Life
Sage Smudging: How to Sage Just About Anything
Letting in the light and ushering out the dark
Bad juju’s nothing to mess around with. Whether you believe in it or not, we’ve all experienced it. Tensions have been running rampant and stress seems to permeate the very air in your home. Maybe you’ve felt on edge and quarrels with your partner are at an all-time high. You’re feeling bogged down and fatigued and plagued by an unexplainable sort of listlessness. It’s time to clear the air. It’s time to sage.
What’s the difference between saging and smudging?
In recent years there‘s been an upward trend placing more value in alternative methods for looking after our well-being. Today, we not only take things like diet and physical health into consideration but spiritual and energetic health as well.
Saging is a process of cleansing an area or object of its negative energy by means of burning herbs.
Herbs are our friends.
While there are many variations, white sage is the most popular and my personal herb of choice. I happen to love the smell of sage, but it’s not for everyone. If you prefer a sweeter smell, try burning palo santo sticks with its deeper earthy scent. Palo santo has a rich history of medicinal use in addition to its cleansing properties. Palo santo is grown primarily in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and parts of Brazil. So, it’s considered to be fairly exotic. I love the palo santo, though I do try to lean more towards sage as palo santo was recently added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) list which includes species that aren’t specifically threatened with extinction… but due to a heightened level of popularity, are controlled so as to prevent it from becoming endangered or extinct.
Smudging has become synonymous with saging within western culture. Often times it’s looked upon as the same thing, however, it’s worth mentioning that the term was actually appropriated from Native American tradition. During tribal ceremonies, the burning of herbs including that of sage is used as a sacred element for the leader of the ceremony to navigate the spirit realm. Sage was not used as a means to clear energies in this instance.
“I grew up where the family of butterflies the Silver Cloud is native.” ― Diane Wakoski, Smudging
What can be saged?
The short answer is… anything. Saging can be used to clear the space in a home or car just as easily as it can be used to clear your own aura.
Can anyone Sage?
Absolutely! But keep in mind that, just like anything else, there’s still a right and wrong way to do it. Let’s do it right! Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to clear your way to a fresh space.
It’s super easy!
- Gather up your supplies and be sure to open a few windows or doors. If you’re saging a vehicle roll down a few windows. As you cleanse, the negative energies need a place to escape. You also don’t want to smother yourself in smoke. You’ll need bundled or loose dried white sage leaves, a large abalone shell, and a lighter or match. I prefer abalone shells because unlike glass or ceramic they won’t crack or shatter under the heat of the burning sage. Keep in mind that it’s normal to need to relight the sage as you go.
- Set your intention out loud. Having an intention is an important part of the saging process. Consider what you are trying to release from the space. It’s okay if you’d like to write down a short mantra as well. It can be as simple as a few sentences. For example, “Please cleanse this space of all negativity releasing darkness and welcoming only that which is of the light. Fill this space with love and warmth.”
- If you are doing a self aura cleansing, you may choose to think of positive affirmations quietly to yourself. Close your eyes, and picture yourself covered in a soft beautiful white light. Imagine your arms and legs becoming weightless as heavy burdening thoughts begin to fade into the distance. Visualize pure white light saturating your every inch, infusing you with childlike happiness. Affirmations will be slightly different for everyone because we are all unique. Visualize yourself how you’d like to see yourself. Afterall… perception is nine-tenths of reality.
- Once you are ready to begin, place the sage in your shell and light the end of the bundle or a few of the leaves. Once the flame starts to catch give it a few seconds to really heat up… then gently blow to extinguish the fire and encourage the smoke to billow.
- Begin saging at your front door and continue walking clockwise allowing the smoke to drift. It’s important to let the smoke fill the corners of each room or space. Get into all the shadowy nooks and crevices. Also, be sure to allow smoke to pass each window and door leading to the outside. Repeat your mantra out loud as you walk the space. Remember, you are essentially pushing out the negative energy. The goal is to eventually arrive at the starting point, your front door. This way you force out the negativity leaving it nowhere else to go but out.
- Safety first! It’s okay to take your time saging. Don’t rush, and be mindful of any burning embers that may drift out of your abalone shell. You definitely don’t want to start any fires.
- Once you’ve finished, extinguish the sage by rubbing it into the shell or into sand. Don’t use water. It will make it more difficult to relight in the future.
- Sit back and enjoy the serenity. It’s not uncommon to feel goosebumps or a bit lightheaded afterward. “It’s like hitting the refresh button for your spirit,” says Deborah Hanekamp, founder of Mama Medicine, an alternative wellness company in New York City.
I typically like to sage once a week, but the average person might only need to cleanse once a month. An avid collector of vintage mid-century furniture and decor, I find that bringing in antiques always seems to bog down the energy in my space quickly. I’m sure to sage every new vintage piece that comes into my home as well.
Not convinced?
Does the skeptic in you want some factual evidence? I don’t blame you. For younger generations, this practice might seem like unchartered territory. But in reality, this was common knowledge to ancient civilizations.
Ready to have your mind blown? Here are some interesting facts associated with burning sage.
A 2014 study making connections between medicinal plants and anxiety showed that white sage has a proven track record of easing depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. The practice of burning sage has been used by shamans, healers, and spiritual guides for centuries… probably longer. In fact, certain types of sage contain what's called thujone. Thujone is mildly psychoactive and could explain why so many cultures have used it in traditional rituals as a means to heighten intuition.
So, right about now you’re probably thinking maybe you should try it out. Absolutely! What have you got to lose aside from some musty ole negative energy. Take an example from the sage wisdom I’ve shared here and clear the air!
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My name is Jamie Golob. I’m a writer, artist, and lover of life, motivated by the collective experiences and stories of the creative community. My mission is to illuminate and preserve the beautiful complexities of what it means to be human. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
