My First Sage Cleanse Experience: A Cautious Journey into Smudging
As January 2026 unfolded with its characteristic bleakness, I found myself drawn to the idea of performing a sage cleanse within my home. The notion of refreshing my living space and banishing any lingering stale energy appealed to me as the new year began, despite having no prior experience with this ancient practice. Having read numerous accounts suggesting that burning white sage could "work wonders" for indoor atmospheres, I decided it was worth attempting – hoping it might genuinely brighten the mood during those chilly winter days.
The Initial Inspiration
My curiosity about ceremonial incense burning originated several years earlier during a visit to an unusual shop in Plymouth. There, I met practising witch Paul Bryant at The Cunning Grove witchcraft emporium. He lit a special blend containing copal, rose petals, marigold, and lavender while I was present. Something remarkable happened during my walk home afterwards: my surroundings appeared noticeably more vibrant, and I experienced a profound sense of tranquillity combined with invigoration. This sensation persisted as I completed household tasks, creating a memory that lingered for years.
Ethical Sourcing and Preparation
Two years later, that memory inspired me to add a fragrant cleanse to my January agenda. I purchased two California White Sage Smudge Sticks (Mini) from Baldwins, a London herbalist established since 1844. Choosing a reputable source felt crucial given the ethical considerations surrounding white sage. With its growing popularity, excessive harvesting has reportedly caused environmental concerns, making responsible sourcing essential.
My research led me to the Enchanted Soul store, which provided detailed explanations about smudging – the traditional practice of burning dried herbs to purify energy, clear negative influences, and invite positive vibrations. The website emphasised that this ritual represents a sacred tradition within indigenous communities, particularly Native American tribes, spanning countless generations. This ceremonial dimension deserves honour and acknowledgement when performing smudging.
The Practical Process
When my compact sage bundle arrived, its fragrance proved wonderfully potent even before lighting. The bundle comes bound with string, which I learned should remain intact during the ritual. Preparation involved thorough cleaning – tidying mess, washing dishes, and giving the bathroom proper attention before commencing the sage burning.
Safety emerged as the paramount consideration throughout the process. I kept a clean, empty ceramic bowl nearby to extinguish or rest the smouldering stick. While some websites suggested "lighting the sage with a candle", I avoided this method due to fire risks from dripping wax. Instead, I used a large match and kept a candle nearby. Importantly, there's no need to burn an entire stick in one session – even a mini stick like mine provides multiple uses.
Performing the Cleanse
Lighting the sage stick's bulbous tip produced a small flame that quickly extinguished, allowing the herbs to begin smouldering. From there, the process felt instinctive. I moved through my home's rooms, wafting sage smoke into each space, including corners and inside cupboards. For reasons I couldn't explain, I felt compelled to direct smoke toward doorways where rooms connect and along junctions between ceilings and walls.
The sage required frequent relighting as it repeatedly went out, producing considerable smoke that made opening windows advisable. The aroma proved incredibly potent and left me feeling remarkably calm. As I progressed gradually through my home, I experienced a renewed sense of energy, and my surroundings again appeared more vivid – echoing my experience years earlier in Plymouth.
Reflections and Future Plans
The cleanse took several days to complete, using roughly a quarter of the mini stick. I plan to extend it to my back courtyard when weather improves and continue using the remaining smudge stick in coming months. Currently, my home's atmosphere feels genuinely transformed – creating space for fresh starts and whatever lies ahead.
When I repeat this practice, I might experiment with different incenses, as numerous alternatives exist. As the Enchanted Soul website highlighted: "Smudging can be a beautiful way to cleanse your space and mind, but it's crucial to practice it ethically. By choosing sustainable, non-appropriative alternatives like mugwort, juniper, or lavender, you can honour both the Earth and the cultures that have preserved these traditions for centuries."
This first sage cleanse taught me that while the ritual offers potential benefits for refreshing domestic spaces, it demands careful attention to safety, ethical sourcing, and cultural respect – aspects that shouldn't be taken lightly by anyone attempting it at home.
