FEMALE AND MALE SAGE
Female Sage
The are many species of sage. Normally within each species of sage, there
are both female and male sage. Here I will tell you about the common
female sage. In our area both the female and the male sage grows abundantly.
Female Sage is believed to be given to women from Mother Earth, so that
during their "Moon Time" they may also smudge. Men can and often do use
female sage for smudging as well.
A large handful of Female sage can be boiled to make sage water.
This water in inself serves many useful purposes, both medicinal and
magickal. If one has stuffed up sinuses, they need to simply boil some sage
and inhale the steam to bring much needed relief.
Regarding magickal properties, the sage water can be used to bathe in to
remove anything evil/negative/harmful energies. This can be done in three ways. First, the traditional way (that I was raised with) was to boil the
sage till the water turned a greenish color. Then, the sage water is then sponged onto the person, starting with the face, moving onto the hair, and continueing on with the body. Always rub in a downward motion.
The second, more modern method is to prepare the sage water as mentioned.
Then pour this into a bathtub filled with warm water. Submerge yourself completely.
The third way is dependent on how many pots you have and if you have a substantial amount of sage. Boil alot of sage in alot of pots.
Pour each pot into the bathtub. When you finally have enough sage water
in the tub, submerge yourself completely in the water. (Remember to let
it cool first). The above three methods are forms of spiritual cleansing.
A fourth method for using either the male or the female sage is to boil
it like I have mentioned earlier. Strain the sage water into a bottle.
You then can use this sage water to protect your home, or vehicles by sprinkling the sage water around the outside and the inside of your home.
Walk clockwise around your home while you gently sprinkle the sage water.
You may also sprinkle a little sage water on your vehicle and on the inside
of your vehicle, again in a clockwise manner.
Female sage may also be added to protection pouches/bundles, incense, used
as offerings and so forth.
Male Sage
Male sage can be used much in the same way as female age, with one major
exception. When a woman is on her "Moon Time," she is not supposed to
touch male sage. The reason for this, is the same as with the Sweetgrass.
How can you tell the difference between the female and male sage? Male
sage has little "balls" all over it, and it's leaves are not quite
so wide as the female sage. The female sage never has little balls all
over it. The female sage will "go to seed" this is where there are a
bunch of little seeds at the top of the plant. BUT, do not confuse a female
and male sage plant. The two are different but equally powerful.
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