| Smudging is a ritual performed using a smoking stick | | | | smolder. Blow on it a few times to ensure that the |
| made from bundled dried herbs (traditionally Sage, | | | | center is well lit. Hold the Bowl or Shell underneath |
| White Sage, Lavender, Copal, Cedar, Sweet grass, or | | | | the bundle at all times to catch the ashes that will fall |
| a combination of these) for cleansing the physical | | | | off from time to time. |
| body, locations, or personal objects. Smudging is part | | | | 5. Smudge yourself and your chakras. Simply hold the |
| of many Native American traditions. This smoking | | | | smudge bundle and Bowl/Shell together in front of |
| stick of bundled herbs is called a smudge stick, | | | | you, starting from your feet, and slowly move it up |
| smudge bundle, or smudge wand. | | | | your body. Then, hold the smudge and Bowl/Shell |
| | | | | behind your back, at the base of your spine, for a |
| The idea of smudging or clearing a space goes back | | | | few seconds to ensure that the smoke goes up |
| nearly to the dawn of civilization. Native American | | | | your back. Try to envision healing white light around |
| smudging dates back hundreds of years, and most | | | | you and the smoke cleansing you of all negative and |
| traditional cultures, from the Zulu to the Maori, from | | | | stale energy. |
| the Chinese to the Balinese, have ancient forms of | | | | 6. Go to your front door. Gesture around all of the |
| cleansing and blessing rituals. Even the incense wafting | | | | seams of the door and state aloud that ‘I clear |
| through a church or temple is cleansing and purifying | | | | this space, and everything in it, of any and all |
| the space, just as surely as the medicine man's bowl | | | | negative or stale energy.' Begin moving along the wall |
| of sacred smoke/smudge does. | | | | of your house to the right of the front door (or |
| | | | | clockwise). Repeat the phrase above as you go |
| The ritual of smudging has scientifically been proven | | | | along. It is not necessary to spend time |
| to positively affect the energy of the environment. | | | | ‘covering' the whole wall with smoke, just move |
| The negative (healthy) ions in the smoke and the | | | | slowly along the wall. As you encounter windows or |
| molecules of the smoke itself capture the positive | | | | other doors, be sure to ‘seal' the entire frame |
| (unhealthy) ions, thereby clearing the atmosphere. | | | | with the smoke and linger a few seconds longer in |
| Therefore, as the smoke clears (preferably out the | | | | corners, where excess stale energy tends to be |
| window), it takes the negative energy (positive ions) | | | | caught. |
| with it, releasing it out where it will dissipate. | | | | 7. Continue around the perimeter of your house until |
| | | | | you are back at your front door. Re-seal it with the |
| The benefits of smudging your house are countless. | | | | smoke again. |
| It will improve every area of your life because it | | | | 8. At this point, you have neutralized all of the |
| clears all of the old yucky energy that was trapped | | | | previously negative, lingering, or stale energy in your |
| there. Energy sticks to walls and is trapped in | | | | house. Now the space needs to be introduced to |
| corners, especially heavily charged emotional energy. | | | | new healthy positive energy. |
| You may currently be reacting to energies from | | | | 9. Light the incense with your candle and allow the |
| previous owners of your house and not even know | | | | flame to go to a smolder on its own, ensuring that it |
| it! If you keep having the same argument, in the | | | | is smoking and did not go out. Now you can either go |
| same room of your house, it needs to be smudged! | | | | around the house again as before with your incense, |
| | | | | or, using ash catchers, you can place incense in the |
| The following is a step-by-step guide to smudging | | | | corners of your house to burn through. Either way |
| your house. This is the way in which I personally | | | | you choose, declare that ‘the smoke from this |
| smudge, but there are many variations regarding how | | | | incense fills this house, and everything in it, with |
| it can be done. As you smudge your space more | | | | vibrant, healthy, new positive energy'. |
| frequently, you will, no doubt, start to get into your | | | | 10. When you are finished, ensure that all of the |
| own ritual rhythm with variations on the words you | | | | incense sticks are out by dipping them in water |
| use, and the motions that you take. | | | | before disposing of them. Put out the smudge bundle |
| | | | | by placing the end under running water. It will sizzle. |
| Necessary Items: | | | | Before putting out your candle, thank the Universe |
| Gallon Size Bag/s | | | | for helping you to cleanse your house. Then put it |
| Rubber Band/s | | | | out. |
| Smudge Bundle | | | | 11. You can now remove the bags from your smoke |
| Incense | | | | detectors. Keep the windows open as long as |
| Matches | | | | necessary until the smoke has cleared. If the smell is |
| Candle | | | | too powerful for you, you can go around the house |
| Fireproof Ceramic Bowl or Shell to catch ashes | | | | with an air freshener. |
| | | | | 12. You have done it! Take a moment to feel your |
| 1. Gather all of your items in the center of your | | | | house. Doesn't it feel much lighter? Try to get in the |
| house, preferably near a sink. Find your Smoke | | | | habit of smudging your house on a regular basis. |
| Detector/s and cover each of them with a bag, using | | | | Remember that any high emotions will leave an |
| the rubber band to secure it. This prevents the | | | | energy print, which affects every person who comes |
| smoke alarm from going off from all of the smudge | | | | across it. Smudging regularly clears these hot spots. |
| smoke! | | | | |
| 2. Open as many windows as possible. | | | | I hope that you smudge your house for years to |
| 3. Light the candle with a match and then wet the | | | | come! Healthy energy is good for us all! |
| matchstick to ensure that it is out. | | | | |
| 4. Hold the unwrapped end of the Smudge Bundle | | | | Please remember to always follow common sense |
| over the flame. Allow it to catch fire; you want it to | | | | safety practices when working with fire. |