Dodee is a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, certified in Dr. Klinghardt's Autonomic Response Testing, and is an educator of the Living Biofield as an integral part of health, with nearly two decades of experience in detox strategies, holistic healing, and long-standing chronic illness. Dodhisattva.com, est. 2009
In this article, we will explore the magic and medicine of Sage.
Sage is a medicinal plant found in many herbal remedies.
It is commonly used to help stimulate the immune system, aid in fighting off infections, and help with digestion.
Physical & Emotional Health Benefits of Sage
The health benefits of sage are many.
One of the health benefits of sage is that it acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, which helps fight off the bacteria that causes colds and coughs.
Sage is also very beneficial for people who have a weak immune system.
In addition, sage is also an excellent antioxidant that can be used to aid a person’s body in fighting off diseases.
When you’re feeling down or upset, there might be nothing more powerful than a sage plant.
It can lift the darkest mood and heal depression or negative energy.
The smell of fresh-picked sage is a scent that conjures up memories of summer, and in many Western and Native American cultures its spiritual significance is just as strong.
For me it peels the onion of the illusion of this realm to remind me of the truth of my essence.
The magical and medicinal qualities of Sage are the main reason for its popularity.
People just feel it on a deep level when they use a smudge stick.
My Magical Experience with Wild Shasta Sage (Sagebrush)
My recent first-hand experience of communing with wild Shasta sage was a rich spiritual experience.
I had my heart set on finding wild Shasta sage.
I had a few intuitive ideas of where it was growing.
At first I noticed lots of the wild rabbitbrush growing.
Rabbitbrush is all over this area and has a structure similar to some sagebrush.
As I was led to a dirt road off the beaten path, I started walking the terrain, admiring the landscape and the mountain’s majesty.
As I got a feel for the land and the wild plants I passed, I recognized that each truly has its own part in the web of life.
The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. ~ W. B. Yeats
Then, as I looked down, there was one small shrub that very much resembled sage.
I ran my fingers gently over a part of the plant, then took a breath.
My eyes wide, I knew it was Shasta sage which is sagebrush.
I respectfully harvested a small piece from the sage shrub.
I thought this must be it, as I looked around; there was no more in sight.
Then, as I walked back along the path and looked to my right, it was like a whole world opened up to me.
There were large mother, father, and grandfather sage shrubs all around me.
Being amidst the wild sages felt deeply rich and fulfilling.
Sage as a Medicine and Healer
People around the world use sage regularly.
Sage offers many health benefits: sage oil, sage tea, sage incense, and sage essential oil are all considered natural remedies or supplements to support wellness and good health.
In medicine, sage is used to help combat infection, treat pain and fever, and even as a remedy for anxiety and depression.
Have you wondered how sage has so many health benefits?
The main reason that people use sage for health is that it helps remove toxins from the body; a common home remedy for detox.
Sage is most commonly used for its aroma, which is why it fits right in the kitchen.
It helps improve digestion, calm the nerves, and ease stress.
Because it combines a unique oil and spice blend, it can also help relieve headaches.
You can also help keep your skin healthy by using sage products, as it can clear acne with its antimicrobial properties.
Sage and Its Magical Properties
Sage is an essential cleansing herb, used by Native American shamans for spiritual and physical cleansing.
It can be used for purification, peace, and protection.
You can use sage for personal, work, and spiritual and physical cleansing.
If used to cleanse negative energy, sage can clear an individual’s aura and bring light.
Millions of Native Americans and Europeans have practiced cleansing and purifying rituals since ancient times.
Some believe certain ceremonial activities can improve the human condition.
They offer an opportunity to heal your emotional, spiritual, and physical imbalances.
Many people use herbs, salt, and other natural things to cleanse negative energy.
One important method is to smudge. It is a cleansing and purifying ritual.
I like to use both White sage and Shasta sage -sagebrush.
You can also add Yerba Santa, Cedar, or Sweet Grass to the smudge stick.
Sage is one of the most powerful magical herbs.
Many believe sage leaves are especially effective against evil-doers, which is why some practitioners use it as a cleansing herb, especially during the waning summer months.
Sage is also useful for healing many kinds of illnesses; its name, meaning ‘holy,’ reflects its ability to purify and restore health.
For many years, people believed sage was good for the stomach, as they traditionally used it with cheese or wine.
It has also long been used to make cough syrup, since it helps to dissolve phlegm without causing an upset stomach.
Types of Wild Sage & Harvesting
Wild sage is an evergreen, bushy plant that has thin, branching stems and produces tiny, round, hairy blue and lavender flowers in late spring and summer.
The flowers look like tiny star flowers but lack the six yellow tips at the center.
The leaves are a light purplish blue when young. After flowering, they turn dark forest green.
There are many types of wild sage, but you may know them by their botanical name, according to the botanical name of sage you can choose one of the wild sage below: Black sage (Salvia nemorosa) — Its scientific name is Nemorosa.
It contains more camphor, so it is a very good medicine for colds. 2. White sage (Salvia apiana) — Salvia apiana is a herb native to California. It contains only 1.5% camphor.
It is good in the summer, but it isn’t too strong.
It can help clear your mind, improve memory, and is one of the best remedies for allergies.
Wild Shasta Sage only grows here in Shasta and is mild. The best time to harvest sage is typically late summer when the shrub is most fragrant.
I have found autumn to still be a lovely time to harvest Sage.
Sustainably harvesting sage is crucial to its survival.
We have to know which Sage shrubs are new and which are the oldest.
It is like the baby and the Grandfather.
These are not the ones to take from. You want to focus on the ones in between to lightly harvest.
Leaving a gift of some sort, like wild tobacco, a blessing, or another natural gift, shows your respect.
If you see an anthill on a sage shrub, or similarly a natural barrier like this, it is best to leave this shrub alone.
There is a reason why the ants have built this, and it should be respected. Use your intuition and sit with the plants.
Gain the wisdom of the wild sages and enjoy the deeply rich experience it can offer.
The initiation of wild sage is one to be deeply grateful for!
How to Make a Sagebrush Smudge Stick
From knowing your plant to the first gentle clearing, step by step.
Step 1
Know Your Plant
The silvery "Shasta sage" gathered around Mount Shasta and across the West is sagebrush. It shares a name and a scent with true sage, but it is a different plant.
Sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Small silvery gray leaves
Three little teeth at each leaf tip
Sharp, clean camphor scent
Woody, shrubby branches
Traditionally burned for cleansing
True Sage
Salvia, like white and black sage
Larger, softer leaves
Leaves grow in pairs
Square stems
Flowers shaped like little lips
Used in cooking and teas
Rub a leaf and look at the tip. Three tiny teeth means you are holding sagebrush.
Step 2
Harvest With Respect
Gather slowly and with gratitude. Tick each one off as you go.
Step 3
Bundle Your Stick
Cut stems about 6 to 9 inches long, with leafy tips.
Gather them into a tight bundle, about the thickness of two fingers, with the cut ends together.
Tie natural cotton string firmly around the base and knot it.
Wrap the string up the bundle in a spiral, pressing the leaves snug as you go.
At the top, spiral back down and tie off at the base where you started.
Wrap snugly. Sagebrush shrinks as it dries, and a loose bundle falls apart.
Step 4
Let It Dry
Hang your bundles upside down in a dry, shaded spot with good airflow.
Give them about 2 to 3 weeks.
They are ready when the stems snap cleanly instead of bending.
Keep them out of direct sun and humidity so they keep their scent and don't mold.
Step 5
A Gentle Clearing
Open a window so the old energy has somewhere to go.
Set a simple intention for your space or yourself.
Light the tip, let it flame briefly, then gently blow it out so it smolders.
Move slowly through the space, letting the smoke drift into corners and doorways.
Close with gratitude, and press the tip into sand or a heatproof dish to put it out.
Always burn over a heatproof dish, never leave it unattended, and keep the smoke away from pets, babies and anyone with sensitive lungs.