Why do people sage their homes

Carefully allow the flame to go out so that the tips of the dried leaves are smoldering slowly, and let the smoke billow up. Start to waft around your space and through your different rooms with your intention in mind. Pay special attention to wafting in corners and near mirrors, as well as high-traffic areas like hallways and doorways.

Also, pay extra attention to windows. Also, keep an eye out for those fallen ashes and put them out immediately. Use an abalone shell or other fireproof dish to catch those ashes as you go. After clearing and cleansing, extinguish your sage stick by gently pressing it into the abalone shell or a clay dish, glass bowl or ashtray. You can also allow it to burn out on its own. Some people like to wait minutes to allow the sage smoke to reach maximum potency.

If you see little embers fall on the ground, tamp them out immediately. Never let the burning sage stay unattended for any reason. Also, take care not to inhale too much of the smoke. Once you're ready to extinguish a sage smudge stick, press the burning tip firmly into your fireproof vessel, dirt, or sand until the smoke no longer rises.

Pro tip: Don't get it wet! When you are done using the smudge stick, you can keep it in a vessel until you are ready to use it again," says McCann. If you're interested in saging yourself, you can essentially follow the same steps as above, but the focus will be on your body instead of your space.

Stand in the shape of a T with legs slightly spread like you're in the TSA line at the airport. Then, keeping the sage stick at an arm's length distance away from you, work your way up from your feet.

Repeat your mantra either internally or aloud as you go, envisioning the smoke is clearing you of any and all lingering negativity.

McCann recommends doing a little self-diagnosis ahead of smudging yourself to determine which areas might need it the most. For example, if you shake hands often, then smudge your hands frequently, or if you speak all day at work, then be sure to sage around your throat. Again, don't directly inhale large amounts of smoke, and ensure the sage remains a safe distance from your body. If you have long hair, pull it back in a bun. Don't forget to extinguish the sage once you've finished the ritual.

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to how often you should sage yourself or your space. We are our best guides when it comes to identifying negative energy—so pay attention to your intuition. If you feel weighed down by stress or worry, it's usually a good indication that a cleansing is in order. As smudging becomes more popular, there has been a huge uptick in sage providers who are overharvesting the plant , so it's important to use sage that's been collected sustainably and with reverence.

Pasqualini recommends researching how your sage is being handled and prepared. White sage is the most common variety you'll find in a smudge stick, since the color is associated with purity. However, other dried plants such as juniper, rosemary, and cedar can also be used to clear energy if sage isn't your thing. Burning sage is a powerful ritual that Indigenous communities have been using to clear negative energy for thousands of years.

If you're going to burn sage it in your own home, office, or apartment, be sure to do so safely and with respect for the origins of this sacred practice. Want your passion for wellness to change the world? Become A Functional Nutrition Coach! Enroll today to join our upcoming live office hours. You are now subscribed Be on the lookout for a welcome email in your inbox! Main Navigation. Log in Profile. Hanekamp recommends setting an intention before you start, especially if you have just moved in and are smudging your place for the first time.

Think about the energy you want to surround yourself with and what you want to create and cultivate in your space. Whether that's yoga-class -level calm or Normani -style motivation sorry, had to , the possibilities are endless. Just make sure to blow out the flame once the bundle starts smoking. Start with smudging yourself by trailing the smoke down your body before moving on to each room. Waft the smoke from corner to corner, before eventually making your way back to the front of the house.

You don't need to keep to a regular sched with saging your house—it's really something you can do whenever you want to feel a little more calm and protected in your life.

Have a massive work presentation coming up? Annoying in-laws visiting? Sudden cringe attack recalling that time you ended up saying "grool," Cady Heron—style?

Hanekamp says saging can be used in all kinds of situations, including ones as routine as simply wanting to shift your energy after a rough day, as well as significant, life-changing or milestone circumstances, like moving into a new home or dealing with a bad breakup. According to Hanekamp, the power of sage comes from its spirit.

Since sage is a plant, it— like all living things—has a spirit, and sage perfectly embodies its name by offering a wise, protective energy to the world. So it kind of has to go out the window. Weight Loss. United States.