SMUDGE LIKE A PRO

Fire (flame), Earth (plant), and Air (smoke)

Smudging is a ritual that is rooted in Native American culture and has been used for centuries as a cleansing and clearing of negative energy and spirits. Sage is a sacred plant and comes in a variety of types. The most common is Salvia Apiana Sage, commonly called California or Bee Sage, this sage is usually of a white color and is used by many herbalists and holistic healers. It can be found in Southern and Baja California. Some other sage types are lavender sage, blue sage, black sage, and desert sage. Each having its own unique benefits desert sage is commonly burned for protection and purification, while blue sage is used in healing and cleansing. These are only some of the types and uses of sage.

You can use sage so many different ways like in your car, workspace, home, to cleanse crystals, possessions, and yourself. For many of us, home is our safe place. So, should it not always be peaceful? Sadly, there are times where bad/negative energy creeps in and tries to disrupt our peace. It could be energy left by someone who visited or sometimes we unintentionally bring it home with us through transfer. Whatever the case, it should never have a permanent place in our peace. It is important to cleanse your space at least once a week, if not more. I do it daily.

“Did you know that everything is energy? There's good energy, but there's also BAD energy.”

HOW IT WORKS

You can state your own personalized mantra or find one that suits you. Mine goes something along the lines of, “I release all energy that is no longer in service with my greatest good. I ask that only health, wealth, positivity, abundance, love, and light fill my space. And so, it is.” I will get into these particular choices of words a little further down.

As you light your sage, hold it at a downward angle over the abalone shell and allow it to catch and burn about 25-30 seconds. Blow it out. First, sage yourself from head to toe using your feather to direct the smoke. You want to remove any lingering energy that’s attached to you and put it in the air. Make sure you have doors and windows open so that the smoke and unwanted energy can be released. If possible, start at the front exterior/door and sage the outside of the door. Then walk inside and move throughout the inside of the space in a counterclockwise movement, using the feather to direct the smoke throughout each room, corner to corner and up to the ceilings.

When cleansing your crystals, engulf them in the smoke and ask that any negative and unwanted energies left by hands that have previously handled them be removed. Ask that its frequencies are amplified as the intentions set by you are brought forth.

SMOKELESS SAGE

For some of us, burning sage is not as option. It could be because of allergies or having little ones, so smokeless sage is a great option. This option is also great for use in your car or at work. The process is the same and you can state your mantra and spray away. Also, it smells great! It is my daily thing, more than once a day! The wording I chose in my mantra is used because my sage includes Palo Santos, which is used to bring in positive energies, while Sage is used to release negative energies. Palo Santos is known as, “Holy wood” and many use its benefits to attract wealth, abundance, and happiness. This is why I am sure to say “I release all energy that is no longer in service with my greatest good (Sage). I ask that only health, wealth, positivity, abundance, love, and light fill my space (Palo Santos). And so, it is.”

One thing to be clear on, you cannot use Sage and ask the Universe for good, but not be of good yourself. It will not work! Intentions are super important and if your intentions do not match what you are asking in return, you are smudging in vain.

That being said, go smudge like a pro!

Love and light