There are so many things I seem to feel
guilty about but thankfully, burning candles is no longer one of them.
Traditional candles are made with petroleum based paraffins and artificial
scents that are harmful to you and the environment, but today there are some eco-terrific alternatives. One of my favorites is the Altru line, by Gamillah, a gorgeous collection of candles and incense with packaging and messages that evoke peaceful travels and visions of a more perfect world. At Good Earth - one of my favorite little hang out spots - I also found some beautiful soy candles that I was happy to place about my bedroom. From pillars, to votives or tapers, I can’t say
enough about turning off your lights and lighting a candle. Not only does it
save electricity and therefore reduce your C02 emissions, it brings an ancient
ritual into modern day living - sitting around the fire.  

For thousands of years
our ancestors broke bread, prayed and even made love, by firelight (if you think back to your pre-kid days, I bet you even have a memory of something like that). Many tribal peoples still start
each day by greeting the sun, the original source of fire, and when I’m
feeling a little blue, I’ll light a candle just to bring in the light –
literally and metaphorically. My son loves it when I serve dinner by candle
light and my nephew, Luke, now asks his Mom to do the same. Of note, gazing into a
flickering flame seems to be a natural relaxant, hypnotizing your child to sit still for
an entire meal! And it makes even an every day dinner somehow feel more special. As
for the romance of candles, well, if you can get the kids to sleep early tonight, maybe you can remember what that’s all about too.