Beyond Sage: 9 Fall-Friendly Botanicals for Cleansing, Clearing, and Uplifting the Vibe
Enchant the mood with these magical botanicals and high-vibrating scents.
Creating a harmonious and spiritually charged living space is a practice that has been cherished for centuries. The act of clearing and cleansing your space using herbs and scents is not only a time-honored tradition but also a powerful means of promoting positive energy, clarity, and overall well-being in your home.
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Methods of Clearing Your Space with Botanicals and Scents
Before we delve into the nine enchanting botanicals, let’s explore various methods for space clearing.
Please note: even non-toxic herbs can be potent in smoke and essential oil form. Be extra careful and mindful of the methods and herbs you use if you have animal friends or small children in the home.
Incense
The fragrant swirls of incense carry ancient wisdom and can purify the atmosphere, making it a staple in many spiritual practices. You can simply place your incense cone, stick, or charcoal with powder in an appropriate and safe holder, and then place it in a central or purposefully chosen location. Or, you can carry a dish or plate beneath it and waft it around each room and area as desired. Which brings us to…
Smoke Cleansing
With the smoke of sacred herbs, you can cleanse away negativity and usher in fresh, revitalizing energy. You can use incense, as above, or actual bundles of dried herbs that contain one or more of the botanicals of your choice. (In this list, cedar and cinnamon sticks particularly lend themselves to bundling.)
Essential Oils: Diffusers and Candles
A more subtle (but just as powerful) approach, essential oils in a diffuser infuse your space with their therapeutic properties and captivating scents. Alternatively, burn a clean-burning candle naturally scented with one or more essential oils.
Floor Washes
A ritualistic floor wash can wash away stagnant energies, leaving your home spiritually renewed. To wash your floor magically, add some fresh or dried herbs or a few drops of an essential oil of your choice to a bucket of warm water. Then mop with an actual mop or with a rag. (Just be careful! Cinnamon and clove essential oils can be especially irritating to the skin, but any essential oil can be irritating, particularly to those with sensitive skin. When cleaning with essential oils, gloves are a good idea.)
Door Washes, Bundles, and Wreaths
Craft and hang a wreath or bundle with one or more magical botanicals to bless and protect your home, or invite in blessings by washing your doors with botanically-infused water. (As above, add essential oils or a bit of the herb to a bucket of warm water. Then wash. And again: be careful with essential oils!)
Baking and Beverages
Baking with aromatic ingredients, or adding them to spiced cider, mulled wine, or herbal tea blends, will fill your home with delightful scents, inviting positivity and comfort. (Specifically, this one applies to cinnamon, allspice, clove, and vanilla.)
Now, let’s take a look at these nine fall-friendly botanicals and explore their magical and metaphysical properties.
1. Cedar: The Guardian of Serenity
Cedar, known for its strength and resilience, holds the power to clear negativity and promote serenity. It’s often used to shield against negative influences and create a safe haven within your space.
Here’s a nice cedar essential oil. Here’s a cedar incense I adore.
2. Cinnamon: The Spice of Warmth and Abundance
Cinnamon is a symbol of warmth and abundance. Its inviting energy can awaken your senses and invite prosperity and joy into your home.
Here’s a popular, easy cinnamon roll recipe to try.
3. Dragon’s Blood: The Defender of Boundaries
Dragon’s Blood resin is a powerful protector, creating an energetic shield around your space. It’s your ally in maintaining healthy boundaries and warding off unwanted energies.
Luckily, my favorite incense brand makes dragon’s blood incense too.
4. Copal: The Purifier of Energy
Copal resin has been used for centuries in spiritual rituals. Its cleansing properties help to purify the atmosphere and elevate your spiritual connection. Particularly as the veil thins as we approach Samhain, you can use it to call in sweet spirits and to help stuck spirits to transition into the light.
Here’s Fred Soll’s Magical Copal Incense.
5. Frankincense: The Resin of Enlightenment
Frankincense has been cherished for its spiritual significance. It’s associated with heightened awareness, deep meditation, and a sense of spiritual enlightenment. Like sunlight dispersing shadows, it banishes and dissolves away unwanted energies and establishes a light, bright, and buoyant vibe.
Fred Soll’s Sweet Frankincense is divine.
6. Clove: The Spice of Transformation
Clove possesses transformative energy, helping you release old patterns and embrace positive change. It can infuse your space with the essence of transformation. Whole cloves are nice for sticking all over an orange like sequins. (That makes a classic protective/aromatherapeutic/decorative charm called a pomander – pictured – for you witch babies. These work well throughout the holidays.)
Make these Chocolate Chai Roasted Almonds and fill your home with the scent of cloves (and other yummy stuff).
7. Allspice: The Spice of Unity
Allspice carries the energy of unity and harmony. It’s perfect for fostering a sense of togetherness and balance within your home.
This vegan spice cake has allspice…and vanilla…and cinnamon…and clove…and other delicious ingredients that will fill your home with the scent of fall.
8. Sandalwood: The Aroma of Sensual Tranquility
Sandalwood is a tranquilizing botanical known for its romantic, grounding, and calming influence. It invites peace, relaxation, love, sensuality, and heightened spiritual awareness.
I really can’t get enough of Fred Soll’s incense. It’s just so legit. Here’s his New Mexico Sandalwood.
9. Vanilla: The Sweet, Simple Essence of Love
Vanilla represents love and comfort. Its sweet aroma can create an atmosphere of love and warmth, making it perfect for spaces where nurturing and connection are desired.
By incorporating these botanicals into your cleaning, clearing, and space-clearing efforts, you’ll not only purify and beautify your environment but also uplift the vibe, fostering a sense of peace, harmony, and positive energy in your home.
How about these vegan vanilla cupcakes ***said in Homer Simpson voice***.
As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments below! And don’t be a stranger! Check back regularly for fresh magical tips, tricks, and inspiration.
Wishing you a most magical fall season. 🍎 🍁🍂
Discover more from Tess Whitehurst
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Hi, Tess! Such a fun post as we approach the Autumn Equinox. It already feels a little like fall here in Portland! I just love cinnamon, clove and vanilla. So cozy. And caramel! I am definitely making something with caramel this week. Excellent idea! Thank you for the inspiration.
Kimberly, nice! Fall just hit up here in the Rockies too.
I’ve always been hyper sensitive to scents and drinks. If the aroma, herb or flower is too potent I get nauseous. Sometimes I get ungrounded and feel like I am flying and experience visions and sensations. I have had to emergency ground myself and drink lots of water and eat something to anchor myself back. My husband teases me whenever this happens. He says “drink some water, eat something, do your funny exercises. You’re just hyper sensitive and energy-sick.” He always warns me to be careful with incense, to carry water everywhere I go, to eat something, to go outside. He’s lived with my energy fluctuations and been there to anchor me. Some scents don’t affect me as much and I usually reserve the more potent ones for a few seconds lit to set the intention. Usually the less potent ones are my go to and get the job done. Dried White sage, cedar, rosemary, rose petals, pine,fir,lavender herbs are comfortable for me. I like burning these herbs mixed with my tiny candles. My husband likes baking cinnamon rolls and the smell fills our home. I’ve found ways to incorporate scent and herbs to delicately hint and energy fine tune my home and rituals.
Redhen, I find scent to be incredibly powerful as well, and to affect my energy a lot. I love hearing about your experiences – thank you, as always, for sharing. I love those scents you mentioned too!