Blue sage belongs to the same family as the well-known white sage. It has thin bluish leaves and indigo flowers, hence its name. It grows in the southwest of the United States and the north of Mexico. It gives off an herbal and floral scent, similar to the lavender one and a lot softer than white sage.
Blue sage can be used to prepare your meditation session or just to relax and enjoy its fragrance. It can also be burnt during purification and protection rituals.
Blue sage is said to enhance abundance and prosperity and to strengthen inner power and spiritual growth.
About its cultivation
Our plants are both wild harvested and farmed. Whether they are collected in private or public areas, the people who pick them have a legal authorization to do so. The process is simple: branches are cut and the roots of the plants are left in the ground to allow future harvesting. Exports are controlled by the USDA (US Agriculture Department), who certifies they fulfill all legal and environmental requirements.
Blue sage is a perennial and hardy plant. Its growth depends on the climate and annual precipitations. That's why the size of the bundles can vary from year to year, following seasonal contingency and changing harvesting. During drought periods, the concentration of essential oils in the leaves is higher.
How to use it
This purification ritual is a universal practise.
1. Use a heat resistant container such as an abalone shell. Place it on top of an appropriate support or stand and take a feather or a fan.
2. Light the sage bundle, preferably with a match. Let the leaves burn for a few seconds, and then blow the flame. Be careful, the leaves can easily be blown away.
3. Go through each room and guide the scented smoke with the feather or fan towards the place you would like to purify.
4. Wait until the sage bundle goes out. According to Indian beliefs, sage will carry on burning until purification is over.
Remember that smudging is an intention-based ritual. With a pure heart and noble aspiration, you will boost its effect.
Ventilate the room after use. Do not inhale the smoke directly.