Focus on.....California White Sage

Growing mainly in California, White Sage (Salvia Apana) is native to desert ecosystems and for hundreds of years has been considered a sacred, cleansing, purifying, and protective plant.

It most commonly has roots in Native American traditions, using it to ward of evil/negative spirits, but also in ceremonies to seek blessings of health and prosperity, and encourage protection.

Most people opt to smudge with sage. To smudge is essentially to burn the leaves, directing the smoke into areas that require clearing or are in need of protection. The idea is that heavy energies are attracted to the smoke, and the Spirit of White Sage carries these unwanted energies away, and back to the Spiritual Light.

To smudge a room, or use sage to cleanse crystals or an altar, there are a few things to be mindful of. Firstly, do not extinguish the flame once it has started. The Spirit of White Sage knows exactly how much cleansing is required, and will extinguish the flame when that is completed. Secondly, if you’re leaving the smudge to rest on an altar, or worktop once it has been ignited, place it on a heat-resistant surface. Avoid placing near open windows or doors, as burning leaf can fall and…..well, we all know where that could lead! Set the intention as you light the smudge. It can be useful to repeat this as you use the smudge stick. Once the smudge has gone out, if you need to do another area, relight in that area and repeat the process.

Smudge sticks are available at A Touch of Serenity,

for just £6 each. As always, pop by or call 01287 634880 to ask Kat for more information on how to use sage.

#smudgestick #smudging #whitesage #shamansmudge