How To Sage Smudge - A Step-By-Step Guide For Sage Smudging or Blessing Ceremonies

New To Sage Smudging?  Here Are The Basics...

Sage is a magnificent herb, held sacred by various Native American cultures.  Sage, and particularly white sage, is thought to have restorative powers, and burning it (or smudging) is believed to encourage positive energy flow.  Burning sage, also called smudging, cleansing, or space clearing, is an age-old ritual conducted to restore balance, cleanse, and purify a space or a person.  It is thought to not only to purify a space, but also to encourage positivity and absorb negative energy and misfortune. 

The traditional Sage Smudge Ceremony (or Sage Cleanse) give you the ability to harness the power of this herb in your own home.  Anyone can do this, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!  It's all about setting your intention, and conducting the cleanse for your own reasons and benefit.  You can cater this process to fit your needs, but if you're wondering how it's done  - here is a step by step guide to show you how to conduct a sage cleansing ceremony or sage smudge.

How To Sage Smudge - A Step-By-Step Guide For Sage Smudging or Sage Blessing Ceremony

•  Start by opening doors and windows in the area to be smudged.  Begin at the entrance of the space you wish to cleanse.  It is helpful to decide your path for circling the space in advance.

• Light one end of your sage stick or sage wand, and allow it to smolder before blowing out any flame.  The sage wand should give off smoke, but may need to be re-lit as you go.  Many people will use a smudge bowl or shell to catch any ashes as they go, but traditionally, an abalone shell was used for this purpose in smudge ceremonies.

• Begin by slowly circling your head with the sage wand and smoke, and continue by moving the wand slowly from head to toe to cleanse your own bodily energy.  Repeat this step for each person involved in your sage cleanse or sage blessing.

• Working in a clock-wise direction, slowly move around the perimeter of the space, re-lighting the sage stick if needed.  Allow smoke to encircle the spaces you move through, high and low, inside closets and stagnant spaces, and especially doorways and windows.  Move through each area you wish to cleanse, ending at the entrance where you began.  If you have a particular intention or affirmation in mind for your cleanse or blessing, you may wish to speak it aloud or repeat it in your mind as you go.  There is no wrong way to do this, so it's okay to cater this process to meet your needs.

• Use care to extinguish your smudge stick thoroughly before disposing or storing.  Many sage smudge kits will come with an abalone shell and stand for storage and display of your sage kit between uses.  

• It really is that easy!  Sage cleansing should be done several times a year - or as needed, especially following negative events.  Sage Smudge Spray is a smokeless alternative to smudging, which can be used between smudge ceremonies to lighten and purify a space without the formality or time required for a formal sage smudge.

• Finally, enjoy your purified space!