Honor Loved Ones: Make a Memory Candle

If you want to remember a departed human or animal loved one, the simple act of making a Memory Candle can bring great relief and healing. You can also do this to celebrate someone living, or to mark an important event like a graduation. Either way, the Memory Candle is a beautiful way to honor someone important to you.

1. Decide who you would like to honor in this way: it could be a deceased relative, friend, or companion animal, or someone with whom you have lost contact but still want to remember.

2. Choose a clear glass candle holder–a water tumbler or glass works well.

3. Find a photograph of the person you wish to honor in this way and make a photocopy of it, enlarging or reducing it to fit the height of the candle holder. If you don’t have a photo, you could do a simple drawing or make a photocopy of a memento you associate with that person or animal.

4. Wrap the photocopy around the glass and tape it securely. Place a nontoxic beeswax or soy wax candle in the glass. Place the Memory Candle in a special safe place and light the candle.

4. The soft glow of the candlelight will illuminate the photograph in a very beautiful and special way.

5. You can also pay homage to the living by naming this an “Honor Candle” and using a photograph to celebrate a graduation, marriage, birthday, retirement, anniversary, or other accomplishment of note.

Adapted from By Candlelight, by Diana Rosen (Storey Books, 2002). Copyright (c) 2002 by Diana Rosen. Reprinted by permission of Storey Books.
Adapted from By Candlelight, by Diana Rosen (Storey Books, 2002).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lydia W.

7:09AM PDT on Mar 18, 2013

Beautiful way to honor loved ones. Tradition has it, that when you say "I love you," your words are carried to Heaven in the little wisp of smoke from the candle.

March 18
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Val M.

2:12AM PDT on Mar 18, 2013

Thankyou

Dale O.

8:47PM PDT on Mar 17, 2013

A wonderful way to honour and remember the one that you miss so much be they human or animal or both.

March 17
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Duane B.

7:01AM PST on Jan 9, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

January 9
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Donna H.

9:29AM PST on Dec 15, 2012

Thanks.

December 15
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Elena T.

1:10AM PST on Dec 2, 2012

Thank you :)

December 2
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Patricia H.

12:50AM PST on Nov 13, 2012

thanks for sharing

November 13
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Nancy H.

7:02AM PDT on Oct 15, 2012

What a wonderful idea!

My Mother died 5 years ago and I still miss her! Christmas was her favorite time of year. I'm making beaded ornaments around glass balls and putting a little bit of her ashes (she was cremated) in each so she can share our Christmas and we can have wonderful memories of her generosity and love.