The Act of Smudging

Smudging is a sacred tradition with roots in the Native American culture. Many variations of smudging exist to this day, the common rule of thumb however is to do it however you feel comfortable.

Smudging is the act of lighting dried herbs and passing the smoke over a person or an object to bless it. Smudging can be used to bless someone before a religious ritual or to help clean a home and person of any negative energy they may have collected. Smudging can purify crystals, and other objects, and can be used before and after a healing ritual to help the person heal. Smudging can and will completely transform you luck, and your life. It can either be a swift and dramatic change, or it can be small and hardly noticeable unless you are looking for it.

Smudging is often likened to the act of a spring cleaning, except it's more of a spiritual spring cleaning. Smudging is powerful because it acts upon the energy that is not seen. This energy is everywhere, and smudging can clear away all of the 'psychic junk' or garbage that has attached itself to an object or person over the years.

The act of smudging is done with an abalone shell, a cauldron or even a fireproof dish with either the herbs themselves lit, or put upon powdered charcoal and burned that way. Some use bundles of dried herbs tied together and burn those. Any way you choose is up to you. The smoke is then 'washed' over a person or object with the intent to clear away any negative energy.

Many call in the powers of the quarters (North, East, South and West) and offer the smoke of the herbs to them. Then, they either continue with cleansing the object or person. Some, do not do that, but rather, cleanse their entire home by lighting the herbs and walking through their home in a clockwise direction making sure the smoke gets into every last corner of their home. Once the cleansing of the house has finished, they then 'wash' the smoke over themselves to cleanse themselves. The remaining herbs are left to burn completely, or they are put up. Again, this part is up to the practitioner. Some choose to use a smudging feather during a smudging ritual. The smudging feather is a feather that traditionally a bird feather which is waved to 'wash' the smoke over objects. It is important to use the underside of the feather, as the underside of a bird's feather offers its gifts to mother earth; therefore, the underside of the feather is used to continue to offer gifts.

The most common smudging herb is sage, but there are several others that can be used, depending on why you are smudging. Sage is common for healing purposes, cedar is great for protection. If you just want some spiritual cleansing, try smudging you or your home with mugwort.

So if you're feeling a little down, and feeling like you're luck is going nowhere. Try doing a simple smudging ritual yourself. Well, really there is no reason to wait, try smudging today. Afterwards, I can guarantee your home will feel calmer and more relaxed, and you too will feel better.