HANDMADE WITH LOVE

You do not need to be knees deep in the world of the occult to burn sage. People have been burning flowers, leaves, incense and other offerings in numerous cultures and religions across the world. As long as it is done with good intentions, positive energy and in a way that is culturally and ecologically sensitive, a little smudging ritual is sure to add a little clarity in your space. 

Always start by clearing your own energies first, gently waving the smoke around you, up and down and all around. It is nice to smudge before/after healing practices like yoga, meditation, after an argument, to make a new living or working space sacred, whenever you feel low or are surrounded by stagnant energies. Start with an intention while lighting the stick. Think of what you want to cleanse and how you visualise the outcome. Finish it by saying a final sealing prayer/thought. 

When making your own sage bundles, I would always recommend that your freshly cut sage dry for a day or two. This will prevent access moisture and potential mould growth. All flowers and herbs (part from the rose) were lovingly grown in our garden and bound with positive energy and good intentions. 

Calendula – to attract success 

Dandelion -  For divination, spirit calling and wishes. 

Chamomile - For peace, protection and purification. 

Thyme - reflection, allows us to recall the past without pain. 

Rose - associated with the goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite. It’s a powerful tonic for your heart chakra, helping to open you up to both giving and receiving unconditional love. 

Rosemary - removing negative energies, encourage creativity, embarking on a new pat 

Our mission at The London Alchemists is to encourage more people to incorporate plant-based rituals into their everyday life that nourish the mind, body and spirit using natural elements from Mama Earth. So while at home, take time for self-care and spiritual self care. It felt so mindful, creating and wildcrafting these individual pieces and I can not wait to make another set. 

In my household, rituals of burning natural incense have always been part of my upbringing. Every weekend I would wake up to the sounds of meditative ragas and the aroma of Nag Champa as it slowly visited and purified each room. We burned them in our offerings, in temples, during celebrations and funerals.

The natural aromas of the incense and sage can help improve your mood and heighten concentration. The ritual of burning sage is shown to clean bacteria in the air (but not virus' I'm afraid!) Their healing powers are naturally soothing and calming and are perfect to initiate a session of meditation or yoga.  The cleansing smoke from the embers of sage helps me re-establish my sacred space as I pass through each room and realign my focus and intentions; banishing any lingering negative, stagnant energies. Crafting these bundles is a therapeutic process for me. They represent embodied prayers and intentions of love, hope, abundance, protection and cleansing.

Create balance in your sanctuary.

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Moni Dajee, founder of The London Alchemists - artist, creator, explorer, beekeeper and avid practitioner of natural alchemy.