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How to Use Candles for Meditation
A Guide to Scents and Best Practices
Candles are a helpful tool for meditation. They help set the mood for your mindful moment. Using a candle for meditation can be a simple and effective way to create a peaceful and calming atmosphere for your practice.
It can also be a helpful way to signal to your mind that it’s time to relax and let go of the distractions of the day.
RELATED: Encourage focus with this candle for meditation ›
The gentle glow from a candle’s flame and, in some cases, the soft crackle of a wooden wick candle can help to relax the mind and body, allowing for a more deep meditative experience.
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Everything You Need to Know About Candles for Meditation
What is Meditation?
Meditation is a practice that involves quieting and focusing the mind on a particular object, thought or intention. You can train your mind to control your attention & emotions and heighten self-awareness through meditation.
The benefits of meditation include reducing stress, increasing calmness, and improving your overall well-being.
Arguably, the only real cons of meditation are the time commitment and creating the space or environment for effective meditation.
But this is where using candles for meditation can help.
How to Meditate with Candles
Meditation can be practiced in various settings and can be done for as little as 10 minutes a day.
It’s generally recommended to find a quiet, comfortable space to meditate and to sit in a comfortable position with your back straight. It is also helpful to choose a specific time to meditate, as this can help establish a routine or regular practice.
Here are a few tips for using candles for meditation:
- Choose a quiet, peaceful location for your meditation. This could be a dedicated meditation room or a quiet corner of your home.
- Pick a candle that has a calming scent, such as lavender or vanilla. Avoid candles with solid and overpowering scents, as they may distract your focus.
- Light the candle and allow yourself to focus on the flame. Gaze at the flame and allow your thoughts to drift away. The flickering of the flame can help to calm the mind and bring you into a meditative state.
Spoken Flames candles also include a visible shimmer in the candle wax while it’s lit for an added visual and sensory bonus for your meditation experience. - Sit comfortably with your back straight and your feet planted firmly on the ground. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, focusing on the sound of your breath as you inhale and exhale or on the gentle ambient sound of a wooden wick candle in your space.
- When you feel ready, begin your meditation practice. You can focus on a mantra or a visualization or quiet your mind and allow yourself to be present in the moment.
Consider an audio meditation to help guide your if you’re having trouble focusing; this can be a beginner-friendly approach.
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Are candles good for meditating?
Absolutely! Candles are good for meditating because they help create a peaceful and calming atmosphere for a productive meditation session. The flame, the sound of a wooden wick, and the candle scent all help relax your mind and body—the more relaxed your mind, the more effective your meditation.
However, it’s important to use candles safely and responsibly when meditating. General candle safety rules apply.
Here are a few best practices for candle use during meditation:
Be sure to keep the candle on a stable surface like a nightstand or dresser and not on your bed, for example. Also, keep your candle away from flammable materials, open windows, or a vent with a draft. And never leave a burning candle unattended.
It’s generally best to let a candle burn for 3-4 hours to achieve a complete melt pool. So consider lighting your candle at the beginning of your meditation and be open to letting the candle’s ambiance and fragrance fill your space even after your meditation session is complete.
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What are the best scents for meditation?
Certain scents can be particularly helpful for creating a peaceful and calming atmosphere for meditation.
Here are a few scents that are often recommended for meditation:
- Lavender: Known for its relaxing and calming properties, lavender can help reduce stress and anxiety and promote calm and well-being.
- Vanilla: With a sweet, comforting scent profile that can help to soothe the mind and body, vanilla is often used to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
- Sandalwood: With a woody, earthy scent that is grounding and centering, sandalwood can help create a sense of calm and focus, making it a good choice for meditation.
- Frankincense: Frankincense has a warm, woody scent that is often used in spiritual practices. It’s believed to have calming and uplifting effects, making it a good choice for meditation.
Choosing a Candle for Meditation
When choosing a candle for your meditation, it’s important to find what works best for you. Scent can be incredibly personal and subjective, and even opting for a soft crackling wooden wick candle can help you focus or be a distraction. So be open to different techniques, candle scents, and candle types.
Candles for Meditation: Frequently Asked Questions
6. Candles can help increase focus in a work from home environment
The rise in WFH and remote work means our workspaces are full of comforts—and distractions. But why would anyone light a candle at their work desk? To keep those distractions at bay. From chatty co-workers (albeit via Slack) to social media, candles are a thoughtful corporate gift that can help us focus and create space for us to do our best work.
Consider it a productivity hack. 💡
The presence of a candle flame can set a calming mood. Wooden wick candles in particular have a unique soft-crackling sound, which can serve as natural and relaxing ambient sound in one’s space. Plus, select scent profiles, like citrus, woody or a floral scent of a scented candle can influence physiological responses that help keep the mind on track.
7. Candles can be an environmentally responsible gift choice
First, it‘s a candle, next it’s their favorite whiskey glass. 🥃
Depending on the candle’s vessel, most candle jars can be upcycled after the burn cycle of the candle. It can be used as storage, glassware and more, so you can feel good knowing that your gift will keep on giving! And your candle gift (once upcycled) can be a pleasant reminder, if not a conversation piece in their home, of your thoughtfulness.
A candle gift set solves my gifting needs—but wait! I don’t know what candle scent they may like 😟
Bonus tip: How to pick a candle scent for a gift
So a candle gift set meets your needs, but you’re not sure what scents they like 😟 Pro tip: consider an unscented candle or a gift set that offers a variety of scents.
The unique thing about Spoken Flames’ Trio Sets is that each candle gift set has a variety of scents with great range—from woody, citrus and floral in our F, Yes Collection, for example.
Your gift recipient would never get bored, and it increases your chances for satisfaction with a broad range of scents in their hands.
Because Spoken Flames candles are message-driven, our motivating candle statements (even without scent) mean that you’ll still win big with this meaningful gifting choice!
Can I use any type of candle for meditation?
It is best to use lightly scented candles for meditation, as strong scents can be distracting. However, if you live in a space where open flames are discouraged, you can also use battery-operated candles, which have the added benefit of not producing smoke or heat.
Is it safe to use candles for meditation?
It is generally safe to use candles for meditation if you follow proper candle safety precautions. Keep the candle on a stable surface and place it away from any flammable materials. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and be open to keeping your candle lit after your meditation.
How long should I meditate with a candle?
There is no set rule for how long to meditate with a candle. The length of your meditation practice can vary depending on your schedule and the amount of time you have available. Some people find it helpful to set a timer for their meditation sessions, while others prefer to meditate for as long as they feel comfortable.
You can meditate for 10 minutes or longer if you choose. The length of your meditation is a personal choice and may even vary depending on the day and any stressors or challenges you may have experienced.
Can I use a candle for other types of meditation besides focusing on the flame?
Yes, you can also use a candle for other types of meditation. For example, you might focus on your breath or repeat a mantra or affirmation while gazing at the flame. You can also use a candle as a visual aid for visualization or mindfulness practices.
