Palos Santo

Palo Santo, literally meaning “holy wood” in Spanish, is a tree that is widely distributed throughout Central and South America. Palo Santo is used similar to the way Sage is used - to combat negative energy and to cleanse the space.

Palo Santo is different than many of the other smudging materials as it is fragrant in its raw form and does not necessarily need to be lit, though it usually is when being used for ceremonial purposes; the rising smoke of the lit sticks is believed to enter the energy field to clear misfortune, negative thoughts and to chase away evil spirits. Its use reportedly dates back to the Inca era.

It is believed that a tree or fallen branches must lie dead for 4-10 years before the medicinal and mystical properties of the wood begin to come alive. It is also believed that the branches of the Palo Santo that are felled by lightning have the highest concentration of medicinal and mystical properties.

Apprx 3-4"
To use your smudge, begin by ensuring your space is well ventilated for effective cleansing. Light the smudge ( wood and floral only.) As it starts to smoke. You may cleanse yourself first by encircling the smoke around you. Use a feather or fan to direct the smoke to the areas or persons in need of cleansing.