Meditation: The benefits of meditating with a candle
Do you meditate in silence but still can't concentrate? Maybe you need candles.
Candlelightmeditation is a form of deep contemplation in which the individual meditating focuses on the flame of a candle to calm his or her thoughts and temporarily enter a state of peace and tranquillity. Performing a candlelight meditation requires some preparation, such as ensuring that the meditation room is sufficiently dark and that the candle has been placed in a suitable location.
Discover our latest podcast
How to use the candle to meditate?
To enhance the experience of candlelight meditation, some meditation devotees recommend interpreting the candle flame as a meaningful personal symbol, while others suggest imagining the flame entering and leaving the body with each breath. Those who lack experience may need to begin with short sessions of candlelight meditation, gradually building up their stamina until they are able to meditate for significant periods.
More under this adMore under this adRead also:
- How you should practice self-care based on your zodiac sign
- Why are people still too scared to take mental health days?
- Headspace Guide To Mediation: Netflix's answer to helping you relax
How to prepare for a candle meditation?
Performing this type of meditation requires a few preparatory steps.
Firstly, it is important to ensure that the meditation can be done in a space free from disturbing noises or interruptions. To allow for maximum concentration on the candle flame, the room should be fairly dark or even dark. In addition, the candle should be placed approximately at the meditator's eye level, and should also be kept at arm's length to minimise the risk of burns.
As with any type of meditation, those who lack experience initially may find it difficult to summon the mental stillness necessary to concentrate on candlelight meditation. Such people may find it necessary to gradually build up their resistance to meditation. They may begin, for example, with a few meditation sessions of only five minutes, gradually extending the length of their sessions over weeks or months until they are able to concentrate for 30 minutes or more.