Romanticize 21: A Spark in the Dark
Turn off the lights, fire up a candle, change your perspective.
It’s fascinating to me how my relationship with the dark has changed since embracing my mediumship and moving to the country (where power outages are a regular occurrence). The former has taught me to create boundaries that assuage fear; the latter has shown me how to weather an uncomfortable situation that’s beyond my control. Being in the dark is pretty illuminating—it heightens your other senses, makes you feel a kinship with your ancestors, and forces you to slow down and focus on what’s tangible. It’s also a glorious excuse to bathe your space in the buttery yellow glow of candlelight. For today’s Romanticize, we’re going back to basics and performing a few activities without electricity.
The Romanticize
Turn off the lights and do something in the soft glow of candles.
The Advice
Consider this exercise an excuse to set aside your artificial light casters (phone, computer, tablet, TV, etc).
There are so many things you can do by candlelight—read, journal, cook, dance, practice yoga, meditate, cast spells, pull tarot, sing or chant, sew or cross-stitch, paint. Observe how much more engaged you are in these activities without the distractions of electrically-powered items.
Always stay safe—place lit candles away from flammable items and never leave them burning unattended. Use battery-powered candles when sitting on furniture or in beds.
The Inspiration
Last night was a full moon in Virgo, so it felt especially fitting to power off my cottage and bask in the glow from above. I added a few well-placed tapered candles through my living room and kitchen and lit a fire—the edges of the whole house softened, its interiors danced in the pulsing yellow.
I first sat on the floor and meditated; I observed the sounds of the wind in the trees, the cracking pops of the fire in the wood stove, the ghostly call of an owl in the woods. I allowed my breathing to slow, rooted my legs into the floor, thought of the frozen ground beneath me bubbling with life about to burst forth; how I’m an integral piece between the above and its silvery moonlight and the below and its darkened depths.
Then I pulled some tarot in front of the fire—all the spreads indicated major change coming, which jibes with what astrologers are saying about this month. After that, I got comfy on the couch and fired up some battery-powered candles (safety first!) and journaled, then read by their illumination. I enjoyed the ambiance so much, I left the lights off straight through to bedtime!
I’d love to know the results of your Romanticize—feel free to share your experience in the comments, or tag me on Instagram. Until next Wednesday, fellow romantics!