

By Lily Annis: Columnist
Photography: Bernd Dittrich
If you find sitting in front of a log fire soothing, this practice might be for you.
As the evenings draw in earlier, we might find comfort in lighting candles or snuggling in front of the fire. We seek light like moths; perhaps it is instinctual – light enables us to see better in the dark and improves our ability to find food and shelter.
But why is this survival instinct still present in the modern world? We might consider that our preference for light is spiritual, with light representing hope and a path through darkness. Whatever the reason, light continues to attract the human eye and has played a role in our lives since ancient times.
Sitting near a candle or watching flames flicker in a fireplace or bonfire is often thought to be relaxing, calming and even mediative. In fact, the meditative qualities of candles are noted and praised in ancient Indian yoga practices. Candle gazing, also known as trataka or yogic gazing, is a practice linked to spirituality and restfulness.
Candle gazing consists of lighting a candle in a dark, quiet space and letting your eyes rest on the flame, watching its movements with your eyes. Additionally, you should try not to blink and let your thoughts still, focusing on the candle. You can practise candle gazing for a few minutes a day to improve your mood and connection with the self.
The spirituality of candle gazing means the practice is favoured during chakra-focused mediation (see articles we have published on meditation). It allows for the opening of the third eye chakra, associated with connectedness and perception, heightening our awareness of the self and the world. Whether you’re interested in chakras or dismiss them as mumbo-jumbo, most of us seek further connection with ourselves, and candle gazing offers a path to this.
Additionally, candle gazing is said to induce a meditative state, which can improve our mental health and sleep quality. Improved sleep quality has the follow-up effect of easing insomnia and attributing to improved memory. Interestingly, candle gazing can also improve eye health and focus, as demonstrated in the fictional short story of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Roald Dahl.
Henry Sugar takes the concept of candle gazing and focusing on the candle flame to a new level. The story centres around the character Henry Sugar, a rich businessman who decides to learn how to see without using his eyes. He achieves this by exercising extreme focus and concentration by staring at candle flames to visualise things. He becomes so good at this that eventually, he does not need the candle to visualise, and he learns to see through playing cards. He harnesses his new skills to cheat at gambling games.
More than just a flame
Gambling aside, Roald Dahl suggests that candle gazing can have practical uses and demonstrates the improved concentration Henry Sugar gains from his yogi practice. The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar was adapted into a film in 2023 and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar. These days, we might consider candles an indulgence due to how they are marketed. Various scents are revealed each season, ranging from spring and summer scents, including light florals like rose and jasmine, fruity scents like coconut and more neutral scents like sea salt to mirror the ocean breeze. Autumnal candles might give off scents of cinnamon and mulled wine, while winter candles might focus on the smells we associate with festivity and Christmas, such as pine needles and gingerbread.
Certain scents can figuratively transport us to different locations and evoke memories within us. Inhaling the scent of sea salt might remind us of the ocean, and festive scents like gingerbread might remind us of decorating gingerbread people when we were children or with grandchildren.
But it's not just the scents; candles can be decorated with dried flowers or infused with an assortment of colours, which has helped to create the idea of candles as seasonal interior décor. The re-decorating of candles as seasons change is, in many ways, a nice idea as it could link to practises of starting afresh for a new season and fosters positive emotions towards any challenges the season might bring.
So, even if you don’t fancy trying candle gazing, you might gain cleansing benefits by purchasing candles as seasonal décor to welcome the new season.

― Lily Annis
columnist
Lily is a creative writer, content writer, and digital marketer. She is published in Imprint Magazine, Vortex, Flash Fiction North, SmashingBlobfish...