The Art of Sage Smudging

The art of sage smudging has been a practice that has been traced back to many different cultures. The ancient Greeks and Romans first used Sage as a meat preservative centuries ago.  They also believed that sage would enhance memory, treat digestive issues, and help soothe sore throats. For the past decades, Native Americans and other indigenous cultures started having religious ceremonial smudges. Smudging is used to cleanse a space, a person, to purify the air and restore balance. 

At first, herbs and resins were arranged in a special bowl and burned or burned over boiling coals of a fire. Smudge sticks are an accessible and convenient way of cleansing that is also just as effective. Dead Nova has various smudge sticks to choose from, and they're all for different purposes. We have white sage with rose petals, blue sage with lavender, cedar, yerba santa, palo santo “holy wood,” a mixed stick with white sage, blue sage, and yerba santa. Dead Nova will also offer the option of white sage as loose leaves too. 

1. White sage - Mostly known as the ceremonial plant. It can shift the energy in a room, used for meditation, cleansing, and purification. 
2. Blue sage - Cleanses negativity and hate. 
3. Cedar - Perfect to drive out negative energy. Bring in good influences, and ideal to use for someone who is moving into a new home. 
4. Yerba santa - Perfect to use for someone with respiratory conditions. Like asthma, tuberculosis. Also used for fever and dry mouth!! 
5. Palo Santo - Purifies the spirit and clears away bad energy. Inspires creativity, brings in a deeper connection to the divine source, and also helps physical healing.

When burning sage, it is best to have good intentions while smudging a person or space. You can say a little prayer or something like, “I cleanse this space to let out all the negativity that doesn't serve anyone here.” While smudging, it's good to have a feather with you to fan out all the smoke. Simply place your sage in a shell or any ceramic bowl that is burn proof. Then you can use the feather to waft the smoke around the person or space. You can also use your hand to waft around the smoke. 

Palo Santo and sage are similar in so many ways yet so different. Palo Santo is a wild tree called "Bursera graveolens.” It is native to the Yucatan Peninsula to Peru and Venezuela Similar to Sage, Palo Santo is mostly used for spiritual purification and energy (house) cleansings. That being said, the Palo Santo tree does go into some sort of metamorphosis. The process is the tree has to fall before any part of it is cut for its spiritual and essential purposes. The tree has to be on the ground for a certain amount of years before it is used. There are male and female trees, and the male trees live around 200 years while the female trees live around 40 to 60 years. 

Liker to sage, Palo Sanis traditionally relieves common colds, flu symptoms, asthma, anxiety, depression, emotional pain, headaches, inflammation, stress, and more. Palo Santo is also used as a disinfectant and can kill bacteria, fungus, parasites, viruses, and yeast. Once the wood sticks are burned, the smoke clears the negative energy and restores tranquility and

calm emotions. As it lights, you want to give it a positive intention, something you feel like your environment or space needs at that moment. Something like "peace", "positivity" or "clarity". 

It's important to understand that it can be dangerous to burn any smudge stick. Have a burn-proof bowl of water near because dry herbs do burn fast, and the flames can get out of control while smudging. As it might be good for the smoke to cleanse the air, it is highly recommended not to breathe directly; it can aggravate any respiratory conditions you may already have. It is also not recommended to fill a room with smoke. Remember to fan out the smoke with your feather or your hands. 

We pride ourselves on our products’ quality and the integrity we obtain and bring them to you. We honor and support the preservation of the Americas’ indigenous practices and support the following non-profits: WEWIN (Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations), SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans), Amazon Promise. 

Most of our products come from Argentina, Peru, Madagascar, Central America, Mexico, and the United States.