White sage (artemesia ludoviciana) has been used for centuries by various Native American tribes for both medicine and ceremonies and is still used extensively today. Here is an overview how it is used in a healing ritual by Cecelia Garcia, a healer from the Chumash tribe of the Santa Barbara area of California.
Instructions
1. Cecelia's white sage healing ritual starts with praying over fresh white sage cultivated in a special garden, then picking one branch.
2. One sage leaf is placed in a one liter bottle of purified water for 30 minutes to permeate the water before the patient drinks it. The same leaf can be re-used for four bottles of water for the course of one day. After that, the leaf deteriorates and is not usable.
3. Another way it is used is to place a small leaf in the mouth and suck on it to soothe the throat..
4. White sage is also used as a hot tea. Place one fresh leaf in one cup of water at room temperature into a stainless steel or glass pan. Heat the water only until it just starts to boil. It must not come to a full boil, or the effect is lost. Drink the tea.
5. The healer can also use white sage in a prayer ceremony for one person or a group of family and friends gathered with the patient. Small branches of freshly dried branches unbound by yarn, string or twine are placed in an abalone shell or fireproof bowl and set on fire. Everyone prays in unison and the smoke sends the prayers to God to invite Him into the healing process.
Tags: healing ritual, white sage