The benefits of burning sage

Burning sage is also known as smudging.

It's an ancient spiritual ritual believed to help purify your home, help relieve symptoms of dust and mould and to rid your space of negative energy.

You'll need:

1. sage & any other herbs or flowers you might like.

2. cotton string – natural twine.

3. scissors

Bundling your smudge stick:

Gather your sage and other foraged additions.

Tie your string to the bundle securely starting in the centre.

Wrap your string towards the top and then return to the bottom,

criss crossing tightly.

Cut off excess string. Trim the ends to make neat ends to your bundle.

Hang the bundles upside down in a cool dry place for a week or more until the bundle is dry.

When you're ready to smudge, light one end evenly

over a heat-safe bowl and let it burn for a few seconds

before putting out the flame.

Set an intention and carefully use the smoking sage stick to cleanse your space. Simply waft the smoke around.

Direct sage smoke over all surfaces and spaces in your home or living area. Be thorough.

When you're finished, make sure your smudge stick is completely extinguished. You can do this by dabbing the lit end into a small bowl of ash or sand.

Check the end closely to make sure there are no more embers burning. Once it’s completely put out, store it in a safe, dry place out of the sun.

One last note, always leave a window open while smudging and be careful when the sage is lit. Happy smudging!