Sage Serenity: A DIY Guide to Crafting Sage Sticks 🌿

As part of a thoughtful gift, a beautiful gesture, home decor and a sacred ritual, that cleanses your home of any lingering negativity

I only learned far too late that a lot of the sage smudge sticks you buy are full of chemicals and dyes, which become toxic as you burn them and they emit their fumes.. Yuckie! So creating your own sage sticks is a rewarding way to create a much more pure form of incense, it’s fun, wholesome and easy and at the same time you can really personalise your space-cleansing rituals. I always have a few of these at home as part of my self-care ritual, and I burn them after our home has been deep-cleaned once a week.

Here is my simple guide to crafting two aromatic smudge sticks using fresh herbs like sage, allowing you to add optional additions such as rosemary and lavender.

Materials Needed:

• Fresh sage sprigs: Approximately 15 cm long

• Optional fresh herbs: Rosemary and lavender sprigs of similar length

• Natural twine or cotton string: For binding the herbs.

• Scissors: To trim the herbs and string.

Instructions:

1. Harvest and Prepare the Herbs:

• Choose healthy, fresh sprigs of sage and any additional herbs. They are easy to get at your local farmers market or grocer, if you don’t happen to grow them yourself.

• Rinse them gently under cool water to remove any dirt.

• Pat the herbs dry with a clean towel, ensuring they are free of moisture to prevent mold during drying.

2. Assemble the Smudge Sticks:

• Gather a bundle of sage sprigs, adding rosemary and lavender if desired, to a thickness of about 3-4 cm.

• Align the stems at the bottom, layer throughout the stick to ensure volume, and that the leafy ends are uniform at the top.

• Cut a piece of twine approximately five times the length of your bundle.

3. Bind the Bundle:

• Hold the bundle firmly and tie the twine securely around the base of the stems, leaving a short tail.

• Begin wrapping the twine upward in a spiral pattern, keeping the tension tight but not damaging the leaves.

• Upon reaching the top, wrap the twine back down toward the base, crossing over the initial wraps to secure the herbs.

• Tie the twine at the base with the initial tail, ensuring the bundle is snug and secure.

4. Dry the Smudge Sticks:

• Hang the bundles upside down in a well-ventilated, dry area away from direct sunlight. • Allow them to dry for about 3-4 days, depending on humidity levels. The sticks are ready when the leaves are crisp to the touch (so some may even need to dry for a week). **tip for the impatient ones: You can also put them in your oven at 50C for 7-8 hours, checking on them every two hours.

5. Use Your Smudge Sticks:

• Once dried, your smudge sticks are ready for use in cleansing rituals or to create a calming atmosphere.

• Always burn smudge sticks in a well-ventilated area, keeping a fireproof container nearby to catch ashes.

Tips:

• Herb Selection: While sage is traditional, incorporating rosemary and lavender can add unique aromatic properties and additional cleansing benefits.

• String Choice: Use natural, undyed twine or cotton string to avoid releasing synthetic fumes when burning.

• Safety Precautions: Never leave burning smudge sticks unattended, and ensure they are fully extinguished after use. By crafting your own smudge sticks, you not only create a personalized tool for your rituals but also deepen your connection to the cleansing process.

I love to smudge the sage sticks on a beautiful plate after burning them, to contain the ashes and also as a ritual to stop the burning process and just enjoy the lingering fumes

The smoke it leaves is such a beautiful trail you watch and witness !