Desert Sage, Broken (Artemisia tridentata) 1 lb: C

This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. Used as an incense, infusion, decoction and craft herb. Also called basin big sagebrush. Range: Western N. America - British Columbia to California and Mexico, east to Nebraska. http://www.widdershins.org/vol7iss8/03.htm: 'The Native American people of this area knew sage's value and used it for many things. I remember first being introduced to sage as a teen one summer at a Yakima Indian pow wow. I enjoyed the drums, bells and rattles that accompanied its burning as well as its smoky scent. In Plains Native American sweat lodge ceremonies, the floor of the structure is strewn with sage leaves for the participants to rub on their bodies during the sweat. Sage is used in keeping sacred objects like pipes or peyote (feather) wands safe from negative energies. In the Sioux nation, the sacred pipe is kept in a bundle with sage boughs. You can burn sage during meditations prior to doing readings or other forms of divination and before, during and after rituals. Sage smudge wands are typically used for clearing and purifying negative energies from a thing, space or person. Sometimes another herb or flower is used either in conjunction with or after a sage bundle. The intention of smudging is usually to cleanse and bless and bring positive or whatever influences you are looking for into a person or space. You may also combine another herb or plant with sage; in this case, sage is used for clearing or cleansing and the other herb for blessing. One herb that comes readily to mind is cedar, a good choice because it is sacred to Northwest Native people. I also occasionally like to use lavender for blessing and healing. Both cedar and lavender not only help bring in wonderful energy, they also smell great combined with the sage! Having two herbs in one wand makes it easier, because it takes only half the time when you combine cleansing and blessing -- unless you have a reason for wanting to separate the processes. Once the sage is mostly dry, you may select pieces to group together for your wands. Try to find a variety of fronds that have leaves and foliage all over. Gather these together tightly in a bunch and wrap with brightly colored silk thread -- I have used embroidery thread with good results. Wrap the thread around the bases of the sage stalks a number of times, and tie it in a knot at the bottom. Then proceed to wind the thread up the stick several times, around it, each pass about an inch or so apart from the next. Spiral the thread up and then back down the other side. Make sure to knot it at the end so it stays together. Perform this process a couple times until the wand seems reasonably stable. You don't want it falling apart all over the place when you're doing your ceremony. While you gather and wrap, make sure and focus your intention and visualize your purpose for the wand. When finished with your wands, you may want to tie all of them