Sage Advice

What are the benefits of burning sage?

Sage belongs to the Salvia plant family and is derived from the Latin word salvere, which means "to heal." “Aside from the metaphysical uses of smudging, research is showing that sage can also be used to benefit physical, mental, and emotional well-being,” Says Reshma Patel the CEO and founder of Ananda Integrative Medicine.

She points to a number of studies that have shown that medicinal smokes such as sage have powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial qualities, can improve mood and cognition, can serve as an insect repellent, and can even help with sleep quality by easing insomnia.

Spiritually speaking, burning sage is also thought to ward off negativity and toxicity. You can think of it like clearing the slate for more positivity to enter your space.

 

What you need to burn sage

If you're new to the practice of smudging, there are a few items you'll need to get started. "Traditionally, people use an abalone shell to hold the sage and then use a feather to fan and spread the smoke around the space once the sage is burning," says Colleen McCann, a shamanic energy practitioner.
If you are just getting started, you can use a fireproof bowl.
To recap, here's what you'll need to get started:

• A vessel for burning sage
• Sage
• A fire source (such as a long match or candle)
• A fanning tool (not completely necessary but could be helpful if you need to cover a large area such as a home or office)

How to sage your house to clear negative energy

1. Gather your tools and have an exit strategy.
First and foremost, ensure you have all the above-mentioned tools handy and that you've opened a door and window(s) before lighting up. After all, that negativity (not to mention smoke) needs to have a pathway to get out.

2. Set your intention and say a mantra.
(Something like ~ I open this space to divine love, may all the energy that flows through here benefit the heart space. May it hold compassion, nurturance, forgiveness, and truth.)
Intentions are central to the practice of smudging, so take a moment before you light the sage to determine what exactly it is that you're trying to purify or release from your space. 

3. Light up.
Once you're ready, hold the sage at a 45-degree angle, light it using your match or candle, and let it burn for about 20 seconds. After that, gently blow out the flame so you see orange embers on one end. The smoke should now billow up.

4. Slowly walk around your space.
Slowly walk around your space and allow the smoke to waft around. Guide the smoke—and the bad energy—toward the open windows or a door, so it can escape.
"Give special attention to areas in front of mirrors, in corners, and in spaces like foyers, hallways, and doorways," Wasfie recommends. "I'm also a big fan of saging technology like our phones or laptops. I usually hold the sage wand underneath them and then wave it around them."

5. Be safe!
Sage burning 101: Always stay present! If you see little embers fall on the ground, tamp them out immediately. Never let the burning sage stay unattended for any reason. Also, take care not to inhale too much of the smoke.
"Although saging is a great way to clear your home or office of stagnant and possibly negative energy, it is best not to inhale it directly," says licensed acupuncturist and certified herbalist Irina Logman, L.Ac., MSTOM. 
"Lungs are a delicate organ, and any type of smoke can be drying and irritating to the mucosa."

6. Extinguish your sage.

Once you're ready to extinguish a sage smudge stick, press the burning tip firmly into your fireproof vessel, dirt, or sand until the smoke no longer rises.

Pro tip: Don't get it wet! "Don't use water to extinguish the hot embers—it will ruin the tip of the stick and make it harder to light next time. When you are done using the smudge stick, you can keep it in a vessel until you are ready to use it again," says McCann.

How to sage yourself

If you're interested in saging yourself, you can essentially follow the same steps as above, but the focus will be on your body instead of your space. Stand in the shape of a T with legs slightly spread like you're in the TSA line at the airport. Then, keeping the sage stick at an arm's length distance away from you, work your way up from your feet. Repeat your mantra (either internally or aloud) as you go, envisioning the smoke is clearing you of any and all lingering negativity.
McCann recommends doing a little self-diagnosis ahead of smudging yourself to determine which areas might need it the most.
For example, if you shake hands often, then smudge your hands frequently, or if you speak all day at work, then be sure to sage around your throat.
Again, don't directly inhale large amounts of smoke, and ensure the sage remains a safe distance from your body. If you have long hair, pull it back in a bun. Don't forget to extinguish the sage once you've finished smudging.

How often should you smudge?
There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to how often you should sage yourself or your space. We are our best guides when it comes to identifying negative energy—so pay attention to your intuition. If you feel weighed down by stress or worry, it's usually a good indication that a cleansing is in order. 

Where to buy sage
As smudging becomes more popular, there has been a huge uptick in sage providers who are over harvesting the plant, so it's important to use sage that's been collected sustainably. (Like ours)
White sage is the most common variety you'll find in a smudge stick, since the color is associated with purity.
Other dried plants such as Blue Sage, Juniper, Cedar, Yerba Santa, and Dragonsblood Sage can also be used to clear energy if sage isn't your thing.

A note on saging respectfully
Last but not least, the practice of burning sage is sacred in many communities and deserves our respect. The ancient practice of burning dried sage for cleansing has roots in Native American tradition. Shamans burned sage over a fire to cleanse people of negativity and promote healing, wisdom, and longevity. It's something we should always be doing with intention, reverence, and deep gratitude to those who did it before us.