If you like to practice combining planting then place your sage next to vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Candles or matches to light the sage; A fireproof smudging bowl — traditional rituals use an abalone shell, but you can use any heat-resistant dish. White sage smudging is also wonderful for clearing crystals, jewelry, books, tools you use in your healing practices, objects used by someone who was recently sick, as well as any object you simply wish to clear. It smells amazing, it is easy to grow, and if you enjoy making your own smudge sticks, it is the perfect plant to have on hand. Growing up in Eugene, I am oft called a hippie here in L.A., what with my car-free ways and belief in spirit animals. Pruning . Smudging is the act of burning special healing herbs as part of a cleansing ritual to clear energies, air or a physical space.According to Marika Messager, at the Numinous, smudging can be seen as the psychic equivalent for “washing your hands before eating” and it has science proved facts: as stated by Prof. Chandra Nautiyal, smoke from some herbs can even change the molecular structure of air and energy. With the tips of the branches pointing down, begin wrapping the cord tightly around the base of your bundle. Blue Spruce is the least commonly used plant for smudging and cleansing. Leave a note in the comments, or tell us on Facebook or Twitter: @Rebecca Snavely & @TheCityFarm. The name for all of this is smudging. Doing a regular sage smudge of your house can not only keep the evil spirits out but all the bad energy left behind. Use well-draining soil, and though it grows in a range of soil, it does best in slightly acidic soils, with a pH value of roughly 6.0 to 6.5. It does extremely well in full sun and a good well-draining soil. (Dry your own sage or find sage smudge sticks here.) Remember to use white sage … Prune sage bushes lightly in summer after flowering. It is not necessary to create enough smoke to fill the entire space where a group is smudging. Lightly moisten the soil before planting. Sage grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Growing the Sage (Optional) Find an ideal place to plant the sage. Blue sage, or “grandmother sage” (Salvia azurea) is the softer, gentler version of “grandfather sage”. Why is sage the herb of choice for purifying a place, ridding it of negative energy? Earth Juice® Rootstock™ Cutting Gel & Liquid Concentrate. The most widely known smudging herb is White Sage. If you’re feeling drawn to a specific type of smudge, trust your intuition – your spirit knows what it needs. The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant. “Cleansing” Versus “Smudging” From the outside, “cleansing” and “smudging” with sage seem to be the same thing. Give the cutting four to six weeks to establish roots. First permission is asked to cut the stem… and a bit of another herb or a piece of hair is placed at the base of the plant … There are several hundred distinct species of Salvia, but only the most aromatic varieties are used for smudging. It prefers soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Prepare the soil. In places where white sage refuses to grow, common sage is a fantastic choice. Our two sage plants have been growing really well, and we have already harvested and dried more than enough for cooking purposes for the next year. Once it’s planted, mist it with water only enough to keep the soil moist, since sage needs very little water. That plant has a lot to live up to. Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata) This is one of the most sacred plants of the Native Americans. Here's a how-to (step-by-step) guide to sage (smudge) your home, office, and yourself. Drying out sage for smudging is a foundational part of our smudging cleansing ritual. Cedar is a very slow burning and perfect for full smudge rituals. White sage likes sandy soil, so if you don’t already have that, you’ll need to create it. But even dropping that reference, I realize I am nowhere near knowledgeable about Native American traditions. Much like Cedar, Blue Spruce has a very welcoming scent known to used for cleansing, serenity, grace and nobility. Make sure it isn’t so tight that the sage won’t burn or so loose that it will come apart. They are caused when a bacterial disease enters a wound on the plant. It does extremely well in full sun and a good well-draining soil. Some claim it can change the mood and energy of a room so it is commonly burned after a fight or when someone is upset. I mean, part of me believes there’s no wrong way to put out good intentions. It’s often blended with white sage in gardens and smudge sticks. This fragrant culinary herb is a great option to grow in containers or out in your garden bed. It has thin leaves and an herbaceous and floral fragrance, similar to lavender. Smudging is a critical first step in any sacred ritual, as well as an important way to complete and seal sacred work. You’ll want to place the sage in a spot with full sun, or else it may grow limp and flop over. The sticks are usually made up of dried sage but can be made with many other combinations of dried herbs and flowers like lavender, rosemary, thyme, or any other scents you prefer. (Photo Credit: Dried Sage, Joene’s Garden), Your email address will not be published. Michael and Rose took a trip out to the beautiful countryside to show us how to harvest prairie sage. Avoid the woody parts of the plant. Confession: I have a past of ignorant mis-smudging. Sage should be planted in well-draining soil; it won’t tolerate sitting in wet soil. White sage has been grown and held sacred by Native Americans as they believed it held cleansing properties, making this not just a beautiful plant to grow, but one rich in history and lore. And I did it WRONG. However, note that White Sage has become a protected plant due to over-harvesting. Or, if you are keeping it in the container, move to a sunny spot on your balcony or patio, and be sure that the soil drains well. Elder – Sambucus nigra. To grow sage, plant sage seeds in a large clay pot. The Germanic tribes of antiquity used Elder in … It also makes a beautiful landscape plant, smells wonderful, has medicinal values and is popular with honey bees. (See above reference to “studio.”) While I waved my smoky bunch of sage in the air, I spoke my intentions for each part of the space, to create meals in the kitchen to nourish both body and soul of a visitor, that my desk might be a place for creativity to brew and thoughts to be put to page, that my door might be the way to a place of peace, thoughtful conversations, and belly-laughter. The Romans named the plant Salvia after the Latin verb meaning to save, redeem, or heal. First of all, dig a hole about a foot square and put the dug out soil in a wheelbarrow. Let’s say weeks). Sage is one of the most popular smudge stick materials. Picking the appropriate herbs for the smudge wand can help support the intent of the spell, and it may be easier to find growing than white sage. So get out your sage stick and let's get started! That’s because every flora and fauna have medicinal properties that can best facilitate your intention. Gradually reduce the watering over time as the plant’s root system becomes established. The most widely known smudging herb is White Sage. For the first year after you’ve started a new sage plant or transplanted a young plant in, water it once per week. I let the soil rest for a week before planting. 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Sage: Sage is used in Europe as the most common base of all blends or smudges (if the person is allergic to sage, the replacement was usually basil or rosemary for physical ails or mugwort for spiritual and emotional ails). Smudging is the act of burning special healing herbs as part of a cleansing ritual to clear energies, air or a physical space. Sage smudging is used to begin a spiritual spring cleaning for your soul or your house. It is named for its abundant blue flowers. This process is great for those who would like to clear the negative energy in your space, purify your home, clear your mind and energy field, or just would like to clear the air to invite the new. Set the plants 2 feet apart. Smoke attaches itself … (If you are not familiar with the benefits of smudging, this article explains the basics of how and why to smudge, and this article discusses the medical benefits.) Space sage plants 18 to 24 inches apart in an area that gets plenty of sunlight and has rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Picking the appropriate herbs for the smudge wand can help support the intent of the spell, and it may be easier to find growing than white sage. There are many different plant materials you can use for smudging. Ideally, you should place the cutting on a grow mat and keep at 75°F. White sage is used in traditions from North America because it grows here and is the most cleansing of the sage varieties. Smudging . In warmer months it should take about 10 days to dry. If you live in a climate where this is practical, it’s a wonderful way to connect with the plant spirits. But how do you dry out sage for smudging? Burning sacred herbs and resins is perhaps the most time-tested method for energetically (and sometimes physically) cleansing a space. That’s the way I grow sage. How to Make a Smudge Stick at Home. from the leaf of the plant, which is rolled into a ball for burning. Most people smudge on an as-needed basis. Many people like to grow white sage in order to make their own smudge/incense bundles. If so, plan to start your sage from seed 6 – 10 weeks before your last spring frost. To make smudge bundles the best herb to use is garden sage (Salvia officinalis) although other herbs such as thyme, and lavender and mugwort can be included in the bundles. Smudging is a name given for burning sage or other herbs when you are depressed, hurt, angry, or used as a spiritual house cleaning. You can also sow seeds up to two weeks before the last frost date. There are many herbs for smudging. Once you … The smudge of blue sage (a bunch of herbs and leaves) comes from a plant that grows in the deserts of the southwestern United States. The smudge of blue sage (a bunch of herbs and leaves) comes from a plant that grows in the deserts of the southwestern United States. Alternatively, you can purchase a small sage plant from your local garden center and transfer it to a pot. Are you interested in learning how to do a proper sage cleansing? Sage is the most popular smudging herb, but you can use any herb or plant! Required fields are marked *. However, note that White Sage has become a protected plant due to over-harvesting. Steps for Smudging Objects. I’ve always found the seeds can be a bit hit and miss. Sage is a perennial that grows to about 20 inches, so plan for its size. So, I decided to make my own sage bundles for smudging. The common name itself is associated with wisdom and spirituality. Sage stick, smudge stick, or herb bundle. Smudge sticks can commonly be found in your local metaphysical store, health foods store and other online retailers. Tie them by the stem and hang them upside down. It is also used for meditation, cleansing, and purification. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Some common ones are: sage, cedar, sweet grass, and lavender. If you live in a region with extremely cold winters,... Plant your sage in full sun or slight shade. https://prairieedge.com/tribe-scribe/how-to-harvest-sage-for-smudging Then, wrap the cord around the bundle (while firmly pressing the plant material together) working your way to … Side dress growing sage with high-nitrogen fertilizer about 6-8 weeks after you put plants in the ground. Sage is the most commonly used method of cleansing/ smudging, however you can mix your Sage with many other Herbs as well, which simply adds the additional benefits to your normal smudging/ cleansing routine. Quick Guide to Growing Sage. This does not mean that the sage bundles cannot be used for cleansing rituals, it just needs a different name. Looking for love? Sage grows well in rich clay loam that drains well and is rich in nitrogen. Burning sage in your home allows you to remove all the negative energies and experiences from the room. Method 1 of 3: Growing the Sage (Optional) 1. Either seedling or your cutting can then be transplanted to a sunny spot in your garden when your soil has reached 60F, one to two weeks before the last spring frost. Need to protect yourself from toxic energy or news overload? Angelica – Angelica archangelica. (. This post had another option for a title: smudging plants: grow your own smudge stick. This is where the term “smudging” sage smoke comes from. Lay the sage in your drying rack making sure none of the pieces overlap or are lying on top of each other. Smudging (also called “saging”) is a practice which involves the burning of herbs that are bundled, braided, or loose (for our purposes today we are taking about bundling, creating smudge sticks). 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