Using Sage or smudging your home is part of Native American culture and traditions. It is a ritualistic way to cleanse a person, place or object of negative energies or influences. It is believed that when burning sage the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as it clears it takes the negative energy with it, and then Mother Earth reabsorbs the negative energy and filters it herself.
Some additional benefits of using Sage include removing bacteria from the air, repelling insects, improving intuition, purifying specific objects, and improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety.
When done correctly and respectfully, smudging is a wonderful tool, but there are precautions, too. Be careful with Sage when it is lit; always leave a window open while smudging, do not inhale smoke, have a shell or ceramic bowl to extinguish the Sage bundle when done.
