Humans have used sage for its purifying and medicinal properties since ancient times. Many believe that the smoke produced can purify a place and drive away negative energy. The sage plant gives off a fantastic therapeutic aroma when brewed, roasted, or smelled in the wild. No wonder the practice of burning sage leaves has developed into a very rich tradition.
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Part 1 of 2: Finding Sage Leaves
Step 1. Purchase a bunch or sprigs of sage leaves from local shops
You can also buy sheet sage leaves, but an unwrapped batch of sage leaves will be a bit easier to use.
- White sage leaves were traditionally roasted by Southwestern Native Americans, but other varieties of sage can also meet your needs.
- You can usually find dried sage leaves in small, independent herbal shops; at some grocery stores, medical supply stores and farmers markets or at any store that sells incense. You can find a wider variety of options if you search the internet for the keyword "sage leaf".
- Sage is a sacred product for ceremonies: the purpose for which you purchase the leaf is important, the way in which the leaf is grown is important, and the purpose of the seller is also important. These invisible energies can move from people to the sage leaf and from the sage leaf to the place you purify. Pay attention to where you get the sage leaves from.
Step 2. Pick wild sage leaves if you can find them
Sage leaves grow naturally in various forms of sub-species throughout the Americas, Asia and the Mediterranean. Read up on the types that grow near you and check field botanical guides to identify sage plants in the wild.
- Practice environmentally friendly wild harvesting practices. Never pull a wild sage plant from its roots and never remove the entire plant. Let the plant continue to grow for years to come. Leave enough of that plant part so it can preserve itself.
- Take the tallest and oldest stalk and leave the rest. Be careful not to drop too many seeds and flowers. Use scissors or a knife to cut the stem as close to the ground as possible.
- Ask permission before harvesting sage leaves on private land, or in government parks. You may be able to find sage growing around you, depending on where you live.
Step 3. Consider planting a sage tree
If you have a live pharmacy, you may want to grow your own sage plant to ensure a stable and sustainable supply.
- You can propagate or plant sage seeds in your yard. Water regularly, make sure there is a place for the plant to grow and be patient.
- You can usually buy sage seeds or sage plants at your local nursery.
- Make sure you give the plant enough time to establish its roots in the yard, whether you're transplanting a live sage bush or growing the seeds of the plant itself. Be patient. Do not pluck the stalks of the sage bush until you are absolutely sure that it will not kill the plant.
Step 4. Dry the sage leaves
This step usually takes about a week, depending on weather conditions. Gather the sage leaves together, tie them tightly and hang them in a dry place so that they dry evenly.
- If you hang the leaves outdoors, don't forget to bring them inside or cover them at night. If dew or moisture seeps into your sage leaf knots overnight, it can thwart the drying process.
- Once it is dry enough, the sage leaves will crackle lightly when squeezed.
- Don't dry the sage leaves in the oven or microwave -- these tools will burn off the essential oils in the leaf bunch, accelerating the plant's decay and canceling the purifying effect of the leaf burning practice.
Part 2 of 2: Burning Sage Leaves
Step 1. Plan your ritual
Decide what you want to achieve by burning these leaves. The practice of burning sage is an ancient, rich and deep cultural tradition.
- The power of your will cannot be separated from this. If you burn a sage leaf with the intention of ridding your home of negative energy, the leaf will do exactly what it was meant to do. Any effect of the plant should be imprinted in your mind.
- Maybe you want to cleanse your home of negative energy. Maybe you want to interact with an ancient herbal tradition and relive an ancient ritual. Maybe you just want to burn some incense and spruce up your home with a pleasant scent.
Step 2. Understand what the benefits of sage leaves are
Many of the benefits of this leaf are spiritual and psychological--but there is also a physical component.
- On a spiritual level: many people burn and smoke their homes with sage to connect with ancestral traditions. It is a common belief that the strong scent of sage leaves can cleanse negative energy from a room, from the house and from the heart.
- On a psychological level: burning sage leaves can mark a beginning, a resolution, a step to turn over a new leaf. When you believe in these ancestral rituals and believe in the power of burnt sage leaves, you can rid yourself of negativity and find true peace of mind.
- On a physical level: when burned, sage leaves release negative ions into the air and research shows that exposure to negative ions can be associated with reduced levels of depression. The strength of this relationship is still unclear, but be aware that at least sage leaves have not been shown to have any negative effects.
Step 3. Prepare a place to burn
Place a ceramic plate, bowl, incense tray, seashell or any other container that will hold the burning ashes. Fill the container with sand or loose soil.
- Choose a container that has meaning to you. This container can be anything, for example: a favorite coffee cup, one of the porcelains your grandmother gave you, an ivory bowl gifted from your holiday to India; any personal items that will make the ceremony more meaningful to you.
- Traditionally, some Native American tribes burned sage leaves in a cleaned seashell, which symbolizes the water element. If you want to pay homage to an ancient ritual, consider buying half a large oyster shell or cleaning the shell yourself.
- Avoid using wood, paper, rubber or anything flammable. Always have water on hand so you can extinguish the burnt sage if the fire gets out of control.
Step 4. Open a window or door before you begin
This will make way for the sage leaf smoke--along with the negative energy present--to leave your home.
- Open a window or door in the room where you burned the sage. The sage smoke should purify, but not remain in the room.
- Consider turning on a fan if you want the smoke to dissipate faster. You may not like the pungent smell of sage smoke or the smoke may irritate your sinuses.
Step 5. Place the sage leaves in the roasting pan
Use candles, matches or lighters to burn the sage leaves. Let it burn for a few seconds, then blow the flame to death; let the remaining coals emit smoke.
- Dried sage leaves are highly flammable. Be careful.
- Make sure the sage leaves are burnt enough so that the remaining coals will continue to emit smoke. If the smoke clears before you complete the ritual, you can light the sage one more time.
- You are ready to spread the sage leaf smoke.
Step 6. Define your goals for each room
Try saying a cleansing prayer. Burning sage is the spiritual equivalent of making whole windows of yourself and letting light shine through your soul; dedicate your actions to this light.
- For example, say: "I clean this room of anything dirty, impure or anything that doesn't suit or support the people who live here."
- If you are preparing a room for a newborn, say: "I cleanse this room of all scourges and darkness. I dedicate this room to life, to love, to light and to all that is good."
Step 7. Let the sage smoke fill the room slowly
Walk around each room spreading the smoke around the corners; let the smoke leave its mark on walls, windows and ceilings; let the smoke coil, coil, and circle back within the scope of the room. Imagine negative energy flowing out of the edge of the smoke; out of your house; away from your life.
- Concentrate on the places where you can enter: windows, doors, cupboards, hallways. Use your intuition. If you pay special attention to the room, you may notice that some places need more cleaning than others.
- Consider focusing on busy places--workspaces, kitchens, driveways. If you have pets, consider spreading some sage smoke on your pets, but don't bother them with the smoke.
- The key is not to overdo it. Do not fill the room with smoke that is too thick, otherwise the purification activity will make you suffocate.
- Try not to inhale the smoke of burning sage right away as it can harm your lungs.
- If your home is equipped with a fire alarm, this process can activate the alarm. Set your smoke spread to moderate or remove the smoke detector battery before burning the sage.
Step 8. Consider burning incense right after the smoking session with the sage is over
The pungent smell of sage is known for its yang (masculine) aspect and frankincense can provide a complementary yin (feminine) energy.
Experiment with ringing bells or clapping hands between burning sage and lighting incense. This step can strengthen the spiritual cleansing effect
Step 9. Consider burning sage more often
If you can burn sage at least once a week, you may find that this habit blesses your home with light and serenity.
- You don't have to actually perform a full smoking ceremony every time you burn sage--it depends on how obediently you want to follow the traditional ritual. Consider burning sage casually, like burning incense.
- Try burning sage to see the significant changes taking place in your home: new family members, new pets, new jobs, new hopes. The practice of burning sage can be anything you want it to be. Most importantly you believe that the sage can help make your life more meaningful.
Warning
- Do not inhale the sage smoke directly.
- Don't fill your rooms with too much smoke.
- Be careful when burning dry sage as it is highly flammable.
- Keep water nearby just in case the fire gets out of control.
