Go Smudge Yourself…
Smudging or burning sage is an ancient spiritual ritual that our ancestors have been doing for thousands of years and it is thought to connect us to a spiritual realm and enhance our intuition.
When doing a tarot reading I always smudge the space first to cleanse the energy, so I have a clear head and can connect better to the cards and give a more accurate and insightful reading.
This magical herb has many healing properties so it isn’t a coincidence that folk have burned this for centuries. Firstly most types of sage have antimicrobial properties and can keep infectious bacterial and viruses at bay. This little plant can literally cleanse beastly things away- what magic. When it comes to it’s a spiritual benefits, science can explain why this is a powerful plant. Certain types of sage including salvia and white prairie sage contain a chemical, thujone which research shows is mildly psychoactive, perhaps why it helps us to enhance intuition. Sage is also reported to be a traditional remedy for treating depression and anxiety, as when it is burning it releases negative ions, linked to putting people in a positive mood.
I would recommend a little light smudge every week as you say goodbye to anything or anyone that didn’t serve you. Get rid of all the neggy vibes and set intentions for how you want the next week to go and take control of your life. For me this practice of looking after your energetic body is no different to eating mindfully, getting enough zzzz and doing exercise. Sage away to keep your spiritual energy on point.
If you’ve purchased a new crystal or set of oracle cards I would also recommend saging these as a way to to remove negative history or energy attached to them. Giving them a little smudge will really make them feel sacred and like they belong only to you.
When burning sage it’s important to work in a ventilated space, so crack a window open to allow the smoke to escape as it is believed the smoke leaving the space takes the negativity with it. It’s also good to have a seashell, glass or ceramic bowl to hold the sage and capture the ash, traditionally an abalone shell is used for it’s cooling properties. A feather is also a useful thing to have around to fan the smoke.
I would recommend buying Californian white sage and not burning up the sage you would find in your spice rack. Avoid purchasing from big retailers as they are often not ethically sourced, over harvesting is a thing so check with your supplier about where your sage came from. I love to shop on Etsy so I can chat to the shop owner before purchasing.
Also when burning anything it’s good to keep safe, so don’t leave sage burning unattended and make sure you put out any embers that have fallen to the ground. Take care not to inhale too much smoke and to put the sage out press directly into your fireproof dish, bowl or shell until it stops smoking.
It’s so important to remember that the practice of smudging is sacred in many communities, and has it’s roots in Native American tradition with shamans burning it to cleanse and heal people of negativity. Ensure your smudging practices are done with respect and intention to honour those who practiced before us.
You should now be all set to smudge those blues away.