Saining

Saining Not Smudging

Saining is the Scottish Folk magic act of purification. It’s similar to the idea of smudging but very different. Importantly it’s a cultural relevant practice and is one available for folks who work within the Scottish folk magic or other pagan based folk magic. There has been a lot of conversation around appropriation of certain practices across the world by westerners. A lot of people using White Sage to smudge is a great example of this. There is a lot of, backlash and anger from Native American people and others to stop folk using Sage to smudge in their efforts to purify their spaces. Others cite the overharvesting of the plant in the wild and other issues caused by the commodification of these native practices by predominantly white western Capitalists eager to cash in on the latest "white person" trend adding to it becoming problematic. Therefor we need to look at naturalized harvesting and using herbs from all around us. All Of Dea’s ( the company I use)herbs are grown in their local garden and/or harvested in a way that promotes the growth of our natural prairie sage in the wild. New herbs are being harvested every year, with the blessings of mother nature and Gaia

Examples of great herbs to work with are:

Mugwort: Perfect to start and close a ritual or ceremony. Cleanse a room or stagnant energy. For Purification,Use it the same way you would’ve used your White Sage! Mug wort helps open your spiritual channels and is perfect to use before and during card reading or meditation.

Juniper/Cedar: Protection, Use it to clean out a new home, banishing unwanted spirits or influence from other people. It’s also great to use when you want to manifest more money, clear money blocks or cast money spells.

Lavender: Protection and cleansing. Helps open the heart and heal heartache Calms the mind and helps you to see clearly. Use for love spells, grief work, to soothe anxiety.

Thyme: Health, Strength and Purification. Use before and during ceremony work. Thyme is great for healing work and to support healing in the body and mind. Will help you develop your psychic powers and connect with the fairy realm!

Rosemary: Feminine Power! Use if you want to get better self-esteem. It is also Protective and purifying and Attracts good energies. It’s also a powerful herb to boost memory, so use it while studying or when you are meditating on past lives.

Basil Leaf: Relieves anxiety! It can put you in a more open state of mind so great to use in spirit work and meditation. Wards off harmful spells and other people’s negative energy cast toward you, like jealousy. Can also be used for love spells and if you are trying to manifest a life partner.

Garden Sage (Salvia Officinalis): Protective, cleansing. Protects your home and attracts prosperity. Enhances wisdom and helps you KNOW in your bones what is right for you. Sage always brings good luck.

Wild Prairie sage: Protective, cleansing. Protects your home and attracts prosperity. Enhances wisdom and helps you KNOW in your bones what is right for you. helps open your spiritual channels and are perfect to use before and during card reading or meditation

How to Sain: Traditional saining involved water that has been blessed, and the smoke from burning juniper, sage, lavender, rosemary and other herbs for specific rituals, accompanied by spoken prayers or poetry. I still like to use some of the traditions taught to me from indigenous elders, by using a feather to help spread the smoke and a shell to hold my burning herbs. Ensuring the respect of each individual religious group and respecting the healing process of decolonization.

Many of these of herbs can be dried and burned in bonfires, campfires or at home backyard firepits.

I also like to Sain in my house after a stressful time, a fight or after a big spring cleaning. saining helps clear out negative energy whereas salt clears all energy even the good look for more information on that coming soon....