Lets Talk Sage: When do you need it? The list is endless, but here are a few suggestions:

when you move into a new living space, when you begin a new job or start your own business, before and after a guest enters your home, before meditation, after an argument or any illness, upon returning home from crowded situations, big life changes such as birth, death, divorce or separation. Smudging can be done anytime you feel the need to clear. 

History:

Smudging is the common name given to a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition. It is a way to cleanse a person, place, or an object of negative energies or negative influences.

The smoke was believed to disperse impurities allowing the healing process to commence. As the smoke rose, it was believed that prayers would also rise to the Spirit World and negative thoughts and emotions were lifted away.

Now the good stuff!

The smudging smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as it clears it takes the negative energy with it, releasing it into the earth to be regenerated as positive energy. Sage is burned to drive out negative spirits, negative thoughts and feelings, and to keep negativity away... period. We all need that right? Positive breeds Positive

****The smudging of a home is done several times a year to clarify the energy of the space and create peace and harmony.**** 

Use loose dried white sage or a white sage bundle, which is usually bound together by a thin string. You can find sage bundles at your metaphysical store or online.

If you have a sage plant, you can make your own — just bundle and tie it, and then hang upside down in cool dark space until it is completely dried out.

OK, now your ready to place it on any heat-proof burning surface like an Abalone Shell, (a traditional vessel that represents the element of water). Light the bundle by holding a flame to it until it begins to smoke. When you see the flame, shake the sage gently or blow until you see the smoldering and smoke. Sometimes, you may have to relight, if you are burning loose leaf sage. The best method is to use a charcoal burning disk.

 Once you have a nice smoke going, use your hand or a feather (works best) to direct the smoke over your body from your feet up to your head, then back down again. As you do this, you must have positive intentions! Visualize the smoke taking away with it any negativity on you or around you.

Once you have smudged your body, begin to move through your space. Wave the smoke into all corners, across doorways and into shadow spaces. To maintain the atmosphere of your intentions, keep repeating "My Space is Clean and Clear"

Once your space is clean & clear, allow the sage to either burn out or snuff it out by pressing in your Abalone Shell. Some even bury the remaining smudge in the garden to really feel the clearing was done properly. 

Let the Smudging Begin!