‘Walking back to my place that afternoon, everything surrounding me appeared more vibrant.’
The sage stick will catch fire, then begin to smoulder, care must be taken(Image: Katie Oborn)
As January 2026 got underway, I fancied trying a sage cleanse to refresh my home and banish any stale energy that might be hanging around. It wasn’t something I’d attempted previously, but with the new year barely begun, I reckoned I’d have a crack at it as the bleak, chilly month wore on.
Having read that this age-old practice of burning white sage continues to “work wonders”, I figured it was worth a shot – and hoped it might brighten the mood indoors. My first encounter with ceremonial incense burning came when I went to meet a “witch” a few years back at an unusual shop that had recently launched in Plymouth.
During that visit, practising witch Paul Bryant at witchcraft emporium The Cunning Grove lit a blend of copal, rose petals, marigold and lavender while I was present – and something curious occurred on my journey home afterwards.
Walking back to my place that afternoon, everything surrounding me appeared more vibrant. I experienced a feeling of tranquillity yet simultaneously invigorated, and this sensation persisted as I tackled some household tasks.
That memory lingered – and two years on, the idea of performing a fragrant cleanse made it onto my January agenda, so I purchased two of the California White Sage Smudge Sticks (Mini) from Baldwins, reports the Express.
The sage stick will smoulder as you aim to get it’s fragrant smoke in all corners of a room (Image: Katie Oborn)
I was keen to order from a reputable source, given the ethical questions involved. With sage proving popular, excessive harvesting of the plant has allegedly led to environmental consequences.
London herbalist Baldwins has been “purveyors of natural products since 1844” – and their compact sage stick seemed perfect for my requirements.
After searching online, I discovered the Enchanted Soul store, which detailed the ancient practice of burning sage – commonly referred to as smudging.
According to the Enchanted Soul website, smudging is a “practice that involves burning dried herbs, resins, or woods to purify energy, clear negative influences, and invite positive vibrations.”
The ritual has been a sacred tradition within indigenous communities, particularly amongst Native American tribes, spanning countless generations, and this sacred and ceremonial dimension must be honoured and acknowledged when carrying out smudging.
Journalist Katie Oborn did a first-time sage cleanse (Image: Katie Oborn )
The purpose behind this spiritual ritual includes purifying an environment, eliminating stale energy and even encouraging healing or achieving a contemplative state.
Personally, I hoped to refresh the atmosphere throughout my property and welcome fresh starts, so when the compact sage bundle turned up through the letterbox, I enthusiastically opened it, and the fragrance from the bundle was wonderfully potent even before lighting it with a match.
The sage bundle comes bound with string. Crucially, following some investigation, I learned that this string should remain in place during the burning ritual.
I started by having a clear-out, tidying away mess throughout the property, dealing with the dishes and giving the bathroom a proper clean, before the sage burning commenced. It’s crucial to exercise caution when performing a sage cleanse because of the fire risk and burning involved – safety must come first.
This size ceramic bowl will ensure the ritual is carried out safely (Image: Katie Oborn )
I kept a clean, empty ceramic bowl nearby to extinguish or rest the stick while it was smouldering.
Certain websites suggested “lighting the sage with a candle”, but I wouldn’t advise this approach, as melted wax can drip onto the sage and create a fire hazard, so I simply used a large match instead and kept a candle nearby.
What’s more, there’s no need to burn an entire stick (even a mini one like mine) in a single session – in fact, a modest amount of smudging goes an incredibly long way, which is something I’ve learnt since starting the cleanse.
So I ignite the sage stick at its bulbous tip, and initially there’s a small flame which extinguishes – and should extinguish – allowing the herbs to begin smouldering.
From there, it’s genuinely instinctive. I simply moved through the rooms of my home, wafting sage into each space, including corners and even inside cupboards.
For whatever reason, I felt compelled to direct the smoke towards doorways where rooms connect.
I ordered my mini white sage smudge stick from herbalist shop, Baldwins (Image: Katie Oborn)
Once I sensed a room was done, I progressed to the next space. The sage repeatedly goes out and requires relighting at frequent intervals, and there’s typically plenty of smoke, so opening a window is advisable.
The smoke’s aroma is incredibly potent; it leaves me feeling calm. I felt as though I naturally understood what to do, progressing gradually as it slowly burned, and I experienced a renewed sense of energy.
Everything around me appeared more vivid. I also felt compelled to smudge along the junction between ceiling and walls, as well as the corners of every room – and a few blue-grey ashes fall as you move around, which seems to be an integral part of the ritual.
The cleanse took me several days to finish; there’s no need to hurry through it, and I’d only got through roughly a quarter of the mini stick.
I’m planning to extend the cleanse to the back courtyard shortly (once conditions improve) – and I’ll work through the remainder of the smudge stick as the months progress.
For the moment, though, the atmosphere genuinely feels transformed, like a fresh start, making space for whatever lies ahead – and when I do this again, I might experiment with a different incense, as there’s plenty of variety available.
As the Enchanted Soul website highlighted: “Smudging can be a beautiful way to cleanse your space and mind, but it’s crucial to practice it ethically.
“By choosing sustainable, non-appropriative alternatives like mugwort, juniper, or lavender, you can honour both the Earth and the cultures that have preserved these traditions for centuries.”