What is Smudging?
"Smudging" is the common name given to a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition; however, the burning of herbs for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification is a common practice among many religious, healing, and spiritual traditions. It is a ceremonial way to cleanse a person, place or an object of negative energies or influences. It is also an effective method for energizing or blessing a person, place or object.
Smudging can be useful when you're feeling depressed, angry, resentful, unwell or after you have had an argument with someone. It is common to smudge yourself, the space and all the guests or participants before a ritual or ceremony or celebration. You can smudge your home or work space as part of a general spiritual housecleaning, and you can cleanse crystals or other sacred objects of any negative or lingering energy by smudging.
Smudging can be useful when you're feeling depressed, angry, resentful, unwell or after you have had an argument with someone. It is common to smudge yourself, the space and all the guests or participants before a ritual or ceremony or celebration. You can smudge your home or work space as part of a general spiritual housecleaning, and you can cleanse crystals or other sacred objects of any negative or lingering energy by smudging.
How do you Smudge?
Any action undertaken with intention and belief can manifest change, so consider your intention before you smudge and hold it clearly in your mind. Smudging should be done with care, with reverence and in an attitude of love. Smudging can be done with a variety of herbs or Tree Resins. When using Resins like Frankincense and Myrrh, a Charcoal heat source is needed. The charcoal should be lit in an incense censor or heat proof container. Then the resin should be placed on top of the lit charcoal. The smoke can then be fanned with a feather.
you can also use an herb such as Sage. You may purchase sage loose or in a bundle, called a smudge stick. In traditional societies the herbs used for smudging are considered sacred and the smudge stick is treated with great respect... A candle flame, or match is recommended to light the smudge stick as it may take a little time to get the stick smoking. Once the stick is lit with the flame, blow it out so that the smudge stick is smoldering, not burning. If you're using loose leaves, the single leaf will light much faster - again, you want it to smolder not burn, so blow out the flame. (you will not get the sweet sage smoke if it burns rather than smolders).
Smudging Yourself Someone Else.
Use a feather to fan the swirls of smoke around your body from head to toe. You may want to especially focus on areas where you feel there are blockages or where there has been or is physical, emotional, or spiritual pain. Simply visualize the smoke fumigating all the negative thoughts, emotions and energies that have attached themselves to you. If you are feeling depressed, for instance, you could visualize the smoke carrying away all your feelings of depression. Speak an intention or a suggestion for the smudging as you do it. Repeat this process for each guest as they enter the space at a ritual, ceremony or special event.
Smudging a Room or Space
Light your smudge stick and walk around the perimeter of the room, giving special attention to the corners and the places behind doors. You can also use a feather to fan the smoke throughout the room. Say a prayer of gratitude for the cleansing and keep in mind your intention of removing any negatively inclined energy from the area during the ritual.
Any action undertaken with intention and belief can manifest change, so consider your intention before you smudge and hold it clearly in your mind. Smudging should be done with care, with reverence and in an attitude of love. Smudging can be done with a variety of herbs or Tree Resins. When using Resins like Frankincense and Myrrh, a Charcoal heat source is needed. The charcoal should be lit in an incense censor or heat proof container. Then the resin should be placed on top of the lit charcoal. The smoke can then be fanned with a feather.
you can also use an herb such as Sage. You may purchase sage loose or in a bundle, called a smudge stick. In traditional societies the herbs used for smudging are considered sacred and the smudge stick is treated with great respect... A candle flame, or match is recommended to light the smudge stick as it may take a little time to get the stick smoking. Once the stick is lit with the flame, blow it out so that the smudge stick is smoldering, not burning. If you're using loose leaves, the single leaf will light much faster - again, you want it to smolder not burn, so blow out the flame. (you will not get the sweet sage smoke if it burns rather than smolders).
Smudging Yourself Someone Else.
Use a feather to fan the swirls of smoke around your body from head to toe. You may want to especially focus on areas where you feel there are blockages or where there has been or is physical, emotional, or spiritual pain. Simply visualize the smoke fumigating all the negative thoughts, emotions and energies that have attached themselves to you. If you are feeling depressed, for instance, you could visualize the smoke carrying away all your feelings of depression. Speak an intention or a suggestion for the smudging as you do it. Repeat this process for each guest as they enter the space at a ritual, ceremony or special event.
Smudging a Room or Space
Light your smudge stick and walk around the perimeter of the room, giving special attention to the corners and the places behind doors. You can also use a feather to fan the smoke throughout the room. Say a prayer of gratitude for the cleansing and keep in mind your intention of removing any negatively inclined energy from the area during the ritual.
Smudging Herbs
There are many ways to fumigate the Aura and a variety of different herbs may be used.
Frankincense and Myrrh have been used since Biblical times for Spiritual Purification, Healing the Mind, Balancing the Emotions and Healing the Body. Sage is probably the most popular herb for smudging, followed by Sweet Grass and Cedar.
Frankincense and Myrrh have been used since Biblical times for Spiritual Purification, Healing the Mind, Balancing the Emotions and Healing the Body. Sage is probably the most popular herb for smudging, followed by Sweet Grass and Cedar.
