Burning sage — also known as smudging — is an ancient spiritual ritual. Smudging has long been used to connect to the spiritual realm or enhance intuition.
For healers, burning sage is used to achieve a healing state — or to solve or reflect upon spiritual dilemmas. It may help dispel negative energy. Smudging may also be used as a ritual tool to rid yourself — or your space — of negativity. This includes past traumas, bad experiences, or negative energies from others. This may help you establish a positive environment for meditation or another ritual. Choosing to sit and let go of negative thoughts in a ritual like this sets your intention and dedication to self-improvement. Choosing to engage in ritual can be the beginning of your change in mindset.
Burning sage creates fragrant smoke central to smudging’s benefits. You can use this incense to smudge yourself, specific spaces and objects. If you have any concern with negative history or energy attached to a new or unfamiliar object, smudging may help bring peace of mind and make the object more sacred to you.
Certain types of sage, including salvia sages and white prairie sage, contain thujone. Research shows that thujone is mildly psychoactive. It’s actually found in many plants used in cultural spiritual rituals to enhance intuition.
