3 Ways To Use Candles For Self-Care During Cold Months
3 of our favorite ways to let your candles support you this season.
by: Shannon Siriano Greenwood
Candles evoke a mood and a feeling unlike any other element. Fire represents transformation which can be dramatic or simple, devastating or comforting, and it symbolizes beginnings and endings. A candle burning can be a practical tool, a ceremonial symbol, spiritual practice, or decorative and romantic. The way that wax and a wick can create so many different feelings is why we love candles so very much.
There is something about the flicker of a candle flame that makes me feel like I have my life together. Maybe it’s because growing up, I had to earn the chance to have candles in my room. I proved to be very responsible and it was a great day when I lit my first match and watched the wax pour down the side of the candlestick (until it splattered on the carpet - oops).
Now, I reserve candlesticks for my table settings on holidays and prefer the potted variety to set the mood in my home. And as the air outside continues to change, I look forward to new scents, new settings, and the nostalgic feeling that comes from the colder months, also known as ‘candle season’.
Candles for Self-Care
We agree that self care is more than bubble baths, but please, let’s stop making bath time a bad example about what it means to reset ourselves. Space to let your mind rest whether in the bathtub, in a decked out zen den, or in any space that you can carve out for yourself will help you to recenter when you feel off your axis.
Our favorite: The Coma Toast by Burn Down for What
Candles for Meditation
Have you ever heard of candle gazing? It is a type of meditation where you can keep your eyes open and focus on the flame. By now, we understand the benefits of meditation for mental health and wellbeing. And whether you focus on a flame or use your candle to mark the beginning and end of your mindfulness practice, complimenting your meditation with a calming candle can support your experience.
Our favorite: Eucalyptus + Sage by Sydney Hale Co.
Candles for Rituals
We may not be experts on calling in wisdom from the spirits in a realm beyond, but we love to explore our witchyness, especially this season. Whatever your spiritual practice, candles are used to support important ceremonies and experiences in our lives. These can be milestone events like marriages or less discussed occurrences like the gathering of our covens.
Our favorite: Sandalwood by Lineage
Styling by: Molly O'Donnell
Photography by: Nick Davis
