Smudging is done with herbs tied in bundles called
Smudge Sticks.
When burning the Smudge Stick the smoke is washed
over the person or object with a feather or
by fanning the smoke with your hand.
When smudging your home for purification, this means to rid the home of negative energy and bring in the positive. Burn herbs such as white sage or a blend, be sure to crack open a window to release the negative.
Move the smoke around the room paying attention to the corners where negative energy lingers. While burning the bundle place it in a bowl, container or shell then clap your hands to get the negative energy moving out and the positive energy moving in.
When placing the bundle in container, bowl or shell it is best to fill that container with some sand to prevent overheating the container.
Here are some smudging herbs in relationship to there
purification meanings.
Sage smoke is used to cleanse, bless and heal the person or object being smudged. Sage is used to wash off negative energy and rid them of unwanted influences.
Cedar smoke is used for protection.
Cedar is often used when first moving into a new space, moving unwanted spirits and protecting a person, place or object from unwanted influences.
Lavender smoke is a safeguard against evil.
Sweetgrass smoke has a sweet, vanilla like scent and is burned to remind us that the earth provides us with everything that we need. Sweetgrass is most commonly found in braids, it can be unbraided and lit, blown out and the smoke that follows washes over the subject of the blessing.
Copal smoke has a crisp, clean, sharp scent that is almost citrus like and is pleasing to the Gods. Because Copal is the blood of trees, it is burned to honor the enormous gift given to us by all of the tree people of our planet.
Bear Root is a rare find and a protected plant that grows mainly in the Rocky Mountains. Highly spiritual for the Native Americans. The smoke is used to invite the bear spirit medicine and is also used for infections.
Smudging Feather is the traditional method to brush the smoke over the person or object being blessed, although fanning with your hand works just as well. If using a feather it is important to use the underside of the feather to wash the smoke over the object of blessing.
