My name is: Jenn Tardif.

I’m known for: Creating mindful collective, 3rd Ritual. 

I'm gifting: Our BEL candle, which uses fire, gravity and sound to measure time. When the candle is lit, wax melts and, eventually, a pin falls, landing with a resonant ding—a beautiful way to end your meditation.

You can find it: On our site or at Sky Ting Yoga, ONDA or The Well.

What inspired me to invent this was: Our thesis is simple: We believe that when you move half as fast, you notice twice as much and everything we share—from mindful objects to in-person workshops—is designed to inspire this. The BEL can be a beautiful tool for meditation or a simple homage to the passage of time. We wanted to create something analogue that helps break the tether many of us have to our phones and invite a little more magic into the everyday. 

What makes it special is: Each BEL is hand-cast in India using a traditional casting technique that has been passed down for more than 400 years. The coconut wax candles are hand-dipped and infused with essential oils of palo santo, French lavender and sage. In an effort to practice what we preach, the very creation of these custom objects is a ritual in itself.

One thing you can’t miss is: Like our name, 3rd suggests we like to work in threes. In the case of our BEL, we're targeting sight with the flickering flame that mirrors the fluctuations in our mind, scent by way of the candle as it burns and sound with the resonant ding that follows each pin that falls. The practice of candle gazing is called Trataka and dates back to 5000 B.C., the scent was inspired by forest floors and church basements and the sound was derived from Tibetan singing bowls.

Your mind will thank you because: Simple rituals can inspire sacred experiences. Sitting for just a few minutes each day is like a bath for the brain.