Smudging is a personal ritual as well as the prayers that we say. For smudging one generally will use an abalone shell or clay bowl to hold the sage. Matches made of wood from the earth, not a man made lighter. Much like a bonfire, sage needs air to burn .A sacred smudging feather from Mother Nature to send air and wind to the burning plant as well as the sage you would like to burn. Feel connected to your smudging feather and sage. The past few years have certainly left many folks with the desire to rid their homes of negative energy. Smudging, also known as saging, has become a trendy wellness practice that folks use to cleanse their spaces — be it a bedroom, an entire home, or even a car. But if you tend to poke around smoke cleansing social media circles, you've probably heard people ask (and might be wondering yourself): Is burning sage and smudging cultural appropriation? During the smudging ceremony, the dried sage is typically placed in a shell or ceremonial dish. You can also light the end of the sage and hold it in your hand. As it burns, the holder walks around the location and wafts the smoke over their head and in the direction of objects needing protection or cleansing. You can cleanse people as well as places, and experienced practitioners suggest you start by cleansing people before you cleanse places. While an individual salvia apiana plant can survive for many years in the wild if the surroundings are right, most people find it a bit more complex to grow in the garden. Yet it can be a beautiful and worthwhile plant to have on hand. Growing white sage doesn’t require a lot of fertilizer. In fact, too much fertilizer will make the plants spindly. Test your soil and if you have a severe deficiency, consider fertilizing. Otherwise, it isn’t necessary. Water

Used heavily amongst California tribal people for centuries (and still in use today), this plant has many names given by the tribes who use it.Aromatic garden, chaparral or coastal sage scrub garden, drought-tolerant garden, native plant garden, pollinator garden, wildlife habitat garden Distinct from cleansing, smudging has been well established as a Native American cultural or tribal practice, although it isn’t practiced by all groups. White sage was traditionally used for ceremonial or medicinal purposes. The most well-known of these uses is burning it to release its fragrant smoke. While the term “smudging” is often applied to this process, the origin of that term actually comes from medieval Europe. A more accurate term would be smoke cleansing.

White sage, California white sage, sacred white sage, grandfather sage, bee sage, buffalo sage, and a number of traditional tribal names You will want to keep the soil lightly moistened initially for your young plants, and then wait until the soil begins to dry out before moistening it again. Once your plants have started to grow, water no more than once a week, but only if the soil feels dry. Growing White Sage From Cuttings Sage leaves and stems were boiled in water to produce a strong-scented liquid that would be used as a sort of shampoo and body wash. This not only eliminated body odors, but provided a slight antibacterial effect which helped with keeping the skin free from bacterial problems.Keep the air as still as possible when you smudge. No fans, or open doors and windows while the Sage is burning. Any gust of wind could further ignite the Sage and blow sparks and ashes out of the bowl. Though scientifically unproven, burning sage is thought to release negative ions. This is said to help neutralize positive ions.

White sage is native to Southern California and its range extends south to Baja California in Mexico. Pandey AK, et al. (2017). The genus Artemisia: A 2012-2017 literature review on chemical composition,antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant activities of essential oils. Viewed as a sacred plant, it also has been traditionally used for food, medicine, and many other purposes. You can cover the pot with a plastic bag to create a humid environment that will promote root growth. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.

Lopresti AL, et al. (2017). Salvia (Sage): A review of its potential cognitive-enhancing and protective effects. Because of all that complicated history of sage burning, when non-Native people use white sage to "smudge" their homes or other spaces, it infringes upon the cultural importance and authenticity of the ritual and prayer — simply, it’s cultural appropriation. The practice of smudging, therefore, should not be taken lightly, according to Dr. Adrienne Keene, an assistant professor of American Studies and Ethnic Studies at Brown University, author of the blog Native Appropriations, and citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Thanks to the high amount of volatile oils in the leaves, they are amazing to use as an herbal steam! Crumble up just a few dried leaves and stems and place them in a heat-safe bowl, then pour hot water over them.