HERB & RESIN DIRECTORY
Cedar
Cedar Trees are very old, wise and powerful spirits. Cedar represents harmony between the Earthly and Spiritual planes. Through smudging, Cedar offers its medicine of protection and is sought after to cleanse a home or apartment when first moving in to release unwanted spirits while protecting a person place or object from unwanted influences.
Desert Sage
Desert Sage (aka Blue Sage, Grandmother Sage or New Mexico Sage) much like White Sage, it is used for cleansing and purification. Desert Sage possesses a light heavenly soothing aroma making it ideal to burn during meditation as it helps to induce calm and relaxation, bring in pleasant thoughts, and even relieve headaches. For those who find White Sage’s scent too overpowering, Desert Sage is a wonderful alternative.
Juniper
Juniper, like most smudges, is used to clear negative, stagnant or unwanted energies. However, Juniper is unique in that it also has the ability to purify and draw in higher vibrational energies creating a positive, safe and protected healing space.
Palo Santo
Palo Santo is a mystical tree that grows on the coast of South America and is part of the Burseraceae family, which includes Franckincense, Myrrh and Copal. Palo Santo, in Spanish, means “Holy Wood”. Similar to Sage and Cedar, its strong medicine is used for healing and energetic cleansing. It’s uplifting scent, which contains sweet notes of pine, mint and lemon, can raise ones vibration prior to meditation and allows for a deeper connection to Spirit. It is also believed that Palo Santo enhances creativity and brings good fortune to those who are open to its magic.
Sweetgrass
Sweetgrass, also referred to as Seneca grass, holy grass and vanilla grass, has an undeniable sweet aroma and is sometimes referred to as the breath of the Earth Mother sharing her blessings of love. Sweetgrass is used during healing sessions, to fill spaces with positive energy, and to summon positive spirits. Sweetgrass can also be used to give thanks, show gratitude and remind us that Earth Mother provides everything we need. When White Sage and Sweetgrass are used in tandem, White Sage is used first to cleanse the person or space of negative or unwanted energies. Once cleansed, Sweetgrass is used to invite in positive energies to bless the person(s) and space.
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White Sage
The Latin for sage, ‘Salvia,’ stems from the word ‘to heal.’ The other qualities of sage when burned, such as giving wisdom, clarity and increasing spiritual awareness, are also indicated in the name. It’s no accident that we refer to wise people as sagely. The benefits of burning sage can be harnessed very simply by burning sage in your home, office or any other place in need of cleansing. It is known best for driving out lower vibrational energy, negative emotions and thoughts. When White Sage and Sweetgrass are used in tandem, White Sage is used first to cleanse the person or space of negative or unwanted energies. Once cleansed, Sweetgrass is used to invite in positive energies to bless the person(s) and space.
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Copal Resin
Copal has a sweet aroma and is associated with forming a connection between heaven and earth. Copal is beneficial for clearing and clarifying the mind since it holds the influence of purification and protection. In addition, Copal is considered a powerful healer and holds the power to transmute negative energy. The Mayan Indians recognized Copal as very sacred, considered it to be food of the Gods and have used it in ceremonies since ancient times.
Frankincense Resin
Frankincense heightens spiritual awareness, and enhances intuitive and clairvoyant abilities making it ideal to use before meditation. Burning Frankincense provides protection, purification while cleansing and elevating the energy around it. Frankincense was also once worth more than its weight in gold and considered one of the world’s most treasured commodities since the beginning of written history.
Myrrh Resin
Myrrh helps one maintain a state of enlightenment, heightens one’s spirituality, and clears negative energy and illusions standing in the way of seeing the truth. The smoke from burning Myrrh can purify and protect an area, while its magical applications are used to consecrate and bless objects such as rings, amulets and ritual tools. Myrrh is seldom burned alone, rather in conjunction with other resins such as Frankincense as Myrrh increases the power of other resins. Myrrh is sacred to the Egyptian Goddess Isis and is associated with the moon.
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HISTORY & INTENTIONS OF ENERGY CLEARING
Prayer, purification and spiritual rituals through the act of burning herbs, resins or incense have been practiced widely throughout the world across many different cultures. The tradition of burning these herbs to produce smoke for ceremony, ritual or religions purposes has its beginnings in ancient civilizations. Each civilization and culture over time has thus created their own practices to invoke the blessings and healing benefits of the powerful energies contained within these herbs.
In ancient Egypt, the burning of incense signified reverence and prayer towards the Gods and Goddesses and was burned daily in their temples. Sage and Oak Moss were considered sacred and burned by the Ancient Celtic Druids for medicinal purposes. The Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon still practice the ceremonial burning of Palo Santo. As part of the Hindu tradition, the burning of incense as a form of worship and prayer to God is still practiced today. Native Americans burn White Sage as part of their sacred traditions, ceremonies and rituals which is often referred to as Smudging. For Native Americans, Smudging serves as a symbol of their heritage, faith and culture.
Burning herbs to harness their energies and benefits can be used outside of prayer, ritual and ceremony. When used this way, it is often referred to as Energy Clearing or Energy Cleansing.
Energy Clearing has a wide variety of applications. Some of the more widely recognized uses include, cleansing a space, area, or person(s), purifying the air and even deepening our connection to Spirit.
For instance, White Sage, Desert Sage and even Juniper are a perfect choice to use when clearing a person, space or object, as these herbs are effective in removing stagnant or negative energies. When burned, the herbs produce a smoke, and the smoke attaches itself to unwanted, stuck or negative energies. The smoke then carries the unwanted energies to another place, alleviating us of them. Energy Clearing in this way helps maintain balance of our thoughts, emotions and the physical spaces that we live in every day.
The burning of herbs also can help clear and purify the air. Herbs themselves have antiseptic qualities, and when burned, the smoke contains bacteria killing properties. In addition, it has been discovered that the smoke changes the molecular structure of the air as it neutralizes positive charges and releases negative ions. The presence of negative ions has been associated with relieving stress, alleviating depression and boosting our energy levels.
Burning herbs also aids in connecting with the Divine and deepening our connection to Spirit. Many cultures believe that the smoke serves as a bridge to higher realms as it carries our prayers and intentions to the Universe and/or the Divine while lifting negative thoughts and feelings from our physical selves.
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No matter your intention when working with herbs, it is important to remain in a place of gratefulness while acknowledging the wisdom and ancient properties of the plants that are assisting you during your Energy Clearing. Because every life form on Earth possesses its own spiritual purpose and sacred consciousness, its ideal to choose the herb(s) that best fit your intentions. Please refer to our Herb & Resin directory to learn more about the herbs we offer that may best fit your needs.
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HONORING THE FOUR ELEMENTS IN ENERGY CLEARING
Whatever your Energy Clearing intentions are, Amethyst Bee’s Energy Clearing Gift Sets include an Abalone Shell, Himalayan Salt, and a Turkey Feather, in addition to the herbs used for burning. When used together, these four items create balance and harmony by recognizing and honoring the four elements: Water, Earth, Fire and Air.
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The Abalone Shell, a gift from the ocean, represents water. Earth is represented by the herbs, as gifts from Mother Earth. In addition to the herbs, Himalayan Salt can also be considered a gift from Earth. The flame used to ignite the herbs is acknowledged as fire. Air is in reference to the smoke produced from the burning herbs. Air can also be represented by the Turkey Feather and the wind it creates while directing the smoke during Energy Clearing.
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ALL ABOUT ABALONE SHELLS, HIMALAYAN SALT & TURKEY FEATHERS
Outside of the herbs, the Abalone Shell, Himalayan Salt and Turkey Feather all contain their own magical and healing properties. This is especially welcome for any intention when Energy Clearing.
Considered to be gifts of the sea and embracing all colors of the ocean, Abalone shells perfectly embody healing properties associated with water including love, beauty, gentleness, solace, and peacefulness. Its calming energy proves soothing during emotional situations. Although associated with all the Chakras, Abalone shells have a strong connection to the Heart Chakra as it gently clears the heart of negative emotions, sorrows and fears. Abalone shells feel soft to the touch due to their repeated tumbling in sand and water. Abalone shells make wonderful gifts to those who have experienced trauma as it reminds them that although they may have been tossed and turned like the shell in the sea, they are only now more radiant and beautiful from it.
Chakras: All, with special emphasis on the Solar Plexus Chakra stimulating “gut feeling”; Heart Chakra healing and releasing heart of sadness, sorrow and fears; Third Eye Chakra as it helps to stimulate psychic development and intuition
In general, salt serves as a purifier, possesses strong grounding energies and is protective against negative energies. In addition to these qualities, Himalayan Salt with its pink color, also emits loving vibrations that encourage unconditional love, self-love and self-empowerment. Himalayan Salt can be used to clear all the chakras, but works mostly with the heart chakra. Blessed with the energies of the Sun, Earth and Ocean, Himalayan Salt can help one’s heart connect to Mother Earth and strengthen the union between our physical, mental and spiritual selves.
Feathers have long been associated with spiritual traditions serving as a link between the earthly and higher realms. Birds are often revered as messengers from the higher realms. Many cultures considered feathers as gifts from the Divine leading them to embrace feathers as sacred objects in ritual and ceremony. It is believed that feathers carry the energies of the bird they came from. One of the more commonly used feathers in healing are Turkey feathers due to their healing and cleansing properties. Turkeys are seen as symbols of abundance and have long been associated with spirituality and honoring Mother Earth. Turkey encourages gratitude towards our sources of physical, emotional or spiritual nourishment and remembering to share in our abundance with others.
When Energy Clearing, feathers can be used to cleanse one’s aura, space, objects or even another person. To cleanse the aura with a feather, make gentle sweeping motions up and outward from the body starting at your feet and working your way up through your crown. Or to cleanse a space or person, gently direct the smoke with the feather towards and around the space, object or person.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE & SAFETY
Instructions
Fill the Abalone Shell with provided Pink Himalayan Salt. Light one end of smudge stick until a small flame appears on smudge stick, and then gently blow out the flame. Smudge stick should now be smoking or smoldering. Place smoldering smudge stick on top of Pink Himalayan Salt in Abalone Shell and using the Turkey Feather, gently waft or bathe the smoke over space, items or person(s) to cleanse, purify and release unwanted or stagnant energies. Relight smudge stick as necessary. To energy cleanse one’s aura with a Turkey Feather, make gentle sweeping motions up and outward from the body starting at your feet and working your way up through your crown.
Safety
Use caution when handling Abalone Shell as heat can transfer to the shell. NEVER burn anything in the Abalone Shell without using a heat absorbing medium such as salt or sand. Never leave burning smudge stick unattended. Keep areas well ventilated while energy clearing by opening windows and doors to allow smoke to travel outside. Should you need to extinguish smudge stick, simply tamp smoking/smoldering end down onto a heat resistance surface, or bury lit end in sand.
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