Each person is different, so the details of how you go about cleansing your space are entirely up to you. Tibetan Buddhists practice sang pūjā, which is a ritual where various incense and woods are burned for purification. If you want to amplify these effects, slowly work on de-cluttering your space. Minimalism can go a long way in improving your mental and physical health, in addition to sage cleansing. Physical Benefits

According to one estimate , we will meet 10,000 (and possibly more) people in our lifetime. That’s a lot of people, and we humans emit energies- good and evil. Certain people radiate positive energy and others negative energy. These vibes can become infectious. Hold the sage at a 45-degree angle, light it, let it burn for about 20 seconds, and then gently blow out the flame so that you see orange embers at one end. Then you can begin to cleanse your room. Once you have aired the room and lit the sage, walk around the room, including the corners and ask the unwanted energy to leave the room, both in your mind and by speaking aloud by saying, ‘Any energy that is not for my highest and best good should leave’,” advises Herting. Smudging is a specific practice by natives and is deeply tied to spiritual ceremonies and customs. Cleansing, on the other hand, is simply the act of burning plant matter so that its smoke may benefit the space.

Light it up with care

These steps apply whether you’re cleansing yourself, your home, or an object. You can cleanse any of these as often as you’d like. It has proven antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, meaning it has the potential to improve air quality and immune function. (Side note: having living plants in your home does this, too.) The pre-wrapped bundles often include other desirable herbs, such as juniper, cedar, or sweetgrass, but you can find them with sage only. You can also find sage burning kits that have everything you need.

Simply put, sage clears bacteria in the air. Sage smoke offers rapid delivery to the brain and efficient absorption to the body. Scientists have observed that sage can clear up to 94 percent of airborne bacteria in a space and disinfect the air. When sage is burned, it releases negative ions, which is linked to putting people into a positive mood. The Latin word for sage salvia stems form the word heal. Other qualities believed to be associated with sage when burned are giving wisdom, clarity, and increasing spiritual awareness.” Before burning, open the doors or windowsYou can use this spray in place of burning sage to accomplish the same kind of clearing of negative energies without using smoke or risking getting ash on your carpet as you walk around. There’s also a sage and lemongrass spray version of the kit if you don’t like lavender, but who doesn’t like lavender? Allow the incense to linger on the areas of your body or surroundings you’d like to focus on. Using a fan or feather can also help direct the smoke, though this is optional.

To follow her lead, here’s McCann’s lowdown on bringing sage into your home and work space and keeping your spiritual hygiene on point. Bad vibes, be gone. Know the history If you are holding a meditation session, or perhaps you have had people in your home who you feel have left a negative atmosphere. The ritual can be performed as often as desired but do bear in mind that not everyone can tolerate smoke, so be aware of anyone who may have respiratory sensitivities,” she advises. Burning sage can give you a positive environment for meditation or other rituals. “Before the burning sage ritual, it is helpful to take a few deep, mindful breaths and set an intention of what you want to release from your life or even what you would like to attract into your life,” says Brindle. 3. Prep your surroundings Use sustainable wild-crafting practices. Never pull wild sage up by the root, and do not harvest the entire patch. Indigenous peoples believe that the most respectful way to harvest sage is to take only a few leaves at a time. [3] X Research sourceIt's a spiritual custom unique to native culture until recent times have challenged that. “Cleansing” Versus “Smudging”