The Ancient Art of Burning Sage
Many who eschew the burning of incenses and herbs as a cleansing method and think the only purpose in this tradition is to make dwellings smell nice, have perhaps never smelled sage burning. No one who has smelled the distinct acrid tang of burning sage would say that it could only be for 'aesthetic' olfactory purposes.
The Latin for sage, Salvia, stems from the word 'to heal.' The other qualities of sage, when burned, such as giving wisdom, clarity and increasing spiritual awareness, are also indicated in the name. Do you think it's any accident that we refer to wise people as sagely?
The benefits of burning sage can be harnessed very simply by burning sage in your home, office or any other place in need of cleansing.
How to burn sage properly. Sage-burning cleansing rituals can be as elaborate or as simple as you want them to be, but it's of the highest importance that your intention be clear before you begin. If you are burning sage to purify a space, or a person (even yourself), then this needs to be clearly planted in your mind before you even the light the sage and while taking the smoke around a home, or through a space.
The best sage to use for such purposes is white sage, although if you have garden sage, then this will work fine also (just make sure it is dried). Any local farmer's market or health food store should carry it, as well as New Age shops. Of course, you can order it online as well.
The process is simple enough. If you have a heavy earthenware pot (something heat-proof), then place the bundled sage into the pot and light it for a few seconds before extinguishing the flame and letting the smoke billow up. Really dry sage will catch fire quickly, so watch your fingers.
Focus burning sage on gateway and high traffic areas. Be careful not to breathe in the smoke directly and not to fill the area too thickly with smoke this is not a fumigation, just a cleansing, so no need to go overboard. Then slowly walk around where you are and take the smoke to each area you would like to cleanse. Concentrate on `gateway' areas, such as windows, doors, closets and hallways. Also concentrate on the corners of a room. Most importantly, use your intuition. If you allow it, your space will usually inform you as to which areas need to be cleansed.
You may want to focus on particularly busy areas, both foot traffic-wise (kitchen) and mentally busy (computer workstation). You may even hear a song, hymn or chant bubble up from your unconscious, this is perfectly natural. Look at Hindu priests who often chant sacred sounds while purifying their temple halls (usually with incense and a loud bell in hand).
Try burning incense immediately after a saging session. Sage has a more masculine/yang aspect and is nicely coupled to the feminine/yin aspect of incense. Also experiment with bell ringing or hand clapping in between saging and incense burning for a total cleansing effect.
If you can at least burn sage in your living space on a weekly basis, then you will notice a lightness of energy and calmness descend into your home from this practice. It can be a way to cleanse the old energy from the previous week and welcome in the newly beginning week and all the possibilities it holds.