The Intimacy Behind Candles

Every single day my eyes are struck by many different lights like: city lights, classroom lights, gym lights, car lights etc. However, there is one type of light that I do not see outside of my home.  These lights are candle lights.

Living in a society where efficiency is vital; we begin to stray away from an organic lifestyle and instead consume the artificial.  Of course, electricity is not artificial; it is only manipulated, but the general population cannot explain how it works. There is something about creating fire or lighting a candle that catches my attention.  One of these things is the simplicity of candles.  It is more intimate to light a candle than to flip a switch.  Another beautiful thing about candle light is the comfort that it can offer.  Unlike many artificial lights, the color of a candle light is relatively orange.  Since the intensity of the light has to do with the area being lit, most candles provide a beautiful natural dim, which provides a romantic atmosphere. Can you really imagine having a romantic dinner under a harsh regular light?  That would be awkward, and the intimacy would not be as intense.  Most restaurants catered towards couples also have dim lighting.  This goes to show the psychology behind lighting is very influential.

Candles do not necessarily mean love and romance.  There is a vibe of mystery that it brings.  Shadows tend to accompany candles.  Most of the time it has to do with the location they're placed in.  If you were to light a chandelier of candles, many shadows would probably eradicate.  How many people in California or even the 21st century own a chandelier for candles? Yea, not that many, which means there is bound to be some shadows.  These shadows can symbolize many different things.

I personally love it because it represents the unknown.  In today's world it feels as if everything has been invented.  We have an idea of where we want to go and what we want to see.  We know the rules and the standards society has implemented.  We know our responsibilities and the pressure to succeed financially.  The shadows of the candle light provide the mystery that I don't get on a regular basis.  In addition, it gives me the intimacy I need to reflect on my spirituality. We tend to focus on many aspects of life that do not matter like materialism and status.   The fire helps me block the artificial aspects of my life like: school, work, the internet, etc. and it helps me focus on my life as a human simply roaming the earth.

Sometimes you need to turn off the lights and light a candle to get in tune with your true self.  Dramatic? Yes, but that is why candles are still around.