With the new year just around the corner, I wanted share one of my favorite New Year’s rituals. The first thing I do on January 1 is a cleansing ritual. There are a few different types of cleansing rituals you can do, but I prefer to do a smudging ritual.

Smudging is thousands of years old and is a historic ritual in Native American culture. I think it’s really important to acknowledge and understand the roots and history behind it, rather than just falling into something because it’s “trendy.” Just because you can get a smudge stick at Urban Outfitters doesn’t mean you should. I highly recommend reading up on the history of Native American rituals and culture before diving in.

I use a few different things for my cleaning rituals:

Sage
Palo Santo
Moon-bathed crystals

I get my sage bundles via Gunn & Swain, which purchases Native American-made bundles in Taos, New Mexico. I like to use both sage and Palo Santo because they serve a different purpose.

I start with sage, because burning this herb cleanses bad spirits, feelings, and influences. Start by lighting the smudge stick and let it catch fire. Extinguish the fire by blowing on it lightly, and let the smoke billow from the stick. Walk around your entire house and allow the smoke to touch every room, corner, even closets, and cupboards. Don’t worry, it’s not harmful smoke and isn’t dangerous for you or your pets. You can use a smudge dish or abalone shell to catch any falling ashes.

You can also use a cleansing mantra as you move through the house. Here are a couple of my favorites:

“Into this smoke I release all energy that doesn’t serve me, all negativity that surrounds me and all the fear that limits me.” – Asé

“I release all things from the past year that has caused any negative attachment. I prepare and welcome new changes, new lessons and new adventures. I welcome new opportunities to grow mentally and emotionally.” – Unknown

Lastly, I finish my cleansing ritual by burning Palo Santo. Spanish for “holy wood,” Palo Santo is a sacred tree which grows in select parts of South America. It has been used for centuries by shamans in ritual prayer, ceremonies, and healing. Keep in mind that Palo Santo won’t burn as long as sage and will need to be relit.

Use a candle, match or lighter to ignite your stick. Then hold it at a 45-degree angle pointing the tip down toward the flame. Allow the stick to burn for 30 seconds to a minute and then blow it out. Similar to your sage stick, walk around your space allowing the smoke to fill each corner.

What’s the difference between the two? Sage is said to clear out ALL the energy—good and bad. It gives you a blank slate. Palo Santo is said to cleanse negative energy, and bring in the good. So you’ll want to be sure to speak a positive mantra as you’re cleansing with Palo Santo. Even something as simple as, “I welcome the good energy and positivity this new year brings.”