http://www.care2.com/greenliving/smudging-how-to.html
Smudging: What It Is and How to Do It
By Annie B. Bond
Smudging is used and recommended by indigenous peoples, feng shui practitioners, healers, and more, for “space clearing” and purification.
A Native American healer I respect smudges his computer every night. I myself use it frequently when I feel “stuck” emotionally. What is smudging? Why do it? Why learn about it?
Here is what I think smudging is, and why it is often a very useful tool to use in the home.
Healers often recommend smudging to change the “energy” of a place after an event has happened, such a death, or even an argument. Smudging a computer would be done to remove the electromagnetic field energy; smudging one’s desk at the end of the day could be to remove the “work” mentality from the air; smudging after an argument would be done to clear the air, quite literally.
I think that smudging works to change the energetic of a space because of the science of entrainment. Our senses respond to vibrations, and there is a law of physics that makes vibrations want to start being harmonious, to be in synchrony. Entrainment is a word often used with music. In sound healing, the dissonant chord is gradually influenced by the harmonious cord and the disharmony changes to harmony over time.
Even air has a vibration, held I believe in the humidity. The water of the humidity would absorb the negative “vibe” of an argument, for example, and hold it. If you burn a healing plant, such as sage, in such an atmosphere, the humidity would then hold the energetic of the healing plant, and bit by bit the discordant energetic of the argument would be influenced by the harmonious vibration of the plant smoke.
The herbs burned are usually sage (white in particular), sweetgrass, or cedar, although any dried herb is fine, even lavender. If the herb has too woody a stem, the leaf part will burn very fast and die out.
White sage is a good choice because the leaf clusters are very long, and the leaves will smolder for quite a long time, emitting smoke into the air. Sage is also known as a purifying herb. Sweetgrass burns very quickly, and is a great choice for emanating sweet smell into the air (and healers believe sweet grass brings a high level of spirituality and burns away negativity). Cedar is very strong, and is considered powerful for removing negativity.
Buy your smudge sticks from those who honor the plants and bundle the herbs with sacred ceremony of appreciation. If you grow your own herbs, research making smudge sticks and honoring the plants.
To burn herbs, and create smoke, you have to be very careful not to start a fire. I use a big ashtray, with steep sides. Some light whole bundles of herbs, but I don’t because there is no need, usually, for that much smoke. Instead, I untie a smudge bundle and pull out just a few leaves, and light them. Once there is a flame, you blow out the flame (making sure you catch any sparks in the ashtray). The herbs will smolder, and the smoke will waft into the home. Walk around with the ashtray (smoking herbs included), and make sure the smoke reaches into all the areas of a room you want.
When you are done, let the herbs extinguish on their own (if they are safely in the ashtray and away from wind), or extinguish them fully with water.
As I think about smudging, sitting here on the cusp of spring and winter, I can see how smudging out the winter mood’s to let in the renewal of spring is a great use of smudging.
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19 comments
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why is this inappropriate?
I smudged my house with a bunch of sage for the first time and it smelled awful. My kids gave me grief but the tension in the house became worse. I then did it again but opened all the windows and let the house air out for a few hours afterwards. Tension disappeared and I definitely noticed a difference. However, about a week later, my light bulbs started to go one by one. I have replaced at least 10 bulbs since I performed the smudging about 2 weeks ago. What's goin on? Any advice?
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I truely appreciate everyones comments on this subject. I have had strong intuitions are could sense peoples vibes and feelings since a small child. This has been of great benefit to me for years even saving my life at least one time that I know of...unfortunately I do hold on to others negative energy...and sometimes it follows me home. I just smudged my apartment for the first time. I feel a significant difference! Thanks again for the comments...
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What about the smudging effect of burning wood in your fireplace? Soon after reading this article on smudging I had opportunity to use my fireplace for the first time this Fall and found that it allowed a little too much smoke to enter the house ( yes I know- I need a chimney cleaning and I've already scheduled one). The effect was much what I feel a good smudging would effect- the entire house has a woodsy smell ( it wasnt that much smoke that it smells burnt!)and I love it. Better than any air freshner and much more effective. Even now, days later I can still msell the pleasant scent of wood every time I enter the house again. So Im wondering if just adding some herbs to the fire might work even better than walking around with burning materials periodically? Even without the herbs the scent of wood lends a unique and comfy air to the house- I guess this is the lazy smudgers answer to smudging...lol The candle idea is good too. Even busy moms can fit smudging in that way.
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why is this inappropriate?
good stuff, don't forget to smudge yourself afterwards
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why is this inappropriate?
I was taught, through a Hopi trained shaman, that sage creates a vaccuum in which to work and shift energies. However, it is important to then smudge with something sweet like sweetgrass or tobacco to fill up the vaccuum so negativity will not be drawn back in.
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Anne, I agree that's why I always make my fans out of feathers.
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why is this inappropriate?
If you don't have fresh herbs, that's ok. I put a tealight candle in a container, (fireproof of course), then sprinkle a little culinary sage or rosemary on the candle, just takes a bit to make a bit of smoke...but this acts like smudging. You can use a fan...but a feather is better. I have a pelican feather I use to waft the smudging smoke around. Just make sure the container the candle is in has enough space around it that you won't get burnt. After smudging this way, just let the candle burn safely out by itself. That's why I use tealights for this purpose. Doesn';t take them long.
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Why not make a smudging fan to help waft the smoke where you want it to go? Where I lived some swans and geese very kindly left old feathers on the ground. I gathered these, cleaned them and tied the ends with a cord I braided. The fan is kept in my special cupboard along with the sage/cedar so that each time I do it, it is a sacred act of love for my home and all in it.
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I think you are dead-on about the humidity in the air holding the "vibes", be they good or bad. See Masaru Emoto's very extensive research with water ("The Hidden Messages in Water," etc.) and how it picks up and "remembers" positive and negative intentions.
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why is this inappropriate?
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