Burning for Candles
Let’s rewind to the pandemic, when people can’t leave their homes and the world turned into one big Rapunzel montage. You know the one—painting the walls, brushing your hair, ventriloquizing your pet? Well, I swore to myself I’d try every hobby in that Rapunzel song, and candle-making landed squarely on the list.
So I bought all I needed online—soy wax, wicks, little jars—but here’s the thing: I never actually did it. Life just kept happening (as it does), and the candle-making supplies got shoved into a corner like an abandoned New Year’s resolution. Then one fateful day, the power went out and I can’t find any candle at home.
Cue my “survival instincts” kicking in. I dug up those soy waxes, slapped a wick into a glass jar, and voilà—a functional candle! It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. I remember sitting there, smugly admiring my janky creation.
Of course, I promised myself I’d take the whole hobby more seriously and make real candles someday. Spoiler: I didn’t.
But here’s the thing—candles still fascinate me. I want to try making all the fancy ones: scented candles, succulent-shaped candles, carved candles, and even painted candles.
Speaking of candles, can we talk about how magical it feels to receive one? Last Christmas, I got a candle as a gift (it came with a lighter), and let me tell you, I cherished that thing. I’d light it during my nighttime skincare routine, meditation, or stretching sessions. It burned beautifully for weeks. Something about candles as gifts just hits differently. That’s why I still can’t bring myself to buy my own candle even if I have already added some on my online shopping basket.
My candle obsession, I think, goes way back to my childhood. Whenever there was a storm and the power went out, I was that kid who sat there watching the flame like it was a portal to another dimension. I’d play with the dripping wax, shape it into little balls, burn a strand of my hair, and even try to pass my finger through the flame like I was some kind of magician. Candles and fire always felt so…mystical.
And then there’s all the weird candle lore—like, why do you need a candle to summon Bloody Mary in front of a mirror? Why do witches light candles for their spells? Why do we use them for graves, memorials, and ceremonies? It’s like candles hold this ancient, mysterious power that we all just accept without question.
I’ve done my research and apparently, lighting candles is thought to cleanse negative energy and bring positive ones. I guess, that makes sense. Every time I light one, it’s like an instant mood reset. The room feels cozier, my head feels clearer, and everything just feels a little…warmer or lighter?
Anyway, I could ramble on about candles forever, but if you’re as curious as I am, check out this link for more fun facts about their history: https://candles.org/history/
Who knows? Maybe one day, that spark of candle-making will reignite in me. Until then, I’ll just keep basking in their glow. ✨