Lesson 5 - Smudging

[~Elise~]

This is a compliation of info I've gathered over the years:

Smudging is a sacred tradition that has its roots in the indigenous cultures of the world. As a tradition, it has been passed down for millennia and many ways and variations exist. The common thread is that, the smoke from sacred herbs can be used for purification and spiritual preparation.

We can smudge to clear and ground ourselves and our intentions before and after healing, initiation and ritual. The smoke will help purify our crystals and other sacred objects. We can clear rooms and create sacred space. The herbs can also be burned to give thanks and to aid us in our prayers.

Smudging can totally transform your life and luck. If you feel as though life is an uphill battle, as if fate is never on your side then smudging might just be the answer. Smudging is the art of cleansing your self and your environment using simple ritual and ceremony. For thousands of years it has been a part of Native American tradition but now the power of Smudging is available to everyone.

The effects of smudging can be swift and dramatic. It can help you banish stress and attract love; soothe you or give you energy. It can bring your family closer together and let you adjust to the healing seasonal rhythms of the year. Above all, it can turn any space, however humble, into a soothing sanctuary, a place of renewal. I have used smudging for many years and often combine it with techniques from other ancient traditions to provide a totally holistic approach.

But how can smudging be so powerful? The answer lies in the sub-atomic world of subtle or spiritual energy. Homes and bodies are not just made of purely physical matter; they also vibrate with subtle, invisible energy. Cleansing a space or our bodies with techniques such as smudging clears away all the emotional and psychic "garbage" that may have gathered over years or even hundreds of years. It's like spiritual spring-cleaning.

These ideas are not new-fangled nor are they airy-fairy New Age waffle. Native American tradition dates back millennia and most traditional cultures, from the Zulus to the Maoris, from the Chinese to the Balinese, have age-old forms of cleansing and blessing ritual. Even the West retains relics of it, although we have long forgotten the true purpose behind many of our rituals and ceremonies. The incense wafting through a church is cleansing the atmosphere just as surely as the medicine man's bowl of sacred smoke, or smudge. The bells that ring out on Sunday morning were originally intended to purify the whole parish through sound and lead the community from everyday space into worship - just as the shaman's drum can lead us on sacred journeys into the world of the spirits.

The act of smudging is done with a bowl, cauldron or Abalone Shell or a fireproof surface with the appropriate herbs directly lit or burned on a coal or Self lighting charcoal tablet, NOT THE BBQ kind. When using charcoal tablets the bowl or shell should be filled with sand or a flat stone to prevent over-heating the container. Smudging is also done with herbs tied in bundles called Smudge Sticks. In either case the smoke is “washed” over the person or object with a Feather or by fanning the smoke with one’s hand.

Using a smudging tool is part of many Native American traditions. The burning of herbs for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification is also common practice among many religious, healing, and spiritual groups. The ritual of smudging can be defined as "spiritual house cleaning." In theory, the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as the smoke clears it takes the negative energy with it, releasing it into another space where it will be regenerated into positive energy.

There are many ways to actually smudge. One ancient way is to start by drawing on the power of the five elements, by burning your smudging herbs in a shell. An abalone shell represents Water and the flowing and filling power this element offers us. The sacred herb is a gift of Earth and represents her creativity and strength. When we light the herb we are invoking the transmute element of Fire and the smoke that rises represents Air, carrying and releasing our cleared intentions and prayers. Through our deliberate action, we ourselves bring the fifth element: ether or life energy.

Next we offer the smoke to the seven directions: east, south, west, north and up, down and center. Returning to center we are now ready to purify ourselves. Start by holding the shell in front of you and gently fan the smoke up to your heart. Pass the shell up along the center of your body, encircling your head. Be aware of how you feel through out this process. Are there places that you feel a desire to clear and honor? It is important to follow your own inner guidance.

Passing them through the smoke, in a spiraling or a figure eight motion can clear Crystals and other sacred objects. Both are sacred symbolic movements: a spiral represents an ever expanding and focusing energy; a figure eight on its side is the symbol of infinity.
Sacred spaces are created by passing the smoke around the perimeter of the room, moving sunwise: east, south, west, and north.

As with all things this is only one of the ways. Trust your inner feelings and allow yourself to create what is sacred and meaningful to you. Explore and have fun!

Another view on smudging: To do a blessing of a person begin by looking into the eyes of the person for a moment to “greet” them, fan the smoke first at their heart and then up to the right side (your left) of the person’s head moving around clockwise (sun-wise), gently washing them with the smoke. Continue brushing smoke down over their left shoulder and the length of their arm and back up again to the shoulder. Wash the smoke down the left side of the torso, left leg and foot. Now smudge the right foot, up the left leg, torso and down the length of the right arm and back up to the shoulder. Now Turn the person around, turning to their right (sun-wise again) and repeat these movements as you smudge and bless the person’s back.

For objects, bless them moving sun-wise around them also.

[~Elise~]

Sage The use of sage is for healing, the smoke is used to bless, cleanse and heal the person or object being smudged. Sage is used to “wash off” the outside world when one enters ceremony or other sacred space. Objects are likewise washed off with sage medicine smoke to rid them of unwanted influences.
True sages are in the genus of Salvia; this includes Salvia Officinalis (garden sage) and Salvia Apiana (White Sage). Many of the herbs called sage come from a completely different family of plants, the Asteracea family. This family brings us the genus of Artemisia from which come New Mexico Sage (Artemisia tridentada), and the sage from the Dakotas (Artemisia ludoviciana). All of these sages (Salvia and Artemisia) are used for healing and cleansing.

Cedar is a medicine of protection. Cedar trees are very old, wise and powerful spirits. Cedar is often used to cleanse a home or apartment when first moving in. Inviting unwanted spirits to leave and protecting a person, place or object from unwanted influences. Cedar is used as a name for a number of different genuses of trees and shrubs. The primary ones are Cedrus, Thuja, Libdocedrus and Juniperus. The Junipers are not truly Cedars (scientifically) but are used as such by many people. Keep in mind that these scientific names have little meaning to the people using them as medicine in traditional ways.

Sweetgrass Also called Seneca grass, holy grass and vanilla grass. This very special herb’s sweet vanilla-like scent is the breath of the Earth mother, bringing the blessing of Mother Earth’s love. Sweetgrass is burned to remind us of essence of the feminine and that the earth provides us with everything we need. Most commonly found as braids, Sweetgrass can be unbraided and lit, blown out and the smoke that follows washed over the subject of the blessing. This wonderful medicine can be cut with a scissors into small pieces and sprinkles on hot Charcoal.

Lavender This native of Europe is often used for invitation of the spirits. The name may be derived from the Latin lavare (to wash) or livendula (meaning bluish). In Ancient times lavender was an important herb used in mummification. There is a legend that the clothing of baby Jesus was laid upon a lavender bush and acquired the fragrance. Some Christians still regard the scent of lavender as a safeguard against evil.

Copal This is tree sap from Mexico that is similar to Frankincense. When burned it has a crisp, clean, sharp scent that is almost citrus-like. Copal is sacred to the native peoples of Mexico, as it is a gift “pleasing to the gods”. Because copal is the blood of trees it is offered to honor the enormous gift given to us by all of the tree people of our planet

Frankincense At one time both Frankincense and myrrh were considered to be more valuable than gold. Used to embalm the bodies of the Egyptian Pharaohs, this tree resin is considered to cleanse and protect the soul. Frankincense became important to most every major religion in the world and is still used in Muslim, Jewish and Catholic rituals. Frankincense is said to ease depression and promote clairvoyance.

Myrrh This tree resin is said to help one maintain a state of enlightenment. Also it connects one to the spirit of youth and clears the path of debris that stands in the way of one’s truth.

Pinon Resin Has a pleasant and meditative fragrance. Is cleansing, strengthening, warming, and used by Native American cultures for its spiritual and healing properties. Produces a thick stream of smoke, and is excellent for refreshing the senses and reviving a tired soul.

Juniper Has a sharp, piney scent. Excellent to stimulate and revive when tired in body, mind or Spirit. Used in ancient times for ritual purification of temples. Smoke believed to aid clairvoyance. Also useful for purification and to stimulate contact with other worlds. Burned during the Plague to resist disease.

Yerba Santa Leaves Traditionally used for enhancing psychic abilities, magical protection, healing and spiritual strength. Excellent for meditation and divination. Said to be ruled by the moon. One Native American tribe rolled the leaves into balls, dried it in the sun and chewed it for a natural mouthwash.

Hibiscus Flowers Produces a sharp, invigorating scent that lasts for a long time after burning. Excellent for rejuvenating the senses and restoring life force.

Rose Flowers and Petals Produces a heavy, warm, aromatic scent with just a hint of sharpness and scent lasts a long time after burning. Excellent for meditation, divination, increasing psychic abilities, contacting powers and beings in other dimensions ad psychic communication. Also traditionally associated with attracting love, conferring peace, stimulating sexual appetites and enhancing beauty.

Amber is a sweet resin that can be burned on charcoal to release fearful and painful energy. It is often crumbled into massage oil as a healer for the skin or it can be rubbed directly onto the skin as a sweet subtle perfume.

Mugwort is a versatile sacred herb. It can be used for spiritual cleansing, protection, healing, and consecration, and it can aid dream work, trance, and intuitive development, along with enhancing divination.


Smudging Feather It is traditional to use a bird’s feather to brush the smoke over the person or object being blessed. It is important to use the underside of the feather to wash the smoke over the object of blessing. It is the underside of the bird and its wings that face the Mother Earth as it flies and it is this surface of the feather that offers the blessing medicine of the bird.

[~Elise~]

Smudge yourself on separate occassions with different herbs and report the difference in results...as well as report on the actual smudging themselves.

A house cleansing and blessing ceremony is a good way to clear out stale and negative energies and bring Light into a home. This is especially helpful when moving into a new house or apartment, or for shifting and cleansing the energy in a present home. Do a house cleansing and report results.

[~Elise~]

House Cleansing Ritual

All areas where people live or work will "collect" energies - both positive and negative. Every person who visits or uses the space will leave their own imprint of their energy. Thoroughly cleansing and purifying the area will remove these energies and create a more harmonious space.

This ritual is especially useful when moving house - to remove all your energies from your old living space and also to cleanse your new living space in order to prevent living amongst the old occupant's emotional baggage.

Take a bunch of dried cleansing herbs, eg. sage, and light them holding them over a smudging bowl or other suitable vessel. Next smudge the entire house. Open ALL cabinets, closets and drawers, making sure smoke goes into each corner. Work around the house in a clockwise, deosil, direction room by room. Start at the front door and then end there as well, sending the negative energies out. Or you can send out the negative energies in each room by opening a window and directing the energies out it.

Light a protection incense, I use sweetgrass to bring in blessings, and fill a bowl with salt water. Go through each room and at every window, door, phone point, outlet, ventilation grill, every exit to the outside, draw an invoking pentagram using your finger dipped in the salt water. Draw the pentagram on the window, door or other exit and say:


With the powers of Water and Earth,
I consecrate and protect this space.


Wave the protection incense over the opening and say:


With the powers of Fire and Air,
I consecrate, protect and bring blessings into this space.


Repeat this throughout the house until all the rooms have been cleansed and protected in this way.

[wolfjan1]

While my darling is in the hospital healing from surgery, I plan to throroughly clean my home and banish any negative spirits. The mission is to introduce clean, positive and healing surroundings for her return home, and to bless our house in the same way.
The natural instinct is to follow your smudging guidelines about ourselves and our surroundings. Is it also recommended to do a self cleansing and blessing everyday before working on the house? Or just at the beginning and ending. Shouldn't the person doing the work be blessed and cleansed of negative thoughts and vibrations?
Just as a question, what are your thoughts?
Eager to learn

[wolfjan1]

Wow! You basically answered my question before I finished asking it!
Where do I find lessons 1 through 4?
Gratefully

[~Elise~]

You'll find the rest of the lessons in this forum... while you are more than welcome to read along. This particular class is full.

Elise

[MariThorn]

It just so happens that part of our Imbolc season is a thorough cleansing of the House. This will blend in well with it and we will report on the results :).

Marithorn

[Penthesilea]

I've got the list. I'll order two or three different ones and start experimenting as soon as they arrive.

[RunningRiot]

This lesson has been such an interesting read, I didn't know all the scent corresspondences before.

Smudging Myself.....................:
I use about three small insense sticks lit at the same time and circle them around my body counter-clock wise. I especially surround my back and the top of my head.

I do this everytime I feel "over worked" with wandering spirits or when a spirit tries to a get a little too frisky with my body or mind. It works good but it takes a few minutes to work so I mix it in with meditation and shielding at the same time.

I used inscense sticks instead because I can't afford any more magical supplies right now and I didn't have any lose herbs or bundles on hand. I've used sandal wood, vanilla and amber for this. They all work really good for this purpose, I'd like to try mixing them together sometime to see the reaction! When I used amber I wasn't sure of its properties but it worked well enough.

Smudging A Room.....................:
Same thing as above, but I circle the room counter-clock wise and waft the smoke around in all the corners and ecpecially towards the cieling.

I call this "throwing smoke" and it works really great to get rid of spirits I don't want around.

Smudging My House.....................:
Same thing as the ones above..

I circle each room with the smoke counter-clockwise, starting from the top of the house and going down. I throw the smoke all around, keeping it in front of me but letting it wonder at the same time. I gather together at the center of the house and put a + on the wall with holy water, then did a meditation about banishment, then one about blessing. Finally I took the smoke and opened the from door, letting it all billow out.

It worked really great and right after I had this feeling of being truly alone, I've never felt that before. The house felt calm instead of having this silent chaotic feeling it usually does.

[Crystal Raven]

I am moving tomorrow, so I will give the new house a thorough once over and tell you how it goes

[MariThorn]

We smudged the house last night with Frankincense in a purification ritual. I won't go into the ritual itself, as I don't hold with that. The feel though of the house is that of being washed clean. I always enjoy working with Frankincense. The entire house was smudged, including the occupents. I know that when we finally went to bed that it was a deep and full sleep. I would say that this particular magic item does it's work well and cleanly.

MariThorn

[Meriwen]

I have smudge sticks that I made several years ago from my Mother's sage I think it is white russian sage, would this be the same? I have regular garden sage, lavender that I have dried, wormwood, Mugwort, southernwood. Can all of these be used for smudgeing? What about a smudge of sage combined with lavender? Would that be confusing or would they boost each other? What other combinations might work together?

Meriwen

[~Elise~]

I have smudge sticks that I made several years ago from my Mother's sage I think it is white russian sage, would this be the same? I have regular garden sage, lavender that I have dried, wormwood, Mugwort, southernwood. Can all of these be used for smudgeing? What about a smudge of sage combined with lavender? Would that be confusing or would they boost each other? What other combinations might work together?

Meriwen

Wormwood--precaution here--ONLY use with OPEN windows. It is a banishing herb. I would only use when I needed to get rid of something TRULY nasty.

Mugwort--Is listed on the lesson.

not sure what southernwood is... if it is similar to wormwood use cautiously.

Yes, sage and lavendar can be used together very nicely... unless you're ME. I'm one of the few people in the world that lavendar makes me nauseous.

You can read the properties of each of the ones list and any would work well together.

As for White russian sage--haven't heard of it before--but that doesn't mean it can't be used. Do you know the latin name for it by any chance? It needs to be of the Salvia family to be effective in smudging.

Elise

[~Elise~]

so--guys.... how's it going? There is a resounding sound of silence from most of ya.

Elise

[PoisonIvy]

I make my own smudge sticks from sage and lavender also. Sometimes I also use sandalwood or dragonsblood for a little boost of protection as well.
I must admit that I haven't smudged the house since right before Thanksgiving. I should have done it for New Years,but I guess the time just got away from me on vacation.
I do occasionally smudge myself after a hectic day to get rid of negativity.
It really does give me a sense of calmness and a clean feeling (spiritually speaking).

[slave_isabel]

Having had a lot of negative engergies in our home recently. After the cause of the negative energy left our home we smudged using a combination of sea salt water and frankencense to cleanse everthing that had been in contact with the negative energy as well as the house and ourselves. The change in the atmosphere was felt immediately and we all had the first restful sleep we had had in two weeks. The peace and harmony and happiness returned to the house and to our spirits.

[RunningRiot]

My house and my room have been very quiet of spiritual energy since I last smudged.. Infact the only spirits I see here now is the one of my Astral-Traveling SO, who comes to visit me regularly.

No negative feelings at all in the house since I smudged it! :)

[~Elise~]

woohoo! sounds awesome, guys. That's why we do this!

Elise

[Crystal Raven]

whew...k, am moved in and starting to settle in!!!
On the day of our move, we brought my m-i-l and the kids over first so they were out of the way. With them, and the first thing in the house, was a box of food including milk, bread, honey and salt, along with my hawthorn branch. I smudged everyone with sage, lavendar and rosemary then smudged the entire almost empty house chanting as I went. So far so good, everything seems to be going well. Am thinking of giving the house another thorough scrub though, now that my stuff is in, probably sat or sun, and will then smudge again.

[Salanthos]

quick question - can camphor be used for smudging? or just oil?

I can't practice at the moment, all my herbs and stuff are at home, but I was wondering, since lamps and fire are a big part of our religious ceremonies, used for cleansing, if it was the similar to/ same as smudging? camphor tree leaves might work well, but it is often the tablets used in these ceremonies.

thank you

[Penthesilea]

so--guys.... how's it going? There is a resounding sound of silence from most of ya.

EliseNow that the unfettered madness that is the Christmas Rush is over and life is beginning to return to what passes for normal around here *cue hysterical laughing* I'll get myself organized and back on track.... I'm still keeping up with the grounding/centering/shielding.

[~Elise~]

quick question - can camphor be used for smudging? or just oil?

I can't practice at the moment, all my herbs and stuff are at home, but I was wondering, since lamps and fire are a big part of our religious ceremonies, used for cleansing, if it was the similar to/ same as smudging? camphor tree leaves might work well, but it is often the tablets used in these ceremonies.

thank you

You know-- that is a good question. Guess you wouldn't have a stuffy nose after you were done either. I don't see why it couldn't work. and yes--smudging and cleansing are very similar

Elise

[~Elise~]

Let's get all the homework in, guys. I want to get the next lesson up. You have the rest of this week. Preferably quicker.

Elise

[Rin Daemoko]

Well, I think now I know why incense makes great offerings to spirits, deities, and other such beings. Smudging, in the sense of washing one's self with the rising smoke of incense, has this quality of drinking a cool, rich, almost sweet water. It's quite remarkable. I'm not sure how to describe how I feel afterward - I certainly feel something, but I think any attempt to describe it would be incomplete and misleading, so I'll just leave it at a mysterious non-description.

[amakaliani]

kaliani checking in here. Sorry things have been pure madness here in Jacksonville. But, I finallly had a good chance at a puter as my laptop is currently not real helpful. But, I will be doing the personal smudging and room smudging over the next two days or so, as I have a healing ritual tonight and will be including that in the preperations - (side note, please light a candle with me at 9am est for Precious the Dog, who is having a mastectomy and spaying, due to breast cancer. She is the recipient of said healing ritual tonight. Thanks!)

I will post my homework as soon as that is completed. Thanks, Pearls for being patient with me.

kaliani

[Penthesilea]

I've done the house blessing in the lesson, using sage and sweetgrass. I started at the front door which is in the north and worked clockwise. The atmosphere feels better now and I'm going to do it monthly, at least for a while. "Stuff" accumulates and I'm not entirely sure that everything is cleared out. Hubby's job is stressful and I'm not convinced that "stuff" isn't coming into the house with him when he comes home. I was worried about the smoke alarms :lol: as they are wired into the electrical system and I can't turn them off. Fortunately, I was able to do the smudging without setting them off. I had a small problem smudging myself. I breathed a little too much of the smoke... guess I'm purified inside too! I did feel good afterwards though. I'll just be more careful next time!

[~Elise~]

About smoke detectors... you can cover them with plastic bags, like baggies, while you're smudging without worrying about setting them off.

PLEASE remember to remove the baggies once you're done.

Elise

[amakaliani]

OK - here's the scoop. I did a smudging for myself personally and an entire household here in Jax. (By the way - Precious the dog is doing fine, the smudging was to cleanse us to facilitate her healing) I used lavender that had been dried and hanging here at the house. I bound it together with thread. Everyone reported a lighter feeling and that it definitely had a calming and cleansing affect.

I do have a question though, Pearls, there is about 22 birds in the house, and smudging inside is not an option, so my thought was to use the smudge stick after it is no longer actually burning, but still when it is warm and you can still smell it. At that point then taking it inside and "smudging" the birds.....

Any thoughts?

(The next step is a house cleansing, and this also applies to my questions on how to do things around the birds safely.....)

[~Elise~]

22 birds? good gods woman! Do you ever get any peace and quiet?

As for the birds--to be honest--I don't know the answer to that question. I'd ask over in Critter chat if smudging is safe with them in the house. I don't see why not... but I don't own birds.

My cat loves it though. Trys to trip me up as I'm doing it... I think he's after the feather fan though.

Elise

[amakaliani]

that would make sense...and I will post it in Critter chat.........now the number is up to 24 with my 2 new babies!

[~Elise~]

Keep the homework coming guys. But I don't want to delay any further. Next lesson is going up.

Elise

[AineDanu]

Thank you for your patience on my sending this one in. I was finally able to do a house cleansing and smudging and I must admit that this house has never felt so quiet and relaxed. I used Sage for this as it has always been an herb I feel connected to. Afterward I personally felt calm and lighter, I also noticed that I did not feel my pain for quite awhile (um for anyone who has read my posts on other threads, or hasnt, this is not something that EVER occurs. I have not had this little pain in over three years) I also felt like my mind was clearer. I now see the benefits of smudging and of doing house cleansings. I will definately be incorporating these into my schedule.

[~Elise~]

Great--people underestimate this bit as non-essenstial.... but it isn't. Glad it is working for you.

Elise

[Salanthos]

I just did a smudging with oil and sage. I did a house cleansing, to clear out negative energies from my apartment, and keep unwanted visitors out (an unknown food thief has been visiting).
I had a little difficulty with the practicalities of smudging. I did not have coal or charcoal, and the sage (powdered culinary) was not lighting on its own. I ended up rolling some in a scrap of paper towel and using this as a wick in an oil lamp. I combined the smudging with the hindu arthi, cleansing with the flame of an oil lamp, and it seemed to work well.
afterwards I felt more peaceful, and the air in the apartment smells fresh and clean, like after rain.

[~Elise~]

Nice improv... sounds like you accomplished what you needed.

Elise

[amakaliani]

I did the smudging and the outside and inside of the hiuse. have yet to do the areas with the bitrds. Will be doing so soon.





((Thanks for being patient with me))