A lot of people today who don’t understand the metaphysical realm look at those who burn sage as if they’re wasting their time. However, thanks to the age of information ushering in, this practice is slowly becoming more respected within modern society. Have you ever heard of the quote, “As above, so is below?” A deeper way of looking at this concept is that the metaphysical realm and spiritual realms are interconnected. So if something happens in the physical realm, such as an herb being burned, there will be an effect in the metaphysical realm also.
When sage is burned, its smoke releases ions that almost immediately change the composition of the air, and it has even been linked to positive mood boosts. Many people state that they feel “lighter and relieved,” a similar feeling to how one would feel after cleaning a dirty room. It’s like oxygen – we can’t see it but we know it’s there.
From personal experience, smudging with sage can affect troubled spirits or any heavy energies that are present. However, most of us can’t see what’s happening on the other side. For example, when staying with an old roommate, I remember feeling really uneasy. I lit the end of my sage smudge stick and waved it around the entire apartment counter-clockwise. I envisioned negativity leaving and setting my intentions of peace. Suddenly, my roommate starts panicking and her guest was terrified of a sudden noise they heard that couldn’t be explained. They both looked at me as if the sage caused it.
You might come across people who share negative experiences about sage causing bad experiences, but in actuality, what’s really happening is that the composition of the smoke is causing negative energies discomfort and running them out.
Imagine this: You are a negative and lowly entity that suddenly starts smelling smoke that is absolutely disgusting to you. It’s making your eyes burn, and you HATE this feeling. You try to fight it by throwing a tantrum, but the smoke then proceeds to overpower you. You finally decide to leave.
And that’s exactly what happened. The rest of the day went on fine and there was no more “heaviness” in the air. Another thing you may notice is that some people get upset at you for burning it. I’ve seen it happen to others and it happened to me as well. That how you really know it’s working! Spiritual cleansing can bring negative emotions out to the surface, so pay attention to how things or people around you suddenly change.
While smudging, some people say prayers, and others just let it burn without thinking too much about it. The general rule I recommend is to smudge counter-clockwise when cleansing, or clockwise when bringing in something. Remember, spiritual tools are powerful, but the intention of the person using is just as powerful, as well. Try experimenting with what works best for you!
Nonetheless, the power of sage is undeniable and a lifesaver to those being robbed of peace.
