Opening a space with intention
Before a ceremony begins, many traditions first prepare the space. Palo santo and white sage are two well known examples. The idea is not that smoke fixes anything, but that a small ritual helps you mark a moment: something different starts now.
Most of that works through attention. You slow down, you notice a scent, you pause for a moment to remember why you are here. A calm start makes it easier to arrive.
What is palo santo?
Palo santo means holy wood in Spanish. It comes from the Bursera graveolens tree, which grows in dry forests in countries such as Ecuador and Peru. By tradition, only wood from trees that died naturally is used, and the wood is left to rest for some time before its scent fully develops.
The scent is warm, resinous and slightly sweet. Many people find it calming. That is a personal experience: everyone responds differently to scent, and some people simply find smoke unpleasant.
What is white sage?
White sage (Salvia apiana) grows in southern California and northern Mexico. Several Indigenous peoples of that region have used the plant for centuries in their own ceremonies, including as a ritual of cleansing and protection.
Its scent is sharper and earthier than palo santo. Within those traditions the plant is sacred. That is a good reason not to treat it lightly, as the section on respect below explains.
How is it traditionally used?
Usually the tip of a palo santo stick or a bundle of sage is lit briefly and then blown out, so it smoulders gently. You walk slowly through the room with the smoke, past the corners, the windows and the door. Many people link it to an intention: what do I want to leave behind, what do I want to make room for?
- Open a window slightly and air the room well afterwards.
- Use a fireproof bowl and never leave smouldering wood or sage unattended.
- If your airways are sensitive or you dislike smoke, keep it short or choose a ritual without smoke.
Origin and respect
Both plants have become very popular in recent years, and that has a downside. Careless harvesting puts pressure on the plants and on the communities that have traditionally used them. Some Indigenous communities ask people outside their tradition not to use white sage, or only with great respect.
If you want to work with them yourself, pay attention to origin: wood from naturally fallen trees, sage that is cultivated rather than wild harvested. You can also create a ritual of your own, such as a candle, a few minutes of silence or the sound of a singing bowl.
A small ritual for yourself
You do not need to guide a ceremony to get something out of a ritual. A few minutes of attention at the start of the day, before an important conversation or after a heavy day can already help you settle. It is less about the smoke than about the moment you take for yourself.
A truffle ceremony in Amsterdam with Stars Frequencies also starts calmly. Meditation and sound healing are a fixed part of every ceremony, so you can settle first. For more on getting ready, see preparing for a truffle ceremony.