Saging and smudging are cleansing rituals that involve burning dried sacred plants, like sage, to produce purifying smoke. Often called "clearing negative energy" or "purifying a space," smudging refers specifically to a ceremonial Indigenous practice, whereas saging is a broader, sometimes secular adaptation.
In some Indigenous ceremonies, certain herbs are traditionally used to purify or bless people and places. For instance, some cultures use the smoke of burning red cedar or palo santo as part of their particular purification and healing ceremonies. Sometimes this is done in hospitals to "cleanse and repel evil influence." Smudging is increasingly being used when moving into a new home, or if someone has died recently in a home or other environment.