We had just moved into our new home, I had pink hair and hadn't met the neighbours yet. The first morning we woke up in the house, I used sage to clear the energy, I set off every smoke alarm in the house. The children were with me. We didn't know the code for the security company. We had no landline connected yet. I'll bet the neighbours were excited to welcome us to the neighbourhood.

Here is what I use, how I use it, and what I reach for depending on what I am sensing in the space or in myself.

Sage

White sage is the one most people know. It has been picked up by mainstream wellness and, as a result, over-harvested in ways that are damaging. If you use it, source it sustainably and use it with intention.

Practically speaking, it produces a lot of smoke. If you have sensitive smoke detectors, you will find out fast. This is why I often suggest palo santo first for people in apartments or homes where they don't know how sensitive the smoke detectors are yet :)

Palo Santo

Palo santo is lighter, more fragrant, and produces less dense smoke. It is also one of my most-reached-for tools for daily clearing, freshening energy in a room, or resetting a space after an argument.

Same rule applies: buy from a supplier who sources it sustainably. The tree must have fallen naturally. If the label does not tell you that, keep looking elsewhere.

Mugwort

This one is a bit different to the rest.

Mugwort is powerfully clearing. I reach for it when the energy feels particularly sticky or heavy. When something does not shift with other sacred smoke tools or. When there are attachments or entities that need moving on.

The mugwort I sell comes from a witch who grows it on the south coast of Australia. I trust the source completely. You can find it in my shop at skinglowalchemy.com

Copal and Resins

I love white copal, dark copal, and gold copal, as well as resins like myrrh and frankincense. These are burned on charcoal in a small burn pot, given to me by my Reiki master when I became a master myself.

Copal in particular has a long ceremonial history in Mesoamerican traditions. It is heavier and more ritualistic than palo santo or sage. I use it when I want more depth. When I am working on something ancestral, or when the clearing needs more punch behind it.

If you are new to resin burning, you will need a heat-safe vessel, charcoal discs, and a small amount of resin. A little goes a long way.

Essential Oils and Clearing Sprays

Not everything needs smoke. Sometimes a clearing spray is more practical, more appropriate for the space, or simply what feels right - trust your intuition.

I love using oils like White Angelica and lime for protection and energetic clearing. White Angelica in particular is one I use often, it used to be called "Of The Angels", and when I say that I always get goosebumps. I love Young Living for essential oils and cannot recommend any other brand. If you're interested in Young Living products, let me know and I'll guide you and set you up with wholesale pricing.

A spray made with high-vibration water and protective oils can clear a room fast. I have a clearing spray made with Eclipse water coming up for sale soon, and a aura protecting body oil that is almost ready. Both are options for people who want the clearing effect without smoke.

None of these tools do the work for you. They support what you are already doing. Your intention is key. I've alwso cleared spaces with a stainless bowl and a wooden spoon!

Use them consistently, not just when things feel off. The same way you would not wait until your body crashes to sleep, do not wait until a space feels unbearable to clear it.

And always: source with care. Sustainably farmed, ethically produced, sourced from people who actually know what they are doing.

Ready to explore?

Mugwort is available now in the shop. The clearing spray and protecting body oil are coming soon. Join the Glow Circle to be the first to know when they drop.