In Spring 2019 my husband who runs a home improvement company, received a letter from an insurance company implying he had caused a leak from a job he did 6 months prior. We were at a loss as to how this could have happened and why had it taken so long for them to contact us. From that letter in the spring to a few months later, the insurance company were demanding over £10,000 in compensation.
We knew we hadn’t caused the damage and we were certain from the evidence they had supplied, they were mistaken. However, it didn’t stop the stress of what the outcome would be. We knew we had to seek legal advice and I knew I had to find a way to improve our mood and the low energy this letter had caused.
I had heard about #smudging and didn’t realise how powerful this ritual was. I read that smudging eliminated toxic energy and could be used for a number of situations, including moving into a new home, a divorce, a legal battle, waking up after a bad dream, after having a bad day, a new and full moon, and after an argument to name but a few. Working within the law of attraction and running a business working with crystals daily, I believe I am open minded and objective about trying new things so I decided to find out more about this ritual that dated back centuries.
The history behind smudging goes back to Native Americans and other indigenous people who used to burn herbs to clear a space and bless people. Sage is native to South Western parts of the United States and North West Mexico, found mainly in the coastal sage scrub habitat of Southern California and Baja California, on the western edges of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. White Sage is very popular because of its very earthy, woody almost astringent scent.
Native Americans and other indigenous people have burned sage for centuries as part of a spiritual ritual to cleanse a person or space, and to promote healing and wisdom. It's been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians and Romans to treat digestive issues, memory problems, and sore throats. The name 'Salvia' comes from the Latin word 'salvare' meaning to heal and 'salvere' meaning to be healthy.
I love this quote describing sage, by Anthony Fleg, MD, an assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of New Mexico. "It is seen to metaphysically un-cling the things that cling to us that are no longer needed; spiritually, mentally, and physically. Almost the way a sponge can cleanse things from you that are stuck to you.”
Once the date had been set to see the lawyer, I had ordered some sage from my local supplier and when it arrived, I fell in love with the scent straight away. I looked up on you tube and found a lovely video explaining how to smudge my home. I had also read that smudging for the first time is ideally used when you have had a bit of a clear out and spring clean (doesn’t have to be spring!).
Prior to the #sage arriving, I had already cleared up the clutter and finished off jobs around the house that had been put to one side. I always feel less #stressed when things are in their place and everything is put away out of sight. So, I started to smudge using a rotation movement around the house and I started in my kitchen which is where my husband and I spend most of our working life. It is a kitchen and work place for both of us.
The advice I watched on a video by Sarah Ashley Spiegel on YouTube was to start the smudging ritual at your front door and work round each room in the house. At the time, our back door was our front door while we were getting our new extension done which happened to include our front entrance! I made sure I smudged all corners of the kitchen and in the area where we work from and then proceeded to do the rest of the house. (video below this paragraph - click on the photo and it will take you to her video)
Once completed, I felt an instant wave of calm and knew that this was now going to be a new way of life for me. Hence to say, the lawyer was totally on our side and couldn’t believe the evidence was so shoddy and a downright lie. We submitted our response to the insurance company and left it there. After seven days our lawyer asked if we wanted to pursue the insurance company for an answer to our response, but I had the confidence to say to leave it. I knew we wouldn’t hear from them again and we didn’t. Smudging had helped me to see clearer, be more positive and let things go. I am in awe of smudging and its wonderful benefits.
In our journey through life we are always going to come across many obstacles. Thanks to other cultures we can learn from their wonderful rituals and ceremonies and include them into our own daily lives. Sage isn’t the only herb we can use; all herbs have wonderful healing benefits once they have been dried out and bundled together.
From that day forward I now smudge on average once a week. I have recently started to smudge at the start of my working week to feel prepared for what lies ahead. I set an intention for the new week and it helps to improve my mindset and feel positive for what lies ahead.
If my mood starts to drop or I am having a down day, I smudge myself starting with the top of my head and working down to my feet, using a rotation movement all around me. Just the scent lifts my spirits!
Earlier this year I started to research Palo Santo, translated means ‘holy wood’. One of my wholesale suppliers whom I buy my crystals from, ethically sources #palosanto. In some areas where it is harvested the trees are becoming endangered due to its commercial popularity. The magical and mystical tradition of harvesting the tree is very special. For the wood to receive its spiritual and healing properties, the tree or branches of the tree have to die naturally. The tree and its branches have to then remain in its natural habitat for a minimum of four years. Only then it’s sacred qualities can come alive.
Palo Santo has so many beautiful qualities and is used to bring good energy and luck into your living space. It raises your vibration and enhances creativity and prepares you and your space for better spiritual connections. Similar to the healing benefits of Sage, Palo Santo also alleviates signs of stress, anxiety and depression.
When I smudged using Palo Santo for the first time I was transported back to my childhood. Being half Cypriot and attending Greek School at our local church, the incense our priest used to burn was in fact Palo Santo. I wasn’t that keen on the smell as a child but perhaps it was because my sense of smell was not mature enough to appreciate it.
Palo Santo is said to remove only negative energy and leaves the good energy whereas sage removes all energy. Whatever you believe, try for yourself and follow your intuition about this. Once I have smudged with sage, I burn cinnamon wax melt in my burner straight after. Other options could be cinnamon essential oil or a candle made with cinnamon essential oil. This oil brings good vibes into your space.
If you are highly asthmatic and are a bit nervous about the smoke, try not to breathe it in and make sure to keep the stick away from your face. As an alternative to using the herb you can purchase sage essential oil. I’m going to be honest; the oil is not as appealing as the herb. An alternative to sage is: Clary sage essential oil.
Clary Sage is from the flower and is much sweeter. Or you could mix them both together to receive the benefits from both as they both have slightly different meanings.
Sage is considered one of the most sacred of herbs and is known to intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually stimulate and clarify the mind while exhibiting a balancing, uplifting, soothing, and strengthening effect on the senses to ease negativity.
Clary Sage encourages calm and restoration. It has physical and psychological attributes and promotes contentment and self-love. Clary Sage awakens the subconscious, bringing harmony and purpose.
If you're new to smudging, start with either palo santo or white sage and you never know you might decide to grow your own herbs to smudge with.
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