Page of Wands: The Smudger

Above: Page of Wands from the Waite-Smith Tarot

I sometimes burn the smoke of home-grown, common sage. Not the White Sage stuff from America, but the everyday European stuff that your mum might put up a turkey’s bum at Christmas.

Once the dry leaves are sparked with my lighter, I let them rest in an oyster shell on my desk. A cloud of spirit-like smoke creates a mini twister that rises and twirls into little O shapes, filling the room with a pungent, natural scent. I pass a new deck of Tarot cards over the dispersing smoke. I imagine the cards being cleansed of any artificial, machine-led processes that have printed them into existence. It becomes part of my home, ready for the spiritual work that we will do together, for myself and for my clients. Although the scent isn’t as captivating as the imported White Sage that I used to use, it means more to me that my cards are cleansed with the smoke of this dried plant that I have grown from seed, hung out to dry, and then tied up into a little bundle all by myself. This whole mysterious process of Nature coming into being has been witnessed with my own eyes, participated in. This smoke is personal. I have been a part of its conjuring at every step of the way.

The Page of Wands brings fresh energy into our lives. They may represent a spark of learning, of newness in the realm of Fire, of passion, of creativity. The young Page in both the Tarot de Marseille and the Waite-Smith decks holds a large baton before them, seemingly fascinated by its existence. They face the right (the future direction in Tarot spreads) as if wondering what to do with it, yet excited by a thousand possibilities. In a symbolic sense, someone is ready to spark a new passion or interest, perhaps taking their first baby steps with it. On a more literal, Nature-based level, a potential for the Sun’s energy is held before the eyes.

Above: Page of Wands from Orenda Tarot

I become the Page when I hold a new Tarot deck in my hands, about to meet a group of spirits who may become wise and trusted brothers and sisters. To recognise this sacred moment, I like to cleanse my new decks, offering it serious attention. I purify it for a new beginning, before it engages in the Holy work that I ask of it.

I have burned all kinds of exotic plants for cleansing, including Palo Santo from South America and White Sage from California. I was saddened to learn that my desires for these beautiful scents are sometimes causing environmental damage in distant countries, as well as having negative impacts on far-off indigenous communities. And so I am really careful about the Palo Santo that I buy (and limit myself to purchasing to a few sticks per year,) as well as growing the standard, European sage at home, letting it stink my attic out in gorgeous, pungent ceremony. It feels extra powerful to see something that I have grown myself become a weird, living thing: growing, being burned, cleansing my precious cards.

I hold up the herbs before me like the Page of Wands with their stick. I marvel at the amazing power of Fire and smoke. I accept being a learner of each new deck with the smoky energy of the suit of Wands – Fire – and the curiosity of the Page. 

That’s all for now, friends. Thank you for being here – and please check out my Therapeutic Tarot Sessions and my courses embracing Tarot and Nature if you’d like us to work together. You can also sign up for the Tarot Blog newsletter (different to my main newsletter) below to receive occasional email updates (roughly monthly) with the latest posts.

Smiles from Scotland,

Stephen