The Scottish Ritual of Saining

Saining is a Scottish ritual that is one part blessing, one part cleansing and one part protection.

It involves using juniper in various applications with fire or water, in the ritual purification of temples, celebrations, for health, to ward off evil, to cleanse, and more.

Saining uses juniper and other herbs – either to burn or in oils – to remove the unwanted or hidden, negative influences. It can also be used with other types of spellwork.

History of Saining

Scotland has a long history of using plants such as juniper in ritualistic ceremonies to bless, cleanse, heal and protect – going back to the 11th Century.

Midsummer fires were a tradition of Scottish farming communities, who celebrated with a large fire of juniper wood at the end of June. They believed the fires were a blessing to their crops, livestock, and that it warded off evil spirits.  This celebration is marked by the Catholic Church as the Feast of St. John, on June 24.

Each Samhain, juniper was burned in an effort to make contact with the Otherworld. Scots burned Juniper in Saining their homes to repel disease. They also added it to whisky and gin for health.

Modern Day Saining

Saining is still used today by many. Regular saining safeguards your home, spellwork, personal property and your person. A popular custom is to use saining before major life decisions. It allows you to be fully present, without negative influences.

Saining removes curses, hexes or malefic spells of any kind, including unwanted influences. Saining kits are sold in our shoppe, and are made with ethically-sourced juniper, as juniper has become very scarce. Our saining oil is organic and handcrafted in small batches over a 6-week period.

Grab your kit while they are still in stock. Supplies are very limited.

Resources:
http://www.tairis.co.uk/practices/saining/#11
https://magicnorthstar.com/the-tradition-of-scottish-saining-smudging/
https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/juniper/
https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/when-scots-were-banned-lighting-midsummer-fires-647540
https://thedruidscauldron.org/2020/09/10/the-druid-and-fairy-doctor-practice-of-saining/#:~:text=Saining%2C%20that%20is%2C%20burning%20herbal,king%20goes%20his%20way%20westward
https://www.truehighlands.com/the-fires-of-midsummer/#:~:text=The%20festival%20itself%20is%20primarily,the%20sunrise%20on%20this%20day

Witchy Women Magic Shoppe is a woman-owned, ethical, sustainable and philanthropic metaphysical supply shoppe. Our mission is to support healing, growth and restoration of people and the planet.

All our handmade products are infused with frequency 528Hz – the frequency of miracles and love – thought to resonate at the core of everything. It connects the heart and spirit with Divine Harmony.

This sound has been used since ancient civilizations to manifest miracles, bring blessings, and harness a healing property. It is now available to you in every candle, oil, potion, herbal blend, spray, soap or salt.

Energy Healing: How To Protect Yourself

Energy Vampires

Energy Vampires are people who literally suck the life force out of you. 

They can be your family members, your friends and your co-workers. And YOU may even be one yourself. They suck your vital energy, deplete you and cause emotional, physical, mental and spiritual pain. 

Spiritual purification and cord-cutting are some tools that can keep the vampires away, along with strong boundaries.

An Energy Vampire is a person that steals other people’s energy because they are living their life in a victim consciousness and believe that everything happens TO them. Living in this manner is extraordinarily disempowering. So, in order for them to feel better about themselves, they attach themselves to another person’s energy field, creating an unhealthy relationship. 

In order for an Energy Vampire to attach themselves to your energy body, they form cords attaching the two of you together. These cords are not visible to the naked eye, but they can be seen with the psychic third eye. 

When they need a boost, they unconsciously steal your energy instead of using their own. These cords are also like highways – they run both ways. That means you’ll also receive their energy whether it is positive or negative. At an unconscious level, you have allowed the vampire to attach to your energy body through these cords. 

It is imperative that you sever those cords, and sometimes a spiritual purification is required for your well-being.  

How to recognize an Energy Vampire 

  • They need you to be their therapist or rescuer, fixing their problems
  • They may try to manipulate you to get things their way
  • They have a “poor me” attitude
  • They can be a drama king/queen
  • They may blame you for things and try to guilt you
  • They can be vindictive and put you down
  • They may try to control you/your life
  • They may feel lonely or abandoned
  • They may feel they have been rejected
  • They need constant reassurance
  • They do not like to be alone
  • They seek nurturing or feel they need to be taken care of
  • They are often low energy and fatigued

How to know if you’re being psychically attacked

You may experience some of their traits, as well as loss of energy, muscle tension, irritability, depression, a small or diminishing aura, or an aura with holes or leaks, and more. 

You may also take on the attitude of the Energy Vampire: negative, sullen and frustrated. It should be noted that it is possible to have these symptoms from other causes, as well. 

Unfortunately, too many people are unaware of their energetic bodies and how they operate. Once people start taking responsibility for creating their own lives and taking back their personal power, this won’t be as prevalent. 

How to protect yourself

You can take steps to prevent an Energy Vampire from attaching. First, you need to become aware of which individuals deplete your energy and limit your contact with them. 

But simply not being in their physical presence does not stop them from draining you. You need to release all the negative emotions that you carry within yourself. If you hold anger, hurt, jealousy, etc., inside your being, it’s like being shackled to a ball and chain, holding you hostage with your own creation. 

Releasing negative emotions brings freedom. Fear is the robber of peace. If you’re holding disharmony in your energetic body, it will make you vulnerable to darkness and confusion. Being aware of this is empowering. 

Favor? Do not go into fear now that you are aware. Simply take the steps to protect yourself. 

Darkness consists of anything that is of a lower or heavier vibration, such as anger, fear, depression, jealousy, hatred. When angry thoughts are directed at you, they can penetrate your weak and vulnerable areas like arrows. They take away your clarity and fill you with confusion and drain your energy. 

Tools to empower yourself 

Cord-cutting 

This should be done regularly – sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly – and more often when we are going through a stressful period. These cords should be cut from our loved ones, as well. No cord attached to anyone or anything is good.

Take a few deep, cleansing breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Call upon Source, Spirit, God, the Universe, or your guides, and ask for assistance in cutting all cords attached to your being. 

Visualize positive energy (often seen as bright light) swirling around your entire being, severing all the cords. Know that no cord can remain intact, and they are returned to where they came from. When you feel the process is complete, thank Source and your guides for their assistance. It is done.

Physical steps for purification

  • Burn all relevant photographs or objects holding memories of the person, place or situation
  • Write down feelings of frustration, anger, hurt, fear, etc., and burn the paper or bury it. DO NOT give it to the person. 
  • Clear all the clutter from every room of your home. Rule of thumb: If you haven’t used it in 6 months, it’s not likely you will. Get rid of it.
  • Clean and, if necessary, redecorate. Bringing nature indoors is fabulous energy.
  • Check for books or pictures that have negative energy. Surround yourself with high vibrational objects instead, like spiritual books, spiritual pictures, plants, fresh flowers, etc.
  • Smudge with sage, cedar and sweetgrass and invoke the help of Source, your guides and your Higher Self.
  • Cleanse and purify your crystals and dedicate them to the Light.
  • Light candles and use high vibrational pure essential oils.

If you can’t sever ties with an Energy Vampire

Sometimes Energy Vampires are relatives. Sometimes, we co-parent with an ex-partner who is an Energy Vampire. This is where we can’t completely cut ties, but we CAN ensure we have strong boundaries to protect ourselves. 

A boundary is a personal guideline for how you expect other people to treat you and what you are willing to accept. Boundaries are necessary in all healthy relationships. They tell others what is okay and what is not okay for you. You are responsible for communicating your boundaries to others. 

Take it from Brené Brown, who wrote in The Gifts of Imperfection, “when we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.” Setting boundaries is important in all relationships, but especially in relationships with Energy Vampires.

You now have the tools and knowledge to take back your personal power. 

 

Witchy Women Magic Shoppe is a woman-owned, ethical, sustainable and philanthropic metaphysical supply shoppe. Our mission is to support healing, growth and restoration of people and the planet.

All our handmade products are infused with frequency 528Hz – the frequency of miracles and love – thought to resonate at the core of everything. It connects the heart and spirit with Divine Harmony.

This sound has been used since ancient civilizations to manifest miracles, bring blessings, and harness a healing property. It is now available to you in every candle, oil, potion, herbal blend, spray, soap or salt.