July 20, 2020 · By Monisha Dajee

SACRED SAGE

Although our sage has been really sturdy and strong this year, it started to wither a little. So I cut, washed and dried as much as I could to tidy up, with the intention of making a few more sage bundles for the New Moon.

Smudging your home with sustainable plants like common sage, lavender, rose petals, dandelions and chamomile, is a great alternative to burning candles laden with chemicals, or using toxic air fresheners in your home.

BEAUTIFUL LEFTOVERS

I love the ritual of simply burning raw, natural and sacred botanicals so I will also be making a jar of a loose leaf sage using any remaining flowers, leaves and herbs that I did not manage to incorporate into a bundle. When dried, I will simply mix together in a little bowl to burn loosely for future rituals. Just as effective as a smudge stick. Please note, if you choose to burn herbs this way, ensure the ember is fully diminished when you are finished.

Intentions are central to the practice of smudging, so take a moment on this New Moon before you light the sage to determine what exactly it is that you're trying to purify, release or create within your space. Then decide on a mantra or prayer to recite while saging that encapsulates this intention.

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. Wildcrafting a blend of crumbled sage leaves, herbs and flowers is a therapeutic process for me. They represent embodied prayers and intentions of love, hope, abundance, protection and cleansing.

Create balance in your sanctuary.

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

PEOPLE planet pollinators

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