your abdomen and exhale with a sigh. Let your chest and abdomen soften and wipe all expression from your face. Then, focus your gaze on the flame of the candle for as long as possible without blinking, allowing thoughts to come and go. “As your eyes start to water, gently close them and focus on the afterglow of what you were gazing upon,” says Qureshi-Davidson. “Gently flutter your eyes open and continue gazing until you feel complete. Allow the eyes to close completely and rest for a few moments in silence and stillness.”

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That’s the formal way to do it, but even taking a few moments to observe a dancing Diptyque flame can help you relax. Candles are exceptionally gifted that way. Whether it’s votives flickering in a dark church or tapers towering over a dinner table, candles command reverence. We act differently around them, speak softer, move slower. “For me, it really signals a different time of day,” says Nanji. “I’m not going to have a candle burning when I’m running around and doing things and can’t be mindful of it. Just that act of taking the time to light it and sit with it for a little bit is really nice.” 

 

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