Smudging

Smudging is a ritual way to cleanse a person, place or an object of unwanted and negative energies, spirits or influences. The smudging ceremony involves the burning of special, sacred plants and herbal resins, then, either passing an object through the resulting smoke, or fanning the smoke around a person or place. The spirit of the plant then purifies whatever is being smudged.

There are two ways of doing a smudging ceremony. The simplest way to smudge is to use a smudge stick. A smudge stick is a wand made of the leaves of a plant or mixture of plants tied together and dried. To use, simply light the end of the wand and extinguish the flame once it has a smoldering end. Have the person being smudged stand facing you and pass the wand back and forth through the person's aura starting at their feet and moving upwards. When you reach their head, have them turn, clockwise and pass the wand down their back. To cleanse a room or house, carry in the lit smudge stick, clockwise around the area, making sure to smudge in the corners and behind doors. The second way of smudging is to use self-igniting or incense charcoal as a source of heat. Light the charcoal and place it in a heat proof container. Sprinkle about a half a teaspoon of smudging herb on the charcoal and fan the smoke toward the object being smudged as above.

Some cultures use sage and sweet grass for smudging. Sage is used in spiritual ceremonies and for physical, spiritual, and mental healings. It is used to purify people, places, and objects. Sweet grass is used in prayer, smudging or purifying ceremonies as well. Because of the sweet smell of the sweet grass it is used to attract positive spirits, bad spirits also enjoy the scent. To ward off the bad spirits sage is burned first to make them sick.

            Satchels of sweet grass and sage can be placed over doors, windows, or any other openings to your home to ward off bad spirits and invite good energies in. Another thing to remember is to place mirrors on the inside walls of your home NOT outer walls. It’s believed that mirrors can be used as portals that allow spirits in.