The Story Behind POM Beeswax Candles

​​Do you enjoy contemplating the connections between others and life events and how everything is interdependently woven together? As you know, I do.

On Saturday I was walking by the MCG when I heard my name called, I turned to see a man about my age, who introduced himself as a fellow student from Vermont High. I remembered his name and slowly put together memories that had connected us. I had not seen him for over 40 years! I was so surprised and delighted that he recognised me and kindly made contact. I was reminded about memories and how some of them can be very helpful in fostering a sense of connection, like the MCG one, and others like hurt and blame, are not so helpful and create a sense of separation and perpetuate hurt. A really helpful question to ask when memories pop up is .........

Is this memory useful for me now?

• If the answer is yes, I enjoy it :) 
• If it is no, I try to remember to rewrite it into a more useful one. Forgiveness, as explored in the January blogs can be very helpful in rewriting those unhelpful memories of hurt and blame,into more helpful ones.  

This blog is about the connection between beeswax candles, POM and Sri Lanka. I love the warm glow and scent of candles? Although, I am not so fond of the strongly scented ones. A friend recently introduced me to beeswax candles and I have enjoyed researching and making them from pure beeswax from Bee Sustainable in East Brunswick. Beeswax candles have many benefits over other wax candles these including that they:.

• Burn cleaner than others with no sticky, black petroleum based soot.
• Produce negative ions that are natural air cleaners.
• Be slow burning with long burn times.
• Be virtually dripless in a draft free environment.
• Create ambiance with a warm amber glow.

While we were visiting Sri Lanka we went to the 'Good Market' in Colombo. This market is like the farmers markets we have here and is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. Stalls include honey, bread, fruit and vegetables, handmade baskets,yummy Sri Lankan food, paintings, craft items and soap. I am hopeful that the WDC may be able to get a stall there, or at a similar market to sell their goods. The market is well run and well attended by tourists, ex-pats  and locals. 

A group of women at the market had a stall selling ceramics, including small mugs and dishes. I bought a number of these to make my beeswax candles in. The women at Kularanama Ceramics hand make one of a kind pieces, inspired by Sri Lanka's abundance of nature and wildlife. Kularanama Ceramics is a  cooperative society of women located in Sevanapala, a rural village just north of Uttawalawe National Park. the women and their ceramics stall is pictured above.

I remember doing pottery when I was studying Occupational Therapy. I recall becoming so enthusiastic that I made a pottery picnic set for a friends engagement. It was so heavy that it required two people to carry! We still joke about that picnic set today. 

I continue to be fascinated by and grateful for all the amazing connections, events and people that are all interdependently woven together in my life. These connections now including, the women at, Kularanama Ceramics, the Bee Sustainable store, Tenzin Lekdron, the women at the WDC and all of you. 

If you would like a 'POM Bees Wax Candle' I would be happy to make it for you. Feel free to send me an email, at maree@pom-melbourne.com and I will get back to you.

Work on revamping the POM website and shop are still progressing well, thanks to Tara, Alice and Sam. Will continue to keep you posted on our progress.

Thank you for your continued support and friendship
Kind Regards and Best Wishes 
Maree xx ​