Setting:
A cozy new apartment in Toronto, Canada.
Priya: (walking around with a bundle of smoldering sage)
Okay, just a bit more in the corner by the window, and the energy should be totally cleared. I’m telling you, Jordan, nothing sets the vibe right like a good smudge.
Jordan: (coughs slightly, waving the air)
Are you sure you’re not just seasoning the apartment like it’s a roast chicken? It smells like Thanksgiving in here.
Priya:
Ha! You laugh now, but this is serious. Smudging drives out bad spirits, negative vibes… you name it. It’s a First Nations tradition. Sacred stuff.
Jordan:
I totally respect the tradition and the cultural roots. I just—well—you know me. My brain doesn’t let anything pass without asking, “Where’s the peer-reviewed study?”
Priya: (smiling but defensive)
Jordan, not everything spiritual has a paper behind it. That’s why it’s called faith. My aunt swears her haunted microwave stopped beeping randomly after she smudged her kitchen.
Jordan:
Or maybe she just unplugged it properly. I mean, I get why it feels good—rituals are powerful. Even science says routines help reduce anxiety. But banishing spirits with sage smoke? It’s not exactly reproducible in a lab.
Priya:
Maybe spirits don’t like being studied under fluorescent lights. Ever think of that? Some things aren’t meant to be dissected.
Jordan:
Fair. But think about it—if sage really had that kind of power, don’t you think ghostbusters would carry it instead of proton packs?
Priya: (laughing)
Proton packs aren’t real, genius.
Jordan:
Exactly! And neither is solid evidence that sage can change the metaphysical atmosphere. I’m not saying don’t smudge if it brings you peace—just don’t expect it to be an exorcism.
Priya: (pausing, thoughtful)
You know, it’s not just about spirits. It’s about intention. The smoke marks a new beginning. I feel like I’m telling the universe, “Hey! I’m here, this is my space, be cool.” It’s symbolic.
Jordan:
Now that I can get behind. Intention-setting is legit. In fact, there’s research on how rituals—even made-up ones—can help people cope with change. So maybe it’s not the sage, but the act of doing something deliberate that helps.
Priya:
So you’re saying my sage is a placebo?
Jordan:
A lovely, lavender-scented placebo. But hey, if it works for you and doesn’t set off the smoke alarm, I support it. Just don’t expect me to wave herbs at my Wi-Fi router every time it drops signal.
Priya: (grinning)
Oh please, even you’d smudge if your router was possessed. Remember your old place? That thing disconnected faster than your Hinge matches.
Jordan:
Ouch. Okay, fair. But next time, I’m calling tech support, not a medicine man.
Priya: (playfully nudges him)
Maybe both. Balance the rational with the spiritual. That’s real wisdom, my friend.
Jordan: (nods with a smirk)
And maybe open a window next time, so your real spirits—like carbon monoxide—don’t stick around too long.
Priya:
Deal. But I’m still smudging your room when you’re not looking.
Jordan:
Then I’m installing hidden cameras. Let the war of sage and science begin.
[They both laugh, the sage continues to smolder gently on a plate, and somewhere between the smoke and the skepticism, a warm friendship fills the room.]
Science Vs Superstition 
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