We get a lot of questions about cleansing,protecting and consecrating with sacred smoke at the shop. This is our interpretation of the why, whens and hows.
Why
Saining or censing is the practice of cleansing yourself, a place, a space, or an object with the smoke from herbs or resins and can be a spiritual act associated with Shamanic and Pagan practices; however, it does not require any specific religious belief. Like all magical workings it is effective because of your focused intentions.
When
There are no hard and fast rules. Most customers say that something does not "feel right" about the space they are considering saining. Saining is used to remove the energy that feels negative and bring in energies that feel positive. The most common situations that benefit from saining are:
- When you move into a new living space.
- When you bring a new or used object into your living space.
- When there has been a psychic disturbance,illness or argument.
- When you return home from crowded situations.
- When you are ready for a fresh start.
- When you are setting sacred space.
- Before and after a guest enters your home
- Before and after magical workings.
How do I sain a space?
Clean you space. Sweep and mop the floors, throw out the garbage, and straighten your belongings. Dirt and physical clutter trap negative energy and will make it harder to feel the effects of your saining.
As you do with other magical workings gather your supplies:
A vessel for burning the herbal bundle. Pots or cauldrons are useful for holding burning bundles and for burning loose herbs or individual leaves.
You can sain with any fragrant smoke, including conventional incense.
A source of fire such as a long match or candle.
A tool for fanning the smoke is helpful if you need to cover a large area. Feathers and fans direct the smoke where you want it to go and traditionally represent the element of Air.
Open the windows and doors so the energy you are clearing has a way to escape.
Set your desired intention. What would you like to cleanse from your space?
Speak your intention aloud and repeat aloud as you sain the space. “I let go and release what no longer serves me."
Light the source of smoke.( Watch out for your smoke alarms) Hold the bundle at a 45-degree angle over your vessel, light it using your match or candle, let it burn for about 20 seconds, blow out the flame when you see orange embers on one end(watch for sparks as you blow it out) the smoke will then billow up.
It is common to have to relight your bundle several times during the process. You do not have to use the entire bundle for your work to be effective and many choose to break off a piece of leaf and burn only that part of the bundle.
You may want to begin by cleansing yourself first. Starting at your feet & working your way up or starting at your head & working you way down( whichever feels right to you) wave the smoke around your body visualizing the smoke removing any negative energies and returning them to the earth to be cleansed. Now take a deep breath or two and feel yourself firmly planted on the ground.
Pick a starting point. The front door, the north facing side of the space, wherever feels right to you and start walking counterclockwise.
Slowly walk around your space allowing the smoke to waft around. Using your tool or you hand guide the smoke toward the open windows and doors.
Pay attention to doorways, hallways, corners, mirrors, and technology letting the smoke waft over the area.
When you have returned to the place you started extinguishing the bundle by rubbing it out in your vessel.
Speak and affirmation that your work is done, “So mote it be”.
Blessed Be
