Smudging is a form of cleansing, using the smoke of a dried herb, often sage. Smudging is most commonly used to rid yourself or your environment of negative energy. It can be useful if you are feeling any negative/depressed feelings, when you feel physically unwell, after having an argument with someone, or even just if you feel your environment is stagnant or has unwanted energy left by others. Sudging was used by native Americans, ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians, as a way of expelling bad spirits and negative energy.

New research is backing up it’s cleansing abilities too. The scientific paper entitled “Medicinal Smokes” and published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology focuses a scientific lens on the practice, which is becoming more and more widely practiced, despite skepticism. The research study looked into herbal and non-herbal remedies that were administered by the burning of various matter, it included information from 50 countries over 5 continents and found that, predominantly, smoke administered medicinally is mostly used to aid lung, brain and skin function. In addition, it was revealed that passive fumes doubled as a sort of air purifier. The purpose of the study was to see whether or not these medicinal smoke deliveries could be explored by Western medicine, because “The advantages of smoke-based remedies are rapid delivery to the brain, more efficient absorption by the body and lower costs of production.” A follow-up paper published in the same periodical, “Medicinal smoke reduces airborne bacteria,” concluded that, in addition to health benefits, smudging was a powerful antiseptic.

Herbs Used

Sage is the major herb used in Smudging but other herbs such as sweetgrass, cedar, rosemary and mugwort are also commonly used together with Sage. Many smudge sticks will also have cedar as this is a good protective herb and it burns well.

Some interesting sage notes:

• To the Native Americans Sage was one of the gifts from the Great Spirit and it was used as a powerful purifier in many of their rituals.
• The Romans cleansed themselves and dressed in white before ritualistically harvesting sage with special silver tools.
• The Greeks used sage as a brain tonic.
• In English the word Sage means “someone who is wise”

Practice

Normaly a smudge stick would be used, these can be bought or are easily made yourself by tying herbs in an elongated bundle and allowing them to dry. The smoke is not dangerous and will not harm you. 

To smudge your home:

1. Light a smudge stick and allow it to properly catch fire.
2. Extinguish the fire, allowing the smoke to bellow.
3. Use a feather or your hand to waft the smoke.
4. Walk around, wafting the smoke into all corners of the room, cupboards, and small spaces.
5. As you do, imagine the smoke absorbing negativity, problems from those who were in the space before you, toxicity, and anything else you want to go away.
6. Express gratitude for the good that room gives you. For example, the meals that nourish you in the kitchen, or the water that cleanses you in the bathroom.
7. Walk out the door, close it, and smudge around the door and door frame.
8. Stay outside for a few minutes, allowing the energies of the room or house to reboot themselves.

To smudge yourself:

1. Light a smudge stick and allow it to properly catch fire.
2. Extinguish the fire, allowing the smoke to bellow.
3. Wave the stick over your body as if you were combing out the bad energy from your aura.
   If you’re familiar with the location of the chakras throughout your body, you can swirl the bundle clockwise over each chakra before sweeping down the arms.
   Or, swirl the bundle clockwise over your belly, chest and forehead instead of all seven chakras.
4. As you do, imagine the smoke absorbing negativity, problems, toxicity, and anything else you want to release.
5. Express gratitude for the good that your body gives you.
6. When you’re finished smudging, you can use a feather to gently brush your aura from head to toe, or simply open the windows to let the smoke out. 

To dispose of the cleared energy:

Different people choose to dispose of the negative energy in different ways, some options are:

• Open all windows and doors to allow the negative energy to escape
• Catch the ashes in a bowl and burying them.
• Leave the bundle (safely) outside to burn itself out, and then bury it.

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