As many of my friends and clients know – I LOVE SAGE, in Tea, in an Essential Oil Blend, Hair rinse and of course, the ritual of cleansing with Sage – it’s been part of my Treatment Routine since the day I opened the doors (well Closed at the end of the day but you get the idea!) it has been something I have always enjoyed doing – it’s so therapeutic. My cameras often have their own cleansing rituals and the bedrooms always have had a monthly cleanse – especially when there were three ladies in the house 😉 Moving into a new home or buying a new car is always a good idea to cleanse.
Plus with Spring starting today – a lovely way to start cleansing your home – a little ritual never hurt anyone after all!
I do make my own from my Garden Sage but I love the various types of sage and other types of smudge sticks on offer, so now, after years of diy Smudge Sticks I have finally ordered a Smudge Stick called Happy Spirit Sage had to be!
Burning sage — also known as smudging — is an ancient spiritual ritual. Smudging has been well established as a Native American cultural or tribal practice, although it isn’t practiced by all groups.
We have the traditions of many Native American peoples to thank for its use.
Many other cultures around the world share similar rituals. With the chaotic nature of today’s modern world, the idea of cleansing our spaces and ourselves of negative energy sounds quite appealing. Cue the ritual of sage burning, also known as smudging.
Beliefs that burning sage clears out spiritual impurities, pathogens, and even insects have been fundamental to the practice.
Here’s more about the benefits of burning sage and how you can use it to improve your overall well-being!
The most-used types of sage have antimicrobial properties. This means they keep infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi at bay.
Sage may help clear the air of lots more than bugs and bacteria. If this is the case, burning sage may be a blessing for those with asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. But inhaling the smoke during the smudging can aggravate any respiratory condition. Wait until the smoke clears before going into the room.
Tradition suggests that smudging can literally lift one’s spirits to banish negativity.. If burning sage can lift one’s mood, it could also be a great ally against stress.
Smudging has been traditionally used to safeguard against negativity that could interfere with sleep. Some research suggests that sage contains compounds that could help ease insomnia.
What is the best type of sage?
White sage is probably the most common and popular herb for smudging. is probably the most common and popular herb for smudging. It is associated with purity and has a strong and heavy presence. It’s very useful when you need a major space cleansing.
Each type of sage have their own unique qualities. For example, blue sage is often used in cleansing and healing rituals, while desert sage is used more for purifying and protection.
Classic garden sage (Salvia officinalis) is sometimes burned like white sage. It’s also been used to improve sleep and soothe anxiety.
In addition to dissipating negative energy, improving mood, and strengthening intuition, smudging with sage might improve your memory and focus.
Ridding the body, objects, and spaces of bad energy can help welcome in newer, fresher, and more positive energies. In a way, this could have an energizing effect and help with fatigue. For some, this may be the best of all benefits: Sage is a lovely incense with a divine aroma, pure and simple.
Aromatherapy
You can also light and burn sage to improve odour, fragrance, and mood. Simply waft sage smoke in and around your home. You can place the bundle in a fireproof bowl or burner and allow it to smoke for a while. Keep a window open to help the smoke to exit the house; this helps the negativity within also to be removed! You can burn a few leaves at a time….
After Smudging
Make sure your smudge stick is completely extinguished. You can do this by dabbing the lit end into a small bowl of ash or sand.
Check the end closely to make sure there are no more embers burning. Once it’s completely put out, store it in a safe, dry place out of the sun.
Are there any side effects or risks?
When done correctly and respectfully, smudging is completely safe and the effects last after the smoke clears.
Be careful with sage when it’s lit. If you aren’t careful, burns and even fire is possible. Have water nearby.
Never leave burning sage unattended. Make sure to put your sage bundle out completely after every use.
People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be more sensitive to the smoke and have adverse reactions. Remember to Keep a window open at all times or burn a few leaves at one time!
Always leave a window open while smudging. Inhaling smoke can be hazardous to your health.I din
What you need to Cleanse with a Smudge Stick
The practice of burning sage is fairly simple, with few necessary tools.
Basic tools include:
a sage bundle
some recommend a seashell or bowl of ceramic, clay, or glass to hold burning sage or capture as some recommend matches over a manufactured lighte
optional feather or fan for fanning smoke
There are many types of sage usable for cleansing. Traditional examples include:
white sage (Salvia apiana)
other Salvia species
white prairie sage or estafiate (Artemisia ludoviciana)
other Artemisia species
Some Sage Smudge sticks also have other herbs and plants added such as:
- White or Blue Sage
- Lemon balm.
- Lavender.
- Sweet grass.
- Rosemary.
- Mint.
- Pine.
- Eucalyptus.
How to prepare for a cleanse
Before burning sage, some recommend setting intentions if cleansing for spiritual, energetic, and negativity clearing purposes. Remove animals or people from the room.
It’s also important to leave a window open before, during, and after cleansing. This allows smoke to escape.
Some believe smoke also takes impurities and negative energy with it — so don’t skip this step.
How to cleanse your living space, an object, and more…
These steps apply whether you’re cleansing yourself, your home, or an object. You can cleanse any of these as often as you’d like.
Light the end of a sage bundle with a match. Blow out quickly if it catches on fire.
The tips of the leaves should smolder slowly, releasing thick smoke. Direct this smoke around your body and space with one hand while holding the bundle in the other.
Allow the incense to linger on the areas of your body or surroundings you’d like to focus on. Using a fan or feather can also help direct the smoke, though this is optional.
Allow the ash to collect in a ceramic bowl or shell.
Cleanse your home or living space
In this instance, direct sage smoke over all surfaces and spaces in your home or living area. Be thorough.
Some recommend working in a clockwise direction around your home, ending back where you started, especially for spiritual purposes. Others recommend counterclockwise.
Do what feels best for your situation and follow your intuition.
Cleanse an object
Direct smoke around and over the object of your choice.
This can be done to a new item, such as jewelry, furniture, or clothing, to protect or dispel it of negative energy. Items related to negative experiences or memories may also be cleansed.
Some people burn sage over special objects, to acknowledge the object with sacred meaning.
Aromatherapy
You can also light and burn sage to improve odor, fragrance, and mood.
Simply waft sage smoke in and around your home. You can place the bundle in a fireproof bowl or burner and allow it to smoke for a while.
What to do after a cleanse
Make sure your sage bundle is completely extinguished. You can do this by dabbing the lit end into a small bowl of ash or sand. Avoid using water, since it may be difficult to reignite sage if it is extinguished by water.
Check the end closely to make sure there are no more embers burning. Once it’s completely put out, store it in a safe, dry place out of the sun.
Burning sage has many benefits as a spiritual practice. Some research supports certain health benefits of sage, such as antimicrobial properties and enhanced alertness, but more research is needed.
There is very little research on burning sage as a practice beyond the cultural practice of the ritual.
Keep in mind: Burning sage is a sacred religious practice in some Native American cultures. Treat the ritual with respect. It should be something you enjoy doing for the right reasons, not because you feel you should!
Also, keep in mind that white prairie sage is endangered, so be sure to only buy yours from an ethical source.
I am happy to say that the Smudge Sticks that I sell are ethically sourced, I have a sage bundle on the way as I type and I can’t wait to receive it.
The cedar tree is known for its spiritual significance for thousands of years. Its wood was used for the doors of sacred temples and burned in cleansing ceremonies. The cedar smudge is mostly used for protection, also to cleanse a home when first moving in, inviting unwanted spirits to leave and protecting a person or place from unwanted influences. The smoke of burning cedar is attracting the good spirits and eliminate negative energies.
I can order various types of Smudge sticks, so if you are not a lover of sage- not a problem, there are other options available such as Cedar Mini Loosec
Many Sage sticks are also blended along with other herbs such as:
Yerba Santa it’s leaves are considered sacred in Native American cultures. This “holy herb” has a pleasant and uplifting scent. These smudge sticks are used in traditional smudging practice for protection, purification, healing, spiritual strength, courage or psychic abilities. Yerba Santa has also been used for love, emotional growth, empowerment and to release of emotional pain stored in the heart chakra. Yerba Santa has sweet smell which will delight your senses. It is an earthy, woodsy feminine herb that creates a sense of beauty and calm in any space.
Or maybe you would like to try Copal, it is a completely natural incense that is used to purify the energy of spaces, places and objects. It has a light, woody scent that could be compared to pine. Copal can be used to clear away all the negative energy and make positive changes. It brings a very positive and loving energy that will fill your home with peace. Copal is a good choice for jewelry and crystal cleansing. Great if you deal with crystals and jewellery – smudging before you send your creations to a new home would be so beneficial! Price for Copal 10cm smudge stick starts at 5€50
Quite honestly I really want to try all the options 🙂 there are many to choose from and I can write a list if anyone would be interested. Prices for 10cms bundles start around 9€00 however I do need orders of more than 1 item so that postage can be split between us which is working very well so far!
I hope this has given you an insight into the wonderous uses of Sage and Smudging!
As I mentioned previously with the onset of Spring, “spring cleaning” is something we all naturally want to start doing so if you would like to enjoy Smudging your home this Spring – please do drop me a message!!
Happy Spring Equinox to you all…….
Therapeutic:
/ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk/
adjective. If something is therapeutic, it helps you to relax or to feel better about things, especially about a situation that made you unhappy.
