Welcome to this candle gazing meditation.
Begin by sitting comfortably and taking a moment to light a candle.
Place it about an arm's length away at eye level and then begin to settle into your body.
Sit tall with your spine straight,
Your shoulders relaxed and your hands resting gently in your lap.
Gently close your eyes and begin to tune into the rhythm of your breath.
Breathing in deeply through the nose and slowly out the mouth.
Let go of any distractions or worries and bring your full awareness to this present moment.
Now when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes and bring your gaze to the candle flame in front of you.
Observe it without strain,
Allowing your eyes to rest softly on the steady flicker of the flame.
Notice its gentle movement.
Notice the shape of the flame.
Notice the warm glow that surrounds it.
Now gently close your eyes and begin to tune back into the rhythm of your breath.
Breathe in and out gently through the nose.
Allow your breath to be soft,
Deep and quiet.
I invite you now to bring a sense of curiosity to your practice.
Imagine that the next time you view this candle,
You will be seeing it for the first time.
Imagine that you have never seen a candle before this moment.
When you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
As you gaze at the flame,
Bring a quality of curiosity and open-mindedness to this observation.
Allow yourself to be fully present and receptive to the experience.
Notice the dance of the flame,
The way it moves and changes in its intensity.
Notice the subtle colors that appear,
The shift between yellow and orange,
White,
Blue and red.
Observe these details with curiosity,
As if you are witnessing the flame for the first time.
Now gently close your eyes and bring your awareness to your inner self.
I invite you to reflect on intention or sankalpa,
A positive statement or affirmation that reflects your heartfelt desire or aspiration.
Formulate your intention in your mind,
Focusing on qualities you wish to create or areas of your life you'd like to bring a positive change to.
It could be,
I am cultivating inner peace and serenity,
Or I am embracing self-love and compassion.
Try not to overthink this process too much.
Allow your intention to come to you.
Now with your intention or sankalpa in mind,
Connect it to the flame before you.
Gently open your eyes and visualize the candle flame as a symbol of transformation,
Illumination and the energy to manifest your intention.
See this flame as a mirror image of your own inner fire,
Growing stronger,
Fueled by your intention.
And with each breath,
Feel the flame burning away any doubt,
Fear,
Any obstacles in your path and leaving behind any clarity,
Purpose and strength.
As you continue to gaze at the flame,
Allow the energy and light of the candle to infuse your entire being.
Feel a sense of alignment and resonance with your intention.
With each breath in,
Feel the warmth of the flame in front of you as a reflection of your own inner fire.
And as you exhale,
Allow any resistance or hesitation to melt away.
Just like the wax of the candle softening in the heat.
And whenever your mind begins to wander,
Gently guide your awareness and your focus back to the flame.
Notice its steady presence and again see it mirrored back as a reflection of your own practice.
Stay with this practice for as long as feels comfortable for you,
Maintaining your curiosity and connection to your intention.
As we near the end of this practice,
Gently close your eyes and continue to visualize the candle flame in your mind's eye.
Feel the warmth of your inner fire,
The energy of your intention alive within you.
Notice any shifts or insights or sensations that arose during this practice.
Take one last deep breath in,
Filling yourself with the warmth of your intention.
And as you exhale,
Ground yourself more firmly in your intention.
When you're ready,
Slowly open your eyes and transition back to your surroundings.
Thank you for sharing this practice with me and take a moment to thank yourself for showing up for your practice today.
