INTRODUCTION

This meditation guides you as you gaze at a candle flame. It is a well known form of meditation. If there is a particular quality that you would like to enhance in yourself such as your intuition, then you could choose a green coloured candle to open your insightfulness.

Colour has a great influence on us; helping to balance and align us to the Universal Life Force. Below is a range of colours, and their attributes. Consider also bringing colours, that could enhance your well being into your clothing, and dwelling.

Just a few words of advice when buying candles. Many candles are made with toxic substances such as paraffin, which release harmful vapours when burning. Look for candles made from beeswax, or soy wax. They are non-toxic, and burn longer.

Colours and their qualities from Historical and Metaphysical Views

White Clarity, wholeness and completion, purity, innocence and simplicity. Gold Wealth, prosperity and abundance, spirituality and higher ideals. Silver Clairvoyance, accessing the subconscious mind, and personal transformation. Violet Connecting with the divine, higher consciousness, spiritual development, commitment, and reverence. Indigo Intuition, insight and wisdom, imagination, clarity of thought. Blue Self expression and communication, inspiration, creativity, relaxation, trust, and devotion. Turquoise Healing, independence, and protection. Green Love, forgiveness, compassion, dedication, inspiration, hope, trust, the ability to heal oneself and others, freedom. Yellow Self esteem, self respect, self discipline, ambition, inner power, generosity, ethics, confidence, the courage to take risks. Orange Sexual energy, sensuality, happiness, friendship, the ability to survive loss of any sort, optimism. Red Survival, safety and connection to the physical world, courage, family bonding, physical strength and vitality. Pink Loyalty, warmth, empathy.

PREPARATION

The space needs to be quiet, and darkened. Place the lit candle on a table, or something else where the candle will be at eye level. Wear comfortable, loose clothing, especially at the waist, hips, and chest. Make sure the room temperature is pleasant for you. A shawl or blanket draped around your shoulders will give you extra warmth. Turn off your mobile, and phone, and any other appliances that may disturb you.

POSTURE

Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor, and slightly apart. Rest your hands in your lap, or place them palm downwards on your thighs. If you can, keep your back straight without resting it against the chair.

You can also sit cross-legged on a cushion on the floor. Place the cushion underneath you so that it raises your buttocks. Place your hands in your lap, or hold them in the more traditional style with your palms resting upward on your thighs, and the thumbs and index fingers lightly touching. Keep your back straight throughout the practice. Bringing your chin a little toward your neck will help to straighten your back.

Centre yourself by gently moving your torso from side to side, and then forwards and backwards, until you feel a subtle alignment in your body.