Current Thoughts: Candles

Before getting into today’s blog post, I want to start off with a bit of an update…

I just recently updated my website, and I feel like I’m finally organizing it in a way that I find satisfying and motivating for myself. Thus, I thought it would be good to get back into blog posting and creating a nice upload schedule. I’m hoping to make a blog post every other week on Fridays. I did delete a few blog posts, but I figured that I wanted to start fresh. I have new ideas, and I want to start discussing my inspirations here, explaining my process, and posting my current thoughts.

First up, I want to make my “Current Thoughts” post based on a blog I wrote for my Freelance Magazine Article Writing class when I was at APU. This will be a more informative post, experimenting with a more formal blog writing style. Basically, I love candles, and I want to talk about why they interest me so much.

Me & Candles

I was not a candle girl until I bought my first halloween candle from Bath & Body Works. I’m a huge fan of Halloween merchandise, and I often keep up my spooky decor year round because it’s a part of my aesthetic. But quickly, my candle purchasing became an obsession, and I started buying them left and right while I was finishing school at APU...don't tell my RA.

So Let’s Talk: Candles.

Candles have proved to serve different purposes during their lifetime. They have progressed from tools for lighting to symbols in church to everyday mood stabilizers. One way or another, candles have complimented our health and created ways for us to have a more comfortable type of living. And I can’t help but wonder—how did we get here?

The History of Candles and What Made Them Sacred

According to the National Candle Association, they were introduced by the ancient Romans and Egyptians in 3,000 BC. Candlemakers used different types of wax over the years, moving from animal fat (or “tallow”) candles to beeswax—creating a cleaner, more sacred candle meant for church ceremonies and wealthy families. Candles started to die off in 1879 due to the invention of the light bulb. Of course, candle use did not die completely, but there was definitely a hiatus in the popularity of its use.

Catholicism & Candles

Candles have remained central to the Catholic tradition. With Jesus stating that he was “the Light of the world” in the Gospel of John, it makes sense that the Catholic church would adopt this symbolic nature of connecting with Christ through ambient light. In fact, symbolism is key for candles in their worship “to symbolize their life as an offering, being burned up in service to God ''—according to the Scholenstatt Scotland Centre. These symbolic prayers were raised specifically during these events in the Catholic church…

The celebration of the Mass

Liturgical & funeral processions

Prayer ceremonies

While these are just a few of the events meant for the lighting of candles, this practice is so common that it can be seen in even more practices held by the Catholic church.

Candles Today & Their Health Benefits: How Did Candles Move From Sacred to Tools for Daily Ambiance?

As stated by the National Candle Association, candles made a comeback in the 20th century due to the increased manufacturing of oil and meatpacking, creating the byproduct ingredients for candles: paraffin and stearic acid. Then, the advent of the 1980s brought about candles as decorative devices, mood-setters, and gifts. Candles got colorful, drawing more attraction to the candle-making market.

Candles for Spiritual Health Transition into Candles for Mental Health

Now, candles are used to interact with our emotions. Yes, candles are still used in churches, but we have adapted that spiritual need to a need for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. WebMD says that there is a close link between mood and scent due to the odor molecules interacting with the part of the brain that controls emotion, thoughts, and memories. In fact, essential oils are now incorporated into candles to address this need for relaxation.

Candle safety is also an issue of health. Headaches, allergic reactions, and migraines are normal, smaller risks of lighting candles. What are the ways we can make sure that we are using candles in the most healthy way?

Proper ventilation

Using natural candles

Avoiding chemical oils in candles

Keeping an eye on it

Whether you use candles for your own tradition or relaxation at home, candles remain constant in their natural health benefits. The link between spiritual and mental health holds an interesting link with the bowtie that holds them together: candles.

Personally…

I’m very drawn to the way that spirituality, mental health, and candles all relate. I think it just goes to show that symbolism does not just act as an object sometimes. It can influence our mood. People can put Jesus on their car’s dashboard to remind them of God or they can get a tattoo of a skull to remind them of death. They create auras, but candles are interesting because they put this symbolic ideology into our lifestyles and create a deeper connection with health. I think candles are inherently contemplative—like looking into a fireplace. It seems as if it can be a natural mood stabilizer, and its history influences that.

I think that as I move forward with my interest in candles, I want to create a routine of lighting a candle each day. I think it will help perpetuate this feeling of calm and clarity in my daily life.