California White Sage "Salvia Apiana"
The white sage of California "Salvia Apiana": to practice the true ritual of Native American purification
California white sage, a"Salvia Apiana"variety, has been used for centuries by Indian shamans in purification rituals designed to drive out negative energies that have accumulated in a place, or on a person or object.
During a "smoke ceremony", the shaman burns leaves or a small bundle of white sage (called "smudge") and generously spreads the smoke all around what needs to be purified, pronouncing prayers. According to tradition, this ritual would drive out undesirable"entities"and evil ones, but also attract positive energies so as to create an environment conducive to the care and healing of people, but also to increase their wisdom and their connection with the benevolent spirits of nature.
This shamanic ritual has now spread across all continents and is widely practiced all over the world. Can this be seen as proof of its effectiveness?
How to practice a traditional purification ritual with white sage from California?
There are several ways to use salvia apiana white sage in purification rituals. Let's look here at the most widespread Amerindian ancestral method.
-
You must imperatively use the white sage of California, variety Salvia Apiana. It comes in the form of loose dried leaves, or small bundles called "fumigation stick" or "smudge". You must also have at your disposal a non-flammable container such as a bowl or a hollow ceramic plate, for example. Native Americans often use an anthem shell because it is considered a representation of the ocean gods.
-
Light the leaves or the white sage stick with a match or lighter. Be careful, a burn quickly arrived! Make sure that no flammable objects are near you during the ritual. Let the sage burn for about 8 to 10 seconds, then blow on the flame to extinguish it. The combustion will then produce a thick fragrant smoke which is precisely the vector of purification.
-
If you purify a place indoors. Be sure to always keep a good ventilation, keeping a window ajar for example. This will allow the smoke to escape (but not the delicate scent that persists even when the smoke has dissipated), but also to evacuate all negative energies including possible entities and other evils that may have besieged the place. Purify each piece of the place by moving clockwise. Then, in each room, spread sage smoke everywhere, from bottom to top and from left to right, insisting especially in the nooks and crannies, and always going clockwise. If esoteric practices do not scare you, you can utter and repeat a few words during the ritual. For example "Spirit of Evil, I order you to leave this place and never return", or "Malefice, leave without delay and return where you came from".
-
If you purify an object or a person. The process is exactly the same, but on a smaller scale. It is therefore a question of spreading white sage smoke all around the person or the object to be purified, by pronouncing a magic phrase. Make sure that those involved in the ritual do not inhale too much smoke. Be careful not to burn anything, the white sage in embers is very very hot! The traditional rite is that white sage is allowed to burn until it has completely turned into ashes. White sage that has already been used in a fumigation ritual should not be rekindled.
-
If you still want to extinguish white sage before the end of its combustion, you can pass it under water, or crush it with a non-flammable utensil such as a metal spoon.
California white sage mood fragrances
If you like the scent of white sage but do not want to perform a purification ritual, you may be looking for an ambient scent based on this plant. You've come to the right place! Coco Papaya offers white Sage from California in all its forms: natural incense, fragrant oil and deodorizing spray.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need advice.