If you are into smudging and you do it to cleanse yourself and your place from any negative vibes around you, it might happen that after smudging you don’t know what to do with the sage ashes and sage stick.
Let’s learn what the best ways to dispose of these magical cleansing tools are!
Contents
The importance of disposing of magical ingredients and tools properly
Right after a smudging session, it’s very important to dispose of the ingredients and the tools used the right way. Why? Because you need to keep honoring those tools and keep the energy in the right direction to let their magic work while giving thanks and getting rid of them.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
After smudging with sage, there are several ways to handle the ashes or the remaining sage stick.
Many people choose to return the ashes to nature by scattering them outside to release any negative energy that was cleared during the smudging.
Alternatively, you can collect the ashes in a container dedicated to smudging ashes, such as an abalone shell or clay pot.
Some individuals opt to burn the remaining sage stick until it turns to ashes in a fireproof container, symbolizing a final purification process.
Additionally, sage ashes can be used as a natural fertilizer for plants and gardens, or they can be buried, promoting grounding and connection with the Earth’s energy.
The choice depends on personal preference and spiritual beliefs.
As we have discussed several times, many ritual ingredients are disposed of through burial in the garden. For those who are preparing to become a witch and therefore to practice magic, it is good to understand and know the most correct method to ensure that the ritual remains intact and functioning.
In ancient times, the rites to be buried were wrapped either in a bag of soft natural cloth or they were wrapped and tied with pieces of cloth. This is to preserve their integrity and make them last over time.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Transformation | Signifies the transformation of negative energy into positive energy. |
| Purification | Represents the purification of space, objects, or oneself. |
| Release and Letting Go | Symbolizes releasing negative thoughts, emotions, or energies. |
| Connection with Nature | Represents a connection to the natural world and its healing properties. |
| Spiritual Cleansing | Signifies the removal of spiritual impurities or energetic blockages. |
When performing rituals with bottles, in this case, it seems to me quite obvious that the integrity and duration of the ritual would remain unchanged as the bottle is an excellent shield against deterioration caused by time.
Even in magic, as in many other sectors, evolution to modern times take place. For example, a modern trick is to wrap the rite in aluminum foil or, as some modern witches do, put the remains of the rites in plastic containers (those for the fridge to be clear, the so-called “freshness savers”).
Everyone is free to choose the variants they want, adapting them to their needs.
It is good to remember that the residues of the rites do not need great attention. When you finish performing a ritual, in the end, you have to collect all the residues that remain. If you are unable to dispose of them immediately, you must wrap them either in a simple cloth or in brown paper like the kind used for bread.
This is to keep them away from prying eyes.
If you are curious to know more about this topic, maybe you are a bit undecided and you want to learn more about how to dispose of magickal ingredients like candles after a spell casting, check out this article!
Remember that there isn’t a fixed rule and you can follow your intuition first. If you are still undecided on what method to use to dispose of some magickal ingredients and tools, you can use one of the methods listed in my articles about it.
You know what’s the right call. Just choose the method that feels right to you and that makes you feel comfortable and keeps your magic in tune with yourself and your craft.
What to do with sage ashes after smudging?
You should bury them! Ashes are a natural magickal ingredient. In fact, the ashes are often categorized as “magic dust”. It is composed of the elements of earth and fire (predominantly earth). I think you should bury it so that the plant ashes can easily return to their original place.
| Use | Description |
|---|---|
| Disposal Methods | Various ways to properly dispose of sage ashes or the used stick. |
| Spiritual Offerings | Offering the ashes or stick to the Earth, deities, or spirits. |
| Healing and Cleansing Rituals | Incorporating the ashes or stick in healing or cleansing rituals. |
| Protection and Purification | Sprinkling or spreading the ashes or stick for protection purposes. |
| Composting or Plant Fertilizer | Utilizing the ashes or stick as a nutrient-rich addition to compost or plant soil. |
What to do with a sage stick after smudging?
You should bury it, too, but only if the sage stick you used was a natural organic one. That’s why it is so important to buy natural ingredients!
First of all, because you will have the chance to enjoy the incredible true benefits of an herb like sage, and then because natural ingredients won’t do any harm to nature when buried.
I don’t feel like burying ashes. What can I do?
Burying sage ashes and sage sticks is not mandatory as you should follow your instinct! If you feel like doing something different, go for it!
Some witches add some water element for a deeper cleansing action while others blow those ashes into the wind so it will connect with air and earth all at once! Do what feels best for you!
When it comes to magic, you know best. Listen to your intuition, open your mind and heart, and do what you feel is the right call.
| Ritual/Practice | Description |
|---|---|
| Grounding and Centering | Incorporating the ashes or stick in grounding and centering rituals. |
| Energy Clearing and Protection | Sprinkling or smudging with the ashes or stick for energy clearing and protection. |
| Ancestral or Spirit Communication | Using the ashes or stick as an offering or tool for connecting with ancestors or spirits. |
| Meditation and Spiritual Journeys | Utilizing the ashes or stick to enhance meditation or spiritual journeys. |
| Creation of Sacred Spaces | Spreading the ashes or stick to create a sacred and purified space. |
Conclusion
I highly recommend that, no matter how you decide to dispose of those magickal ingredients, you need to give thanks to them. Honor them. Treat them like an old friend who came over to help you deal with some very personal issues and say goodbye. You should not rush things nor freak out over what kind of words to say.
Just open your heart, use your intuition, and say those words out loud from the heart. This is the best and most effective way to let nature, energy, magic, and the universe truly know you are aware of their gifts and open to thank them for real. Feel it.
I can also cast protection spell for you to bring more clarity, calmness, and serenity into your life back again!
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