Smudging is a way to cleanse a space, a person, or objects of negative energy or spirits, either by passing the objects through the smoke, or wafting the smoke around a person or place.
Smudging is thousands of years old. It is best known as a Native American ritual, but it is found in other cultures and countries such as in Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. It is used to cleanse a space from bad spirits and negative energy. The smudging involves the burning of sacred plants and herbs (most commonly sage) to get rid of negative energy on yourself, your home or any space. Sage is used to evacuate the negative energies, spirits and influences. Smudging can be useful when you’re feeling depressed, angry, resentful, have had a loss of someone or have had an illness or after you’ve had an argument with someone or if you have felt a negative energy/ trouble in the home, or if you feel there are unwanted spirits in your home. Sometimes, as we go through life, we tend to get tired, occasionally feel uneasy or possibly have a feeling of weight on our shoulders. This is due to negative or unhealthy energy around us. It’s best to rid yourself of these feelings as they occur.
There are two ways of doing a smudging ceremony.
The simplest way to smudge is to use a smudge stick. We simply light the end of the wand let it catch fire and extinguish the flame once it has a smoldering end, let the smoke billow from the stick. 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 repeat the same process. Smudging is the process of burning the dried plant and fanning the smoke over your body with sacred intention. Fan the smoke around you imagining it passing through you. It flows through you drawing out all of the junk that you have collected in your aura. You can also rub out the sage stick or just let it burn out on its own.
To cleanse a room or house; It is best to open all windows and doors so the unwanted energies can exit. Carry the lit smudge stick while walking around your home or space. Start from the entrance door letting the smoke get everywhere, in every room, making sure to smudge the corners, behind doors, the shower, cupboards, under the beds, around door frames and windows, attics, basement, etc. Remember energy can move so you’ll want to be sure to do everything. The traditional way is to offer the smoke to the four directions first, calling the blessing and protection in. The smoke is not dangerous and will not harm you or your pets. Use an abalone to catch the ashes or embers. Do not ever blow on the smudge stick as it is believed blow on it will blow the negative energy around. Remember to use a feather to waft the smoke. You should move counter clockwise around the area. When we smudge, you are asking the spirit of sacred plants for assistance and you must pay proper respect to their healing power. Using Sage to “Smudge” is a simple and powerful way to clear your energy field and remove negative energy from the area.
If the area is not cleared of negative energy, it can build a nest there.
I suggest that you cleanse the area with sage first and then use sweet grass or Palo Santo to invoke the positive energy. This will gather new and positive energies. When using those herbs then you will move in a clockwise motion.
Smudge is one of the most powerful tools that we have available to use. Any time we open our self to energy transfer, we must be sure that negative energy is cleared from the area. Smudge is the easiest way of doing that.
Smudging yourself
To begin, light the smudge stick, extinguish the flame and it should begin to smolder and smoke. Place the smudge stick in the shell and place the shell on the ground. Using your right foot step over the shell passing through the smoke. Pick up the shell and use the feather to waft the smoke toward your body as you slowly move the shell upwards from the ground. Envision the negative and unwanted energies leaving your body through the smoke. You can speak out loud asking “powers that be, remove all negativity and unwanted energies.” Continue to move the smoke side to side as you move upwards until your reach the chest and throat area. At this point you can encircle your head with the smoke and then repeat down the back side. This time you may say out loud “powers that be please fill me with new and positive energies. When you reach your feet, sit the bowl on the ground and step through the smoke with your left foot. You may repeat this smudging technique as many times and as often as you like.
