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I do it on the winter solstice, but it doesn't hurt to review on the calendar New Year, too .
I step outside, take in some clear air, in the daytime and again at night, and I think on those things that I want to leave behind and let go off, and what I want to take with me in the coming year. I light candles at night. I like to burn sage, but I forgot on the solstice, so maybe I'll do that New Year's Day.
It also feels good to physically get rid of something that you no longer need or use or want, if you can work that in. There seems to be a correspondence between the physical action and the spiritual decluttering.
Good topic. Would have worked in the Pagan subforum as well.
I've always been curious about sage but have never used it. I'm a little afraid/skeptical of ritualistic practices that aren't Christian although I feel connected to other ways of thinking that are non-Christian.
Can you tell me more about sage or other purifiers that are helpful?
Don't do any "practices" if you feel uneasy about them. As a Chrisitian, look at it as Holy Spirit warning you. That's good enough.
Personally, I just paid my CC and water bill. I like entering new year without any financial obligations. Even though those bills are due on January 20th. I've done my part.
To be honest, for a Christian, you dwell into territories of paganism, with your concern. Also, when exactly IS that new year? January 1st? In my culture, it's January 14th. There are MANY new years across various cultures and religions. So which one? All of them? Do you see silliness of the question? As always, it's matter of PERSONAL choice...
I've always been curious about sage but have never used it. I'm a little afraid/skeptical of ritualistic practices that aren't Christian although I feel connected to other ways of thinking that are non-Christian.
Can you tell me more about sage or other purifiers that are helpful?
Sweetgrass is a favourite of mine, either as a smudge or incense. I have dozens of varieties of incense and burn some every evening.
I've always been curious about sage but have never used it. I'm a little afraid/skeptical of ritualistic practices that aren't Christian although I feel connected to other ways of thinking that are non-Christian.
Can you tell me more about sage or other purifiers that are helpful?
Well, there are a couple of us who hang around here who consider ourselves, as another put it, "Christo-Pagans", although that's a made-up term (not to mention we have an occasional poster who might be considered Jewish-Pagan. She and I shop at the same new-agey store near where I live. ). Basically we don't see that traditional practices connected with nature go against the base teachings of Christ. Just remember that it's not just the burning of the material itself that dissipates the negativity, it's your intent and meditation on the action that counts. Since my Christian side leans toward what is called Franciscan Spirituality, meaning the teachings of Francis of Assisi as regards our connection with God through the earth and the creatures who inhabit it, I see no conflict.
Sage is a traditional herb thought to be cleansing of negativity. It's thought of primarily nowadays as something that comes from the indigenous people of the Americas, but it turns out it's been similarly used in Celtic and other European cultures, too, although the type of sage we usually find in the stores around here are the type the indigenous North Americans use.
The wood Palo Santo is also used for cleansing. I love the smell of it, but it seems to burn out pretty quickly. TroutDude also mentioned sweetgrass. I was not as familiar with that, but a friend of mine had a braided rope of sweetgrass that he burned once, and it's really very pleasant.
There are also jewels. Stones. Incenses. Poses. Symbols. Certain drawings. Sounds. Instruments. incantations. Prayers. Fenshui. There are many ways to "purify" whatever one feels like needs to be purified.
They all work under one circumstance - you have to believe into their effect. If you BELIEVE that a donkey turd will purify you (in some cultures, cow turd does) - it WILL purify you. It is not what you using, it is your mind that does the job. Self conviction.
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