Jackie Zykan Maître Liquoriste + Perfumer + Herbalist

By Jackie Zykan

SAGE ADVICE 

The holiday season is upon us and with it brings so many facets. There are traditions we abide by, there are traditions we question and perhaps permit ourselves to rewrite. Our family structure may have changed, our career or finances may be different, maybe it’s our diet that has shifted and we find ourselves struggling to partake in the comfort of the familiar while maintaining what we need today. This season can be incredibly confronting, both in its forced look at last year versus this one, and in its normalized imposition of our sacred home spaces. Much like anything else this time of year is a quintessential poster child of duality, offering sweet and sour exchanges, expectation versus personal truth, and old versus new. For a number of reasons we may default to the usual dog and pony act, even if just simply to minimize the risk of scrutiny. Traditions are rituals in their own right, and sometimes we let loyalty to the family and civility drive the bus at our own expense. After all, it can require a certain level of audacity to honor what would best serve our minds and bodies in the present moment, particularly if it’s a change from the usual. There is no shame either way. Maybe you’re so burnt out you would rather not have to think about the “how” of doing anything differently. That's real and valid. Maybe you feel guilty for breaking your less-sugar rule by eating Aunt Edna’s Jell-O salad but feel inclined to do it anyway because somewhere within you want to be seen as polite. It all belongs. Have some grace with yourself and do your best to choose what you need in order to stay in balance, and forgive yourself if you don’t. The world is a bit chaotic to say the least and it’s worth doing whatever you can to keep your wits clean and clear, even when that means just filing in line. It doesn’t require grand gestures to show yourself a little love in the process, every little bit counts. If you are interested in a little assistance, the plant world has support on offer should you choose it.

CLEAR THE AIR

When we are in high stress mode and have guests entering our homes, boundaries are extremely important. Being able to actually enjoy yourself is important, and not just to save face. Removing the energetic residue of relatives invading your home is important. I said what I said. If I mention the act of “saging your house” you might imagine smoke filled rooms and a robust aroma of burnt leaves. Burning a stick of dried, wrapped sage is a traditional modality, of course, and one that has been relied on for ages to purify the spaces we move through. Turning solids to ethers is in and of itself transformative, but there is more than one way to work with what sage brings to the table. So please don’t turn the page if you’re put off by the idea of smoky hallways. A plant can offer benefits in a variety of ways: teas, aromatherapy, combustion (burning), cooking, sachets, and even simply keeping it around the house and in your awareness. 

GO SMOKELESS

It’s important to note that although they are related, that smudge stick is not the same as the culinary sage you’re adding to your holiday recipes. Please don’t unwrap the sage stick you bought at the Grand Canyon gift shop when you run short on herbs for Thanksgiving dinner. Not because the plant won’t get the job done, but because the smudge stick’s intended function was to be burned, not consumed, and there may be compounds present that shouldn’t be ingested. Instead, think of culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) and White Sage (Salvia apiana) as cousins, in a family of hundreds of cousins, whose grandparents are mint plants. “Salvia” means to heal, to be safe, to have good health, and the members of this particular genus all shine in subtly different contexts. Despite the diversity in skills and scents, they all share the same goals (to heal, to be safe, and to have good health). The way in which they do this is by encouraging seeing through a wider, higher, more objective lens free of resentment and padded in mature wisdom. So the effect isn’t so much that your usually obnoxious in-law magically shows up with tact. More so, they show up as they always have but your response to their presence stems from a higher perspective - one which offers them grace in all their intrusive glory and leaves you less drained. All of this to say that you can create a positive space without burning a smudge stick in the kitchen, and even if you can’t stand the smell of burning herbs you can still hang out with this very special plant. Alternatives to work with the energetics of sages could include cooking with sage, making a room spray or diffusing with sage essential oil, dressing platters and centerpieces with abundant leaves, keeping sage hand soap in guest accessed bathrooms, adding sage essential oil to dishwashing soap after meals, even intentionally bringing in sage colored napkins or linens. I could go on for days. However you prefer, sage brings the gift of clearing out dense riff raff to make room for harmony. You need only acknowledge her support and invite her to the party. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of acknowledging plants to work with them. They are their own beings, and they aren’t “used”, they’re invited. And they deserve a thank you note. Handwritten on your finest stationary. With a quill. In gold ink. Sage can be a very powerful medicine and reliable ally when approached with gratitude, much like anything else. So invite her in, beautify your space with her silvery green leaves and crisp herbaceous aroma. Every little bit counts. 

FRIENDS OF THE COUSINS 

If you feel inclined to extend the invitation to friends of sage, consider setting a place at the table for these complimentary plants. Remember, you can bring them into the fold through seasonings, aesthetics, essential oils, etc.

Rosemary - to boost clearing negativity 

Lavender - to bring calm

Citrus - to backfill the cleared space with good spirits