I’ve always found the seeds can be a bit hit and miss. There is also a sub species of Man Sage, but the leaves are thinner. Use equal parts of perlite, potting soil, and sand in a container. Artemisia ludoviciana - and its one of about 200 species in this country). Once you … "Smudging is very specific to prayer, so you can burn sage without smudging and you can smudge without needing to light sage on fire." Avoid the woody parts of the plant. Its a plant that you should thank when you're gathering it. Sage grows well in a variety of climates, and it can survive in temperatures as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit. This is a plant from this country (it wasn't brought here or imported here) and has been used by the People for thousands and thousands of years. It is also one of my absolute favorite smudging herbs. So the better option to grow in your garden and to use in a sage bundle for burning is common sage. Sage (Salvia spp.) Smudging is a cleansing ritual that involves the burning of sage. The day was hot, but luckily the prairie breezes kept us cool (although these gentle winds did occasionally strengthen and become a little noisy during our shoot). " … Drying out sage for smudging is a foundational part of our smudging cleansing ritual. This also tends to have a more acrid aroma, where as the Man Sage is a little more sweet smelling. We use the Man Sage with the wide leaves (this is an artemisia species - Lightly moisten the soil before planting. Blue sage, or “grandmother sage” (Salvia azurea) is the softer, gentler version of “grandfather sage”. We like to get it before its seeded out (normally it won't seed out until way into July). However, it is on the endangered species list, for being over picked. Also white sage is slightly larger, growing 4 to 5 feet tall compared to garden sage's 2 feet height max. If you want to dry in the best way, you must choose this moment for the harvest. That’s the way I grow sage. If you like to practice combining planting then place your sage next to … White Sage is the bread and butter of any smudging kit. Fold in any stray sprigs, tucking them under the string as you go. If possible, grow your own!) *My favorites! © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries, Abalone Shells/Sweat Lodge Ladles/Offering Bowls, Conchos, Mirrors, Cones & Rolled Jingle Cones, Cast Paper Sculpture by Patty & Allen Eckman. In places where white sage refuses to grow, common sage is a fantastic choice. It’s often blended with white sage in gardens and smudge sticks. Whether … We want everyone to know that processing sage is just as important to us as selling it - we want everything done in the right way, we want everything done properly so that when people use this sage for their most sacred, interpersonal uses, they know it started out in a good way". Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect you from the sun. Russian sage is one of my absolute favorite perennials in my pollinator garden. You want to aim for a "crackily" dry bundle of sage (it should crackle when gently squeezed). You can tell if its Man Sage by looking at the leaves. For instance, if you lay it on the ground, it'll soak up moisture…so you really want to look for an area that's cool and dry. It is named for its abundant blue flowers. If you can only place it outside, just remember to bring it inside or cover it at night so it doesn't get any dew on it. Its a good thing to do whenever you gather anything. The best thing to do is take a little tobacco and just offer it up because you're asking for the use of this plant in a good way. Growing Sage for smudging The best Sage to plant for smudging is white Sage. Make sure to fully dry the bundle before burning it, or it may just smell like weed. When mixed with other herbs, it makes a wonderful base for a custom smudging blend. You should also remove any grass or other plants out of your bundle. Give the cutting four to six weeks to establish roots. What is White Sage? This is absolutely important for not only the gathering, but also the drying process…its much easier if it's all laying the same way. It has a sharper smell and the whole plant looks thinner and sharper. Cut off about four inches of a stem with multiple leaves. It has a sharper smell and the whole plant looks thinner and sharper. It has thin leaves and an herbaceous and floral fragrance, similar to lavender. Where to Plant Sage. The most widely known smudging herb is White Sage. Gathering it up: We carry the finest hand-made, wild-crafted, and sustainably grown sage products that we can find including loose or bulk California white sage, smudge sticks, and smudging mists. Wear a long sleeved shirt and long pants so you don't get scratched up by the long grasses and stems. The smudge of blue sage (a bunch of herbs and leaves) comes from a plant that grows in the deserts of the southwestern United States. The Purpose of The Abalone shell? How to harvest: Sage: Sage is used in Europe as the most common base of all blends or smudges (if the person is allergic to sage, the replacement was usually basil or rosemary for physical ails or mugwort for spiritual and emotional ails). Ideally, you should place the cutting on a grow mat and keep at 75°F. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a hardy perennial (in zones 5 to 9) that tastes aromatic and slightly bitter.It is easy to grow, only having three major requirements - plenty of sunshine, good drainage and good air circulation. 16 Beneficial Tips for First Time Container Gardeners, How To Identify and Stop Tomato Pests in Their Tracks, Growing Arugula: The Complete Guide to Plant, Care, and Harvest Arugula. The Woman Sage is a lot smaller, shorter, way more frondy, and a little bit softer. This is … Make sure your bundle is clean! (Endangered so please be very careful when purchasing white sage. Mugwort mixed with common dried Sage is called Black Sage however, Mugwort alone is not a type of sage but combined its used for smudging, cleansing purposes or as the mugwort plant is actually called Artemisia Vulgaris: the herb brings clarity deepens intuitive abilities as well as removes the unwanted energy. Michael and Rose took a trip out to the beautiful countryside to show us how to harvest prairie sage. Get down low on the stem and just cut it off using some heavy scissors or pruning shears. Within some Native cultures, varieties of sage … If you keep an herb garden, you may want to cultivate your own sage plant to ensure a steady and sustainable supply. Our two sage plants have been growing really well, and we have already harvested and dried more than enough for cooking purposes for the next year. What we're doing is we're wild crafting, and we're just trying to do it sustainably. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Sage is the most common plant used for smoke bundling. It is also used for meditation, cleansing, and purification. The Woman Sage is a lot smaller, shorter, way more frondy, and a little bit softer. - Rose Kern. You also have to find a dry place to lay it out. Fertilize your garden well before planting your sage. Burn rosemary for new beginnings. Dip the cut end into an organic rooting solution such as. The sub species, on the other hand, will loose their leaves during the drying process…the leaves are still usable. Smudging (also called “saging”) is a practice which involves the burning of herbs that are bundled, braided, or loose (for our purposes today we are taking about bundling, creating smudge sticks). White sage is part of the larger sage family (Salvia) and is closely related to common sage (Salvia officinalis). You can tell if its Man Sage by looking at the leaves. Symbolism: Wisdom, knowledge, resilience. *White Sage or Salvia Apiana: Used to clear negative energies from objects, space, or people. Typical smudging sticks use white sage, because it is also sacred to Native Americans. If you're going to collect on private property or a state park, ask for permission first. Get young cuttings from the top of an established plant. Plant part: Leaves and pith. However, note that White Sage has become a protected plant due to over-harvesting. You can use a number of different herbs in smudging rituals, including common sage, lavender sage, cedar, pinon pine, juniper or rosemary. Windfall Naturing Home Cleansing Kit. It may help relieve the symptoms of some conditions. This can also be referred to as saging and promotes physical, emotional, and mental well-being by getting rid of bad energy. ... On a spiritual level: Many people use sage burning and smudging to connect with ancestral tradition. Growing Parsley: The Complete Guide to Plant, Grow and Harvest Parsley. White Sage grows wild across the American Southwest in bushy clumps. Type of sage to look for: So, I decided to make my own sage bundles for smudging. Disclosure. Some claim it can change the mood and energy of a room so it is commonly burned after a fight or when someone is upset. When to harvest: Please NEVER pull the sage up by the root and don't harvest the whole patch…just take some, maybe what you think is the most mature (these will more than likely be the tallest stems). Versatile and effective, it’s suitable for most any smudging ritual—cleansing, healing, protection, meditation, and so on. Russian sage has a wonderful musky/minty smell, and once a dried smudge stick is lit, it burns until you either put it out or the smudge stick is used up. Full cleansing kit with instructions for five rites and prayers. Make an offering: Flowers White sage flowers are mostly white with hints of lavender, while garden sage flowers are usually purple or bluish-purple (although they can sometimes also be lavender or white). I let the soil rest for a week before planting. How to dry your sage: Not all sage varieties are culinary; the most popular kitchen sage is called Salvia officinalis. Learn exactly how to grow, cultivate, and harvest in this guide. Please DO NOT dry your sage using artificial heat, like in an oven or microwave - this gives it a toasty odor and deteriorates the plant because it takes too much of the essential oil out of it. Depending on the weather, the drying period for sage will be about one week. Sage is a hardy perennial with pretty, grayish green leaves that like as good in a perennial border as they do in a vegetable garden. Some Indian people call Man Sage "Hill Sage" because they say it tends to grow where its a little hillier. The leaves of this plant will be much wider and stay on the stem as they dry. I use well-rotted manure and general fertilizer. White sage (salvia apiana) is a wonderful plant for cooking, medicinal use, and smudging. Elder – Sambucus nigra. With the long end of the string, begin to wrap the bundle tightly, spiraling up towards the top of the bundle. It does extremely well in full sun and a good well-draining soil. It grows spikes of spring flowers in different colors, including purple, blue, white, and pink. Myrrh Resin. Other forms of sage can also be used for the smudge stick but the scent will be different and the cleansing effect maybe not quite as pronounced as with white sage. For now, feel free to continue reading. The plant accumulates substances and energy that will be needed to cover the effort of making flowers and seeds. Some Native American tribes would burn white sage in a practice that has become known as smudging. Native Americans use California White Sage, Dakota Sage, and Desert Sage during various sacred cermeonies and rituals. Primarily earth element though can also be used as for four-element general purposes. It also makes a beautiful landscape plant, smells wonderful, has medicinal values and is popular with honey bees. There is also a sub species of Man Sage, but the leaves are thinner. Today, smudging has become popular in … The best known ceremonial smudge plant is sage. The Germanic tribes of antiquity used Elder in … Sage itself is an herb that comes from the salvia plant family. White Sage - White Sage is the standard sage most people think of when doing a smudging, may use saging and smudging interchangeably. Smudge sticks can commonly be found in your local metaphysical store, health foods store and other online retailers. Earth Juice® Rootstock™ Cutting Gel & Liquid Concentrate. It's best to lay it all in the same direction (all the stems and all the tops together). It is also the only plant detailed in our accompanying Guide to Growing Sacred White Sage. Rosemary is often burned to create a "fresh start" in life. Sage is an ancient sacred herb used for blessing and in smudging ceremonies. 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For many people, however, white sage is the only way to go. Sage is a perennial plant, an evergreen shrub that is easy to plant and once established even easier to care for. It turns out that sage may help clear the air of … White sage is used in traditions from North America because it grows here and is the most cleansing of the sage varieties. In some districts, you may just need to purchase a cutting or wild crafting permit (usually a small fee). We want the plant to come back year after year, as it has done for thousands of years. Consider growing sage. Michael and Rose took a trip out to the beautiful countryside to show us how to harvest prairie sage. The best way to dry it is to gather it together in a bundle, tie it together, and hang it in your garage or another place so it will dry evenly. This is the kind of sage that people around here use and expect to both receive and purchase when they come into the store. 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