~SAGE~

The benefits of burning sage can be harnessed very simply by burning sage in your home, office or any other place in need of cleansing.

Burning sage is one of the oldest and purest methods of cleansing a person, group of people or space.

The Latin for sage, ‘Salvia,’ stems from the word ‘to heal.’ The other qualities of sage when burned, such as giving wisdom, clarity and increasing spiritual awareness,

are also indicated in the name. It’s no accident that we refer to wise people as sagely.

~How to burn sage properly~

Sage burning cleansing rituals can be as elaborate or as simple as you want them to be, but it’s of the highest importance that your intention be clear before you begin.

If you are burning sage to purify a space, or a person (even yourself) then this needs to be clearly planted in your mind before you the light the sage,

and while taking the smoke around a home, or through a space. Focus burning sage on gateway and high traffic areas

Use loose dried white sage or a white ceremonial sage bundle (aka wand), which is usually bound together by a thin string.

Next, place it on any heat-proof burning surface like an Abolone Shell — a traditional vessel used by Indigenous American people that represents the element of water.

Light the bundle by holding a flame to it until it begins to smoke. If a true flame appears, shake the bundle gently or blow until it is just embers and smoke.

I often find that I have to re-light my sage bundle a few times during the ritual process.

Once you have a nice smoke going, use your hand or ideally a feather to direct the smoke over your body from your feet up to your head,

then back down again. As you do this, visualize the smoke taking away with it any negative energy from your life, any darkness or malady.

Be careful not to fill the area too thickly with smoke—this is not a fumigation, just a cleansing, so no need to go overboard.

Then slowly walk around where you are and take the smoke to each area you would like to cleanse. Concentrate on gateway areas, such as windows, doors, closets, as well as hallways.

Also concentrate on the corners of a room. Most importantly, use your intuition. If you allow it, your space will usually inform you as to which areas need to be cleansed the most.

You may want to focus on particularly busy areas, both foot traffic wise (kitchen) and mentally (computer workstation).

If you have a pet, be sure to sage them a little (if they allow it) and their sleeping area.

Try burning incense immediately after a saging session. Sage has a more masculine/yang aspect and is nicely coupled by the feminine/yin aspect of incense.

Also experiment with bell ringing or hand clapping in between saging and incense burning for a total cleansing effect.

If you can at least burn sage in your living space on a weekly basis, then you are guaranteed to notice a lightness of energy and calmness descend into your home from this practice.

It can be a way to cleanse the old energy from the previous week, and welcome in the newly beginning week and all the possibilities it holds.

~A little chant if you wish~

"Air, fire, water, earth. Cleanse, dismiss, dispel, disperse."

The sage ceremony lifts the veil between the everyday and the sacred. As you say your incantation, you are shifting energy at will.

Once you have smudged your body, and once the space is cleared, allow the sage bundle to either burn out or gently press it out in Sand or dirt in your heat-proof shell or container.

You can even bury the remaining smudge in your garden to really feel the completeness of the cleansing ritual. Once buried, the sage has done its work in completing the elemental cycle

“HAPPY SMUDGING”