The incredible wellness benefits of Palo Santo (aka the Holy Wood)

It’s pretty interesting how life can be such a rollercoaster sometimes. There are times when everything feels so wonderful and then other times when we feel overwhelm, anxiety, stress and exhaustion…even when everything is great. There are so many unpredictabilities that come with life, it is essential that we learn rituals and routines that can help us stay grounded.

I have a full toolkit of things that I turn to when I need some zen. One of them, that I found very beneficial, specifically yesterday when I was hands full with my little Roman, is Palo Santo. Picture this: toddler running around, hands full, folding clothes, music on, doing 79 things at once. Also starving and needing a bathroom break. It can sometimes feel impossible. Sometimes you just need a minute.

Yesterday, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my little spiritual wood stick, my Palo Santo. I grabbed that baby, lit her up and was instantly transported to a spiritual sanctuary in my mind.

I highly recommend getting yourself some Palo Santo so you too can wave the wood wand and curate your own bliss.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

BENEFITS OF BURNING PALO SANTO:

01 | Sensory stress relief

One of the reasons we experience life the way we do is due to the fact that our brain have the possibility of experiencing many realities at once. Just a hint of a certain smell can transport you to another time, a memory or a specific experience. That smell can illicit feelings, emotions, etc.

When burned, Palo Santo has notes of citrus and mint that evoke a state of internal calm. When inhaled, it moves directly through the brain’s olfactory system, where it helps to stimulate the body’s relaxation response to combat worry, anxiety, sleep disorders and depression.

I am obsessed with the smell, it instantly uplifts my vibe.

02 | Spiritual Cleansing

In South America (where the Palo Santo trees grow and fall), tradition has it that the clarifying smoke released from the holy wood emits negative ions that can uplift our mood and purify people and places from negative energy. Similar to washing your hands before a meal, burning palo santo will cleanse your aura before you preform ritual, meditation, prayer or other spiritual ceremonies.

03 | Holistic Healing

Palo santo is used to treat a wide variety of physical ailments including colds, flus, anxiety, depression, asthma, bronchitis, headaches, and emotional trauma.

04 | Vibrational cleansing and renewal for crystals

Just like we need a shower or a good wash of our hair every few days, our crystals also need an energetic cleansing regularly. There are several ways to charge and renew our crystals but Palo Santo smoke is a really beautiful way to vibrationally purify all of your crystals at home.

05 | Home Smudging

Burning your Palo Santo will cleanse the emotional and spiritual energy in your home. If someone comes to your home and it doesn’t feel good, burn Palo Santo to remove their stagnant energetic imprint. If there is tension, Palo Santo will dissolve that.

It is one of my favorite tools I use in my workshop, High Vibe Home. In Module 3 we discuss how to actually do home healing ceremonies as a form of purification. Whenever there is stress or tension at home, between family or loved ones, you must ensure that the energy in the home is cleared and no toxins are lingering. Learn more about creating a High Vibe Home here.

I burn palo santo as much as possible. Not only am I obsessed with the smell, these beautiful benefits are hard to beat.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Light the stick with a match set, I like to use wood on wood. The spiritual ritual of the wood burning is very grounding. Let the stick catch fire, and allow it to burn for about 20 seconds. Then, softly blow out the flame.

2. As you hold the stick, say and intention, prayer or a wish. Speak life to the flame.

3. Ask that the cleansing smoke of the Palo Santo will purify and cleanse you and your space.

4. Walk around the room and wave the stick in a clockwise motion to ensure the holy smoke aroma fills the room.

5. When you are finished, place your Palo Santo stick in an abalone shell or other fireproof bowl/dish. The burn will end on its own.

Have you ever used Palo Santo or cleansing rituals? Tell me in the comments below, I’d love to discuss.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

What you should be ordering on Amazon

For a girl like me, who is a full time mom and part time work from home entrepreneur, Amazon has become my life’s savior. And because of that, today begins a very big holiday for me. It’s PRIME DAY! The first of a 2 day Summer Black Friday of sorts. If you are not an Amazon Prime member yet, what are you doing with your life? Go get your membership.

Why should I be a Amazon Primer, you ask? Well, to start, you can have most anything you want, shipped directly to your front door in 48 hours or less. (Which trust me, with a newborn baby, it is EXTREMELY handy) You also get access to Amazon tv shows, movies, etc. And, it’s only 99$ a year. That’s less than a dollar a day for basically a life concierge. Think about it, imagine you’re at the airport, going on vacation and you realize you forgot your swimsuit and a book. You can literally have your needs shipped to your hotel in less than 24 hours. Situations like this happen, Prime is that amazing assistant who hooks you up.

It’s also a great bargaining resource. For example, I have been hearing about Skin Ceuticals C.E. Ferulic Serum for years. It’s supposed to help with sun damage and prevent any future damage as well. It will set you back about $130. On Amazon, you can do your research and thoroughly read reviews which is like the best shopping assistant ever. You can be guided to what’s right for you. I was guided to find this amazing TIMELESS C+ E Ferulic Acid Serum. Which is only $17. It’s the same ingredients, just a different brand and label. Which is great to try out, see if you like it and then determine whether its worth the investment for you or not. So, basically Amazon helps you to be a savvy shopper.

My AMAZON MUSTS

My Amazon cart is always filled up, with everything from diapers to pens to lightbulbs. You should check out my entire Amazon favorites collection. It has a lot of good stuff. I especially appreciate the things available for the home which I labeled home accents.

• If you couldn’t tell already from this post, I am obsessed with my new handbag for Summer. I carry is absolutely everywhere. It’s a fabulous buy!

• Every woman needs this Kimono robe. I have 3 of them and now this muave color is on my list. I love pink, but secretly it is actually lavender that is my favorite color. I live in this robe. It’s is the perfect thing to wear at home to relax, but still makes you feel fabulous and beautiful. it’s delicate and soft and your significant other will think it makes you look sexy. Trust me. You will love it.

• So right now, the NORDSTROM Anniversary sale is on and popping. But everything I want is always already sold out. Like the famous Kardashian leopard blanket or the Adidas Swift sneakers. AMAZON always has the things that you can’t find or are sold out elsewhere. Like this INCREDIBLY SOFT, NEVER WANT TO LET GO OF cozy leopard blanket.

• If you are big on saving your skin from the sun, then you need this hat. It’s perfect for Summer travel because you can roll it up or bend it. It’s flexible and very chic. It has a super wide brim which does wonders for covering your face, too. This is also great for walking your dog or for me, walking Roman around in his stroller.

• Girl, get yourself a laptop stand if you ever work from home. It’s essential that your posture is right and you aren’t slouching while working. Save your back some future pain.

• Okay, I haven’t talked about this much but I am going to do a post on this. Phillips HUE has changed my life. Long story short, its an app that connects wirelessly to your lightbulbs and can dim them, brighten them or change their color. I am all about color at home, you can literally change your energy and your life. There are so many benefits. We have them on our nightstands, in our living area and kitchen. REVOLUTIONARY.

• My girlfriend got this cute white faux Gucci phone case & I thought it was so cute, I have to have it in baby pink!

• Trays. We all need trays in our life to organize the things in our homes. I love these acrylic trays with handles because you can choose your metal on the handle, silver or gold. You can also select the size, so you can customize it to fit whatever you need. Get yourself some, they can corral your remotes, your beauty products, perfumes, kitchen accents, jewelry, etc. I love the fact that they have handles because you can put food or drinks on them and serve your guests or serve yourself breakfast and coffee in bed.

• K, so we have to discuss silk pillowcases. Want to keep your skin fresh, hair frizz free and sleep well? get yourself a set of them. I love the variety of colors, too.

• While we talk beauty, do yourself a favor and start removing ALL the hair on your face. Today. This chic little hair remover is sweeping the nation. When you remove the hair on your entire face, your skincare seeps in easier helping you to get a better glow.

• Last but not least, you know that candle that burns at Anthropologie and every time you walk in you think, ‘it smells so good in here’? That Capri blue candle is infamous. Well, that candle comes in pink and you should have one! I mean, why not?!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my favorites. Happy Shopping! Love, Ashlina