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Using Candles in
Feng Shui |
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The basic belief behind Feng Shui is that there are five elements,
some combinations of which create a productive cycle, and some a
destructive cycle. When one of these five elements – water, wood,
fire, earth, and metal, respectively for the productive cycle – are
combined with an element adjacent to the main element, a productive
cycle is perpetuated. The reason being that water sustains wood, wood
feeds fire, ashes create earth, earth creates metal, and metal holds
water. So if you have a room where wood is the main element, it would
be good Feng Shui to add a water or fire element to the room, as water
feeds wood and wood feeds fire. This is where candles would be a nice
touch of good Feng Shui.
A look at the destructive cycle will show which elements do not
work well together: water, fire, metal, wood, earth. And we can see
that water puts our fire, fire melts metal, metal cuts wood, wood
clogs earth, and earth muddies water. Although these elements are
generally considered bad Feng Shui combinations, one can be used with
an adjacent element in the destructive cycle to minimize an
overpowering element. For instance, if a room has overpowering metal
elements, maybe filled with modern metal furniture, you can minimize
that with wood elements like some green leafy plants, or with fire
elements such as red throw pillows, a fireplace, or even candles.
It is beneficial to bear in mind the productive and destructive
cycles while decorating, but for optimum Feng Shui, a room would have
an equal balance of all five elements – none being too overpowering.
If this isn’t the case and there is not one overpowering element, then
the productive cycle is a good place to start when decorating.
Now that we have a basic understanding of the elements, we can see
how to best utilize candles in our decorating. In areas with
predominately metal or water elements – rooms which would have a lot
of blue or silver colors or metallic furnishings – a candle would help
minimize the overpowering colors and add balance. If you want to start
using Feng Shui in a room with no overpowering elements, you could
bring in a candle and a complimentary element like a plant or a brown
oval rug since that color and shape are associated with the earth
element.
Candles can be an easy way to bring a natural element into your
home and can be a good starting place for implementing Feng Shui
design. Not to mention that scented candles are often great Feng Shui
because of the mood-enhancing qualities certain scents have. Candles
provide a simple start in creating a pleasant ambiance and good
decorating style. |
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Jokes on Candles |
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Q. |
How long does it take to burn a
candle down? |
A. |
About a wick! |
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Q. |
What did one candle say to the
other? |
A. |
Don't birthdays burn you up? |
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Q. |
What kind of candle burns longer, a
red candle or a green candle? |
A. |
Neither, a candle always burns
shorter. |
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Candle FAQ's |
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Q. |
How are candles made? |
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A. |
While modern candle-making
processes vary, most candles are made through the timeless
process of placing a cotton wick into wax which is then molded,
dipped, extruded, pressed, rolled, drawn or filled into a
desired shape and size. |
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Q. |
What is the best way to store
candles? |
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A. |
Candles should be stored in a cool,
dark, dry place and, for tapers, in a flat position to prevent
warping. When stored properly, candles can be enjoyed for years
and play an important role in traditions. |
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Q. |
Does the industry have standards
for candles? |
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A. |
Domestic candle manufacturers have
a long tradition of making high quality, long-lasting and safe
candles. National Candle Association members – manufacturers and
suppliers – are working with the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) to implement voluntary standards for
candles. |
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Q. |
Are candles safe to use? |
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A. |
Candles are safe when burned
properly and responsibly, and according to manufacturers’
directions. When burning candles, consumers should always follow
the simple, common sense steps, mentioned in the
Candle Burning Tips. |
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Q. |
What are the typical ingredients in
a candle? |
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A. |
A candle consists primarily of wax
and a wick. Many candles also contain dyes or pigments for color
and fragrances for scent as well as other minor ingredients. |
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Q. |
What kind of label information is
required to be placed on candles? |
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A. |
No safety information is required
on candle labeling. However, some candle manufacturers
voluntarily place safety and use instructions on their candles. |
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