Page 7 - Kallima Newsletter - July/August 2020

• energy booster
• aromatherapy •
Purifying the air surrounding us
The most-used types of Sage have antimicrobial properties. This means they keep infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi at bay. White Sage (Salvia apiana) is antimicrobial, it also helps to repel insects.
This belief that burning Sage clears out spiritual impurities, pathogens, and even insects have been fundamental to the practice of smudging.
Relieve the symptoms of
some conditions
It turns out that Sage may help clear the air of lots more than bugs and bacteria.
Though scientifically unproven, burning Sage is thought to release negative ions. This is said to help neutralize positive ions.
Common positive ions are allergens like:
• pet dander
• pollution
• dust
• mold
If this is the case, burning Sage may be a blessing for those with asthma, allergies, bronchitis and other respitatory conditions. But inhaling the smoke during the smudging can aggravate any respiratory condition. Wait until the smoke clears before going into the room.
Sage as a spiritual tool
Smudging has long been used to connect to the spiritual realm or enhance intuition.
For healers and lay people in traditional cultures, burning Sage is used to achieve a healing state — or to solve or reflect upon spiritual dilemmas.
This may have some scientific basis, too. Certain types of Sage, including salvia sages and white prairie Sage contain thujone.
Research shows that thujone is mildly psychoactive. It’s actually found in many plants used in cultural spiritual rituals to enhance intuition.
It may help dispel negative
energy
Smudging may also be used as a ritual tool to rid yourself — or your space — of negativity. This
includes past traumas, bad experiences or negative energies from others.
This may help you establish a positive environment for meditation or another ritual. Choosing to sit and let go of negative thoughts in a ritual like this sets your intention and dedication to self-improvement. Choosing to engage in ritual can be the beginning of your change in mindset.
Cleansing or empowering specific objects
Burning Sage creates fragrant smoke central to smudging’s benefits. You can use this incense to smudge yourself, specific spaces or objects.
This can be useful with new purchases, gifts or second hand items. However, any item can be smudged.
If you have any concern with negative history or energy attached to a new or unfamiliar object, smudging may help bring peace of mind and make the object more sacred to you.
It may help improve your mood & stress levels
Tradition suggests that smudging can literally lift one’s spirits to banish negativity. Some research supports this.
A 2016 research project in American (University of Mississippi) established that white Sage (Salvia apiana) is rich in compounds that activate certain receptors in the brain. These receptors are responsible for elevating mood levels (good for helping with anxiety, depression and mood disorders), reducing stress, and even alleviating pain.
For more details and information on smudging come to Kallima and pick up our booklet on ‘The Benefits of Smudging’ which has loads of useful information in it and goes much more indepth than this short article.
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