A New Beginning…

There is something both exciting and terrifying about beginning again.

For a long time, I’ve dreamed of building something that truly felt like mine. That’s where Lune & Cinder was born—not just as a candle company, but as a reflection of the quiet moments I wanted to create for myself and others. A slower evening. A deep breath after a difficult day. A home that feels warm, lived in, and peaceful.

But if I’m being honest, starting Lune & Cinder has been much harder than I ever imagined.

From testing wax blends that didn’t perform the way I hoped, to endlessly tweaking essential oil recipes, choosing packaging, creating a website, and wondering if anyone would even care about what I was making—it has felt like one long lesson in patience.

I’ve questioned myself more times than I can count.

Is this scent good enough?

Will people understand the vision?

Am I wasting my time?

Every small business owner talks about the highlights: the launches, the beautiful product photos, the first sales. What isn’t talked about enough are the quiet moments in between—the late nights, the second-guessing, and the feeling that you’re constantly learning as you go.

Lune & Cinder has become more than a business. It’s become proof that creating something meaningful takes time.

Ironically, this isn’t the only dream I’ve struggled to begin.

For years I’ve wanted to start a YouTube channel. I’ve planned videos, bought equipment, organized shot lists, and filmed hour after hour of footage. My camera has captured countless moments that no one has ever seen.

Not because they weren’t good enough.

Because I was afraid.

Afraid of being judged.

Afraid that no one would watch.

Afraid that if I finally shared something, it wouldn’t live up to the version I’d imagined in my head.

So the footage sat on hard drives. Week after week. Month after month.

Perfectly edited in my mind, but never uploaded.

I’ve realized that fear has a funny way of disguising itself as perfectionism. It convinces us that we’re “just preparing” when really we’re just waiting for permission we’ll never receive.

The truth is, there is no perfect first video.

There is no perfect first candle collection.

There is no perfect beginning.

Only the decision to begin.

So this blog is my promise to myself.

I’m choosing to share the process instead of waiting for perfection.

You’ll see the wins, but you’ll also see the mistakes. The candle batches that don’t turn out quite right. The scents that need to be reformulated. The moments when motivation disappears. The excitement of finally creating something that feels exactly the way I imagined.

And maybe, somewhere along the way, you’ll finally see those YouTube videos too.

This season of my life isn’t about pretending to have everything figured out.

It’s about learning in public.

It’s about creating anyway.

It’s about choosing courage over comfort.

If you’ve been waiting to start something—whether it’s a business, a creative project, or simply a new chapter—I hope this reminds you that you don’t have to be fearless.

You just have to take the first step.

This is mine.

Welcome to the beginning.

— Jacqui