Meditation can be a daunting task and it is very hard to find the time to sit down and focus on stillness. We are all so concerned with rushing around, fighting the fat and balancing working on getting a healthy body with our busy lives, that meditation gets pushed to the side.
Meditation can seem unachievable for the everyday, something we think is reserved for the truly dedicated or perhaps even strange old yogis sitting in a cave, but in reality, meditation is easy for everybody and need only take up a very small part of your day. The benefits of meditation are mind blowing as it can give you the peace, clarity and time you need to yourself, so that you can completely un wind. A healthy, rested mind can lead to a healthy, happy body and meditation should become an essential part of your week.
A great way to start meditation is by using a candle as a point of focus. Like a hot yoga class, candle meditation is a form of open eye meditation however, here you use a physical object, the flame, to guide yourself in to your self.
How to Candle Meditate
- Take a few minutes to prepare your space making sure you have a comfortable place to sit cross legged on the floor ( using a block or towels as a prop if you need) in a dimly lit and warm room.
- Take a candle of your choice and name it as your meditation candle for that day. Light it and place it in front of you so the flame is at eye level or slightly lower, at about half a metre away.
- Now look at the flame of the candle. Think about nothing else but the gentle flicker of the flame. Push out all other thoughts and focus with all your mind energy on the candle. Try to keep your eyes open. If you blink a couple of times or your mind starts to wander don’t worry too much, just try your best.
- Make sure your are breathing in and out, deeply and slowly. Try to imagine your breath is at one with the candle flicker. This will become perfectly natural.
- The more you stare at the candle the more everything else in the room will fade away. You will feel serene and see nothing but the flame.
- You may stay with your eyes open for as long as you would like. After staring at the candle and feeling you have become one with the candle you might like to close your eyes. Maintaining your breath and looking (with your eyes closed) to a spot in between your eyebrows you should still see a pinpoint of bright light. The candle flame or your consciousness. Focus very strongly on this white circle or dot and bring yourself closer to the light. This is quite a profound experience. Eventually you will be able to bring yourself in to the light and the light will fill your mind, bathing you in complete serenity and transcendence.
- After your meditation take a few minutes to lie down in Savasana.
I love candle meditation because it is a quick way to focus the mind. The candle flame also symbolises light, energy and enlightenment so can leave you feeling relaxed but energised. Candle Meditation is also a great way to experience stillness with family and friends. Why not sit around the candle together and experience life.
Discover the secrets of Meditation CLICK HERE
Just a word of advice- when you do candle meditation you should start by staring at the candle flame for only a short period. Perhaps even only 20-30 seconds to begin. When you close your eyes you will find a bright spot is still visible, this is caused by the light from the flame having burned an image in your retina while you were staring at it. Thankfully the bright spot will only stay for a short while because you didn’t start at the flame for too long!! Never stare for a long time, or at a very bright light, it can cause permanent damage.