Sage burning is one of the oldest and purest methods of cleansing. It is a common ritual in nearly all cultures, including Native Americans who believed burning sage would help them to gain wisdom and clarity and would increase their spiritual awareness.

The New Year is a perfect time to sage, “to heal” yourself and your house. I just bought my bundle of white sage from the Rollin Oats Market and Café (2842 Dr. Martin Luther King St. N.) and am ready to welcome 2017 with a sage cleansing of my apartment and myself.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Begin by opening your doors and windows.
• Light your dried sage bundle. Be careful – sage burns hot. Keep a metal bowl with sand in it nearby to temper the smoldering.
• Beginning at the back of the house, fan the sage smoke around each room, paying attention to corners and closets and any other areas where the air and the energy could be stagnant. Work from the back of the house to the front, going into every room including bathrooms and utility rooms.
• You may either say a prayer or chant while you do this, or wait until you’ve covered the entire house and then cap the cleansing with a statement at the front door when you’re finished. Julia White’s, a noted spiritual healer, chant: “Anything not here for the highest and best good of those who live here, be gone. You are not wanted, and you are not welcome. This home has been cleansed and blessed.”
• Walk out the door. Sage around the door and door frame, and if you like, around the exterior of the house.
• Leave the sage bundle outside to burn itself out. Make sure you put it on dirt, or on something that will not burn.

Related Reading:
Sage & Smudge: The Ultimate Guide, by Diane Ronngren
The Smudging and Blessings Book: Inspirational Rituals to Cleanse and Heal, by Jane Alexander
Spirituality & Health Magazine: www.spirtualityhealth.com