Mother of Pearl Shell

A natural Mother of Pearl shell, used as a smudging vessel to hold burning sage, palo santo, or herbs — and to represent the water element in a smudging ritual (shell for water, herb for earth, smoke for air, flame for fire).

Light your sage bundle or herbs and rest them in the shell to smoulder; the shell catches ash and embers safely as you cleanse a space, object, or person. Many people add a thin layer of sand at the bottom to protect the shell from direct heat, and use a feather to waft the smoke.

Care note: don't let it get too hot (a layer of sand helps), rinse or wipe gently after use, and burn in short sessions rather than letting things smoulder for long periods.