In many ways, New Year’s resolutions are ritualistic. They invite us to get grounded and go inward to ask ourselves what it is we want to call into our lives, plus what healthy habits or practices we might use to do so. With 2022 right around the corner, many of us might be experiencing a more reflective state of mind and gearing up to set some intentions for what’s to come in the new year. No matter what you wish to call in, intention candles can help amplify the energy of your New Year’s intentions.
Intention candles are candles infused or charged with the energy of your intention and are used in rituals, meditation, and on altars to manifest those intentions to life. They can be as simple as a plain candle that you hold in your hands during meditation to set an intention (and later burn with the intention of bringing that energy to life) or they can incorporate various herbs, essential oils, and crystals that represent the energy of your intention.
Up ahead, we share how to make your own DIY New Year’s intention candle to use for manifesting your resolutions.
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The main ingredient in an intention candle is, of course, wax. But, for these candles, you don’t want to go with just any wax. Natural waxes such as soy, coconut, or beeswax are recommended as they are the most environmentally friendly and therefore do not produce toxins when burned. Additionally, soy wax typically burns slower than synthetic paraffin wax meaning your candle will last much longer.
To bring the fire element to your candle, you’ll want to choose a wick for your candle. A pre-waxed cotton wick is an excellent choice for intention candles. But, you can also choose a wooden wick, which boasts a relaxing fireside crackling sound when lit.
Choosing a vessel for your DIY intention candle all depends on personal preference. If you wish to go the eco-friendly route, you can reuse a salsa or sauce jar or thrift a glass cup at a local secondhand store. You can also purchase new jars or metal tins online. Wherever you source your vessel from, just be sure it is made from glass or metal.
Choosing herbs for your intention candle is a way to amplify the energy of your intention with the healing power of Mother Earth’s offerings. You can use various herbs for various energies, such as lavender, cinnamon, clove, and rosemary for prosperity, rosemary, and thyme for love, or rose and sage for good health.
If you wish to add some extra sparkle to your candle, choosing a healing crystal that represents your intention is another way to turn the volume up on this ritualistic DIY. For example, you can add pyrite for prosperity, rose quartz for love, or clear quartz for good health.
What is a candle without scent? For this DIY, you can use the scent to add some extra oomph to your intention candle by selecting essential oils that embody the energies of your intention. Typically, these essential oils will be the same as the herbs selected. So, you can reach for lavender, cinnamon, clove, and rosemary for prosperity, rosemary, and thyme for love, or rose and sage for good health.
newyearintentioncandle4.jpg To create a DIY intention candle at home, here’s what you’ll want to have on hand:
Tip: To make one candle, we recommend purchasing a candle-making kit that includes a pour pot, spoon, wick holder, wax, and wicks.
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Step 1: Prepare your candle by cleaning the vessel and removing any unwanted stickers or labels. Then, place the wick sticker on the bottom of your wick and secure your wick to the base of your candle vessel. Place the wick holder on top of your vessel and wiggle the wick into the center hole to hold it in place.
Step 2: Fill a saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Then, pour soy wax flakes into the pour pot and place the pot on top of the saucepan. This creates a makeshift double boiler that will effectively melt the wax at an even temperature. Reach for your wax spoon and stir continuously until the wax melts into a water-like texture.
Step 3: Once the wax is a water-like consistency, remove the pot from the saucepan and reach for your cooking thermometer. Place the thermometer into the pot and keep it there until the temperature decreases to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 4: Once the wax reaches 185 degrees Fahrenheit (or less), add in your essential oils. As a rule of thumb, use 2 teaspoons for every 4 ounces of wax. So, if your vessel is 12 ounces, you’ll use 6 teaspoons of essential oil. And, if your vessel is 16 ounces, you’ll use 8 teaspoons of essential oil. If you are using multiple essential oils, you can pour in an even amount of each until you reach the desired essential oil to wax ratio or you can choose a standout oil — such as lavender — and mix in a dash of the other oils.
For our DIY candle, we used 16 ounces of wax and 8 teaspoons of essential oil. We chose to make lavender the star scent with 4 teaspoons of lavender essential oil, followed by 3 teaspoons of rosemary essential oil and 1 teaspoon of clove essential oil.
Step 5: Use the wax spoon to stir the essential oils into the wax and then pour the concoction into the candle vessel. Allow the wax to sit and get cloudy before adding herbs and other toppings to the candle.
Step 6: Once the wax is more opaque and cloudy, sprinkle in some of your selected herbs. For our candle, we chose dried lavender, cinnamon bark pieces, dried rosemary, and star anise for a wintery touch. At this point, you can also add a healing crystal to your candle, although if it is on the heavier side, it will sink to the bottom. We chose pyrite for prosperity. If you wish to see your crystal on the candle’s surface, wait until the wax is almost cooled completely before adding this component.
Step 7: Allow the candle to cool overnight. Once the wax is completely cooled, take a moment to set your intention. You can close your eyes and take a few deep grounding breaths or choose to meditate on what energy you wish to bring into the new year. When you are ready, reach for your candle and hold it in both of your hands. Imagine that the energy of your intention is pouring out through your hands and infusing itself into your candle. Set another intention that, each time you burn your candle, you will invite the energy of your New Year’s intention in.
In the New Year, light your candle during meditation, ritual, or on your altar to call in the energy of your intention.
Enhance your well-being in the new year with guided meditations and personalized practices, available now in the Chopra App.
Intention candles are candles infused or charged with the energy of your intention and are used in rituals, meditation, and on altars to manifest those intentions to life. They can be as simple as a plain candle that you hold in your hands during meditation to set an intention (and later burn with the intention of bringing that energy to life) or they can incorporate various herbs, essential oils, and crystals that represent the energy of your intention.
Up ahead, we share how to make your own DIY New Year’s intention candle to use for manifesting your resolutions.
The Anatomy of an Intention Candle
Wax
The main ingredient in an intention candle is, of course, wax. But, for these candles, you don’t want to go with just any wax. Natural waxes such as soy, coconut, or beeswax are recommended as they are the most environmentally friendly and therefore do not produce toxins when burned. Additionally, soy wax typically burns slower than synthetic paraffin wax meaning your candle will last much longer.
Wick
To bring the fire element to your candle, you’ll want to choose a wick for your candle. A pre-waxed cotton wick is an excellent choice for intention candles. But, you can also choose a wooden wick, which boasts a relaxing fireside crackling sound when lit.
Vessel
Choosing a vessel for your DIY intention candle all depends on personal preference. If you wish to go the eco-friendly route, you can reuse a salsa or sauce jar or thrift a glass cup at a local secondhand store. You can also purchase new jars or metal tins online. Wherever you source your vessel from, just be sure it is made from glass or metal.
Herbs
Choosing herbs for your intention candle is a way to amplify the energy of your intention with the healing power of Mother Earth’s offerings. You can use various herbs for various energies, such as lavender, cinnamon, clove, and rosemary for prosperity, rosemary, and thyme for love, or rose and sage for good health.
Crystals
If you wish to add some extra sparkle to your candle, choosing a healing crystal that represents your intention is another way to turn the volume up on this ritualistic DIY. For example, you can add pyrite for prosperity, rose quartz for love, or clear quartz for good health.
Scent
What is a candle without scent? For this DIY, you can use the scent to add some extra oomph to your intention candle by selecting essential oils that embody the energies of your intention. Typically, these essential oils will be the same as the herbs selected. So, you can reach for lavender, cinnamon, clove, and rosemary for prosperity, rosemary, and thyme for love, or rose and sage for good health.
Supplies for Creating an Intention Candle
- 1 Glass or metal vessel
- 1 Pre-waxed cotton wick and wick sticker
- 1 Wick holder
- Soy wax
- Wax pour pot
- Wax spoon
- Essential oils for scent
- Herbs (optional)
- 1 Crystal (optional)
- Cooking thermometer
Tip: To make one candle, we recommend purchasing a candle-making kit that includes a pour pot, spoon, wick holder, wax, and wicks.
Steps to Creating an Intention Candle
Step 1: Prepare your candle by cleaning the vessel and removing any unwanted stickers or labels. Then, place the wick sticker on the bottom of your wick and secure your wick to the base of your candle vessel. Place the wick holder on top of your vessel and wiggle the wick into the center hole to hold it in place.
Step 2: Fill a saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Then, pour soy wax flakes into the pour pot and place the pot on top of the saucepan. This creates a makeshift double boiler that will effectively melt the wax at an even temperature. Reach for your wax spoon and stir continuously until the wax melts into a water-like texture.
Step 3: Once the wax is a water-like consistency, remove the pot from the saucepan and reach for your cooking thermometer. Place the thermometer into the pot and keep it there until the temperature decreases to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 4: Once the wax reaches 185 degrees Fahrenheit (or less), add in your essential oils. As a rule of thumb, use 2 teaspoons for every 4 ounces of wax. So, if your vessel is 12 ounces, you’ll use 6 teaspoons of essential oil. And, if your vessel is 16 ounces, you’ll use 8 teaspoons of essential oil. If you are using multiple essential oils, you can pour in an even amount of each until you reach the desired essential oil to wax ratio or you can choose a standout oil — such as lavender — and mix in a dash of the other oils.
For our DIY candle, we used 16 ounces of wax and 8 teaspoons of essential oil. We chose to make lavender the star scent with 4 teaspoons of lavender essential oil, followed by 3 teaspoons of rosemary essential oil and 1 teaspoon of clove essential oil.
Step 5: Use the wax spoon to stir the essential oils into the wax and then pour the concoction into the candle vessel. Allow the wax to sit and get cloudy before adding herbs and other toppings to the candle.
Step 6: Once the wax is more opaque and cloudy, sprinkle in some of your selected herbs. For our candle, we chose dried lavender, cinnamon bark pieces, dried rosemary, and star anise for a wintery touch. At this point, you can also add a healing crystal to your candle, although if it is on the heavier side, it will sink to the bottom. We chose pyrite for prosperity. If you wish to see your crystal on the candle’s surface, wait until the wax is almost cooled completely before adding this component.
Step 7: Allow the candle to cool overnight. Once the wax is completely cooled, take a moment to set your intention. You can close your eyes and take a few deep grounding breaths or choose to meditate on what energy you wish to bring into the new year. When you are ready, reach for your candle and hold it in both of your hands. Imagine that the energy of your intention is pouring out through your hands and infusing itself into your candle. Set another intention that, each time you burn your candle, you will invite the energy of your New Year’s intention in.
In the New Year, light your candle during meditation, ritual, or on your altar to call in the energy of your intention.
Enhance your well-being in the new year with guided meditations and personalized practices, available now in the Chopra App.