The Advantages of Candle Meditation
If you’ve had problems with other forms of meditation, candle meditation might be the answer.
You may, for example, have found the visualization exercise difficult. For some people reconstituting an image in the “mind’s eye” can be really hard work.
Now, on the other hand, there’s something attractive about a candle flame. It has a “living” quality that just makes you want to look at it. And that’s its main advantage. You won’t have to struggle to create a mental image. You’ll have a real, concrete image in front of you, one that’s almost begging to be looked at.
Preparation for Candle Meditation
First of all, you’ll need a chair with a high, straight back. It should be one that you can rest your head against if necessary.
You’ll need a candlestick of some sort to place on a desk or table in front of you. This is because the candle flame needs to be at the same height as your face. You shouldn’t be stooping as you look at it.
Please note that the candle should be at least 50 cm from your face.
I didn’t realize until I started to do the research for this post that there was some sort of controversy over which type of candle to use.
There’s apparently a growing number of people who avoid the use of candles made from paraffin wax because they believe that they give off toxic fumes.
This viewpoint could have its origins in research conducted at South Carolina State University in 2009 which showed that paraffin wax candles emitted air pollutants like toluene and benzene.
Apparently lighting the odd candle once in a while doesn’t pose any threat. But lighting candles frequently or lighting many candles at once age could lead to the aggravation of asthma, irritation of the respiratory tract or allergy-like symptoms.
I suppose a sort of worst-case scenario might be taking a hot bath in a small bathroom surrounded by 20 lighted paraffin wax candles.
If you suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems, or if you are simply concerned about this, look for candles made from beeswax or soy wax. Make sure that you see those words on the packaging.
Candle Meditation
Allow at least 10 minutes, plus five minutes rest afterward, for candle meditation.
Sit on your chair with your back straight, but relaxed.
Practice your breathing. Breathe in through your nose, counting to 4. Feel the breath on the bottom of your nostrils as it goes in. Follow it down into your lungs. Feel your abdomen rise. Hold your breath and count to 4. Now breathe out, counting to 4. Feel your abdomen fall. Follow the breath up to your nose. Feel it on your top lip as it goes out.
Turn down the lighting in the room you’re using.
Place the candle in front of you. Light it.
Keep our eyes on the flame. Watch it moving.
Carry on breathing into a count of 4, holding your breath to a count of 4, breathing out to a count of 4.
If you experience distracting thoughts, don’t fight them. Just imagine them like passing clouds… floating away.
Keep watching the candle flame.
Now, as you breathe in, imagine yourself breathing in light from the flame. As you hold your breath, imagine yourself filled with light. As you breathe out, imagine yourself breathing out the light.
You may find, after a time, that your vision of your surroundings gradually fades until you can’t see anything but the candle flame. This is quite OK.
However, if you don’t have this experience, don’t get depressed and feel that you have “failed”.
The purpose of candle meditation, like all other meditation, is to enable you to center yourself, to relax in the present moment. Just breathing, watching the candle flame and allowing distracting thoughts to “float away” will enable you to do this.
After Candle Meditation
When you’ve finished your meditation, either sit in an armchair or lie down.
Close your eyes and rest for about 5 minutes.
Make sure that your vision is back to normal.
As with all forms of meditation, try this a few times before deciding whether you like it or not.
If you decide that candle meditation is for you, practicing it once a day should be enough.