This post discusses the basics of home cleansing with Native-sourced or homegrown sage. We respect the sacred ceremonies and materials of closed Indigenous practices and aim to promote mindful, ethical approaches to energy cleansing.
Cleansing a home with sage refers to the process of lighting sage (or other herbs) on fire, extinguishing it, and wafting the smoke around a space in an effort to reduce or purify negative energy. Here’s everything you should know about burning sage, including how to conduct your own secular smoke cleansing.
Why People Burn Sage
Sage has been used medicinally and spiritually for more than 4,000 years by Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and more—and incense has long been used as a tool for smoke cleansing across numerous civilizations. Various Indigenous cultures, particularly in North America, have long practiced saging using sacred herbs like white sage, desert sage, and sweetgrass as part of spiritual and ceremonial traditions. This ceremonial practice, also known as smudging, is considered closed—meaning it is reserved for members of the Indigenous communities who hold the traditions.
Today, many non-Indigenous people engage in secular smoke cleansing, a separate practice that does not incorporate the specific spiritual and ceremonial elements of smudging. Ethical smoke cleansing often involves herbs like lavender, rosemary, and garden sage rather than white sage—which holds deep cultural significance in Indigenous traditions. Many believe that burning sage and other herbs can have positive effects, such as improved moods, air purification, and ridding a space of negative energy.
When to Do a Smoke Cleansing
There isn’t just one specific or “right” time to conduct a cleansing ritual with sage—you can do it whenever you feel called to. Some people burn sage daily or weekly, and others do it upon entering a new phase of life. You might also choose to relight your sage stick if you notice your space or mind feels particularly negative, crowded, or stressed.
Here are some instances when people often choose to conduct a sage cleansing ritual:
- After an argument in the space
- After entertaining guests
- After illness
- Before going to bed after a long day
- Before or after meditating
- Before or after moving into a new home or apartment
- When experiencing a life transition
- When feeling emotionally drained
- When setting up a new office space
How to Cleanse Your Home
While individual steps for cleansing your home can vary based on personal preferences, here’s a general guide on how to cleanse a home.
Gather Your Supplies
Since there are so many ways to do a smoke cleansing, the materials you need will depend on how you’d like to handle the process. For example, you may or may not opt to ring a bell, and you could decide to waft smoke with your hand rather than a feather. Additionally, though sage is the most common herb for cleansing a home, other herbs for smoke cleansing that you can use include juniper, lavender, cedar wood, mugwort, and rosemary. Just remember to get your herbs from Indigenous groups or another ethical source if you’re not using a home garden to create your own sage bundles.
Here are some items you might want on hand before cleansing your house:
- Sage bundle/stick or bundle of other herbs
- Matches
- Abalone shell, clay bowl, or other fireproof dish
- Feather
- Bowl of sand
- Incense or scented candle
- Bell
Prepare for the Cleansing Ritual
Give yourself ample time to prepare before cleansing a house with sage. Some people recommend cleaning your home in advance so it can be more receptive to the process. It’s also best to try getting into a positive mindset before cleansing your house to set the right tone. Turn off any electronics that could interrupt your focus, and try meditating or decompressing in your yoga room, if you have one. Then walk around and open all the windows and doors to allow the negative energy to leave your space. You might also choose to clap or ring a bell in each room to displace stagnate energy and prepare it to shift.
Set Your Intention
Once your mind and space feel ready, consider what you’d like to gain from cleansing your home. Are you trying to heal emotionally, clear your mind, invite positivity into your home, reduce anxiety from a move, or something else? Take a few minutes to sit and meditate on your intention. You can even come up with a mantra to repeat. As you move through your house, remember to keep your intention top-of-mind—or state it aloud if you’d like.
Light the Herbs
To begin the smoke cleansing ritual, light your stick or bundle while holding your fireproof vessel below it to catch the ash. Point the herbs down at a 45-degree angle, and let them burn for 30 seconds. Gently extinguish the flame so only embers remain, and the smoke will follow. As you’re cleansing a home with sage, you can fan the tip lightly to produce more smoke, but be sure to keep the stick at least two feet away from your body for safety. If at any time your bundle goes out completely, you can relight it and repeat the process.
Waft the Smoke
Start wafting the smoke on the bottom level of your home and move upward. Slowly walk around each room clockwise and allow the smoke to flow into every corner—some people like to gently wave a feather or their hand to push the smoke into all parts of the space. Pay special attention to mirrors, windows, entrances, and hallways. If ashes or embers fall outside of your fireproof dish, put them out immediately.
Finish the Process
Save the entrances to your home for last, including the front, back, and any side entrances. When you’re ready, simply guide your sage around each doorframe. End the cleansing ritual by stating your intention in your head or out loud again. Then use a bowl of sand or your fireproof vessel to extinguish the sage, and make sure there is no lingering smoke coming from it before leaving it alone.
Settle Your Space
Allow your extinguished herbs to rest for 30 to 45 minutes to ensure the fire is completely out before packing them away for future use. Some people bury the ashes to return the negative energy to the earth for neutralization—while others simply sprinkle them on the ground for the same effect. Just make sure the ashes are completely cool before you dispose of them. If you feel inclined, burn a calming incense or scented candle that reflects the intention you set—such as clove for pain relief, eucalyptus for concentration, or rose to enhance love. You can also take this time to play gentle music, reflect on your intention, and express gratitude for the fresh energy you’ve invited into your space.
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Disclaimer: This post is written with respect and allyship in mind, and we acknowledge that this topic is best spoken about by those with lived cultural experience. Our goal is to provide helpful information. Smudging is a closed practice, and we encourage further education and support for Native voices on this topic. For more insight, consider these resources by Native authors and experts:
- “Smudge and the Cultural Appropriation Issue“ by Dakota Fahrenkrug
- “What Is Going On With White Sage?“ by Susan Leopold, Executive Director of the United Plant Savers, as well as a member of the Board of Directors for Botanical Dimensions and the Center for Sustainable Economy, in addition to an advisory board membership upon the American Botanical Council
- “A Discussion About Sage“ by Molly Roe, content creator and account manager at SweetGrass Trading Company.
