Smudging – What is it?
Smudging is an ancient cleansing ritual which was is known to have been regularly employed by the Native American Indians. A selection of herbs were burned which resulted in the production of a cleansing smoke which would be use to cleanse sacred spaces of negative energies before any form of prayer or healing ritual was carried out. During such healing rituals the smoke from the smudge would be directed over and around the person being healed by the use of the hand, a feather or a fan by the tribe’s Shaman or Medicine Man. Smudging is still used for many of the same purposes today. For example many mediums will smudge their place of work before giving a reading. People moving into new homes often smudge through the house to remove any residual negative energies left by the previous owners and smudging is also used in aura cleansing.
Originally the herbs used for smudging were burned in a small herb bowl before they were later dried and tied into the smudge sticks that we recognise today. Common herbs used by the Native Americans were Indian tobacco as well as sage, yarrow, cedar and sweet grass. Today other fragrant herbs has been added to the mix including lavender. The smoke which contains all of the healing properties of the herbs was thought to disperse any impurities which in turn promoted the healing process. It was also believed that as the smoke rose up into the sky it carried with it the prayers of the Shaman or Medicine Man.
What herbs can be used for smudging?
- Sage – Sage is a herb which can be used for all cleansing and healing purposes, especially for the cleansing of a sacred space. Sagebrush was employed when there were wounds to be healed, it was also thought that by inhaling the smoke from the sage brush that headaches and colds could be healed.
- Cedar – Cedar is cleansing and purifying and is used to exorcise evil spirits and purify sacred objects. It was also employed for its aromatic properties.
- Sweet grass – Sweet grass which is another aromatic herb that was more commonly used for blessings.
- Yarrow – Yarrow was employed for the eliminating of toxins from the body, while Indian tobacco was used for the cleansing of sacred spaces.
- Lavender – Lavender is a good herb to use when cleansing a bedroom. Add to desert sage for a wonderfully scented smudge stick.
- Mugwart – Combining Mugwart with Sage is often referred to as Black Sage. Used to remove negative energy and and bring clarity.
- Palo Santo – Not a herb but a type of ‘Holy Wood’ that can be used for space clearing. Palo Santo is said to be good for welcoming good fortune.
Essential oils can also be used as part of the smudging process, with lavender oil, cedar leaf, peppermint and bitter orange all being popular additions to the more traditional herb bundles. If you are considering smudging your home be aware if where your smoke detectors are located! When smudging make sure that the smoke travels into every corner of the room. Ensure that you either have a bowl to hand, or an abalone shell which seems to be a popular smudging accessory now, as the smudge stick will drop many burnt herb fragments as you move around. The abalone shell is a somewhat recent addition to smudging supplies though it is said to represent the element of water, with the smoke representing air, the herbs the earth and of course there is the fire employed to begin he process.
