Have you ever found yourself glaring at the dancing smoke when it may be sitting at a fire on a chilled cozy night, or a candle has gone out? The trails of smoke entwine one another curling and flipping around until just like that, there is no more smoke. It lifts itself to the heavens and releases intention into the universe.
Smudging, “sage-ing”, and/ or cleansing are all the same practices to cleanse the energy of areas, objects, persons, and animals(with caution). For me, it is incredibly significant to smudge and cleanse the tools I use in my spiritual practices. Sacred and spiritual plants like sage for example, are popular cleansing tools typically in a sage stick or just a dry leaf due to the energy healing properties.
Origin
When learning a ritual, I always need to deep dive down ‘origin’ rabbit holes to find out more about the background and intentions behind them. Personally, learning and knowing more about the intention of a ritual makes my personal intentions stronger.
As smudging itself is a ritual, smudging is centuries old with the idea of the beginning with Native American cultures to cleanse any negative energy that may be disrupting a mindful and safe life. It is also believed that smudging was also part of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. This will always involve plants deriving from the earth that are typically medicines. As smudging is a strong practice within most indigenous cultures it has been picked up by different groups and cultures for merely the basic practice of cleansing.
The act of smudging has been passed down from generations over centuries with different protocols. The ritual itself is all different in its own rights.
Do keep in mind that not all Indigenous people use smudging; some may have different beliefs correlated with ceremonies and the smoke and may have different protocols.
Typically the popular choice for smuging is; cedar, sage, and sweetgrass. Most indigenous cultures make offerings to the sage plant with tobacco leaves. – I found this immensely interesting when I started digging into the origin and history of smudging. –
Rituals
Smudging does not have to be done at certain times of the day or on particular days. Opposed to some cultures, some cultures have specific times and days when smudging is most necessary. Smudging can be done in the morning and/or in the evening and can be done every day. If you feel the need to smudge, feel free to do so!
Some of the examples where you may smudge that are not ceremonial:
- You may smudge yourself once you wake up in the mornings to cleanse the fog of any bad dreams or nightmares.
- Smudge tools you may use in your spiritual practice. – I smudge a lot of my tools like crystals, divination tools, and especially my tarot decks before I use them. –
- The more tools you work with, it’s best to do frequent cleansings so no stagnant energies are left behind from your previous works.
- If given objects by others or purchased goods while thrifting, good smudging will free any energies or entities that may be attached to the object.
- Moving into a new home, you will want to smudge every corner of the home to dispel any negative, bad, or negative energies that may still reside in your home,
- Cleansing your home should be done on a more frequent basis.
- You may even smudge areas of your home where you may have had a negative experience.
- You may smudge even if you are not just feeling “normal”. If you are feeling stressed, depressed, anxious, etc, smudging will help assist you to stay grounded and clear your energy.
Materials
Materials are rather minimal regarding smudging and depending on your course of action. The first order of business would be to choose your sacred herbs and plants. As some plants have different healing properties, you may smudge with specific herbs for specific purposes. Typically when smudging, all 4 elements are enterlaced to permit a successful cleansing.
Plants
- Sage: To rid bad, negative, and unwanted energies.
- Sweetgrass: Pulls in positive energy, is known to get the attention of a spirit, and is also great for vision work.
- Cedar: Overall blessings or to cleanse where there has been illness
- Lavender: Clear thinking and focus
- Rosemary- Cleansing & protection
It is always a good idea to research which plants you would like to work with. There are more possibilities than the list above considering there are more plants that can be used in smudging practice. The most basic, popular, and traditional are going to be your sage, sweetgrass, cedar, and rosemary.
The sacred herbs and plants used are considered the Earth element of the 4.
Vessel
A vessel used to carry the plants is also an important part of smudging. Especially if you are using dried plants that are not strewn like a typical smudge stick.
Of course, the vessel of your choice need to be fireproof to lower the risk of starting a fire or burning yourself or anyone else.
Popular choices modernly are materials such as cast iron, tempered glass, and stone.
Traditionally an abalone shell is used to carry smudging materials as the shell represents water, one of the 4 elements.
Flame
Traditionally, wooden matches are used to ignite the plant material. If you do not have any matches, a lighter can work and will not sway the results you may want.
The flame igniting the smudge materials represents fire, one of the 4 elements.
Smoke
The smoke derived from the burning plant represents the final element: air. Using the actual air we cannot see; the smoke lifts, surges, and cleanses whatever needs to be cleansed.
How To
As I’ve mentioned before, there is no specified way to smudge as each culture and generation is different. As generations hand down the practice, sometimes the ritual is changed in small aspects. In most cases though, the same rituals are used to the T since ancient times.
- Have all your materials together with your dried herbs and/or in your vessel.
- Ignite the plants and lightly blow out the match (if a lighter is used, no need to blow)
- As the smoke rises, you may waft the smoke where it is needed with a feather or simply your hand. Traditionally an Eagle feather is used.
Whenever I begin my smudging rituals, I “wash” my hands in the smoke to dispose of any old and unwanted energy and cleanse them for clearing. This is done for many traditions and spiritual practices.
When the smudging ritual is complete, you may let the plants stop burning naturally. Afterward, you may dispose of the ashes by putting them on the ground and/or burying them to give them back to Mother Earth. You may also wash the ashes left with water.
- It is believed the ashes remaining from the smudging ritual have leftover energy, negative feelings, and/or thoughts are absorbed through the ashes. Disposing of the ashes will seal the cleansing work that has been done.
Smudging yourself and others
Smudging practices are strictly voluntary and no one should be forced to be smudged or forced to (join/attend) a smudging ritual and ceremonies. Those who have respiratory issues should use extreme caution while burning any plant of any sort. If you are unable to work with any type of smoke, sprays with sacred oils can be used just as so.
Do be cautious if anyone who may be allergic to any of the plant material.
Smudging yourself and/or others requires spreading the smoke from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet.
Depending on the culture or belief, each area that is smudged has different purposes:
- The mind to have good thoughts
- The hair (as some cultures believe the hair is a representation of lineage and lifetimes)
- The eyes to see the good in life and others
- The ears to listen to the good in the world and hear the good of others
- The mouth to speak well, well to others, and speak no negativity
- The heart to purify
- The back for protection on our backs and others to watch our backs.
- The feet to walk a good life
- The whole being to portray our best selves through positive, loving, and appropriate actions.
End
Observing indigenous cultures working with smudging is absolutely mesmerizing. It’s almost like you can feel the cleansing when you are not even around or close to it. Watching the movements, you can see and feel the intentions behind them. Knowing that these people have done smudging rituals hundreds if not more throughout their lifetime.
Finding your own way of smudging can be done by watching others, learning different traditions, and working with yourself. Some things that may not work for others may work for you and vice versa.
Smudging is a big part of my practice that I have done for years. Its cleansing properties have helped me be the best version of myself I can be. It has also helped me excel in my spiritual journey and the energy around me is light, joyous, and grounding.
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