Be the Candle

A case for shining your bright light in what feels like a very weary world indeed, along with magical inspiration for how to muster it up.

Perhaps you remember Gene Wilder’s immortal line in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, “So shines a good deed in a weary world.” It is actually borrowed (and slightly altered) from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, when Portia says, “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”

The fact that you’re here means you’re sensitive and empathic (I know my audience), so, you can surely sense the fearful emotions that are running high right now. I don’t need to go into all the reasons for those emotions here, but suffice it to say that a lot of folks are feeling overwhelmed, harried, and stressed, about their present, their future, and the future of our world.

Even if your mind isn’t preoccupied with worries for yourself or your loved ones, it’s likely you still feel the frenetic energy that is floating around in the ether, making it difficult to focus or relax.

Who Are the Candles?

To quote Willy Wonka again when he was quoting someone else, “We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.” This is from a poem called Ode by Arthur O’Shaughnessy. It’s talking about us. You and me. The empaths and the creatives of the world: those of us with a vision. The magical folk.

There is a lot we can’t control. The vibe, though? The vision? The energy, the trajectory, the zeitgeist? We have quite a lot of power over all of that. Because we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams. We, if we choose, are the candles that throw their little beams.

What Candles Can Do

Certainly we can take action as we feel guided. Sort of like how I felt guided today to sit down and write a blog post.

But I really do believe that one peaceful empath, sitting at home in her house (while doing nothing that can be seen with the naked eye) can bring forth waves of positivity that heal and bless the world.

So we can simply sit in our houses and emanate peace. And when we go out into the world, we can connect with people. Without even uttering a word, we can see them as our siblings. And when we do interact with them, we can be kind.

Our visions for the future can be filled with promise. Our spiritual work can be geared toward positive change. We can keep our light shining and bless the world with love.

When Candles Can Shine

Right now. This very moment. Today! And in the days, weeks, and months to come.

We are at a pivotal moment in human history. Who guides such moments, and helps to usher in a beautiful new age? The candles! You and me. We, the music makers. We, the dreamer of dreams.

Where Candles Can Shine

Wherever we are. At home, at work, at school, at the grocery store, the bank, the gym. Wherever we go or wherever we happen to be.

No matter where we are or what we are doing, our little flames can be beacons and channels of peace.

How Candles Can Keep Shining

To be in the right headspace and energy space to shine brightly, we must take care of ourselves.

As I mentioned, we are likely to feel harried and unfocused because of all the emotional energy floating around in the ether. So we can say to ourselves, “I might feel a little overwhelmed right now, but what can I do? How can I be kind to myself, and gentle with myself? What will nourish me? What loving self-care do I have time and energy for today?”

Maybe you have a little time to rest, or cook a healthy meal, or clear clutter from a single drawer. Perhaps you can add a five minute ritual to your morning, during which you light a candle and send love and healing energy to everyone you can think of, and then feel it boomerang back to you, and then send out a little more.

Be as proactive as you comfortably can about creating a little more space and silence in your life, so you can expand your capacity to be a flickering flame of love and positivity for other people and the planet.

Certainly reclaim your attention from algorithms that seek to ensnare and manipulate you, and choose what you want to do with your attention instead.

Why Candles Want to Shine

Because we came here to do this. We were born into this world to help harmonize it, and heal it: to bring more love into it. We chose that. It’s part of who we are. Maybe we don’t understand this, exactly, but we know beyond a doubt that it’s true.

So let’s embody peace, and radiate it, and share it. Let’s hold the vision of a beautiful future, where people, animals, and the planet thrive.

It’s a sacred role that we somehow recognize as intrinsic to us. So let us embody it and live it, right here and right now. It’s so important.

We won’t do it perfectly. Some days we might only do it a little bit. But let’s do our best.

…You know what I mean, right? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please chime in below.