Common sage or salvia officinalis is a smallish evergreen shrub that can be used in a wide range of applications. My favorite way to use common sage is for tea. Sounds crazy, I know, but it is delicious—it’s like drinking sage’s shadow. But when it comes to creating smudge sticks or bundles, white sage (salvia apiana) is most commonly used. White sage tends to have longer and more narrow leaves that densely populate the stem, more so than other sage varieties, which makes it easier to bundle together.
If you’re unfamiliar with the practice or ritual of smudging, it is the burning of sage by itself (or with other plants) to cleanse the energy or spirit. Lighting a smudge stick creates a spiritually cleansing smoke bath that can purify anything from crystals to spirit. It’s a calling on of the spirits of the plants being burned.
Early Origins
White sage is native to high desserts, but is most commonly found in California and the mountainous American west. And Native Americans were the first on record for using it in a ceremonial or ritual manner. For many of these cultures, white sage went by the name “Sacred Sage.” It was used to get rid of any unwanted persisting energies, to ask the spirits for blessings, prosperity, protection and more.
In many native cultures, plants are more than living things, they have a soul, a spirit, and sage was no different. Burning sage was a way of communing with the spiritual realm and connecting to the spirit of the plant and the earth. By burning the sage with intention, you are asking the spirit of the sage to lend its cleansing and protective energy into your space, body, energy, etc.
Symbolism
Most native cultures incorporate a fireproof bowl of sorts to catch the smoldering embers. Abalone shell is just one of such vessels. If you choose to use an abalone shell in your smudging, you are creating a synergistic loop. The abalone represents the element of water, the unlit sage represents the element of earth, the smoke, the element of air, and the lit sage, fire. By connecting all four natural elements, you are inviting harmony and balance into your space and spirit. The smoke is said to both bind to negative energy and spirits to carry them away and carry prayers into the Universe.
In addition to a vessel to catch the falling embers, feathers were also a staple in smudging ceremonies and rituals. Birds were reverenced for their ability to be closer to the heavens, the Most High, as well as their construction. Natives thought that bird feathers helped to comb a person’s energy and aural energies. Waving or combing the smoke was encouraged, but not blowing. It was thought that blowing on the smudge stick or the smoke released any negative energies from the person into the smoke.
Other common plants to smudge with include lavender, mugwort, tobacco, cedar, sweet grass, juniper, and copal. Tobacco, which grows very prolifically in the Americas, was actually considered to be the most sacred by many Native peoples. Each plant has its own merits and purpose, so experiment to see which ones you resonate with most.
Comments (18 Responses)
Mynx
First of all I’d like everyone to forget about race. It’s like Steve drives a blue car Lisa drives a red car. Well all blue car drivers are horrible people. Think about it. Your body is only a vessel to get the soul around. So why are we so worried about the color of the vessel. Your soul has been many different races. As for the people that are saying this goes against Jesus.. It’s all the same thing. It’s living in love and gratitude and knowing that we have a responsibility to this earth to care for all creatures as well as each other. It’s that simple. I’m not sure why everyone must complicate. There is but one creator. Call him whatever you like but it’s just pure love. We are all connected. Once u stop with the who right and wrong let go of ego only then can u find the answers.
To the guy who speaks on hating white man. That would be like a blue car hits and kills ur family do u hate all people that drive blue cars just because something bad happened in the past and the people responsible are long gone. We are all very angry about the way in which greedy men are destroying our land. It’s not just white. Greed knows no color. If you continue to hold onto that anger from years past then your not allow your soul to grow. You end up making your body sick. Not to mention it makes you no better than the ones u hate. Hate is hate ! racism is racism not matter what color you are. We will only heal the earth by coming together for a common goal.
miranda
stop using race every time someone compares something or doesn’t agree with you……the white supremacy card to try and stop someone from being honest? pathetic…….im a Christian and i also feel that the lord jesus is all we need oh and before anyone tries to play victim……im half black
James Hutchinson
The great white father as referred to as my ancestors may well be the one true God of all .each culture has it’s own word for bird or elk as an example. Ali means God. It’s odd almost all religion has 3 or 1 deities . And I know not one based on pure evil .
Shane
@Pam please read A Course in Miracles. Forgiveness, as you’ll learn, is only required of your own perception. Salvation is granted to you the instant you acknowledge that everything you think you know, is an illusion. Judgement is not of you, nor of God. Welcome to the Atonement.
05 August, 2023
Deeds
Pam. You do you. Live and let live. Not saying I disagree, not saying I agree. To each his own. I personally smudge/burn plants for the bugs and the smell in the house. And that’s ok. It’s my house. And in my neighbor’s house, who knows or cares.