Finally Loving Life

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love me a good candle. I can never have too many and I use them for multiple purposes. Candles are much more than just a decorative item that you place in a corner to collect dust. They can act as powerful tools in your spiritual practice.

• Symbol of Transformation: The flame of a candle represents the ability to transform and transcend. The process of lighting a candle can symbolize the ignition of intention, the burning away of negativity, or the calling in of new energy into your life.
• Focus and Mindfulness: Candles help to focus your attention, especially during meditation or prayer. The flame acts as a visual focal point, encouraging mindfulness and deep concentration. The soft, steady glow helps to clear the mind and guide your focus inward, promoting a peaceful atmosphere. I also find the warm lighting from a candle to be soothing and comforting.
• Creating Sacred Space: This is one of my favorite ways to create a soft gentle vibe in my space. For me, lighting a candle sets the intention to create a sacred space, where I can leave behind the distractions of the outside world and turn my attention inward. It signals my brain that I am getting ready to do something that feeds my soul. Whether you’re engaging in yoga, journaling, or simply seeking quiet time, a candle can help set the tone as you enter a time for self-reflection and spiritual connection.

Types of Candles for Your Spiritual Practice

There are many types of candles you can use in your spiritual practice, each offering its own unique benefits and energies. Below, are a few of the different kinds of candles I incorporate into my routine and the specific spiritual properties that draw me to them.

1. Unscented Candles

Best for: Meditation and Prayer

These are my main go-to type of candles. They are perfect for when you need a neutral energy to enhance your practice without any distractions. They allow you to focus solely on the flame, making them ideal for meditation, prayer, or clearing your mind during introspective work. Because they lack scent, they won’t interfere with your senses, allowing you to stay present with your thoughts, breathing, and energy.

Benefits:

• Promotes deep focus and concentration.
• Neutral energy, perfect for a variety of spiritual practices.
• Allows for a clearer connection to your inner self and spiritual guides.

2. Scented Candles

Best for: Creating a Calming or Uplifting Atmosphere

This is my next favorite type of candle. They are commonly used in spiritual practices to enhance the atmosphere of your space. Different scents have different energies—some are used for grounding, others for healing or uplifting the spirit. For example, lavender is often used for relaxation and sleep, while frankincense is used in cleansing and spiritual work.

Benefits:

• Helps to create a specific ambiance for your practice.
• Enhances relaxation, focus, or clarity depending on the scent.
• Aromatherapy benefits that can soothe the mind and body.

Popular scents for spiritual work:

1. Lavender for relaxation and healing.
2. Sage or Palo Santo for cleansing negative energy.
3. Rose for love and emotional healing.
4. Cedarwood for grounding and protection.

3. Candles with Flowers or Botanicals

Best for: Manifestation, Love, Healing, and Intention Setting

Now, I rarely use this type of candle, not because I don’t like them, but because they’re so beautiful that I tend to save them instead, which defeats the purpose, lol. This type of candle is infused with dried flowers or botanicals to bring a natural, earthy element to your practice. The flowers, herbs, or plant matter are often chosen for their spiritual properties, such as rose petals for love, lavender for healing, or chamomile for peace. These candles can be used during rituals or intention-setting to bring more specific energies into your life.

Benefits:

• Incorporates the healing power of nature and plant medicine.
• Enhances the specific intentions of your spiritual practice (e.g., love, healing, prosperity).
• Adds a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing element to your practice.

4. Intention Candles (Candles You Write on)

Best for: Manifestation, Goal Setting, and Personal Empowerment

This is something I may do during a intense spiritual session, like New Year’s eve for example. Writing your intentions on or in candles are a powerful tool for manifestation. These candles typically have a smooth surface where you can write your intentions, desires, or affirmations. By writing down your goals and focusing on them while the candle burns, you are sending your desires into the universe, empowering the energy around you to manifest your dreams.

Benefits:

• Enhances manifestation practices by focusing energy on written goals.
• Acts as a visual reminder of your intentions.
• Provides a dedicated space to reinforce and connect with your goals daily.

How to use them:

• Write your intention, affirmation, or goal on the candle with a pen or marker or carve a word of intention into the candle itself.
• As the candle burns, focus on the intention and visualize it coming to fruition.
• Allow the candle to burn completely, signifying the release of your intention into the universe. If it is a larger candle, this is not necessary. This candle can be the candle that you burn each time you want to focus on the intention placed on the candle.

5. Colored Candles

Best for: Specific Intentions and Chakra Healing

As someone who truly loves color therapy, I enjoy using colored wax candles. I typically burn a candle that corresponds to whatever I’m focusing on or working through at the moment, and I switch them out as my focus shifts. This means I sometimes have multiple candles in rotation, even if they haven’t burned all the way down. Candles come in many colors, and each color has a unique vibration and meaning that can enhance your practice. By using colored candles, you can focus on specific energies that align with your intentions. For example, green candles are often used for healing and prosperity, while red candles are associated with passion and strength.

Benefits:

• Helps to align your practice with the color energy you need.
• Supports chakra balancing (e.g., using a blue candle for throat chakra work).
• Facilitates focused intention-setting related to a particular area of your life (e.g., yellow for creativity or gold for abundance).

Popular colors and their meanings:

• White for purification, spiritual connection, and protection.
• Green for healing, prosperity, and growth.
• Red for passion, vitality, and courage.
• Purple for intuition, spiritual awakening, and psychic abilities.
• Yellow for mental clarity, creativity, and personal power.

Tips for Incorporating Candles into Your Spiritual Practice

• Create Rituals: Light a candle every morning or evening to set your intention for the day. You can dedicate a candle to specific rituals, such as healing, protection, or gratitude.
• Use Candles in Meditation: Focus on the flickering flame to deepen your meditation. Allow the candlelight to symbolize clarity and inner peace.
• Cleansing with Candles: Use candles in your space-clearing practices. White candles, in particular, are ideal for purifying energy and creating a fresh, clean vibe.
• Mindful Candle Care: Treat your candles with respect. Ensure the wick is trimmed to avoid excessive smoke, and always burn candles in a safe, fireproof container and keep an eye on them.

Always Remember:

Candles are not only a beautiful addition to your spiritual practice but also serve as powerful tools for transformation, healing, and manifestation. Whether you’re using unscented candles to enhance focus, intention candles to manifest your desires, or scented candles to create a calming atmosphere, the act of lighting a candle can be a sacred practice that deepens your connection to yourself and the universe. Explore the different types of candles available and find the ones that resonate most with your current spiritual journey.

Remember, the magic of candles is not just in the flame, but in the intention and energy you bring to it. Light your candle with purpose, and let it guide you on your path to greater peace, healing, and fulfillment.

Photo by Monstera Production