In case you’ve ever skilled the wealthy and comforting scent of palo santo smoke, chances are high you have felt the magic of this sacred tree. In Spanish, palo santo means holy wooden or “the wooden of saints.” In Latine communities, palo santo is handled with the utmost respect and that is as a result of it has been utilized by Indigenous individuals in South American international locations like Peru and Ecuador for hundreds of years, for each non secular and medicinal functions from smudging to clearing negative energy and even to lowering stress due to its soothing aroma. This sacred wooden can be utilized in a number of methods relying on the shape — whether or not it is the wooden, the oil, or the resin. This is every thing it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the sacred wooden and how one can incorporate it into your non secular and wellness rituals:
What Is Palo Santo?
Spanish monks named it “holy wooden” or “the wooden of saints” centuries in the past after they first found the sacred tree, which should be proven the utmost respect. That begins with the remedy of the timber whereas they’re nonetheless alive. The shamans and healers of South America believed the timber ought to by no means be reduce down and shouldn’t be used for non secular rituals or ceremonies till 4 to 10 years after they’ve naturally fallen to the forest flooring. In keeping with custom, the tree’s spirit continues to dwell within the wooden after demise. If handled correctly throughout its lifetime, that robust spirit will help within the restoration of bodily and energetic well-being.
The place Does Palo Santo Come From?
Nonetheless immediately, palo santo — a tree that grows wild in the dry, tropical forests of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, all of Central America besides Belize and Panama, and northern South America (Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, together with the Galapagos Islands) — is utilized in non secular practices for numerous causes. When burned, the smoke is believed to clear unfavorable power from oneself, one other, or perhaps a area or object. It will also be used to name within the robust spirit of the palo santo tree for grounding and enhancing creativity. Palo santo has been utilized by shamans all through the Amazonia to deal with illnesses just like the frequent chilly and flu, bronchial asthma, complications, stress, nervousness, and emotional ache. In Ecuador and Peru, palo santo is commonly used as a natural repellent against insects like mosquitoes.
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What Does Palo Santo Do, and What Is Smudging?
The observe of utilizing the palo santo smoke to clear power and name in good vibes is an Indigenous custom referred to as smudging. It is performed by burning herbs like sage or wooden or their resin. By combining the hearth from the flame, earth from the plant or wooden, air from the smoke, and water represented by the abalone shells usually used to catch scorching cinders, the smudging rituals make the most of the 4 parts to shift power. So it is good to make use of whereas talking affirmations or setting intentions or proper earlier than meditation, as palo santo has additionally been credited with growing focus and making a deeper reference to the divine.
Whether or not you are simply getting began or skilled with tapping into the advantages of this holy wooden, it is vital to do your analysis earlier than shopping for your palo santo to make sure it has been ethically and sustainably sourced. There was a debate that the sacred tree is endangered. According to the International Union for Conversion of Nature, the palo santo tree is listed as “least concern,” that means it isn’t endangered and the inhabitants is steady. There are two different species of palo santo trees: bursera graveolens (the palo santo being referred to on this article) and bulnesia sarmientoi, which grows in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia and is endangered. Now that you recognize a bit in regards to the historical past and advantages of palo santo, here is a method you should use the sacred tree to cleanse your self, one other, and/or an area. (Tip: it is an effective way to organize your area for vacation gatherings or cleanse it afterward.)
- Start by burning the palo santo stick for 30 seconds to a minute till the aromatic smoke flows.
- If cleaning your self or one other, you’ll be able to merely permit the smoke to waft across the physique, whereas transferring the burning stick from head to toe to advertise grounding and centering.
- As you cowl the auric discipline (the power round us), repeat affirmations, say a prayer, give thanks, set an intention, or all the above.
- When utilizing the sacred smoke to cleanse your property, repeat the 1st step and stroll all through your area from the again to the entrance entrance. You possibly can even hint the area round home windows and doorways with the smoke to seal within the good power. Utilizing a feather (Indigenous people often used eagle, hawk, or turkey feathers) to waft the smoke across the physique, an object, or a room can be an possibility.
- Place the burning stick within the abalone shell, and permit it to exit by itself.
- Crack a window or door to permit the air to flow into.
- Present gratitude to the scared tree and for the power it brings.
- Repeat as usually as wanted.
Palo Santo Makes use of
The sacred wooden can be utilized for a number of issues together with in non secular observe and as a pure treatment. You need to use it as a wooden usually offered as sticks or as an fragrant resin that may be extracted from the wooden and used individually. You may as well buy palo santo within the type of a vital oil. Listed here are a number of methods you should use it:
- You possibly can smudge palo santo in your area or add important oil to a diffuser to repel mosquitos or flies. It accommodates limonene which features as a pure insect repellant.
- Palo santo within the type of a vital oil may also help scale back irritation and scale back ache. You possibly can add to the temples of your head in the event you’re experiencing a headache. For some even respiration within the smoke from burning the wooden may also help with a lightweight headache.
- Due to its soothing aroma, palo santo may also help ease stress. You possibly can add the oil to your diffuser for aromatherapy or burn some palo santo wooden earlier than stress-free into meditation or participating in breath work. Palo santo chips and powder are additionally used for aromatherapeutic causes.
- The resin can be utilized as incense on a heated charcoal disc in a resin burner.
Zayda Rivera is a former POPSUGAR contributor. She has been an expert author for greater than 20 years. Z is an authorized Reiki Grasp Instructor, yoga and Zumba teacher, mindfulness and meditation information, tarot reader, and non secular mentor.
