Intention Candles: The Spiritual Practice You Need to Know About
Right now, at this moment…
…. there’s something you’re not happy about. There’s something in your life that is holding you back. Think... what is it?
Perhaps you’re having marriage troubles, or it’s past that, and you’re struggling to find identity post-divorce. Perhaps you can’t seem to break a bad habit or you’re stuck in a rut. Perhaps you’re too anxious or too angry. Perhaps you’re lonely and looking for your soul-mate, or perhaps you’re trying to find a way to cope with something you’ve lost, whether a person or a pet or a possibility. Perhaps you’re unfocused and not finding the inspiration or stamina you need to meet a goal. Or perhaps you’re feeling lost and seeking the comfort of a spiritual ritual that can make you feel connected not just to your inner self, but to a higher power.
Every unhappiness or struggle I’ve mentioned here comes with a corresponding intention; the intention to find oneself or break a bad habit or find true love or reach a goal or find—and gain comfort and guidance from—the divine.
The Roman philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius, a man of great thought and depth, spoke about intentions. In his Meditations he wrote, “Our actions may be impeded, but nothing can impede our intentions.” By that, he meant that our intentions—our resolve or desire to do something—remains in our control, even if obstacles compel us to find different ways to manifest our intentions.
Whether you identify with a certain religion or you identify as spiritual but not religious, I’d like to suggest something that I’ve found to be a beautiful way to focus the mind, soothe the spirit, and enter into the kind of self-reflective state that can truly help you bring an intention to life.
Intention Candles
At its most basic, the practice of using an intention candle involves lighting a candle and focusing on the candle’s flame while simultaneously focusing on the intention or desire that you wish to manifest into being.
What follows is a six-step process you can follow to incorporate this practice into your life:
1. Clarify your intention. That is, what do you want to manifest?
2. Choose the right candle. Since fragrances are known to influence our moods and emotions—our sense of smell is tied to the brain’s emotional center—you may wish to choose a scented candle that aligns with, or can support, your intention. Here are a few ideas:
Lavender and Vanilla: Aids in relaxation and soothes the spirit
Lemon and Other Citrus Scents: Summons energy and can uplift the spirit
Eucalyptus: Promotes healing and clarity
Jasmine: Relieves stress and anxiety
Rose: This timeless floral scent is obviously associated with love, but it also has a calming effect.
Perfume: I suppose that all of the scenes I’ve mentioned are technically “perfumed,” but here I’m speaking of the type of candle—typically a designer candle—that is more heavily perfumed. Many of these candles come with a high price tag, but if you have the resources, they can be a wonderful indulgence and a way to create a luxurious ambience.
If this is going to be a special candle that you repeatedly use for this purpose, you should also think about whether you prefer a pillar candle, a container candle, or even a candle with a specific shape. This could be something meaningful—like the shape of a heart—or it could simply be beautifully sculpted candle that pleases you.
You may also wish to think about the type of wax the candle is made of. Is it soy, paraffin, beeswax, palm or a blend? While many people aren’t overly concerned with this, others are.
The color of the wax may also be something you want to consider, since—like scents—colors can affect our emotions and mood. They are certainly associated with certain themes. Consider these colors and their associated aspects:
Red: Energy and strong emotion
Pink: Love and romance
Green: Healing and renewal
White: Purity and simplicity
Yellow: Creativity and happiness
Black: Mystery and depth
Blue: Calmness and tranquility
Purple: Power and mysticism
If you like, you can even choose a candle that has something special in the wax, whether a crystal, a shell, or a stone of some kind. When the candle has burned down, you can keep this item as a reminder of your intention.
3. Prepare the space. You should set aside 5 to 15 minutes every day for your intention candle ritual. Create a conducive environment by leaving your phone in another room, lowering the lights, and ensuring that you’re in a comfortable position to sit and reflect for the duration. You don’t want a leg cramp to distract you two minutes in!
4. Prepare the candle and light it. To add depth to this practice, you can carve a word into the candle’s wax before you light it. If your intention is to gain insight into something in your life, you might carve the word clarity. If your intention is to find your soul-mate, you might carve the word love. If your intention is to receive a promotion at work or get an A+ on a big essay, you might carve the word success.
5. Relax and reflect. If you’ve prepared your space properly and done your best to avoid distractions, this should come naturally. Sit comfortably in front of your candle, relax your shoulders and let your breathing slip into a natural and calming rhythm. Look into the candle’s flame and think about the intention you want to manifest. Visualize the intention inside the flame, and then visualize it slipping out of the flame to enter the world. Imagine the intention has manifested, and imagine yourself experiencing the fulfillment of that. You might imagine yourself walking along the beach with your soul-mate or decorating your new corner office at work!
6. Extinguish the candle. There are a couple ways you can choose to do this:
First, you can use a snuffer to extinguish the flame. This holds your intention close to the candle and, by extension, close to your mind and heart.
Alternatively, you can gently blow out the candle, thereby releasing your intention into the world.
The method of extinguishment you choose really comes down to your own preferences and which one you find to be the most symbolic or meaningful.
A Candle: The New Altar Fire
As someone who honors Vesta—ancient Roman goddess of the home and hearth—I tend to go a little further when using an intention candle. And if you want to bring an even deeper spiritual aspect to the process, you might want to as well. That’s especially so if you have a soft spot in your heart for the “old ways” or for ancient religions.
In Latin, the word focus means hearth. That’s fitting, since in antiquity the focus of every home was the hearth fire in which Vesta’s divine spirit resided. Those who lived in the home gathered around the fire not just for warmth and to cook their food, but to pray to Vesta and to offer part of their meal—perhaps a bit of bread or a drizzle of olive oil—into her flames.
Meanwhile, in the Temple of Vesta, the Vestal Virgins tended to the goddess’s Eternal Flame—the focus or hearth fire of Rome. They prayed over it, performed rituals, and placed offerings and libations into the altar fire.
Today, a candle is the new altar fire. We can use a candle’s flame to connect with and honor the divine. We can also use it for self-reflection and to manifest our intentions.
Keeping the above six steps in mind, there are several important ways you can invoke Vesta into an intention candle ritual.
First, I recommend using a beeswax candle. This is because burning beeswax has been shown to stimulate the pituitary gland, which in turn stimulates intuition. And intuition is key. Because it isn’t enough to just focus or hope or dream. To truly manifest something into being or into your life, you’ll need to take practical steps to get there. You know this already! But suffice it to say, tapping into your intuition is a wonderful way to figure things out.
Above, I suggested that you might want to carve a word that represents your intention into the candle’s wax; however, I do not advise doing this with a candle that will burn with Vesta’s flame. The only thing that should be carved into such a candle is the goddess’s name or a V.
Instead, you can write your intention on a piece of paper and keep it nearby.
Preparing the Space for Vesta & Invoking Her Presence
Before lighting your candle, you should sprinkle a little salt around the space within which it will burn. This helps purify the area for Vesta’s spirit.
You may also want to present an offering or a libation to Vesta. Placing a pinch of salted flour or a drop of oil into her flame can show your respect. You can also set a small bowl of salted flour, or of wine or olive oil, next to the candle.
Lighting an intention candle, one that burns with Vesta’s flame, will mean invoking her spirit. To do this, you can simply say, “Shining goddess, enter this candle.”
In Latin, this is “Dea fulgens, hanc candelam intra.” It is always a special thing to speak to Vesta in her first language, so don’t hesitate to wade through this Latin. Just sound it out and that will be good enough!
Now relax. Breathe. Watch the flame move atop the candle, and reflect upon your intention. Inhale the sweet, mild fragrance of the beeswax. See your intention in the flame. Feel your intuition awakening.
Intention, Intuition and Manifestation
Think about what you must do in your life to manifest your intention. Don’t force your thoughts to come. This isn’t a brainstorming session, but rather an intuition session. Just let your intuition quietly and peacefully roll over and through your intention. Let it discover and reveal any practical steps that you you need to take.
Visualize that realized hope or dream slipping out of the flame.
Showing Gratitude to the Goddess
As your path reveals itself, you should express your gratitude to the goddess. You can simply say, “Thank you, Mother Vesta.”
Or you can say this in Latin: “Gratias tibi ago, Vesta Mater.”
When it is time to extinguish the candle, I suggest that you use your breath (rather than a snuffer). Lean toward the flame, whisper your intention to the goddess, and then softly blow out the candle, mixing your breath with Vesta’s as wisps of smoke rise from the candle.
Watch the smoke as it dissipates, letting yourself slowly rise out of your tranquil state.
Make a Note of It…
Finally—and you should do this before you race to check your phone or let the cat out!—make a note of the thoughts or ideas that came to you during this process. Once the normal bustle of life takes over, it’s easy to forget. Keep a notepad close to your intention candle. Each time you engage in a ritual, follow the same process and write down. Within a week or two, you should have an insightful collection of ideas that can truly help.
And that’s it! You’re a little closer to manifesting your intentions. And who knows? Maybe you’re a little closer to the divine as well.