Palo Santo: What is it used for and how does it work?

Palo Santo has been a best-seller in the store since the day it became available!

Therefore, I would like to talk a little more about this "spiritual tool." I believe that if we understand why and how to use it correctly, our lives can be transformed.

Its smoke and scent seem to help dispel negativity and bring in a breath of well-being.

I use it to cleanse the energy of both my home and office, as well as myself. And with each new month, I like to do some extra "cleansing" around the house.

It all has to do with the Feng Shui aspect that runs in my veins, which includes "trying" to be more minimalist, donating everything we haven't used in over a year, and being as wasteful as possible.

Perhaps it also has to do with having four children, but I like an organized and clean house. And often, to achieve that, I have to be minimalist (less clutter at home, less mess for the children!). Smell is also something that affects me. I like the windows open all year round (thankfully we live in Portugal!), to let in good energy.

Another thing I can't do without is Palo Santo (holy wood).

It has been used for centuries by Amazonian civilizations to ward off bad energies.

I use it for two reasons:

1 - Because I enjoy cleaning the house and energy is something I feel quite strongly. Especially when there are arguments, serious problems, or someone who's been here with a "bad vibe."

2 - Because I like the sweet and "clean" smell that fills the house after burning the blessed wood ! Unlike incense, Palo Santo burns slowly. This means you can use it many times without that intense smell. This one is more subtle and gentle.

Properties of Palo Santo

The scent emitted by Palo Santo is the essential oil it contains – the tree's "life force." Like all essential oils, rosewood contains dozens, if not hundreds, of chemical constituents that are studied for their unique healing and regenerative properties. When we inhale these components, the nervous system assimilates and reacts – sending signals to the parts of the body that need recovery.

Palo Santo essential oil has benefits that include relieving allergy symptoms, repelling mosquitoes, fighting free radicals, relieving stress and anxiety, promoting restful sleep, alleviating nausea, and even reducing pain and inflammation. That's why I feel so relaxed after using Palo Santo . It's quite likely not just a placebo effect. Palo Santo is traditionally burned as an offering to good indigenous spiritual beings, especially in a sacred place.

It is believed that when we enjoy pleasant smells on Earth, spiritual beings will also be attracted to those smells and, in return, bring pleasant vibrations and good luck.

Start your own ritual.

The next time you want to cleanse the energies of your home or make it smell fresh:

1 - Stop and think for a moment about what you want. Cleanse energies? Perhaps a particular corner of the house?

2 - Take a Palo Santo (holy stick) and light it, always carefully. Use a match preferably, or a candle. There are some rules, and one of them is that you should use natural fire, so lighters and stoves shouldn't be your first choice.

3 - The stick will start to catch fire and will quickly go out. Let this process happen on its own. When only smoke is coming out, the "work" begins. I like to start with myself. I pass the smoke from bottom to top, and a little all around. I even help with my other hand to pass the smoke over myself almost as if I were shaking crumbs off my body (for example, from the shoulder up the arm to the hand).

Then I move on to the house. I start at the front door and follow the path, entering each room and doing every corner of it. Pay special attention to the doors and windows. When I do it on the children, I do the same as I did on myself, but since they have less patience and think I'm a bit "strange," I just circle the holy stick over each of their heads once.

Have questions? Then check out this video: