Our Monthly Tip: Create a Unique Handmade Candle for Your Grieving Friend

Our Monthly Tip: 

Lighting candles serves a variety of functions. Some people light them to fragrance their home while others simply enjoy watching the flickering flame. Burning candles can also become a ritualistic habit, giving people something to do while they meditate, complete their self-care routine, or pray. Creating a handmade candle for your grieving friend will provide comfort and a way to remember their loved one.

How-To Suggestions:

You will need a few supplies, but none of them are expensive.

• Mason jars
• Candle wicks
• Scissors
• Metal pouring pot
• Soy wax melts/flakes
• Color dye
• Essential oils

You can also purchase a complete candle making kit for about $20. 

Step One:

Prepare the wicks. You can cut them just above the top of the jar and attach them to the center of the bottom of the jar. You can attach them with glue tabs or with a hot glue gun.

Step Two:

Melt the wax. You can melt them in a metal pouring pot or in a normal pot with a double boiler. Do not allow the wax to be in a pot that directly touches the flame. Instead, allow the boiling water underneath to melt the wax.

Step Three:

Add color and scent. You can use the dye to enhance the look of your candle; however, the natural cream color may suffice. You can also add a few drops of a calming essential oil, such as vanilla or lavender. 

Step Four:

Fill the jars. Allow the wax to cool a bit before pouring it. Pour it in a slow, steady stream into your prepared jar. Leave a bit of room at the top. You could add dried flowers or herbs on top for a decorative touch.

Step Five:

Allow the candle to cool completely. Trim the wick a bit shorter than the top. You can place the metal lid on the jar if desired. You can add a lovely typed or handwritten note for your grieving friend to read. You can also have a poem accompany your handmade candle. 

Linda Hogan’s “To Be Held” is a lovely option:

To be held

by the light

was what I wanted,

to be a tree drinking the rain,

no longer parched in this hot land.

To be roots in a tunnel growing

but also to be sheltering the inborn leaves

and the green slide of mineral

down the immense distances

into infinite comfort

and the land here, only clay,

still contains and consumes

the thirsty need

the way a tree always shelters the unborn life

waiting for the healing

after the storm

which has been our life.

Presenting your grieving friend with your handmade candle will be a very special gift. You can invite them to remember their loved one each time they light it through the note or poem you attach. Using a scent that your friend may have an attachment to will add to the sensory experience. Also, creating the candles will give you the opportunity to try a new pastime.