Smudging with Herbs
SMUDGING - WHAT IS IT? Smudging is the burning of sacred herbs for the purpose of cleansing and purification. Smudging calls on the spirits of the sacred plants to drive away negative energies. The smoke created by burning the herbs binds with any negative energies and carries them away as the smoke disperses. Smudging has it's roots in Native American culture, where it is used for cleansing before performing ceremonies. 🌾 WHAT CAN I SMUDGE? You can smudge just about anything that needs cleansing. If you move into a new home, it is nice to cleanse it of any residual energies from the previous tenants before perhaps blessing it to create harmony and peace. Smudging is often performed to clear a sacred space before rituals, you can also smudge yourself to to cleanse and purify - especially if you have been weighed down with stress and worry. Smudging is commonly used to cleanse crystals, before dedicating them for healing, and periodically to remove the energies they pick up from doing their work. Sometimes life creates stresses within families, plunging them into bickering disharmony. Smudging is wonderful for cleansing the whole atmosphere and restoring balance and harmony. Smudging is akin to 'wiping the slate clean' before imprinting your own energies on it. 🌾 SMUDGING TECHNIQUES With smudging, the smoke produced from burning sacred herbs is the vital element. It is the smoke that binds with the negative energies and carries them away, purifying and cleansing in it's wake.
To produce the smoke, you need to set light to the smudge stick, braid or loose herbs. You might find that a match isn't quite man enough for the job, in which case use the flame from a candle, lighting taper or cigarette lighter.
Once the smudge stick is smouldering nicely, you need to direct the smoke. You can achieve this by using either your cupped hand, a fan, or more usually, a large feather. Actually blowing on the end of your smudge stick is frowned upon, as you are then contaminating the stick. Fan the end to keep it burning, or carry a lighter with you in case it doesn't want to be coaxed! 🌾 Cleansing An Area Working in a counterclockwise spiral, start at the centre of the area and slowly work your way out to the outer edges, this way the smoke is always being directed outward and away from the area, be sure to get into every nook and cranny. If cleansing an entire room, leave the windows and door ajar, so the the smoke can escape and take with it all the negativity. 🌾 Cleansing Yourself This is like giving yourself a wonderful , cleansing and energising shower! Hold the smouldering smudge stick a few inches from your body. Working from the feet up, waft the smoke towards your body. Work your way up to the crown of your head, not forgetting your arms on the way. Doing the back of your body is a little more difficult, if you don't have anyone's help to enlist. Try holding the stick low, creating a nice thick pall of smoke and turning around in it. You will probably need to do this three or four times. 🌾 Cleansing Crystals and Ritual Tools Remember, the smoke from the smudge stick will travel upwards, so light your stick and place it in a heat-proof ceramic or glass bowl. Once the smoke is curling nicely, pass your crystal or tool through the smoke slowly, allowing it to coat every surface. You will probably need to pass it through more than once, turning it slightly with each pass, and don't forget the place you have been holding - change your grip so that that area is cleansed too. 🌾 Extinguishing Your Smudge Stick The chances are, you won't need to use a full smudge stick and you'll want to save the rest for another day. That's fine, no problem, but you do need to make sure it is extinguished safely and completely. As with any fire, deprive it of oxygen and it can't burn! I personally find the best medium to use is sand, but you can use soil or even fine table salt.
Plunge the smouldering end of your smudge stick as deeply as you can into the sand (soil, salt etc). Using a grinding action, apply pressure and turn the end back an forth - the way cigarettes are put out. Check the end for any sign of tiny wisps of smoke or glowing embers.
Leave the smudge stick still in the sand, well out of the reach of children and away from any soft furnishings - just in case it hasn't quite gone out. Go back and check it after a few minutes, if there is any sign of smoke or glowing, repeat the grinding action and then leave for a few minutes again.
Once you are happy it is fully extinguished, I'd still leave it somewhere safe and check again in say, 15 minutes. If you are still happy that it is out completely, leave it in a dry place well away from any combustible material - you really don't want to start a fire!
You might be tempted to use water to put your smudge stick out, but that really isn't recommended as the herbs will absorb the water and take for ever to dry out enough to use the stick again - and that's assuming they don't go mildew in the process. 🌾 TRADITIONAL SMUDGING PLANTS There are many herbs that can be used for smudging, but the principle ones traditionally passed down through the ages are: 🌾 SAGE Sage is used for purifying - to clear negative energies, spirits, emotions, intentions etc. It is also a very protective herb and is used to protect sacred areas during rituals.
There are many varieties of Sage, but the main genus Salviia generally used for smudging. Salvia has two main varieties, namely S Officinalis (Garden Sage) and S. Apiana (White Sage) Both are acknowledged for their healing properties. 🌾
CEDAR Cedar is used for purifying, healing and protection. Confusion can arise because some of the botanical Junipers are called cedar.
Cedarwood - Virginian (Juniperus virginiana) A coniferous slow-growing, evergreen. A majestic tree that can gain a height of 33 meters and a trunk diameter of over 1.5 meters. This Cedar is traditionally used by the Native North Americans for the treatment of respiratory infections. Decoctions of the leaves, twigs and bark are used to treat arthritis, rheumatism and skin rashes. Not generally used for smudging.
Cedarwood - Texas (Juniperus ashei) A small, alpine evergreen tree growing up to 7 meters high. It has an irregular shaped trunk and stiff green needles. In New Mexico the Native Indians use the oil from this variety for the treatment of skin disorders, arthritis, as a sedative and rheumatism.
Western Red Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) Western Red Cedar formed an integral part of the spiritual and practical life of the Northwest Coast Indians. The tree was used for constructing the walls and roofs of lodges, totem poles, canoes and utensils. The bark was used for weaving into baskets, mats, rope and clothing. This Cedar is commonly used for smudging. 🌾
SWEETGRASS Sweetgrass occurs in the wild in both North America and northern Europe, growing tall on sand dunes from North Carolina to Texas. The peoples of both Europe and North America consider this plant sacred and sweetgrass plays an important part in sacred ceremonies on both continents.
The leaves are dried and made into braids and burned, or used to make baskets which retain the vanilla-like scent for many years. Sweetgrass is used to attract and welcome positive energies. Often used in conjunction with, or after, sage. 🌾
LAVENDER An evergreen, woody shrub that grows up to a meter tall. The whole plant is highly aromatic. It is used for smudging in conjunction with, or after sage, to create harmony and tranquillity. A nice combination to use for areas of high stress. 🌾
COPAL Copal is a type of resin. The word is derived from the word ‘copalli’, meaning incense. Many indigenous cultures in Mexico use fresh copal as an incense, which they use during energy cleanings and aura healings. It is good for psychic work. 🌾
HINTS AND TIPS FOR SMUDGING Protect your hands. The smudge stick gets HOT, make sure use a heatproof bowl, Abalone Shell or place sand in the bottom of a clay bowl, you need to prevent the heat generated at the tip from scalding your hands. Cinders will fall from the smudge stick as it burns - some of which may still be hot enough to burn - so it is important to use a rest of some kind. Smudge sticks can be difficult to light, so you may find it easier to use a candle, cigarette lighter or taper. These will keep a flame longer and give you a better chance of getting your smudge stick going. Resist the urge to blow on the end of your smudge stick - it is considered disrespectful - fan the end instead. Walk in an anticlockwise direction for banishing and a clockwise direction for attraction. Avoid smudging around people with respiratory problems. Never leave a smouldering smudge stick unattended. Ensure the smudge stick is extinguished fully, before leaving it. An Abalone shell is not considered by some, a suitable receptacle for smudging. Shells represent the element water, which is in opposition to the element fire, which you are using. Smudging is often used in conjunction with a chant, or prayer - you're choice. [source:pagandreams.co.uk]