Light a Candle for Hope or in Memory Online

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

Samuel Johnson

For centuries people around the world have burned candles to bring hope for the future, to aid in healing and in memory of loved ones who have died.

In many different traditions and religions candle lighting is often used in sacred rituals as part of a prayer or blessing.

Lighting a candle is a good way for NICU Parents to feel as though they are doing something when their baby is in the hospital and find a moment of unexpected gladness.

Candles are lit for hope when someone is ill, for peace during wartime or for luck when facing challenges. Candles are lit as part of a prayer. Candles are also lit as a meaningful way to honor the memory of a loved one who has died.

Benefits of Lighting a Candle
I will often light a favorite candle and just sit, watch the hypnotic flames and thing about Chandogya Upanishad's quote that

There is a light that shines
beyond all things on earth,
beyond us all, beyond the heavens.
This is the light that shines in our hearts.

During times of challenging or times of sorrow, lighting a candle can give you something to do, a way of focusing your thoughts, intention or prayers on a problem or a person. Stopping to light a candle helps me to reconnect with the light that shines in our heart which is sometimes dimmed during times of challenge.

Lighting a candle can be used as a meditative tool. The simple ritual of lighting a candle and watching the hypnotic flickering flame is calming and relaxing. There is a soothing, healing effect in lighting a candle and watching the light emerge from the darkness.

Light a Candle Online
The Gratefulness.org website provides one of the most popular online websites for lighting a candle.

Visitors to the Gratefulness.org site can light a virtual candle for whatever reason they choose--to honor the birth of a baby, to celebrate a birthday or in memory of someone who has died. It is a place you can light a candle for hope or in memory of your NICU baby.

The first candles were lit on the Gratefulness.org site in May 2001. Since then more than 7,000,000 candles have been lit from people in 242 countries.

More about Lighting a Candle
Dyer K. 2008. Create a Candle Lighting Ceremony: Candles Can Help to Focus, Reduce Stress or Remember a Loved. Suite 101.
Dyer K. 2000. Light a Candle for Hope in the New Year. Journey of Hearts.

Image: Gratefulness.org.