I did a sage cleanse — there’s 1 thing I wasn’t prepared for

When January 2026 began, I decided to try out a sage cleanse to freshen up my home and clear out old energy that may be lurking in the corners. It’s not something I’d done before, but with a new year still in its early stages, I thought I’d give it a go as the cold and gloomy month proceeded.

After reading that this ancient ritual of burning white sage still “works wonders”, I assumed it was worth a go – and thought it might uplift the atmosphere in my home. I’d first experienced ceremonial incense burning when I went to interview a “witch” a couple of years ago at a quirky shop that had just opened in Plymouth. At the time, practising witch Paul Bryant at witchcraft shop The Cunning Grove burned a combination of copal, rose petals, marigold and lavender while I was there – and something interesting happened on my walk home that day.

As I wandered back to my house that day, everything around me looked more colourful. I felt a sense of calm yet also energised, and this feeling continued as I did a few chores around my home.

This stuck in my mind – and two years later, the notion to carry out an aromatic cleanse was added to my January to-do list, so I ordered two of the California White Sage Smudge Sticks (Mini) from Baldwins.

I wanted to order from a trusted supplier because there are ethical considerations. With sage in demand, overharvesting of the herb has reportedly caused ecological impacts.

London-based herbalist Baldwins has been “purveyors of natural products since 1844” – and their mini sage stick looked ideal for what I needed.

I had a look online and came across the Enchanted Soul store, which explained the history of burning sage – or smudging as it’s known.

The Enchanted Soul website explained that smudging is a “practice that involves burning dried herbs, resins, or woods to purify energy, clear negative influences, and invite positive vibrations.”

It’s been a spiritual tradition in indigenous cultures, especially among Native American tribes, for many generations, and this wholesomeness and ceremonial aspect must be respected and considered when performing smudging.

Intentions connected to this spiritual activity include cleansing a space, removing stagnant energy and even promoting healing or a meditative state.

For me, I wanted to freshen the energy within my home and make way for new beginnings, so when the small sage bundle arrived in the post, I eagerly unwrapped it, and the incense of the bundle was really aromatic before it’s even lit with a flame.

The sage bundle is held together with a string. Importantly, after some research, I discovered that you should leave this on there for the burning process.

I began by having a tidy-up, popping clutter away around the house, clearing the washing up and blitzing the bathroom, before the sage burning begins.

Now, you must be prepared to be careful if you decide to do a sage cleanse due to the fire and burning; safety is paramount. I had a clean, empty ceramic dish to hand to stub out or rest the stick in while it smouldered.

Some websites advised “lighting the sage with a candle”, but I would not recommend this, as wax can dribble onto the sage, which could end up flammable, so I just used a large match and had a candle on the side.

What’s more, you do not need to burn the whole stick (even a mini one in my case) in one go, in fact, a little smudging goes a very long way – and this is something I’ve discovered when I began the cleanse.

So I light up the sage stick at the bulbous-shaped end, and to begin with, there is a little fire, which goes out – and should go out – so the herbs start to smoulder.

Then, it’s really intuitive. I just wandered around the rooms in my house and wafted sage in each area, including the corners and even into cupboards. I felt the need to encourage the smoke into the area where the doors join room to room, for some reason.

When I felt a room was completed, I moved on to the next area. The sage keeps going out and needs to be relit at regular intervals, and there’s often a lot of smoke, so it’s best to open a window.

The smoke’s fragrance is really heady; it makes me feel relaxed. I felt like I instinctively knew what to do, going step by step as it slowly burned, and I got a vibrant feeling again. Everything seemed more colourful around me. 

I also felt drawn to smudge where the ceiling meets the walls and corners in each room – and a few blue-grey ashes drop as you go, which feels like part of the process.

It took me several days to complete the cleanse; it’s not something that you need to rush, and I’d only used about a quarter of the mini stick.

I plan to continue the cleanse in the back courtyard soon (when the weather improves) – and I will use up the rest of the smudge stick as the year goes on.

But for now, I think the energy status does feel different, like a renewal, clearing the way for whatever comes next – and next time, I may try a different incense, because there are many options to try.

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.”