The tradition of smudging has been around for centuries for healing and to clear the build up of emotional and & spiritual negativity. Using dried white sage for this purpose is a 2,000 year old Indigenous American practice. The shamans used dried sage plants on their fires as a ritual of calling upon ancestral spirits. Any conflict, anger or illness is absorbed by the sage smoke and released / cleansed from the energy field of a person and space / environment. It can work for you, your space and the people close to you.
Negative energy sticks to everything, that is why de-cluttering shelves, cupboards, draws, basements, garages, everything, is vital to keep you & your home free of negativity and full of positive energy.
In my opinion, the sage or palo santo goes out when all the negativity is gone. I have never had to put one out; I have always let them burn as long as needed. If it is still smoking and I have finished with the rooms in my home then I smudge myself. I do reuse stickers over & over, contrary to some reports, which say we need a new stick each time, I feel this is unnecessary.
Everything is energy and we indirectly bring negative energy into our homes & offices. The electromagnetic field (aura) around our body, as well as the energy around us, becomes blocked with harmful positive ions that can make us feel fatigued, sluggish and burnt out. The sage neutralises the positive charge and releases large amounts of negative ions into the atmosphere allowing us to feel lighter and freer. The term 'cut the tension with a knife' during an argument or when someone is in a terrible mood is so true. It is a build up of positive ions and causes the energy around id to become stagnant and stale - burning sage reverses this, turning the positive ions back to negative ions, purifying and cleansing the air / atmosphere.
Smudging is also used for medicinal benefits, for people who are affected by poor air quality, so particularly those suffering from respiratory issues, long problems, headaches, asthma and the common cold and cough. There is scientific evidence that medicinal smoke is a powerful antiseptic that purifies the air of 94% of harmful bacteria for up to 24 hours. The burning of herbs is no longer a 'new age' fad but scientifically proven to work. Many cultures have used this method throughout time, such as burning Palo Santo Wood by the Incas; Incense across Asia and ritual smudging by Native Americans using sacred herbs.
Sage actually means salvia in Latin, 'healthy' or ' to heal' and burning it regularly increases your memory, awareness, wisdom and mood and is known to quicken the senses. It cleanses, purifies and protects our body, mind and spirit as well as our environment and it is possible to feel a change in the air immediately. The smoke attaches to the negative energy in the air and dissipates and clears it and it transmutes from negative to positive.
Palo Santo can also be used for energetic cleansing & healing. It is a strong medicine that enhances creativity & brings good fortune as it keeps energies in your space grounded & clear. Also used for relieving colds, stress, asthma, headaches, anxiety, depression, inflammation, emotional pain and more. It is related to Frankincense, Myrrh and Copal & is a mystical tree that grows on the coast of South America. Translated it means ‘Holy Wood’ & is part of the Citrus Family.
How to Sage / Cleanse
Set an intention for the clearing, especially if there is something specific you are looking to resolve / clearBe sure to have a least one window open to release the negative energy. Some take the batteries out of their fire alarm too but I have never found this necessaryLight the sage and blow out the flame, we are going to work with the smoke
Either:
Hold it in their hand and use the other hand to blow the smoke into every corner, top to bottom, under things, in cupboards, anything you feel drawn to clear.
Or
Lay the smoking sage in a Abalone Shell & use your hand or a feather to blow / guide the smoke into the specific areas, it is your personal choice, as always follow your intuition.
It can be necessary to relight the sage. I tend to burn it, go through the house then smudge myself and it usually goes out, to me meaning the negativity has cleared but try what suits you best
For body smudging - start from the feet & up over the body, with a figure of 8 over your chest and down the other side. Do the back of the body too
For the home / office blow the smoke into each corner off the room and clear the whole room with the smoke. In the bedroom do a figure of 8 over the bed & anywhere else in the house you are drawn too
It can be good to repeat a mantra / your intention throughout, either silently or out loud
It is key to smudge regularly, both you and your home. I do it every time I have a Reiki client, so almost daily!
I am available to perform a Smudging Ceremony in your home / office or anywhere you feel needs the negativity removed & a new lighter energy in its place. It can be a great idea for when you move to a new place, de-order your home, buy new things or when making a fresh start after changes in circumstances or relationships. The cost depends on the size of your Space & the travel time involved, I would be more than happy to give you a quote. I love helping change the energy around.
I have small sticks available Click here in the Shop Online or on my Crystal Stall, at various markets locally, see the Events page for the full list.
As always, do email over any questions or experiences you might have had around this topic. Have an awesome week.
Namaste
Emma
+44 (0) 7949089265
emma@handserenity.com
Handserenity.com
