Meditation can not be taught. You just have to practice, regularly, on a quiet moment in the day, ideally always the same, at dawn or dusk.

The candle light meditation is perfect for the evening, maybe before sleeping, it will cleanse your eyes and also your mind. Meditation is one of the Paths to Yoga, you  can also do it alone or together with your partner/friends/family. I made my first candle light experience with Kru Nok from Yoga Ananda Chiang Mai, guiding a group with her warm voice, and made a night with 12 hours sleep – hadn’t happened for very long time before.

How to meditate with the candle? It’s quite easy three steps to follow. The required time is about half an hour. During all the time sit comfortably, the back erected, breathe slowly and regularly. You might feel a burning in the eyes or tears, or running nose, don’t worry, it’s a normal part of the cleansing process.

 

Preparation

Candle, tissue or handkerchief

Place the candle somehow that it’s on the level of your eyes, without having to bend the neck, e.g. you sit on the floor with candle on a chair; you sit on a chair with candle on the table etc.

1 Focus on the bottom part of the flame, the dark part

During 5 minutes gaze on the bottom part of the flame, the dark part. Try not to blink with the eyes – which of course is impossible at the beginning, just TRY not to blink. Observe your breath, getting slower and shallower.

After 5 minutes you close your eyes, in the dark you observe the light and shapes that appear in front of your third eye. Observe the colours and patterns, until they completely disappear.

2 Focus on the upper part of the flame, the light part

Do the same, but now around 6 or 7 minutes and focusing on the upper part of the flame, the light part. Again TRY not to blink. Observe your breath.

After 6 or 7 minutes close the eyes and observer the colours and patterns that appear in front of your third eye, until they completely disappear.

3 Focus on the whole flame

Do the same, for around 7 minutes focus on the whole flame, without blinking. It should get easier now not to blink.

After 7 minutes close your eyes and observe the colours and patterns that appear until they disappear.

Relaxation

At the end lay down on your back, in Savasana, relaxing posture, the arms along your body with the palms facing upwards. Close your eyes and relax each part of your body starting from the toes and going all the way upward to the face and also have a thought for your brain and tell him to relax. Stay there for about 5 to 10 minutes.

How to measure the time?

With a little experience you will be able to estimate it. At the beginning you might use an alarm (chose a soft one J. Or, of course, do it with a teacher who will guide you

Recap

Material: candle, tissues

Sit comfortably, keep the back straight

  1. Bottom part of flame
    1. 5 minutes: Focus on bottom/dark part of flame, without blinking, observe breath
    2. Close eyes, observe colours and patterns
  2. Upper part of flame
    1. 6-7 minutes: Focus on upper/light part of flame, without blinking, observe breath
    2. Close eyes, observe colours and patterns
  3.  Whole flame
    1. 7 minutes: Focus on whole flame, without blinking, observe breath
    2. Close eyes, observe colours and patterns

Savasana – lay on your back and relax

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