April 29, 2025

Deep dive into Smudging

How to Sage Your Space: A Deep Dive Into Smudging and Energy Clearing

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt like the air was heavy or the mood was just off? Or maybe after a stressful week, your own energy feels tangled up and frazzled? That’s where the beautiful ritual of saging — also known as smudging — comes in.

Saging is a powerful, ancient spiritual practice used across many cultures, especially by Indigenous peoples of North America. It’s a way to cleanse spaces, objects, and even yourself of negative energy and make room for peace, clarity, and positivity.
If you’re new to it, or if you want to deepen your understanding, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to sage with intention and respect.

What Exactly Is Saging?

Saging is the burning of sacred plants, typically white sage, to produce aromatic smoke believed to purify and cleanse. In many Indigenous traditions, the smoke carries prayers and intentions up to the heavens, acting as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds.

Today, many people use sage to:

Clear negative or stagnant energy from their homes
Cleanse themselves or others after emotional events
Reset the energy of secondhand items
Prepare a space for meditation, prayer, or healing work

Important Note:
While anyone can practice energy cleansing, it’s important to acknowledge the Indigenous roots of smudging. Always approach this ritual with gratitude and respect.

What You’ll Need:

Sage bundle: Traditionally, white sage is used. You can also use blends with herbs like lavender, cedar, or sweetgrass.
Fireproof dish: An abalone shell is traditional, but a ceramic bowl or plate works just as well.
Matches or a lighter: Matches are often preferred for their naturalness, but either is fine.
Feather or fan (optional): Used to help spread the smoke.
Open windows or doors: To allow negative energy (and smoke) to leave your space.

Optional Additions:
Some people like to accompany saging with drumming, singing, or prayer, depending on their tradition or spiritual background.

Step 1: Prepare Yourself and Your Space

Before you start, it’s important to take a moment to center yourself. Cleansing isn't just about waving smoke around — it's an energetic reset that starts with you.

Take a few deep breaths.
Ground yourself by standing with bare feet if you can.
Visualize yourself surrounded by a bubble of protective light.

Then, tidy up your space a little if possible. Physical clutter can trap energy just like dust traps dirt.

Setting Your Intention:
This is the heart of the ritual. Why are you saging?
Your intention might be something like:

"I clear away all negativity and invite peace."
"I release old energy and create space for new blessings."
"I bless this home with love, health, and happiness."

You can say your intention out loud, whisper it, or simply hold it firmly in your heart.

Step 2: Light the Sage

Hold the sage bundle at a slight angle.
Light the tip and allow it to catch flame for about 20–30 seconds.
Gently blow it out so it smolders and releases smoke.

The idea is to create a steady smoke — not a roaring fire.

If your sage burns out quickly: That’s normal! It often means your energy is calm or the bundle is tightly packed. Simply relight as needed.

Step 3: Cleanse Your Space

Now comes the fun part — walking through your space and inviting fresh energy.

Start at the main entrance of your home. This is where most energy enters.
Move clockwise through the space. In many traditions, clockwise motion symbolizes moving forward or bringing in blessings.
Gently wave the smoke into all corners, behind doors, and into hidden spaces (energy loves to stagnate in corners!).
Pay special attention to mirrors, windows, and electronics — all places where energy can get stuck.
If you have an altar, crystals, or sacred items, give them a little extra smoke bath too.

You can say your intention aloud as you go, or you can simply focus on envisioning negativity lifting out of the space and floating away.

Practical Tip:
Walk slowly, mindfully, and imagine the smoke physically carrying away any heaviness or unwanted energy.

Step 4: Cleanse Yourself (Optional but Powerful)

Sometimes the heaviest energy we deal with is the kind we’re personally carrying.
To cleanse yourself:

Hold the sage a safe distance away.
Waft the smoke starting from your head, moving down to your feet, front and back.
Visualize the smoke drawing out anything heavy, emotional, or draining.
Picture yourself being filled with clear, vibrant energy instead.

You can also sage others (with their permission), pets, or sacred tools like tarot decks, jewelry, and crystals.

Step 5: Close the Ritual

When you're finished:

Gently extinguish the sage by pressing it into your fireproof dish. Don’t use water unless you're completely done with it — wet sage won’t burn well later.
Thank the sage, the Earth, God, the universe, or your own higher self — whatever feels right to you — for aiding in the cleansing.
Spend a few quiet moments feeling the difference in your space and within yourself.

Important:
If your home feels “too quiet” or “empty” after a deep cleanse, you can burn a sweet herb like lavender or palo santo afterward to fill the space with warmth and good vibes.

Extra Tips and Insights

Smudging is a living ritual. You can adapt it slightly based on what feels authentic to you.
Use ethically sourced sage. Unfortunately, white sage has been overharvested in some areas. Try to buy from Indigenous sources or sustainable suppliers when you can.
Keep windows open. You’re not just cleansing — you’re releasing. Let that energy move out physically.
Trust your intuition. If you feel called to linger in one area longer, or if you feel moved to pray, chant, or simply stand in gratitude, follow that instinct.

Saging isn't about perfection — it's about intention. Whether you're cleansing after a tough day, blessing a new home, or simply freshening up your energy, it’s a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself and the spirit of your space.
Take your time, trust the process, and enjoy the lightness and clarity that follows.