Intention Candles: How to Use and Burn Them Safely

Hello dear friends. 🕯️ Let me start this post with our candle-making workshops. In the workshops we hold with children, we melt the wax together and set our intentions. Then it is time for the boxes, and each child paints their own little tin. Watching those small hands work so carefully is lovely. These workshops always remind me of the same thing: an intention does not need a big ceremony; a small moment that comes from the heart is enough.

We can plan this workshop with you too, at your school, at your office or at Şifa Köyü, our organic farm in Şile on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. You will find the details at the end. Now let us look at the intention candle itself.

What is an intention candle, and how do you choose one?

An intention candle is a candle you light while you hold an intention or a wish in mind. Some people call it a manifestation candle. It is a personal practice: the flame is a gentle reminder to pause and focus. In the rush of the day it is like a small, warm invitation to come back to yourself. It does not bring love, money or health results, and every person experiences it differently. When you choose one, you can look at these:

• A scent that feels good to you. If you are sensitive to scent, a lightly scented or unscented candle may be more comfortable.
• What is inside: which wax, what kind of fragrance? I wrote about soy, paraffin and beeswax in a separate post.
• The container: sturdy, heat-resistant and hard to tip over.
• The instructions. If there are none, you can ask the seller.

How do you use an intention candle?

There is no fixed rule for how to use it, so you can create a flow that suits you. Here is a simple one. Find a quiet corner and set the candle on a sturdy, heat-resistant surface. Take a few big breaths. Write your intention on a piece of paper in one short sentence that feels like yours. Then light the candle and stay with your intention for a few minutes, looking at the flame. If you feel like offering a silent thank you, that is lovely too. Before you leave the room or go to sleep, blow the candle out. Your intention stays with you.

If the candle goes out, nothing breaks. A candle goes out because of a draft or a short wick; that is physics, not a sign about your intention. You can check the wick and light it again, or continue another day. The intention lives in you; the candle is only a way to remember it.

How do you burn an intention candle safely?

The first rule of burning your candle safely is never to leave it alone. An intention candle is still an open flame. I gathered these basics from the candle safety advice of the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Candle Association and the Istanbul Fire Department (İstanbul İtfaiyesi):

• Never leave a burning candle unattended. Blow it out when you leave the room and before you sleep, and do not burn candles in bedrooms or sleeping areas.
• Keep it at least 12 inches (30 cm) from anything that can burn: curtains, books, paper, dried flowers.
• Use a sturdy holder that will not tip over, on a heat-resistant surface.
• Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and away from open windows, fans and drafts.
• Trim the wick to about a quarter of an inch (6 mm) before each use, or as the maker suggests.
• Do not move a candle while the wax is liquid. Put it out with a snuffer or a gentle breath, never with water.
• With container candles, stop when about half an inch (1.3 cm) of wax is left.

How do you burn a candle with a stone on the lid?

With candles that have a stone on the lid, the best thing is to follow the product’s own instructions. Some candles have a natural stone or a decoration on the lid. At Şifa Köyü we have candles with a selenite heart or a rainbow quartz. Check where the stone or decoration should be while the candle burns. If there are no instructions, ask the seller before you light it. The meanings given to stones are cultural beliefs, not proven effects. I love them as small, beautiful gifts of nature.

How can you make your own intention candle?

If you would like to make your own intention candle, you are welcome at the candle-making workshop. Şifa Köyü candles are made by hand with soy wax and natural aromatherapy oils. In the workshop you melt the wax and choose a color and a scent; then the wax goes into the mould. While it sets, we talk about why we will light it: a wish, a thank you, an intention. Lighting a candle you made with your own hands is a feeling of its own.

The workshop suits school classes from kindergarten to high school, university students, adult groups and company teams. We can come to your school or office, or we can meet at Şifa Köyü. If we meet on the farm, you can wander in the garden and meet our animals while your candle sets. The produce from our fields is grown from heirloom seeds and holds EU-approved organic farming certification, and you are welcome to take some home with you. We plan the materials together; sometimes the school or company provides the paints or jars themselves. Write to us with the number of people and their ages, and we will get back to you and plan the flow together.

What intention would you like to light your candle with this week? I would love it if you shared it with me. May your light always show you the way. ✨

Şifa Köyü shop: candles (in Turkish) →

Soy vs paraffin vs beeswax candles →

Candle-making workshop →

Write to us about a workshop →

Frequently asked questions

What is an intention candle?

A candle you light while you focus on an intention or a wish. It is a personal practice and does not promise love, money or health results.

If my intention candle goes out, is the intention broken?

No. A candle goes out because of a draft or the wick. You can check the wick and light it again.

Do I have to burn an intention candle all the way down?

No. Blow it out when you leave the room or go to sleep, and light it again another time.

How do I burn a candle with a stone on the lid?

Follow the product’s own instructions. If there are none, ask the seller before lighting it.

Where should I place the candle?

On a sturdy, heat-resistant surface, at least 12 inches (30 cm) from anything that can burn, out of reach of children and pets.

Is there a workshop where I can make my own intention candle?

Yes. In the candle-making workshop we melt and pour candles together. Write to us to plan it at your school, your office or Şifa Köyü.

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