The Aurora Candle

Tragedy

On February 15th, 2019 senseless tragedy fell upon Aurora, IL as a gunman opened fire at a local office building. It was incredibly moving to see the mass amount of first responders, police officers, fire fighters, and other officers that swarmed to the scene to help. The schools quickly and efficiently locked down, and teachers stayed late to keep our kids safe. I’m so proud of our city and proud to call it my home. SO much love and hope here in the midst of brokenness.

Later on February 16th, as the names of the victims started to be released I was overwhelmed with emotion. I thought, “what can I possibly do to help?” The heart of Illuminate Space is to find and throw light on existing beauty, so that’s where I started.

Action

It is not lost on me the grief all the victims families are feeling, and always will. My heart goes out to them, and may their loved ones legacy live on. May peace and love cover them.
The state tree is a white oak. Large roots of the white oak burrow deep and strong, and I can’t think of anything better to describe Aurora and the response of the entire community to tragedy.
I’ve created this 8oz oak soy candle in remembrance of the lives lost, in honor of the bravery of the heroes that protect our city, and in love of this great, great community. All proceeds will to the Go Fund Me account created for the victims families.

I knew people would like the candle and want to be a part of it, but I really thought it would be my people. Like maybe 50 orders (still way more than I’m used to!). But within hours when I watched the orders quadruple, I knew this was something so much bigger than me. I live with anxiety, and believe me I felt it, but I also felt this overwhelming sense of peace. I always say love wins, and here I was experiencing it first hand in a very real and tangible way. I can do hard things. And I did. And I wasn’t alone.

Community

Over the last three weeks I’ve experienced so much magic and love and goodness and beauty, it’s hard for me to put into words. Loved ones and strangers alike poured in and surrounded me with so much help and love, my heart could hardly contain it.

I believe humanity is good. While this tragedy was awful, and nothing will replace the lives lost, love will win. Love multiplies, I saw it. Beauty does come out of ashes. Goodness calls out goodness. And if we all just call out the goodness in the world every day, like even something as small as creating a candle, evil will lose. I believe that with everything that I am, and I will continue to live every day of my life like that.

Because of your generosity, Illuminate Space was able to raise $13,769 for the Go Fund Me for the victims families. #AuroraStrong

At the end I created a montage with all the photos and videos I collected these last few weeks that I want to share with you. My friend Heatherlyn is an amazingly talented musician that creates art that brings healing to our world. When I first heard her song, Love Be My Everything, I knew our hearts were deeply connected before we even met. I’m so honored she said I could use this song for the montage, I used it twice because I love it that much (and I had that many pictures!). Please go visit https://www.patreon.com/heatherlynmusic and support Heatherlyn. She is a completely independent artist and creates as a gift to the world. I’m so blessed by it and I know you will be too!