Palo Santo has recently gained popularity in the past couple years due to its incredible cleansing and healing properties. Palo Santo itself comes rom regions in South America, our Palo Santo specifically is sourced from Peru where we have direct contact with a Palo Santo harvester. Palo Santo has long been used in the regions of South America in spiritual ceremonies that are linked back to the incas and Aztecs. They would burn the palo santo prior to their ceremonies so as to cleanse the space with the smoke.
Palo Santo in Spanish translates to “holy wood” and is harvested from the Bursera Graveolens tree. The only way to harvest Palo Santo so as to receive all of the natural benefits, is to harvest from a fallen tree that has died naturally and has been decaying on the forest floor for at least a couple of years. Through this decaying process the natural essential oils and resign seep through out the branch and trunk and it is these oils that give the harvested palo santo its cleansing and healing properties. Since this process takes so long the environmental impact is slim if any and through this precess we develop a better relationship to land and all it provides for us.
When to use Palo Santo?
If you are wanting to refresh and begin anew Palo Santo is great to cleanse with, you will simply light the palo santo stick and then blow the flame out, if it doesn’t go out immediately, and then moving the stick around where you would like to cleanse and with the smoke cleanse the energy around. While doing this process it may also help to voice some intentions that you have for your now cleansed energy.
Difference Palo Santo and White Sage:
Unlike white sage the palo santo doesn’t just cleanse but it also brings positive energy, so you are not wiping out all of the energy just adding your self of the negative and bringing forth the positive. The palo santo will leave both you and your space more energized and grounded than ever. You might also reach for a palo santo stick if you’re feeling stuck as it will help get your creative juices flowing and encourage you. When smudging with the Palo Santo we encourage you to set for your intentions and some positive affirmations about either your place that you or cleansing or yourself, through this process you will find a calmness and restfulness.