Does Saging ACTUALLY Work?: Sacred Smoke & Science

diana: Welcome to Beyond the Spiritual Nexus, your cosmic connection. I'm your host, Diana Rose. And as always, I'm here with my lovely co-host Xandra. Hello and welcome to Cosmic Monday, where we like to talk about all things mystical, magical, and supernatural. Yes, we do. So grab your favorite cup of tea, settle in, and let's jump right into a topic that probably every practitioner learns about early in their spiritual journey. Yes, tonight we're talking about saging. You see it everywhere. You see it in wellness shops, you see it all over social media. And actually, people have been saging throughout thousands of years of human history. So we're unpacking both the verified historical and scientific facts. as well as the authentic spiritual and energetic traditions that are behind it. There will be no fluff, just real history, practical wisdom, and a deep respect for the craft. Alright, so to understand Sage, I do think we have to start with its roots. So when people talk about smudging specifically, it's important to recognize that this refers to sacred ceremonial traditions held by indigenous North American nations, including the Ojibwe, Lakota, and many other North American tribes. Mm-hmm. Native American tribes. and historically practicing these traditional ceremonies was actually criminalized in the United States until the passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, which was in nineteen seventy eight. That's not very long ago. No, just under about fifty years ago. You know, indigenous people protected their practices through generations of persecution, which is why When we approach saging, we should approach it with respect, cultural awareness, and ethical sourcing. I believe that this is very vital. It is. I think so. Mm-hmm. So deep within indigenous oral traditions, sage is revered as a living medicine spirit. Yes. In Anishinabe creation teaching, sage is one of the four sacred medicines alongside tobacco. sweet grass and cedar. According to the story, when the Great Spirit placed human beings on Earth, Sage was provided specifically to cleanse, purify, and clear away heavy or oppressive emotions or negative energies so that people could live in balance. Yes, and In Lakota tradition, the use of sage is actually woven directly into the story of white buffalo calf woman who brought sacred sacred rites to the people. Before entering sacred ceremonies, like the sweat lodge, sage or pehewat was burned. Are worn to sweep away personal impurities, bad intentions. Traditional teachings actually emphasize the dynamic here, because while sage is used to clear away and banish heavy or unwanted energy, sweet grass is then burned afterwards. To invite peace and positive blessings back into the space. Now, something I find really interesting is that sage also has held a sacred place and traditions across the globe. Remember? for example, in ancient Egypt, sage was regarded as a plant of life and vitality. And the ancient Romans also called it garden sage. Herba Sacra Yes. Sacred herbs. Sacred herbs. Yes. They held harvesting rituals actually, where gatherers wore clean tunics and before they cut the plant, the sage, they offered sacrifices of bread and wine. Yes, they did. That's right. And another example over in East Asia, red sage was burned as a temple incense in Taoist traditions, and it was used to clear stagnant qi and to calm the mind in preparation for meditation. Also, European sage was actually so prized, Xandra, during the seventeenth century that Dutch merchants reported that Chinese traders were exchanging three to four pounds of fine green tea for just like a pound of dry sage. Really? Yeah. Absolutely. You know what? I take the deal. I would take the deal. If you would like to make that deal. Okay, and also in medieval Europe, monks cultivated sage in monastery gardens and they burned dried bundles to ward off airborne plagues and protect homes and across every single one of these cultures, practitioners were tapping into if you'll notice four main uses, four main energetic uses. That would be energetic cleansing, creating sacred space, invoking blessing and protection, and sharpening mental clarity. Now what makes Sage so fascinating is that its spiritual reputation also matches what science observes in the physical world. Yes, absolutely, it really does. People use it for everything. From clearing out heavy energy in a room to boosting focus during meditation. Scientifically, burning or diffusing sage actually releases volatile compounds like cineole and camphor into the air. The nose is a very sensitive part of your body, you know? Yes, it is, absolutely. A two thousand and seven study in The Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that burning medicinal herbal smoke reduced airborne bacterial counts in an enclosed space by up to 94%. Wow, 94%. 94%. And it also kept the air noticeably cleaner for up to 24 hours. And the aroma actually alters your brain chemistry. When those molecules hit your olfactory system, they interact with GABA receptors, lowering cortisol levels and boosting focus and mental clarity when you need it. Now, if you want to bring this into your own home, you don't need to use white sage specifically. No. Because wild white sage actually faces severe over harvesting. So choosing sustainable alternatives is both ethically responsible and just as effective. Absolutely. Common garden sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, and pine. They all carry incredible purifying traditions. Rosemary is amazing for mental clarity and focus, while lavender brings a deep and peaceful calm. And if you are growing your own garden herbs or hosting her harvesting locally. I don't know why I was combining harvesting locally in host into hosting. Always remember the one third rule. So that means never harvest more than one third of a living plant at any given time. Leaving the remaining two-thirds ensures that the plant can photosynthesize, which means it's going to recover and keep thriving season after season. Exactly. But you should only harvest wild plants if you have proper botanical training or if you're working alongside an experienced herbalist. Because misidentifying wild plants, Xandra, can be very dangerous. And wild foraging requires knowing local conservation laws so you don't accentually disturb protected habitats. So when in doubt, stick to your own garden or buy from a reputable local grower. That's a good point, some good advice. Now, once you have your dried herbs. Using them is really straightforward. If you're doing a traditional smoke cleansing with a dried bundle, always open a window first. Always. Always. You need an exit route for both the stale energy and the smoke. So light the tip, blow out the flame so it smolders, and hold a safe, a heat-safe ceramic bowl underneath to catch any falling embers. We don't want to start a fire. No. And then you'll walk around your space, let the smoke. Smoke reach the corners and then extinguish the bundle completely in sand or a fireproof dish when you're done. We actually recommend an abalone shell if you can. And on the other hand, water will cause rot in the center of your bundle. Yeah, don't use that. Yeah, don't use it. And also never leave smoldering herbs unattended. So we know that Not everyone can burn herbs in their space. We don't want to leave you out though, so don't worry because we have the solution for you. Yeah, we gotcha. Mm-hmm. You can brew your own DIY protection spray, and we're gonna teach you how to do that right here, right in your own kitchen, in place of traditional smoke cleansing. The nice thing about this is you'll likely Already have the herbs you need sitting right in your kitchen pantry. Yeah, yeah. I think people will be surprised by how easy it actually is. Yes. So all you need to do is bring about a cup of water, preferably spring but distilled works too. Mm-hmm. and you're gonna bring that to a boil, remove it from the heat, and then you steep a handful of fresh or dried kitchen herbs like garden sage and rosemary, plus a pinch of sea salt. Yes. And then you cover that and let it brew to the color of like a strong tea. Now that could take up to 20 minutes, so be patient and be present with the pot. And then once it cools down completely, you're gonna strain out the herbs and you're gonna pour the liquid into a clean spray bottle. Add a small splash of witch hazel or rubbing alcohol. We use this as a natural preservative. You're gonna give it a little shake. Don't shake it too hard. Be gentle. And it's all about intention. Set your intention for protection and peace. Yeah, you know, you know what you do. And then you're gonna spritz it around your front entryway, your workspace, or just room corners whenever the energy feels a little heavy or oppressive. Just as you would if you were using a smudge bundle. Yes. Now this spray is pet safe by the ways, but you'll probably be conscious of how much you use it regardless because you'll probably you know, it's homemade. But ultimately you get those same the exact same protective benefit. from the spray as you do burning the herbs. The great thing about this method is there is no smoke and nothing in it is expensive either. Right. It's just simple kitchen magic. Yes. Now let's gaze upward to the skies and see what's written in the stars. So let's move onward with cosmic currents. It is cosmic Monday, after all. We have a huge week in front of us, actually. So today, August 24th, we're starting out under a waxing gibbous moon in Capricorn. Now, Capricorn energy is all about discipline, stability, and Getting real tangible results. And on top of that, the moon is aligning today with Spica the brightest star in Virgo. In ancient star lore, Spica is known as the Star of Abundance. So it brings this amazing wave of prosperity, talent. Divine protection. But Monday is really just setting the stage for the rest of the week. By Tuesday and Thursday, Mercury enters Virgo and hits a Mercury Cazimi, which is that's just an exact conjunct between the two. Basically, that means laser focus, sharp mental clarity, and the perfect window for organizing your big goals. Then comes the main event on Friday, august twenty-eighth, because a powerful full moon lunar eclipse in Pisces. Eclipses act like emotional portals of release. Making Friday a prime time to surrender all those old habits, let go of all those illusions, and close out all those past chapters. Yep, yep, exactly. And to wrap it all up over the weekend, the moon charges right into Aries, giving us a fresh burst of energy and motivation to take action. So Across this entire week, from Spica's Abundance on Monday all the way to Friday's eclipse, we're clearing out space, removing negativity, and a lack of motivation from our lives to make space for blessings to land in your life. Speaking of clearing space, with that out of the way, we have all the room we need for tea and tarot. yes. My favorite part. Mine too. So let's start with the tea, shall we? yes. Diana, what are we ingesting today? Well, today we are drinking a blend of sage, rosemary, and lemon pill. The sage is grounding, the rosemary adds a bit of focus, and the lemon peel just brightens everything up. It's good. The the sage is I'm glad you like it. It's very earthy. And the rosemary's pretty green, but the the lemon helps a lot. The honey actually, which honey does have healing properties to it. Definitely. And you know, lemons are actually about to be in season, so we gotta drink more of this and use up what we have so we can get the real good ones soon. Yes, definitely, Xandra. Okay. I am gonna give these a Good yes, Xandra. Should tell us what is in store for us with the tarot today. Don't rush me, I'm getting there. I'm setting our intention for today. What message do we need? to hear to help us open up to abundance and let go of what's holding us back. wow just falling out over here. Okay. we have pulled drum roll please the four of pentacles. now that is an interesting pull Xandra That is the control card. The control card. Pentacles are also associated with the earth element. Yeah. So they're associated with Capricorn actually. Capricorn moon. Yes, it is. Now if you look at the artwork on the Rider Waite Deck, there are the Rider-Waite card, excuse me. there's this figure. Sitting on a stone bench outside the city. It's completely covered in coins. He's got one balanced right on his head. There are two coins locked under his feet, and he's clutching one over his heart like a shield. Right. Now that coin. On his head shows how material worries can actually block your intuition. And holding that coin over his chest. Well, that's that's all about being emotionally guarded. Now, upright, this is a card about stability, saving money, and setting boundaries. But the reverse, that's possessiveness and isolation, and a deep fear of scarcity. Very good depictions, Xandra. Thank you. Exactly. I learned from the best. Mm-hmm. Of course you did. I know you did. Sitting outside the city while hoarding his treasure means he's totally cut off from the community. So when it flips or evolves It's all about releasing that control and shifting out of the scarcity mindset and choosing generosity over fear. That's precisely how I would read that. Yes. The message today, I think it's pretty clear. If you want to welcome in Spica's abundance, you have to loosen your grip. If you're hoarding old stress, clutter, or resentment. Just out of habit, there's no physical or emotional room left for new blessings. Yes, there's no time like the present to shed that heaviness. Yes, ma'am. So cleansing your space isn't just about sweeping out the old. This is it's all set up for making room for the good stuff heading your way. To bring everything together, we've put together a practical, down-to-earth ritual that you can easily perform at home today using basic garden herbs or your DIY herbal spray. Yes, you don't need anything fancy at all. To begin with, you want to prepare the portal by opening at least one door or window in your home. That's gonna give The old stale energy, a clear exit route. While welcoming fresh opportunities inside. Next comes grounding and setting your intent. Hold your bundle of garden herbs or your spray, press both feet firmly into the floor. Plant it to the floor and take three slow deep breaths. Speak your intention out loud saying I release all stagnation and invite the abundance of Spica into my home, my career and finances, and my life. Then you begin the cleansing walk. Safely light your herbal stick, blow it out so that it smolders and Or you can grab your spray which you have created, start right at the front entry and move mindfully throughout your home, making sure that you focus on the corners and doorways and your workspaces, you know, the spots where mental stress tends to pull. Now finally we're going to close it out and what you're going to want to do to anchor that abundance. Is safely extinguish your herb bundle in a fireproof bowl or a vessel of sand. Then take a pen and paper and write down three specific tangible goals or blessings that you're ready to welcome into your life under the Capricorn moon. Yes. And then place that paper on your workplace. So that's going to be either your desk or your altar. Well, my sweets, that's all with the time we have for tonight. We just want to remind you, your story isn't just about carrying the weight of old stress or letting heavy energy linger around you. It's also about honoring that quiet, wise space that you create when you're actively cleansing your environment and mind. Guiding every choice you make today and beyond. So stop letting stagnant energy or old scarcity mindsets hold you back. You hold the steering wheel and you get to decide what stays in your space and what gets swept away. We want to thank you all for sitting with us at the table and And stepping into the Nexus with us today. If this episode on the science, history, and spirit of Sage helped you feel more grounded in your practice, make sure to leave us a review, share it on your stories, and tag us. Or Pass it along to a friend who might appreciate a little bit of history and a little bit of magic. Miss Diana spoon's going off. Don't mind it. As always. We're very popular people. But before you go, we just wanna say our favorite part of this show is building a community. A literal Nexus, if you will. And that means bringing your voices onto the show. So if you've ever had an incredible experience with space cleansing, or a time where your intuition guided your ritual, or if you have questions about herbs, tarot, or astrology, We want to hear from you. So send your stories, questions, or your short voice notes over to hello at spiritual nexus podcast.com. Once again, that's hello at spiritual nexus podcast.com. You can also reach Xandra and me on Instagram at D Spiritual Nexus. Or Check us out at spiritual nexus podcasts.com. That's spiritualnexus podcast.com. You can also find out more information on how to reach us there. As always, we want to thank you for joining us and we'll catch you next week on another Cosmic Monday. Until next time, trust your quiet inner voice. Clear out what no longer serves you. Stay grounded. And take good care of each other. Peace out, everybody.