Candle Lighting, Crystals, Aroma Therapy And Other Such Rituals / Beliefs

[Lionheart]

I don't know if anyone else does this, but I like to take 'purification baths', usually with sea salt and essential oil such as cedarwood oil, I simply add it to the bath water as it is running and sometimes, I will turn out the lights, burn a candle and maybe some incense and just take a long soak. :)

After I am done, I smudge myself with burning sage. I then anoint myself with oil, (a combination of frankincense and myrrh). I then wrap myself up in a blanket and often I will fall asleep.

I feel especially clean and relaxed after these types of baths and smell good to boot. ;)

I usually prefer to take a shower but the occasional 'purification' bath is a nice way to relax and de-stress from the day.

 

[amethist]

Oh Lionheart how good is this, if you dont want to add any oils , the the sea salt alone will be enough. As this can help remove negative feelings, which then washes away down the drain.

Anything else after this, is a wonderful added bonus. You could even try using Sweet Grass, as this is supposed to induce positivity, it does not burn very well, but you only need a bit of the smoke for it to work.

 

[Lionheart]

Oh, I love the smell of sweet grass, it reminds me of fresh lavender and would be a welcome addition!!! Thank you for the suggestion, I will have to give it a go!!! :D

 

[safenow]

Thank you so much for this thread.

I have found being in nature really helps me to de-civilizationize. (Is that a word?) When I feel stress, and I"m able to get outside it really helps. I take my shoes off and just feel nature under my feet. I hug a tree, and feel it's leaves. I breathe in the real air, deep and long. I taste rain water (even though in the city it is polluted), because it comes from the sky above me. I love the sounds of birds and other animals. It is all so real.

 

[Whitneys story]

Great thread Nicolette.

There is a common denominator of many of the practices everyone is describing. Although most are of the ancient times, they are scientifically proven techniques. Colors, scent etc. are all products of nature and the universe.

The power of positive thinking and sharing can be contagious. My favorite is using visualization. "Surrounding someone in White Light". Brings a calming protected feeling.

My second favorite is using mirrors. Mentally placing mirrors around one's self. As if you are inside a big box with the mirror facing out, sends negative energy back to where it came from. This technique brings focus to an awareness level of finding our internal negative feelings and processing them. I always suggest discussing with a therapist. Just like meditation it takes time and a safe surrounding to learn.

The most profound writing I have ever read~. "When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways--either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength" ~Dalai Lama

There are no accidents! We are all very special, our paths have convened in this Forum. :hungry:

 

[Gamereign555]

I am very fascinated in the above posts regarding meditations, the use of crystals, candles, incense and other scents. I have never really listened to what other people do to relax and guide their energies, but in a way I guess I have been doing it all along.

I have always been fascinated with geology and minerals and crystals and in my bedroom, where I do most of my relaxing I tend to adorn the area in stones, crystals, candles and incense or other scents. Lavender lotion is my favorite. I put it on my shoulders and arms sometimes. I put on my favorite relaxation, tranquil musics, turn down the lights and just lay on the floor on my back. I will listen to the harmonies and stare at the shadowy reflections cast off from the candle light and just drift off to sleep most of the time. My mind empty of everything troubling, only the shadows, light, pleasant scents.

The sound of the music, which I consider to be very stimulating in my mind takes me far away from any nervous barriers I am afflicted with. I feel as if the music guides me to my emotions and memories in such a way that is completely foreign to me otherwise. My problems seem to separate and untangle themselves from one another, allowing me to feel and remember without the confusion and disorientation. I allow myself to be unbounded by the music. I have my favorites, because some dynamics are just too confused, restricted and sometimes offensive to my own desired energy.

 

[Hashi]

I would love to be able to light a candle, but obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms are too bad at the moment. I have enough other things to deal with in that regard, and can't afford to add more.

I used to do a ritual of lighting a candle to connect with healing and positive energies. I have come up with my own colour associations which are personal to me, and I would place something of each colour next to the candle, saying what it represented and what I hoped for in that area. For example, a rose petal for orange, a leaf for green. I also like watching a candle flame as a kind of meditation. I wish I could do it now.

This is a nice thread. Thanks, Nicolette.

 

[Changing4Best]

When I do light candles, it is usually to encourage me to find a peaceful moment with God, pray and in general, feel comforted by Him. I don't feel these candles need to be scented, although they can be. However, I use unscented tea lights most often.

I did look into the chakras a bit, but when I found various informations on them not to agree, using different colors for some than others, it got confusing. So I did not further study them.

I love colors though, so crystals are fun for me because of that. I like to see the little rainbow reflections they make on the walls. My aquarium also makes a big one on the couch nearby where it is when the sun shines into it. I LOVE to watch this travel across my livingroom as the sun rises each day. I named all my fish and love to watch them gracefully swimming around in the tank too. I know... my aquarioum in not part of my belief system really, but then again it is in another way. The fish is a symbol of Christianity for me and for many others of us too. Many Christians even have a little fish on the back of their cars.

I hope I did not delve too deeply into religion here, but was more trying to talk about my beliefs and symbologies. I await the light each morning too. The sunlight cheers me and lifts the gloom off my nights. I cannot say that I worship the sun, but I sure do thank God for the sunlight often, as I am terribly afraid of the dark. I love flowers too, especially watching them gravitate toward the sun. To me, flowers are love and God is LOVE. And Love is all there is.

 

[saffy]

I like to light candles and incense around the house. It gives me a sense of peace.

But on a daily basis I do my angel/unicorn cards to give me guidance. I also have a lot of crystals and do chakra cleansing and alignment now and again.

I also do yoga and meditation. I like the feeling of internal peace and quite.

Best wishes
Saffy :)

 

[The Albatross]

I do not use stones or candle lighting or aromatherapy for healing.

I do use aroma therapy primarily for grounding as part of my self care for practical reasons - to bypass mental processes. Lighting candles, I do for people who are in need and when I see the candle I can send them a prayer or intention... keep them in my thoughts basically.

Like Shela, I have an affinity for prisms and like to have the light spectrum rainbows about my house and in my car. It is a reminder of my faith and God's covenant. "And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds..." (Genesis 9:12-14) and Ezekiel 1:28, "Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking."

My personal choice is to not to subscribe power to objects, but to rely on God though there is creedence for such things. I prefer to trust and stay presently mindful in His way rather than perhaps intentionally seek to manipuate my mind, body or spirit by use of power objects. Just my take, though others are free to go their own way.

 

[Changing4Best]

I have always been fascinated with geology and minerals and crystals.

I had the hugest rock, mineral ore and quartz collection when I was a kid, but later my mother threw out a bunch of them when I was in college and living elsewhere. She didn't ask me, or I would have asked her to save them all for me. She did save a few of the quartz crystals though, especially the larger ones that more than covered the palm of my hand.

I guess I lost interest in them once she had thrown the majority of them out. I did rescue the remaining ones though, thankfully, as they were most impressive.

Later I collected shells, as I lived by the sea. I still have some of them, one even sits right here by my computer and I love to hold it in my hand and marvel at the perfection that God made it into. It is pink, and I love to see how its little ridges fan out and see where it's little creature once lived. If I hold it up to the light, it is bright pink and twice as beautiful!

 

[saffy]

I also forgot to mention that I read a lot of tao stories and counsel that find very enlightening.

Osho has spoken on many things and all ring true and make sense of the world and ourselves.


Best wishes
Saffy :)