An ancestral ritual that Virginie Khalifa cherishes, the founder of Sage Burners explains all you need to know about the shrub and the beneficial effects its burning can have on mental health.

L'OFFICIEL: Where does sage come from?
Virginie Khalifa: When talking about sage, we often refer to Native American white sage or California white sage which is a plant sacred to many peoples of North America, where it is traditionally used for religious ceremonies, births, and deaths. In its native environment, it grows in the southwestern states of the United States and northwestern Mexico, but it should be noted that sage is cultivated and used all over the world, such as in India, Egypt, and Israel. Depending on the environment in which it grows, its appearance may change, but its virtues remain the same. The most important thing to consider when buying sage is where it comes from and whether it was harvested sustainably and respectfully. Once it is in your hands, it's up to you to make it your ally to create an environment conducive to your well-being.
 L'O: How did you come to burn it and for what purpose?
VK: I have worked in the media world for over 10 years. I have traveled the world, interviewing people from different cultures and origins and I have often noticed that when it comes to talking about spirituality, no matter what the origins and religions of the people I meet, sage was no secret. From my past and the sometimes difficult experiences that I had to face, I learned very quickly how to protect myself alone and not to let myself be carried away by the negative energies that people could transmit to me. Sage allowed me to take a step back and be at peace.
 L'O: Is that how you decided to launch <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sageburners/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sage Burners</a>?
VK: If I used it, at the beginning, as a "nice little thing to do when I had the time," I quickly realized that this ritual had a real power and I wanted to share it with people that I love. During confinement, I was lucky to find myself in the countryside. Far from the media and the stress of the city, I started growing sage myself. I started by making sticks that I gave to my friends, then I put them up for sale on Instagram and orders exploded. Some friends, connected to the spiritual world, had predicted it. They said to me: You do it with so much heart and purity, that it will not leave you indifferent!&nbsp;I then understood that I had a mission, that of delivering the most accessible product to everyone in order to be able to heal and feel at ease.

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L'O: Do you think the pandemic played a role in this new craze?
VK: I have noticed a return to basics, and a growing interest of the younger generations for alternative medicine. More and more people are burning sage to avoid stress, to connect with the world, with nature, and above all with oneself. Today I feel that we are increasingly seeking to understand how ancient peoples lived and why certain rituals were so important. Diseases and viruses make us realize that it is vital to take care of your body and mind.
 L'O: Can we speak above all of an act of purification?
VK: In all the cultures of the world, we find the importance of purifying oneself by water, air, earth, and fire. The earth that gives us sage must be watered so that it can grow. The fire allows us to smoke the sage which purifies the air. In what is called the "smoke ceremony" (ritual that brings together the four elements) we will burn leaves or a stick of sage incense to permeate our body, our mind, and the place in which we are. Its smoke makes it possible to discharge the space and the objects of negative energies and to attract the positive energies in the treated space. This ritual is accompanied by prayers, meditation, and sacred phrases endowed with spiritual power, also called the mantra. This helps to create an environment conducive to care and healing. The name of sage comes from the Latin "salvare" which means "to heal."
 L'O: Concretely, what are the effects of sage?
VK: Over time, research has been able to explain some effects of sage. It has been proven that an accumulation of positive ions in the air is harmful to health. In smoke, negative ions are produced, which have a beneficial effect on our mood and alleviate certain ailments that develop when the air quality is poor.
L'O: How should sage be burned?
VK: For my part, I was inspired by the Bedouin people who dry their plants in the sun to integrate masculine energies and expose them to the light of the moon for an additional contribution of feminine energies and healing energies. I infuse my sticks with the purest energy possible to bring light, love, health, and good luck to them.
Take your staff in your hands, and open your windows so that negative energies can escape from the place you are in. Switch off your phone and make sure nothing can disturb you during this moment. Burn your stick from the flame of a candle. Recite a prayer, meditate, use a mantra, or simply let your heart speak to in turn attract light and positive energies. When the smoke begins to escape, take the time to move around every room in your house, around the corners of walls, windows, closets, where entities are used to hiding. Then let the stick burn out on its own in a bowl or in a glass, then open your main door to completely clean your interior and enjoy the smell that comes into your home.

What's the Purpose of Burning Sage?

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