How to Sage Your House

The other day, my friend asked me how to do a sage energy cleansing of her house. I thought maybe you all would like to know too!

Saging your house is also known as smudging. It's roots are in Native American cultures and traditions. It is a ritualistic way to cleanse a person, place or an object of negative energies or influences.

The theory behind smudging, is that the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as it clears it takes the negative energy with it, then Mother Earth reabsorbs the negative energy and filters it herself.

To cleanse your house with sage, you need a bundle of dried sage like this:

You can find them at natural food stores, or specialty bookstores or you can buy some online (check out the amazon link below).

To start, you set your intention. You can say a prayer or an affirmation, whatever feels right to you. The exact words do not matter for it to work. Simply set an intention, to clear your house of any lingering negative energy.  I like to say a prayer, because I am Catholic, and I then I say something like "anything that is not of the highest Christ light and energy please leave you are not welcome here."

Then light your sage. You want to get it lit completely. It is the smoke, not the flame, that clears the energy.

Then wave your sage stick around your whole house. Try to get the smoke into every area of your house. Every corner, every closet, etc.

Sage also helps the flow of energy (a la Fung Shui) in your house, every house can have stagnant areas where the energy is not necessarily negative, but it's stuck. The sage helps move it along.

Also do the front and back porches and all around your door.  


So when would you want to sage?

• After you have had a large party or gathering at your house.  Energy is fluid, so people can leave bits of their energy field where ever they go.  Have you ever felt yucky after going to the mall or a sporting event?  It's because there are 5 million people there and you are rubbing up against and mixing with their  energy.  Sometimes this feels wonderful, like when you are at retreat with like minded people, but other times it feels like you need to take a shower to get the gunk off!  Just FYI, there are ways to protect your aura from negative energy, I will show you how to do that one day soon.
• If you have had a fight with your spouse or children.  Me and Peter fight all the damn time (while Penelope is sleeping).  I do my best to sage after every fight (I also always tell Penelope that we are just working things out and we get angry, but that it is not about her and that she is safe).
• If a negative/grumpy/mean person comes into your home.  
• If you just moved into your house or apartment.  You want to clean out the last families energy.  I would also sage a hotel bed or your bed if you are house guest.  You are literally laying on someone else energy, and it can make you restless.
• If a virus or illness just went through your house.  Sage does have anti-bacterial properties to it. But really its good to do, because usually all illness is just a physical manifestation of an issue in your energy field that has been taken care of.
• If something sad or traumatic happened.  Grief is not necessarily a negative energy, but it sometimes lingers longer than is healthy, and sage can help it along.

Hope that helps!  Happy Saging!