White Sage 23g Burning white sage and ìsmudge sticksî (the process of harvesting sage stems and tying the stem together into a ìsmudge stickî), was and is used for cleansing and purification. White sage or ìman sageî was perhaps the most important ceremonial plant of the Cheyenne . The sage was spread along the borders and on the altar in almost every ceremonial lodge (including the stone peoples lodge or sweat lodge) with the flowering end toward thefire. The leaves were burned as an incense to cleanse and drive away bad spirits, evil influences, bad