10 Magickal Uses for Sage: Witchcraft Tips

Try one of these magickal uses for sage!  This earthy-smelling herb is a perfect addition to your witchy cupboard and your spellcraft.  

Symbolizing wisdom and spiritual cleansing, sage is a classic spell ingredient and a common addition to magickal gardens.  Make the most of yours with one of these lovely, creative ideas.

There’s more than one way to do an energy clearing.

By far, the most common of all the magickal uses for sage is in smoke wands.  Bundle your own smoke wands by hand during garden season.  Allow them to dry for several weeks.  Then, light the tip and burn your wand during an energy cleansing.  

But if you are smoke intolerant, or you just prefer a cleaner method, you can also boil sage on the stove for a cleansing effect.

Use in court case spells to encourage wisdom.  

Generally, all the parties involved could use a little.

Include in money sachets for prosperity.  

Throw a pinch of dried sage in your abundance bag or add it to a success spell for wisdom in making financial decisions.

Place on the altar for mental clarity.

Sage is known for its balancing effect on the mind.   Pinch off a fresh sprig from the garden and let it air dry on the altar to invite a quiet mental atmosphere in your sacred space.

Or, combine it with some dried lavender and eucalyptus and burn it in your cauldron on a charcoal disk to infuse it 

Surround the base of a white or blue candle with dried sage.  

Surround a blue or white candle with dried sage leaves.  Burn it to heal frazzled emotions and spiritual disquiet.

Dry a large bundle and gift it to the Crone in your life.  

Strongly associated with wisdom and experience, dried garden sage makes a charming gift for the witch of a certain age in your coven.

Use in spells to break an unwanted desire for a love interest.  

Trapped in an unhealthy cycle of infatuation for  someone who clearly isn’t right for you?  Sage is uniquely suited to help you.  Burn some every night next to a photo of the person until your desire wanes.

Burn during funeral and memorial rites.  

Sage facilitates healthy grief and bonding with the spirits of those who passed on.

Place a sage sachet in your pillow to drive away nightmares.  

Sage has a protective quality that is specific to mental disturbances like nightmares.

Scatter around an outdoor sacred space to bless the ground.  

If you use a specific spot in your yard or a nearby natural area, scatter dried or fresh sage leaf on the ground to bless the space and clear it of negative energy. 

Magical Attributes of Sage

Sage has a long history in magical practices and is associated with wisdom, healing, protection, and energy cleansing. In magic, it is often linked to the element of air and the planet Jupiter, making it a powerful tool for fostering clarity and discernment. Sage is sacred to various deities, including Zeus and the Virgin Mary, and has been used in rituals for centuries to grant wishes, offer protection, and promote longevity.

White sage (Salvia apiana) holds special significance in many Native American and Shamanic traditions, often used in smudging ceremonies to purify the body and environment. Unfortunately, white sage is largely wild-crafted, which threatens its native populations. It is important to recognize that white sage is not part of European spiritual traditions, and non-indigenous practitioners are encouraged to use garden sage or other Salvia species as substitutes. If you feel compelled to use white sage, consider growing it yourself to avoid contributing to its over-harvesting.

In European traditions, a wide variety of herbs were burned in ritual practices, but white sage was not among them. Garden sage is a perfectly suitable alternative, carrying many of the same magical properties. Sage is believed to assist with grief, especially during funerals or remembrance ceremonies, helping to alleviate the sorrow of loss. To make a wish, you can write it on a sage leaf, sleep with it under your pillow for three days, and then bury it.

Sage also plays an important role in cleansing rituals and can be used to clear negative energy in spaces or objects. Burn sage incense or add it to your bathwater for clarity and to promote rational thinking. It is known as an “anti-illusion” herb, helping to dispel false expectations and provide mental clarity in confusing or conflicting circumstances. Spraying sage tea in an office, for example, is said to enhance focus and productivity, allowing people to face challenges with clearer minds.

So, the next time you’re seeking clarity or need to resolve a difficult problem, consider taking a sage bath or lighting a sage incense to help you find the answers you seek.