As a witch, you more than likely have stumbled upon the idea of smudging with sage, and maybe even done it yourself. Smudging is a Native American practice that uses white sage, and has recently been surrounded by much talk of cultural appropriation. Luckily, with over 750 species of sage out there, there are other choices.

Its Latin name Salvia comes from the word ‘salveo’, which means ‘to save’ and refers to the widely recognised medicinal uses of this plant. Salvia officinalis also known as Common Sage or Garden Sage, is probably the most commonly used type of sage in cooking, and therefore the most easily obtainable one.

It is a fairly hardy plant, able to survive most winters outside. Seeds should be planted in spring and are easy to grow, with little maintenance needed and no common pests or disease that you need to worry about. It needs full sun and well drained / dry soil.

Sage is an antiseptic. It can be made into a gargle when infused as a tea to aid sore throats and throat infections. However, drinking the tea for more than a week or two at a time can cause symptoms of poisoning due to the herb’s strength.

As witches, we also value its cleansing and protective properties. It can be used in a cleansing bath, before or after a ritual, or maybe even as a part of it. To infuse your bath simply add 7-8 drops of sage essential oil to a full bathtub. Alternatively, you can get a small bit of muslin or similar fabric and fill it with dried sage. Tie it with a string and attach to the tap, so that water flows through it as you’re filling your bath. Sage can also be grown, harvested and dried into a cleansing stick or burned as incense to cleanse your space. Personally, I like to cleanse the house every couple of weeks with it, as I find it really lifts the energy at home. Similarly, a couple drops of essential oil can be added to home made cleaning products, to obtain the same cleansing and protective effects. Other magical correspondences include healing, wealth and wisdom.

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Resources for this post:
Jekka’s Complete Herb Book by Jekka McVicar
A Concise Guide to Herbs by Jenny Linford
Traditional Herbal Remedies by Jenny Plucknett
The Kitchen Witch by Soraya