Every year, the height of summer opens a doorway. As the Lion's Gate portal reaches its peak and the energy around us grows brighter and faster, many of us in the Mystical Family begin to feel it — a restlessness, a heaviness, a quiet sense that it's time to set something down before we can move forward.
That feeling has a purpose. Before you can rise, you have to clear the way.
Cleansing is the first step of any ascension. It's how we release what we've been carrying — old energy, stagnant patterns, the residue of other people's moods — so there's room for something new to move in. When a portal like Lion's Gate amplifies everything, cleansing becomes less of a nice-to-have and more of a foundation. You wouldn't plant in a garden you hadn't weeded first.
Why Cleansing Matters (Especially Right Now)
Energy accumulates the way dust does. It settles into the corners of a room, into the objects we touch, into our own field after a long day or a hard conversation. Most of the time we don't notice it building — we just notice the effect: sleep that doesn't quite restore us, a home that feels heavier than it should, a scattered mind that won't settle.
A portal accelerates all of it. The same energy that helps you manifest and expand will also stir up whatever's ready to be released. Clearing first means you're working with that current instead of against it — you make space before you try to fill it.
Sage vs. Palo Santo: What's the Difference?
This is the question I'm asked most often, so let's settle it.
White Sage is your deep reset. It's the strongest, most thorough clearing tool most of us keep on hand — it neutralizes heavy or stuck energy and wipes the slate clean. Reach for sage when a space feels genuinely off, after conflict or illness, when you move into a new home, or any time you want a full energetic reset. Our White Sage Wands are hand-bundled, and loose-leaf sage works beautifully in a fire-safe bowl.
Palo Santo — "holy wood" — is the lighter, sweeter counterpart. Where sage clears, palo santo uplifts. Its warm, resinous smoke invites in calm, good fortune, and high vibrations. It's gentle enough for daily use, which is why our Palo Santo is one of the pieces I reach for most.
The simplest way to remember it: sage to clear, palo santo to bless. Many practitioners use both — sage first to release, palo santo after to fill the freshly cleared space with something beautiful.
And if you want a clearing herb with a little extra fire behind it, Red Sage — also known as Dragon's Blood Sage — pairs cleansing with protection. (If you're curious about that one, I wrote more about it in The Mystical Properties of Red Sage.)
If Smoke Isn't Your Thing
Not every space welcomes smoke — offices, rentals, homes with sensitive lungs or curious pets. That's where a good spray earns its place. Our Sage Spray for Smudging and Sacred Protection Spray are Reiki-charged and carry the same clearing intention as the smoke, in a form you can use anywhere, anytime — a few mists and the room breathes again.
How to Cleanse Safely
A few simple practices make all the difference:
- Open a window or door first. Cleansing moves energy out — give it somewhere to go.
- Set your intention before you light anything. The tool is a focus; you are the one doing the clearing. Name what you're releasing.
- Move with purpose. Work through your space corner to corner, paying attention to doorways, closets, and the spots that tend to feel stagnant.
- Mind the fire. Use a fire-safe dish to catch embers, never leave burning herbs unattended, and let everything fully extinguish when you're done.
A Simple "Clear the Way" Ritual
Something you can do any time you're craving a reset:
- Open a window. Take three slow breaths to arrive in the moment.
- Light your sage (or mist your spray) and say, aloud or silently: "I release what no longer serves me. I clear the way."
- Move through your space, letting the smoke or mist reach the corners and thresholds.
- When you feel the shift, light palo santo — or simply set a new intention — to invite in what you do want: peace, clarity, abundance.
- Close with gratitude. The way is clear.
Then Step Into Abundance
Here's the part people forget: clearing isn't the whole practice — it's the opening act. Once you've made space, you've created room to call something in. This is the moment to focus on what you want to grow: prosperity, opportunity, alignment with the life you're building.
It's exactly why I've been reaching for the Dhan Yog Bracelet lately — a wealth-and-abundance blend rooted in Vedic tradition. Cleanse first, then draw in. A cleared space and a clear intention are a powerful pair.
Clear Your Space, Then Rise
The portal won't stay open forever, and neither does the invitation it carries. Take the time to clear what you've been holding — your home, your energy, your path — and you'll feel the difference in everything that comes next.
Everything you need to begin is gathered in one place in our Clear the Way collection: sage, palo santo, sprays, and more, ready to help you reset and rise.
With Love,
Laurie 🔮
P.S. Want to keep your space clear long after the portal closes? Start with 10 Effective Ways to Keep Your Sacred Space Sacred.
