CANDLE MEDITATION: TECHNIQUES AND TIPS

Why Candle Meditation?

Of all the problem-solving techniques in your life, meditation ranks very high up there. In this article, we will focus on one of the simplest types of meditation: Candle meditation. So, what exactly is candle meditation?

Candle meditation, also known as candle gazing or the practice of Trataka, is a wonderfully peaceful, soulful way and effective meditation technique. This technique is a simple act of focusing one’s attention on the flame of a candle instead of closing the eyes. The mind calms down and openly experiences profound focus and insight in this mesmeric state.

Origin

Candle meditation has always existed since candles were invented (around 3000 years BC). Before that, it originated back to the first time a human stared into a fire!

Fire is hypnotic and can quickly create a trance state– if you have a wood stove or fireplace at your house or while camping. And if you will sit in a dark room only lit by candles, you will experience the relaxing and peaceful, warm glow of candlelight.

Candle Meditation is a lo-fi but incredibly effective way to relax people struggling with meditation and who don’t want to plug into an app. Candle meditation has many incredible benefits. This candle gazing meditation helps improve memory, brings energy to the third eye, and increases concentration.

Read on to know everything you need to include this practice in your life.

The Candle Meditation Technique: How to Do Candle Meditation?

Now you know candle meditation, but how to practice this meditation technique? Here are the following steps to do candle meditation:

Light any candle irrespective of its shape and size as it does not matter. Now calm down the restlessness and nonstop chatter of your mind to discover how to stop overthinking, free yourself from constant thinking, and enjoy the peace.
Dim all the light in the room so that the candle’s flame stands out.
Put the candle on a flat surface and sit on a chair in front of it. Putting the candle at the same eye level as your eyes would be more convenient. Place the candle on the floor in front of you only if you prefer to sit on the floor cross-legged.
Position the candle at about one meter away from you.
Take care to sit with your spine straight.
Breathe slowly and deeply.
For a few seconds, relax your body and ease any tension in it.
Now, pay attention to the flame of the candle. All you need to do is look at the flame as it flickers and changes color and shape.
Try holding your sight, concentrate only on the candle flame without thinking of anything else or looking at anywhere else in the room. Just submerge your full attention in the flame of the candle.
Always bring your mind back to the candle flame if you catch yourself thinking unrelated thoughts.
Blink only if you feel that you need to blink.

How Long Should You Practice this Technique?

You can start with 5 minutes per day initially, and gradually, as it becomes habitual, lengthen the time to 20 minutes a day.

Probably, you will notice that no matter how much you repeatedly try to concentrate on the flame, your eyes and mind will drift away after a while. Various thoughts will try to distract your focus, attract your attention, and make you forget to gaze at the flame.

But everything is okay and natural. In time, your focus will improve, and you’ll find it easier to ignore the disturbances & distractions.

Benefits of Doing Candle Meditation

There are various useful benefits of doing candle meditation practice:

This technique helps people in calming down their minds.
It is a great exercise for training your mind to focus or concentrate on one single object or thought following your will. Improving your concentration level can help you in every area of your life.
It provides not only physical but mental relaxation as well.
You will start experiencing inner peace and sometimes even altered consciousness if you do it regularly.

People who meditate benefit from the candle meditation technique, but everyone can also benefit from this technique. Businessmen/women, athletes, students, workers in every area, and people of all ages will find it beneficial.

Tips for Candle Meditation

If you want to perform Candle meditation perfectly, choose a dark or a room with closed curtains and artificial light turned off. Ideally, you want a gentle flare, so place the candle in a spot with less or better no breeze. Now light the candle and keep it a meter away in front of you at eye level.

Scent and color have a powerful ability to affect the practice depending on the aromas or shades you choose. For example, The Ritual of floral notes or blue color will soothe and calm, whereas The Ritual of rose scent or red color will help to restore harmonious feelings and boost your mood.

Try not to meditate just after consuming food or drinks containing caffeine. Before starting your candle meditation, ensure to sit comfortably with a straight spine and in a warm place.

Just in case, it’s an excellent idea to have a blanket close at hand unless it’s the height of summer. It would help if you then rest your gaze on the candle gently. If you notice your eyes water or blink a little more than usual, this is normal, and they will adjust soon.

Candle meditation aims to focus your attention on the gentle flare of the candle flame and ensure that you breathe slowly and deeply down into your belly. So, take your time but don’t pressure yourself; start with two or five minutes and gradually build up to 20 minutes.

Selecting a Candle for Candle Meditation

Although you can meditate with any candle, selecting candles of specific colors or fragrances can improve your quality of meditation and lifestyle. Meditation with a candle of a particular color or scent increases the meditation effectiveness depending on your goals.

When purchasing candles, please pay attention to the material used to make the candles and avoid any containing toxic substances. Soy wax & beeswax candles are non-toxic and burn longer than other types of candles.

Some of the unique qualities of different colors are:

Yellow – Ambition, self-respect, self-discipline, confidence, inner power, self-esteem, courage & generosity
Pink – Empathy & loyalty
White – Simplicity, completion purity, clarity & innocence
Gold – Abundance, spirituality, prosperity & wealth
Violet – Reverence, commitment & higher consciousness
Orange – Optimism, happiness, sensuality and sexual energy & friendship
Red – Family bonding, courage, strength, vitality & survival,
Indigo – Wisdom, imagination, insight, & clarity of thought
Blue – Relaxation, trust, creativity, self-expression & communication
Turquoise – Protection, independence, & healing
Green – Love, freedom, forgiveness, compassion, inspiration, hope, & healing

One of the best things about candle meditations is that you don’t need much more than a candle. Select a candle that has been “thoughtfully created with natural aromas. It will enhance your meditation environment and burn slowly.

To Calm Down the Unstoppable Chatter of Your Mind, do Candle Meditation

There are a hundred types of meditation out there, from TCM to vipassana. But meditation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Searching for the meditation that works for you the best will help you better drop into your practice, and if gazing at a flame comes easily, it might just be the meditation for you.

So, if you want to be passionate about your wellness and becoming a better person, start your candle meditation today!