Why You Need to Use Palo Santo Sticks in Your Home!
Spiritual wellness is becoming more and more important in today’s fast-paced world where our physical and mental health are on the decline. Being connected to something greater than yourself and having a set of values, principles, morals and beliefs that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to life is vital! That’s why incorporating daily rituals like burning Palo Santo sticks is a great way to find reconnection to self and a sense of calm.
Palo santo is a sacred tree native to South America. Indigenous Latin American cultures have used its wood in traditional healing and spiritual ceremonies for centuries. A cousin of both frankincense and myrrh, palo santo literally means "holy wood," and it's a fitting name given its past. When it burns, the aromatic wood releases lemon, mint, and pine notes—an invigorating, grounding fragrance that is believed to have a number of benefits.
Different Palo Santo Forms
There are different ways you can use Palo Santo in your everyday wellness routine:
Wood | The wood of the palo santo tree is available as sticks, chips, or powder. It usually comes from the actual branches of the tree, so it’s 100 percent wood.
Resin | Palo santo wood contains a very aromatic resin, which can be derived and used separately.
Oil | The essential oil of palo santo can be extracted from the wood and fruit.
Palo Santo Benefits
Similar to Sage and Cedar, Palo Santo is most widely used for spiritual purification and energy cleansings. Once the wood sticks are burned, the smoke is believed to clear negative energy and restore tranquility and calm emotions. Burning palo santo sticks or using the charcoal for ritual smudging will welcome creativity, love, and good fortune into your space. The wood can help brighten energy and promote feelings of positivity and joy. The scent is also shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance clarity and concentration.
How To Use
- Light a palo santo stick with a candle, lighter, or match
- Hold the stick downward at a 45-degree angle
- Let the stick burn for 30 seconds
- Blow out the flame. Place the stick in a heatproof dish to let it burn
Using palo santo in your home can be a beautiful, beneficial way to clear your space and calm the mind. But you need to be sure to be mindful of the sanctity of its traditional use and responsible about where you buy it. Once you have your hands on ethically sourced palo santo, use positive mantras to help you infuse it with your intention.
