Smudging is a name given for burning sage or other herbs when you are depressed, hurt, angry, or used as a spiritual house cleaning. Store your sage safely After clearing and cleansing, extinguish your sage stick by gently pressing it into the abalone shell or a clay dish, glass bowl or ashtray. Smudging is an ancient practice used during rituals and sacred work. The process can be accelerated by heat, but with caution: light and too high temperatures can also cause the herbs to lose some of their energy. Why? What is sage burning, or 'smudging'? While it’s true that with the microwave the drying is done in a few minutes, but it is a low-quality method and will ruin your precious cleansing sage. But how do you dry out sage for smudging? This allows the negative energy and smoke a place to escape. ... Store on a flameproof dish away from wind. And that’s where sage smudging comes in. Smudge sticks can commonly be found in your local metaphysical store, health foods store and other online retailers. Find us on: What Kind of Feather is Used for Smudging? Since sage is a plant, it— like all living things—has a spirit, and sage perfectly embodies its name by offering a wise, protective energy to the world. In some types of sage, it is possible to dry the flowering twigs, just pick the flowers before they open for them to look their best. White sage has been traditionally burned by the indigenous peoples of the American Southwest, but other varieties of sage may suit your purposes. [History Explained], How to Light Sage for Smudging? This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. To dry sage in the oven, set the lowest possible temperature: the higher the heat, the lower the energy of your herb. It is impossible to give standard drying times: the humidity of the air, the type of herb, and the climate are variables that greatly change the times. The procedure is simple and only takes a few days: after having collected the sage leaves, perhaps choosing the largest, wash them carefully and let them dry on a cloth. Be sure to also open the closet doors and carefully smudge inside. If it takes a little bit more time, don’t freak out! Annoying in-laws visiting? Sunlight is not optimal for drying; it reduces the time but compromises quality since some components of the herbs are photosensitive and thermolabile. Make sure the fire's out completely before you store your sage bundle. Matches, preferably wooden. It’s super easy for quick smudges and great for the car. Smudging is something we do here at Cosmic Cuts on a regular basis. What is Sage Smudging? What Kind of Sage is Used for Smudging? The important thing is to choose the right place for drying, somewhere ventilated, and not humid. You don't need to keep to a regular sched with saging your house—it's really something you can do whenever you want to feel a little more calm and protected in your life. In fact, according to Hanekamp, there are historical reports of people burning sage to cleanse the air during the bubonic plague outbreak in Britain. The times vary a lot but are usually quite short; the herbs must be carefully monitored to avoid burning them. Burn Sage Bundles Burning (smudging) sage can be as simple or complicated as you choose it to be. You can buy sage bundles online from many e-tailers including AMAZON, or from almost all health … Bundles of sage and Palo Santo packaged as “smudging kits” are available for sale at yoga studio gift shops, popular retailers like Madewell and Urban Outfitters, and even behemoths like Walmart. Collect them in the morning. Sage is an ancient sacred herb used for blessing and in smudging ceremonies. Drying out sage for smudging is a foundational part of our smudging cleansing ritual. Store your sage properly. (Hey, I can stand behind Gwyneth on some things.) Sage Sticks with Instructions on How to Use Sage Smudge Sticks Smudging is the practice of cleansing away negative energy with smoke from various herbs or resins. This part is as important as the smudging phase! And that’s where sage smudging comes in. While it might seem like a New Age practice your cool aunt basically invented in the '60s, people have been burning sage for spiritual-cleansing purposes for centuries. The drawback of air drying is that the times are long and variable according to the climate. Jeannie Bourke is the founder of Sydney-based beauty and body lab, Venustus. Some people like to wait 20-30 minutes to allow the sage smoke to reach maximum potency. The plant accumulates substances and energy that will be needed to cover the effort of making flowers and seeds. The practice of smudging involves the burning of a sage bundle (sage is a type of herb and bundles of dried sage leaves are often sold in new age or spiritual shops for the purpose of cleansing) or sage scented incense. Because only when sage is dry can this herb create the cleansing smoke able to truly banish negative energies from your place and create enough room for fresh, new, positive energy. Also read: What Kind of Sage is Used for Smudging? [Which Herbs To Pick? Fireproof dish or abalone shell Sand or soil for extinguishing herbs at the end. Purchase a bundle or stick of sage from a local shop. Here I am going to describe different techniques to do so, some tips for quicker results, and my personal favorite way to dry out sage for smudging. However, there are many other herbs that can be used for smudging, but each will have its own unique scent and properties. This Native American tradition is becoming more common place as others discover the benefits of this ancient ceremony. White Sage is the bread and butter of any smudging kit. Then package and store your dried herbs carefully for future use. Sage. If you have long hair, pull it back in a bun. The herb was supposedly used to help clear the air of germs. Sudden cringe attack recalling that time you ended up saying "grool," Cady Heron–style? We use cookies to give you the best experience, as detailed in our privacy policy. You can dry sage in a perfectly natural way without using any tools. It has a fresh herbal fragrance and benevolent cleansing energy. Here's everything you need to know about how to expel bad juju and clear the air...literally. Light the sage smudging stick and leave it to burn until it begins to emit smoke. When mixed with other herbs, it makes a wonderful base for a custom smudging blend. You can store the sage in a pantry, cabinet, or in the refrigerator. Smudging and Blessing Herbs. Hanekamp says saging can be used in all kinds of situations, including ones as routine as simply wanting to shift your energy after a rough day, as well as significant, life-changing or milestone circumstances, like moving into a new home or dealing with a bad breakup. [Here's How To Do It Right], Here's How to Use Palo Santo Smudge Sticks [Tips & Tricks], What is the Purpose of Smudging? It’s better to wait a bit longer and let sage manifest its properties and benefits than rushing things and having to deal with failure! Fold in any stray sprigs, tucking … Just make sure to blow out the flame once the bundle starts smoking. Smudging with sage or sage combined with sweetgrass cleanses what the naked eye cannot see thus creating a more positive energy space. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io. Obviously you need sage… and of course there are a lot of different kinds! (Yes, please.). Sage. In its cultivation cycle, sage has a moment in which the concentration of active ingredients is higher; generally, this is the period before flowering. Versatile and effective, it’s suitable for most any smudging ritual—cleansing, healing, protection, meditation, and so on. Once dry, place them on a sheet of parchment paper (or on a tea towel) to let them rest away from light in a ventilated place. If you don’t have a dryer, use a traditional oven. A White Sage smudge stick (Best for purifying.) White Sage is part of an extended family of sages, including Blue Sage and Mountain Sage. If your sage is burning and you can see the flame, just blow it out and you're ready to begin smudging. [Different Shrubs]. In the oven, the herbs are placed on a baking sheet and must be turned and checked often. "That way, negative energy can’t attach itself to us because there’s nowhere for the negative energy to go around us. And you can agree—that's the only place negative energy needs to be. Concepts presented on this page and in the book Sage & Smudge: The Ultimate Guide derive from traditional European and American metaphysical and folk lore. You can also buy loose-leaf sage, but the pre-wrapped bundles are slightly easier to handle. sage smudging) to reducing airborne bacteria, meaning it can help you get a fresh start in more ways than one. Your January Horoscope: Time To Shake Things Up, 15 Times Princess Charlotte Looked Like the Queen, Harry & Meghan Are Following the Obamas' Footsteps, 19 Photos Of Queen Elizabeth And Princess Margaret, 100 Items You Should Reuse Instead of Throw Out, 42 Moments That Prove Duchess Kate Is the Best Mom. Give it a good 30 to 45 minutes before storing it … You’re looking for a steady smolder, not a wildfire, here. I also LOVE this sage spray! Collect them when the flowers are still closed. For instance, if you lay it on the ground, it'll soak up moisture…so you … If you have multiple levels, start from the bottom of the house and move to the top. The ideal place is an outdoor room like a porch; if you stay inside the house, you still need to ventilate very often. Whether that's yoga-class-level calm or Normani-style motivation (sorry, had to), the possibilities are endless. Feng Shui expert Rodika Tchi recommends, "Go clockwise around your house (usually starting at the front door), and gently wave the smoke into the air. Smudging is a symbolic exercise found in feng shui practice, many native American traditions, and alternative healing practices. To start, open the windows and doors to provide the negative energy an escape route. [Different Shrubs], let sage manifest its properties and benefits. If the right conditions are created, it is possible to dry cleansing herbs without difficulty, preserving their energy and magickal properties. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about smudging, including benefits, what you need for smudging, how to … Sage smudging is meant to clear away energies from the outside world. Once dry, place them on a sheet of parchment paper (or on a tea towel) to let them rest away from light in a ventilated place. Smudging, or burning dried herbs, is a ritual that has been around for centuries. After you dried your sage, now it’s time to store it properly! Cue: sage burning, or sage smudging. Saaage. The oven door must be left slightly open to allow the water vapor to escape. Browse our Sage and Palo Santo Smudging … Sage smudging is a simple and very effective way to cleanse yourself and your environment. Have a massive work presentation coming up? When smudging your house, you'll want to start from the back of the house and move to the front. The dried aromatic herbs are perfectly preserved in glass jars with screw caps, to be kept in the pantry. You may wish to use a layer of sand inside the abalone shell to protect the natural shine that it has, from any smoke or embers. The drying process works by depriving the herbs of the water contained within them, thus blocking the action of the various microorganisms that would cause them to deteriorate. This content is imported from {embed-name}. So it kind of has to go out the window.". If you use a clear jar, place it in the dark to preserve … The most widely known smudging herb is White Sage. ], Does Smudging Kill Germs? [A Quick Guide], A few tricks to better dry out sage for smudging. Our customers love the energy in our store so much that they asked us to start selling smudging kits, and we listened! Sage, like all other cleansing herbs, lasts only a few days after harvest and these kinds of plants then lose their fresh energy and their properties; if they are dried, however, they can be stored for a long time and so it is very useful to learn how to do it. Then, stand by your front door with a bundle of white sage, ideally one that has been sustainably harvested (ya know, for all the #goodvibes). By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies. After three or four days, the sage will be dry, and you can keep it in an airtight glass jar, either keeping the leaves intact or crumbling them. Waft the smoke from corner to corner, before eventually making your way back to the front of the house. However, it is very easy to recognize when the dry herbs are ready. The variety of herbs you might use for smudging all have different energies, for example, lavender promotes calming, white sage releases and clears energy, and mugwort is said to stimulate dreams. Sage The use of sage is for healing. The smoke is used to bless, cleanse and heal the person or object being smudged. I use it ALL the time! Feel free to share this article on Pinterest! Smudging can sound a bit intimidating to beginners and may seem unsafe or complicated, but in reality it is qu… "It cleans the molecules in the air that we breathe, too.". Don’t rush it! Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. It is the standard that most people use. Always avoid humid places and too much light. Smudging . This white sage is my all-time favorite — it’s got great reviews on Amazon and omgg it smells amazing. Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. According to Hanekamp, saging not only helps to expel any bad vibes in a space, but will also leave you feeling calmer and more at peace. Sage. The most-used sage types have antimicrobial properties. If you live in the Northeast, Hanekamp suggests also giving mugwort a try, since it grows abundantly in the region and would give you the opportunity to do a little DIY cleansing. Magickal Spot is a witchcraft site dedicated to offering magical education, and we do this thorough explanation of the craft and its many nuances. If you want to dry in the best way, you must choose this moment for the harvest. "White sage is not just something you have to believe in for it to work," Hanekamp explains. White Sage is the most popular herb used to smudge. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Hear Archie Talk On Meghan And Harry's Podcast! Preparation Open a window in each room your are smudging. Here is what you need to smudge with sage before you begin: White Sage bundle; Ignition source (lighter or match) Fire-proof container (abalone shell or a tempered bowl) Houses feel better which means a house for sale will most likely be sold shortly after a smudging. Sage picked in the morning retains a higher content of essential oils and therefore will have a greater scent once dried. The first step is making sure that your windows are open (you want to give that negative energy an escape route, duh!). Rather than burning leaves individually, you will make or buy sage bundles, which are tightly packed sage leaves tied together. The benefits of saging your home aren’t just spiritual. It’s not just for hippies either- read on to find out how to smudge and why you should try burning smudge sticks in your house today!. Bundle starts smoking consume, or dry the sage and benevolent cleansing.! Have to believe in for it to be think of smudging the first thing that to... 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