The Light Between Us - A Candle Fundraiser for Maple

Hi, I’m Shaun … and if I’m being really honest, I’ve been avoiding candle making for a while.

When I first started Liwanag, it was this beautiful, fragile act of healing. I was pouring memory and meaning into every candle. But somewhere along the way, I let fear creep in. Fear of doing it wrong. Fear of being seen. Fear that maybe I didn’t have anything important to offer. I got busy. I got tired. I told myself I didn’t have time. But the truth is, I was just scared.

And then Maple got sick.

Maple is my rescue dog. We adopted her from the ASPCA just before the pandemic. She was quiet, unsure, and a little timid. We were both in a strange place, uncertain, adjusting, trying to find our footing. But we figured it out together. During quarantine, she kept me anchored. When I learned I was adopted, when I lost my birth mother before I had a chance to meet her, Maple was there. Her presence was constant when everything else felt like it was shifting.

When we found out she had a heart tumor, something shifted in me. All the things I’d been afraid of didn’t feel as big anymore. What felt big was her: her life, her softness, the quiet way she’s always loved me without question. I realized I couldn’t keep hiding from myself if I was going to show up fully for her.

So I came back to the candles.

At first, I was rusty. I second-guessed everything. But the more I poured, the more I felt like I was reconnecting, not just with my craft, but with the part of me that’s willing to try, even when I’m scared. Not to be perfect, but to be present.

The Light Between Us is the result of that. It’s a fundraiser for Maple’s care, but it’s also my way of saying: I’m here. I’m doing this. For her. For myself. For anyone who knows what it means to love something so deeply, you’ll do anything to protect it.

These are the three candles I made with Maple in mind:

• Becoming Home
  Oat milk, warm praline, vanilla bean, soft musk
  
  We didn’t come into each other’s lives fully healed, we grew into safety together. Her trust wasn’t loud. It came in small gestures. This candle holds those beginnings. A memory of presence and slowly becoming home.

• Every Step With You
  Eucalyptus, cypress, pine needles, cedar, tonka
  
  This scent smells like brisk air and early walks. Maple always walked beside me, never pulling, never falling behind. Through the hardest moments, she stayed close. This candle carries that memory. A walk without words, a rhythm of quiet love.

• Afterglow
  Plum, black cherry, sugared amber, vanilla, musk
  
  This scent is warm and slightly sweet, like the feeling she leaves behind after a full day together. Her presence echoes in my routine. This candle is for that glow. The kind that lasts after the moment ends.

I hope these candles make their way into hands that need a little extra comfort. I hope they remind you of your own light, especially the parts you may have pushed away. Because Maple reminded me: there are things more important than fear. And sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is begin again.

If you’re interested in these candles, I’d love to know. It would help me prepare everything with care. Please take a moment to shoot me a DM on Instagram @shaunjeffrey_

Thank you for letting me share this. For being part of this. For letting her light reach a little further.

With love,

Shaun + Maple