Living a zero waste lifestyle and practicing meditation both have huge benefits for your mind, body, and soul. Combining eco-friendly habits with mindfulness is a powerful way to relieve stress, gain clarity, and feel more connected to the environment.

In this post, we’ll explore how borrowing light and warmth from zero waste candles can enhance your meditation practice. You’ll also learn the basics of crafting your sustainable candles at home.

Why Add Candlelight to Meditation?

Blazing candles instantly create a peaceful setting. The soft glow helps calm your thoughts and feel more relaxed. Studies also show that gazing at a flickering flame can lower blood pressure and heart rate.

Throughout history, ancient cultures and spiritual healers have used the fire element to cleanse spaces and center intention. Bringing awareness to the present moment with candlelight allows you to let go of stress to access deeper wisdom within.

Choosing Zero Waste Candle Materials

To reap the full benefits for both body and earth, zero waste candles should be made from natural, biodegradable ingredients. Popular eco-friendly options include:

Beeswax – Sourced safely and ethically from beekeepers. Beeswax is compostable and burns cleaner than paraffin wax.

Soy wax – Made from hydrogenated soybean oil. Soy wax is also biodegradable and requires less frequent trimming of wicks.

Coconut wax – Derived from coconut oil. Coconut wax candles burn slowly and cooler, producing less soot.

Wooden wicks – Crafted from natural wood fibers and cotton. Wooden wicks crackle softly as they burn.

Cotton wicks – Spun from unbleached cotton or hemp strings. Cotton wicks are affordable and leave no chemical residue.

Essential oils – Distilled from plants, flowers, herbs, and fruits. Most oils used for aromatherapy are considered zero waste.

Reused containers – Vintage glasses, mugs, and jars make charming, reusable candle vessels.

Double the Impact: Sustainability for Stress Relief

Did you know the average American tosses out over 185 pounds of plastic per year? Landfill waste worsens climate change, harming air quality and fueling stress about our planet’s future. Making small, earth-friendly changes in your life alleviates this heavy burden of eco-anxiety.

Burning zero waste candles keeps pounds of petroleum-based paraffin out of landfills. Their natural plant-based ingredients also purify indoor air as they melt. Setting positive sustainability goals while meditating on zero waste candlelight doubles the positive impact. Feel good knowing your self-care ritual protects the earth too!

Follow Your Breath, Not the Clock

As you begin practicing candlelight meditation, don’t worry about sitting still for long periods like a Zen master! Instead, make your sessions a personal experiment based on what your mind and body need at the moment.

Sit comfortably with a lit zero waste candle placed 2-3 feet in front of you. Set a timer for your desired length – even one minute counts! Gaze softly at the candle flame and inhale slowly through your nose. Exhale gently from your mouth, visualizing any tension leaving your body.

When thoughts arise, simply return focus to your breath. Avoid judging yourself or analyzing the quality of your practice. Peace and clarity will grow effortlessly with consistency.

Other Mindful Uses for Zero Waste Candles

Incorporating zero waste candles into routines like cooking, bathing, and winding down for bed boosts mindfulness too. Here are some ideas:

• Light soy wax candles in your favorite scents while preparing meals. Stay present by paying attention to ingredient textures, smells, and flavors.
• Add a beeswax tealight to bath water for serene soaks. Notice how your body feels as you breathe in lavender and eucalyptus steam.
• End each day gazing at the star-like flicker of wooden wick candles. Express gratitude for small joys before drifting off to sleep.

Making zero waste living second nature trains your brain to stay anchored in the now. When you lose touch with the present moment, anxiety sneaks in. Practicing mindfulness rewires thought patterns to access peace and contentment already inside you.

DIY Soy Candle in an Upcycled Jar

Want to start crafting your own zero waste candles on a budget? This simple soy wax candle tutorial repurposes a used glass jar and only requires a few ingredients.

For this project you’ll need:

• An empty glass jar (cleaned thoroughly)
• Soy wax flakes
• Cotton braided wick
• Scissors
• Essential oil(s) for fragrance (optional)
• Double boiler
• Spoon
• Pencil or chopstick

Step 1: Prepare Your Jar

First, remove any stubborn sticky residue from the recycled jar with warm water. Measure how much wax is needed by placing a pencil across the top of the jar and marking the depth. Add roughly 1⁄2 inch for the wick.

Trim your cotton wick to about 2 inches taller than the jar height. Secure it to the bottom of the container with a piece of masking tape.

Step 2: Melt Soy Wax

Set up your double boiler to melt wax flakes on medium heat. Fully melted wax should have a thin, opaque, liquid texture. Next, stir in 5-8 drops of essential oils per ounce of wax if you want a scented candle. Great options include lavender, eucalyptus, and sweet orange.

Step 3: Pour Your Candle

When the wax is entirely lump-free, carefully pour it into your prepared jar. Leave a 1⁄2 inch of space at the top for the melting wax to pool. Hold the wick taut at the center as you pour to keep it straight.

Step 4: Allow to Set

Cool candles need 24 hours to fully set up and adhere to the glass. Trim the wick to 1⁄4 inch before lighting for the first time. Enjoy your earth-friendly, handmade candle during meditation or while practicing other mindful habits!

Keep the Mindfulness Flowing

We covered a lot of ground exploring how zero-waste candlelight meditation helps both people and the planet. Here’s a quick recap:

• Warm candlelight creates a peaceful ambiance for effective breathwork and introspection.
• Sourcing meditation candles sustainably minimizes your carbon footprint.
• Anchoring attention on breath, body and the present moment reduces anxiety.
• Crafting DIY zero waste candles boosts mindfulness through intention and care.

As you awaken your inner light each day, reuse and recycle as much as possible. Small acts of sustainability make positive waves, sparking inspiration in those around you. When candlelight meditation becomes your self-care ritual, your renewed mental clarity and calm can lead to innovative solutions for protecting our shared world.