Sacred Herbs for Smudging, Smoke Ceremonies & Energy Clearing Purposes

It’s important to know that all plants are sacred. Different plants carry various properties & benefits, so if you hold a specific intention for your smudging/smoke ritual, you should select herbs that resonates with your intention. If you are drawn to a specific smudge, trust that intuitive calling. There is an underlying reason & purpose.
Sacred Herbs for Smudging, Smoke Ceremonies & Energy Clearing Purposes | Sentient Creations

Dried Herbs & Natural Botanicals that may be used in Smudging Rituals & Smoke Ceremonies

Smudge Stick, Palo Santo, Smoke Ceremony, Smudging, White Sage

www.sentientcreations.com.au

It’s important to know that all plants are sacred. Different plants carry various properties & benefits, so if you hold a specific intention for your smudging/smoke ritual, you should select herbs that resonates with your intention. If you are drawn to a specific smudge, trust that intuitive calling. There is an underlying reason & purpose.

Below are some examples of sacred botanicals that may be used in your Smudging Rituals & Smoke Ceremonies.

White Sage (Salvia apiana) 
~ Clear, Cleanse, Protect ~

One of the most popularly used herbs for Smudging is White Sage. It is extremely powerful for removing negative energy due to its highly cleansing, purifying & protecting. Known to have antimicrobial properties, it also is known for its ability to release negative ions, reducing allergens & airborne pollutants. (Note: We only use Australian grown, sustainably harvested, White Sage in our Ritual Tools).

Desert Sage (Salvia eremostachya) 
~ Purification, Protection, Positivity, Mental Clarity, Healing ~
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With a warm, herbaceous aroma Desert Sage is used for cleansing, purifying, protection, & inner strength, as well as to ward off bad feelings and influences. It is also said to bring pleasant thoughts & to relieve headaches and anxiety.

Desert Sage is great for burning through & through without needing to be relit (as bundles). While, This Sage holds the same cleansing properties as white sage, the scent is entirely different. 

Blue Sage (Salvia azurea)
~ Soothing, Healing, Cleansing ~
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It’s named for its abundant blue flowers, but the leaves also have a blue-ish cast. It has thin leaves and a fragrance that is both herbaceous and floral, similar to Lavender.

A close relative of White Sage, Blue Sage is also good for healing & cleansing rituals. Its soothing, relaxing smell can be used to aid meditation, or burned simply for enjoyment.

Dakota Sage/Prairie Sage (Artemisia Ludoviciana) 
~ Cleanse, Heal, Purify ~
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Prairie Sage is used to cleanse, heal & purify. It clears negative energies, spirits, emotions & intentions. It is also a very protective herb. It is believed that evil spirits flee from it, while good spirits are soothed by it.

Mugwort (Black Sage) (Hierochloe odorata):
~ Protection, Endurance, Higher Consciousness, Divine Connection ~
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Often regarded as the traveller's friend, Mugwort is used to promote physical wellbeing, endurance & protection.

Used to encourage dreams & visions, Mugwort is the herb of introspection & inner healing. When burned before bedtime, it may aid in restful sleep & pleasant dreams. Mugwort is used for astral travel, shamanic journeying, & for protection during such excursions.

Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) (“Holy Wood”)
~ Healing, Stress Relief, Raising Vibrational Energy, Promotes Creativity ~
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Palo Santo  “Holy Wood” is a sacred fallen wood from a sweet, fragrant tree that grows in South America. For centuries, the Incas, Shamans, medicine people & Indigenous communities in South America have used this powerful form of tree medicine for energy clearing, healing & spiritual cleansing.

When sticks of Palo Santo are burnt as an incense, the smoke may be used to clear out negative energies & low vibrations, increase relaxation, and bring joy and harmony to the home & user. Also known for its anti-inflammatory properties & its great use as an insect repellent.

 
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) 
~ Cleansing, Healing, Protection, Clarity of Mind & Body ~
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Native to Australia, Eucalyptus is recognized as one of earth's earliest herbal healers. It is traditionally used as a decongestant, muscle relief & cleaning. Smudging with Eucalyptus is beneficial for cleansing & energising your environment & energy body as it encourages emotional balance, is considered a stimulant & may alleviate exhaustion & mental sluggishness while strengthening concentration & stimulating blood flow. It may encourage clarity of the mind & higher connectedness through visions as it is believed to awaken the spirit.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 
~ Healing, Protection against Physical Illness & Negative Energy/Spirits ~

Rosemary exerts its influence magically as well as physically, & has been used throughout time for health & healing. Used in traditional European protection rituals, Rosemary was commonly placed at thresholds & windows to protect homes from witches & to stop faeries from stealing their children. 

Rosemary has been known through the ages as the herb of remembrance. During the plague, the burning of rosemary dependably cleared the air & prevented airborne infections. Rosemary was also given to mourners to protect them from disease.

Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)
~ Protection, Love, Kindness, Honesty ~
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Sweetgrass is a long, fragrant grass that grows wild across portions of the American Great Plains. Natives of the Great Plains believe it was the first plant to cover Mother Earth. They have traditionally burned it to drive out evil & harm, & allow benevolent spirits to approach.

Ancient lore states that Sweetgrass is the hair of the Earth Mother, & it will often be braided into three strands to represent love, kindness &  honesty. Sweet grass doesn’t produce an open flame, which makes it perfect for personal smudging.

The fragrance of burning Sweetgrass is said to have an alluring effect on energy & spirits of all persuasion. So, to encourage only the positive influences to be present in your journey, it is recommended to smudge with Sweetgrass only after or at the same time as you burn sage.

Bay Leaves (Laurus nobilis)
~ Healing, Psychic Power, Divination, Success, Abundance ~
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Bay leaves have been known for centuries for their many beneficial properties, both culinary & for healing. The use of Bay leaves may help relieve anxiety, reduce inflammation, boost the immune system & increases mindfulness. The aromatic Essential oil that is activated in bay leaves while smudging is known to work as a mood booster. The Bay leaf has multiple uses from protection, healing and calming to Success, victory & being an anxiety reducer. 

Juniper (Juniperus communis) 
~ Purification, Protection, Abundance ~
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Juniper has a sweet and spicy "Christmas tree" like fragrance. Juniper berries are popular in good luck charms, while the leaves are often used for smudging. Juniper is said to have a masculine, protective energy, & is used in rituals of cleansing & prosperity. Juniper is best used for blessing a new venture or dwelling, & inviting in abundance. Burned in ritual purification & to invigorate the mind & body when tired.

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum) "holy herb"
~ Healing, Protection, , Setting Boundaries, Empowerment ~

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Yerba Santa is traditionally burned to honor ancestors, increase psychic powers & bring healing & protection to those who use it. Best known for its affinity to the lungs, it has been widely used as a natural remedy against coughing & many other respiratory ailments.

Cedar (Cedrus) 
~ Renewal, Protection, Banishing Fear, Grounding ~
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Cedar is woodsy and fresh. Both the wood (in the form of chips or shavings) & the foliage make effective smudges. Cedar is known to represent purification & protection as well as to revive the mind & spirit from sickness or exhaustion. It is also very slow burning & perfect for full home smudge rituals. 

Cedar can be used to bless a house before moving in. It works to invite unwanted spirits to leave, protecting & purifying your home.

Lavender (Lavandula allardi)
~ Peace, Calm, Balance, Clarity of Mind ~
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Known for its healing & calming properties, Lavender is considered essential in the natural treatment of many hurts, both physical & emotional. Lavender is known for its soothing & calming effect on the nerves, relieving tension, depression & nervous exhaustion. It encourages a restful night's sleep as well as peace of mind, relaxation & happiness.  Burning lavender produces a sense of cleanliness, peace & joy.

Rose (Rosa)
~Love, Compassion, Open Heart Healing~

Associated with the heart, smoke from roses may attract love, cast out negativity, improve well-being, boost mental clarity & cleanse your space &/or aura. Roses invite nurturing love into your home as well as open the heart to bring deep inner healing & self love. 

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
~ Abundance, Healing, Creativity, Emotional Stability, Positivity ~
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The calendula flower can be used in ritual to inspire healing, optimism & vitality & to attract success in every area of life. Its protective energy dispels negativity & draws in warm abundance, light & love into the energy field.


Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Verum) 
~ Energizing, Motivational, Healing ~
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Cinnamon is known for increasing energy & motivation & it even aids in healing. Burning cinnamon is best used if you have a cold or flu, The essential oils in cinnamon help relax, soothe, & uplift your energy.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) 
~ Releasing Ceremonies, Courage, Protection, Clarity of Mind ~
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Thyme is an excellent herb for removing obstacles, mind blocks, negative feelings as well as working as a memory booster.

The ancient Greeks burned thyme in sick rooms to drive away diseases, clear the air & to invoke strength and courage as well as clarity of mind.

Roman soldiers were believed to bathe in a thyme infusion prior to going into battle to increase energy & courage. In the Middle Ages, an image of a sprig of thyme was embroidered into the cloaks of knights to instill them with courage, protection & a clear mind.

Frankincense (Boswellia)
~ Reduces stress, Eases Tension, Clears Negativity, Enhances Divine Connection ~
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An aromatic tree resin, Frankincense has been revered  for centuries for its ability to both cleanse & elevate the energy around it.  Burning Frankincense resin benefits the Crown Chakra & may help open your mind for meditation & other sacred connection rituals. You can also enhance the energy of your sacred altar by burning frankincense resin as it acts as an offering to the higher source, divine beings & energies you’d like to invite into your space.

Medicinally, frankincense stimulates the airways & may assist to relieve asthma, bronchitis, colds & flu's. It also believed to help alleviate anxiety & depression.

Important notes on sustainability

WHITE SAGE: 

The popularity of White Sage has unfortunately led to the overharvesting of this plant. With the ongoing droughts in California negatively affecting stands of white sage & slowing the recovery rate of land, many prominent herbalists have suggested that enthusiasts consider growing their own.

Sentient Creations is committed to the long term sustainability of this precious plant. We pledge to purchase only material that has been organically cultivated or consciously collected with the long-term health of the wild stands being the guiding factor.

All Sentient Creations White Sage products are Australian grown & harvested in Victoria, using organic practices  to promote sustainability.

PALO SANTO: 

All of our Bursera graveolens products are cut from the heartwood of naturally fallen trees & produced in strict accordance with governmental guidelines regulating the collection, processing, & global distribution of Palo Santo. We support responsible, regenerative sourcing practices, & contribute to active reforestation efforts to ensure a long-term supply of the Bursera graveolens tree for future generations. Sustainably sourced from Peru.



Sacred Herbs Quick Look Guide:

Smoke Ceremony Sacred Botanicals

Ceremonial Intentions

White Sage (Salvia apiana) 

~ Clear, Cleanse, Protect ~

Desert Sage (Salvia eremostachya) 

~ Purification, Protection, Positivity, Mental Clarity, Healing ~

Blue Sage (Salvia azurea)

 

~ Soothing, Healing, Cleansing ~

Dakota Sage/Prairie Sage (Artemisia Ludoviciana) 

~ Cleanse, Heal, Purify ~

Mugwort (Hierochloe odorata):

~ Protection, Endurance, Higher Consciousness, Divine Connection ~

Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) (“Holy Wood”)

~ Healing, Stress Relief, Raising Vibrational Energy, Promotes Creativity ~

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) 

~ Cleansing, Healing, Protection, Clarity of Mind & Body ~

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 

~ Healing, Protection against Physical Illness & Negative Energy/Spirits ~

Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)

~ Protection, Love, Kindness, Honesty ~

Bay Leaves (Laurus nobilis)

~ Healing, Psychic Power, Divination, Success, Abundance ~

Juniper (Juniperus communis) 

~ Purification, Protection, Abundance ~

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum) "holy herb"

~ Healing, Protection, , Setting Boundaries, Empowerment ~

Cedar (Cedrus) 

~ Renewal, Protection, Banishing Fear, Grounding ~

Lavender (Lavandula allardi)

~ Peace, Calm, Balance, Clarity of Mind ~

Rose (Rosa)

~Love, Compassion, Open Heart Healing~

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

~ Abundance, Healing, Creativity, Emotional Stability, Positivity ~

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Verum) 

~ Energising, Motivational, Healing ~

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) 

~ Releasing Ceremonies, Courage, Protection, Clarity of Mind ~

Frankincense (Boswellia)

~ Reduces stress, Eases Tension, Clears Negativity, Enhances Divine Connection ~


✧ Happy Clearing ✧

With Love & Gratitude Always, Sentient Creations.

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