Sage Cleansing Smudge Medicine

The Spirit Keeper of the South, Shawnodese, Coyote is represented by the sagebrush, most often referred to simply as Sage. Despite its name, this prolific plant is a member of the Artemisia genus and is not a true sage. Artemisias are ruled by the moon. Sagebrush grows in many forms around the world. Its name sometimes causes it to be confused with culinary sage which is a member of the mint family. How typical of Coyote trickster medicine is that of confusion! However, sage and sagebrush look, smell, and grow differently.

Sagebrush is a shrub with two- to four-foot-long branches that hold many bushy leaves. The tuff-like flowers are most often purplish pink. Sagebrush grows wild in drier climates and in the desert area such as California, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and many other states. It is an earth healing plant which helps preserve both soil and moisture in these dry areas.

The most important use of this sage is as a smudge. Along with sweetgrass, it is the most common used for smudging today. Whereas sweetgrass is considered to draw all the good energies, sage is considered to help transform any energies that are not working for the highest good of a person, place, or ceremony. When burning, Sage emits a pungent, strong, thick smoke. The Sage smoke, like the rapid growth of the summer, helps bring change to everything.

Our preferred type of sage is called white sage, or buffalo sage. Put the sage in a shell, bowl, or hold one leaf between your fingers. Light the sage and gently blow out the flame, so that it smokes. Then draw the smoke towards you with a cupped hand. Draw it towards your heart and towards your face and up over your head. Maybe you would like to specifically cleans your senses, your eyes, your nose, your ears and your hands for touch. This is a smoke bath or cleansing to release all heavy, lower energies, so that you can invite higher, spiritual energies into your field and being. If you have a sacred feather, it can be used to draw the smoke to you instead of your hand. If another person smudges you instead of yourself, they may smudge upwards on the front, downward of the back of your whole body, as well as your feet that touch Earth Mother. You may notice the immediate shift in energy by breathing a deep sigh and wondering why you didn't do this earlier, maybe when you really needed it. By smudging, you are leaving the everyday world behind you as you enter into sacred space.

Excerpted from... A Sun Bear Book

Dancing With the Wheel

The Medicine Wheel Workbook by Sun Bear, Wabun Wind and Crysalis Mulligan

ISBN: 0-671-76732-1 Simon & Schuster Publisher 1991

by Wind Daughter, Panther Wind Woman

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