Sage? In my house?

[Sahariel]

Hello all! It's been quite some time since I posted here, but I had a question and my google-fu seems to be broken.

I'm moving to new apartment in the next couple of days, and I really wanted to do a cleansing. I'd like to use sage, but I don't have any access to a place locally to buy a stick, because, well, there isn't one (yay for backwoods alabama) and I don't have time to order one online. Could I use the sage you buy from the grocery store? I was thinking of using rubbed sage (it's powdered, basically, for the cooking inept) I was thinking of using some on a simple wooden incense burner and lighting it. I tried it earlier, and it does light, smolder and smoke. And it certainly smells like a smudge stick. I'm wondering if it will have the same cleansing properties though. I read the ingredients, and it simply contains green sage.

Thanks so so much!

[Christine50]

My daughter-in-law is "First Nations" and as a rule they smudge their houses with sage but it makes her feel ill so instead she places at every entrance, door and window, a piece of cedar branch. This might work for now until you find some sage for smudging.

[Lunar Raven]

This is an interesting question. My first thought was "of course, it should work fine"..but from what I know, most people use white sage for cleansing (Salvia Apiana)..because of it's known properties. I'm not positive if those same properties would exist in Sage bought at the grocery store..which I'm guessing is a different type of sage (a culinary sage).

[Sahariel]

what I can gather from wikipedia, they are two different types of sages, although they are from the same family, they're sub-species of it. I've see a couple of sources say that either type can be used, but I don't want to dishonor the plant by using it not as intended. I will probably just get some cedar together and "sweep" the house, after I cleanse it with water, white vinegar and kosher salt. It seems I'm gonna have to suck it up and make the 2 hour drive to the only place I know to buy it.

Thanks for the help so far, and if anyone has any suggestions, I'd be more than happy to hear them!

[Lunar Raven]

You could also use Rosemary (which has great cleansing qualities)..either burn some in each room, or make an infusion and sprinkle some of it in the corners of each room, blessing the space. Rosemary is something you should be able to get from any grocery store..and from what I know, there's only one kind of it. :p

[Ivy Artemisia]

You might try using a small self-igniting charcoal disc to help you burn your sage (or put it on your shopping list). I've found smudge sticks in really unlikely places like smoke shops or any other place you might find incense- indian stores, etc?


I was thinking of using some on a simple wooden incense burner and lighting it. I tried it earlier, and it does light, smolder and smoke. And it certainly smells like a smudge stick.

[Rick]

Yes, the ground or chopped sage works just fine for smudging. I actually prefer it.

[Zephii]

I use grocery-store sage without any problems, usually mixed with rosemary. I don't think it makes a difference. :)

[Meadhbh]

I agree most grocery stores have dried sage in your herb section. It should burn well enough for a stanard smudge stick. Failing that is you just want a cleansing you can always use salt, which is easy to find any where.

[~Elise~]

Yes, the ground or chopped sage works just fine for smudging. I actually prefer it.

Yes, but I don't. I want the 'real' thing...white sage.

[~Elise~]

as for smuding a new house--over in the circle of teaching in my magical self defense there is a whole chapter on house blessing and smuding and alternative herbs to use.

Elise