You may have seen these parcels of dried herbs tied up with string or heard the word "smudging" and wondered to yourself, what the heck is that all about???? In today's blog, I am going to explain what smudging is, why it might be beneficial to you and of course how you do it.
So lets start at the beginning, the practice of smudging is an age old ritual dating back thousands of years to the indigenous Americans, who used it as part of their spiritual practices to call upon the spirits of various sacred plants to drive away negative energy and to restore balance. In more modern times, it has been adopted as a recognised part of many spiritual practices as well as scientific research which has recognised sage's potential as a healing herb.
So what is the purpose of smudging? The most powerful and common reason is to cleanse yourself and your environment of any negative energies. We all carry energy around with us and into our homes, both our own and fragments of other people’s collected as we move through our day. Sadly, sometimes this energy isn’t as positive as we’d like and over time it can collect and stagnate which can effect our mood, our well being and leave us feeling weighed down, stuck and unable to move forward. As well as clearing the air on an energetic level, smudging also has some practical uses to0. It releases negative ions that fight against things like dust and pollution, so can assist with allergies and also has an antibacterial quality so is perfect for clearing out bugs and germs when you are feeling unwell.
So, you've decided that you fancy giving smudging a go. The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies. There are so many different choices available and if you decide to carry on with smudging longer term then you will become more familiar with the variety of options available, but for now we are going to concentrate on the basic bits and pieces you need.
A vessel for burning sage- many people opt for an Abalone shell but any fireproof dish will be fine.
Sage
A fire source (such as a long match or candle)
A fanning tool (not completely necessary but could be helpful if you need to cover a large area such as a home or office). most popular choice tends to be a feather.
Now you've collected all of your items, you are ready to go so here's how to smudge.
1. Smudging your space.
Open a few windows and doors to help any smoke and negative energy leave easily.
Setting intentions are central to the practice of smudging, so take a moment before you light the sage to determine what exactly it is that you're trying to purify or release from your space. It can be something you come up with on your own, or for an example, you could simply use " I let go and release what no longer serves me."
Light your sage stick over your flameproof bowl until a small flame has caught. While holding your sage over the bowl lightly blow on the flame until it goes out. The sage will then smoke gently like incense. Remember that it’s the smoke that does the work and so the stick does not have to remain lit.
Walk around your home clockwise, carefully Using your hands or a feather to waft the smoke into all areas of your space. Include all small spaces that collect negative energy like corners, windows and behind doors. It’s also good to open cupboards and wardrobes because they can also hold stagnant energy.
Remember that the goal is to allow a light amount of smoke to move around your space there’s no need to create a thick cloud of smoke!
You may need to relight the sage stick to make it around the whole house - simply relight it over your flameproof bowl and lightly blow it out as before. Then carry on where you left off.
When you have finished your smudging, simply extinguish the sage bundle by gently tamping out the lit end and then leave it to rest in your flameproof container until you are satisfied it has gone out. You could also put it out by placing in some sand but not water as all you will end up with is a very soggy sage stick! Don't try to blow it out, it won't work! All you will succeed in doing is potentially scattering lit embers around your home and will probably relight it again.
Sage bundles will last for a fair amount of time, depending on how often and how much you use them. You can use them again and again and certainly don't need to burn in one sitting (you may be there for some considerable time!)
Smudging your home can be done whenever you like, there’s no need to wait for a certain day or moon cycle - I use it daily, but weekly or monthly is just fine too. Just like everything in life, trust your intuition and you can’t go wrong. Enjoy!
2. Smudging yourself (or other people)
You can essentially follow the same steps as above, but the focus will be on your body instead of your space. Stand in the shape of a T with legs slightly spread, then, keeping the sage stick at an arm's length distance away from you, work your way up from your feet. Use your chosen mantra and envision the smoke is clearing you of any and all lingering negativity.
Again, don't directly inhale large amounts of smoke, and ensure the sage remains a safe distance from your body. If you have long hair, pull it back in a bun. Don't forget to extinguish the sage once you've finished smudging.
Smudging other things.
Smudging can also be very effective to clean and cleanse your crystals, your Tarot or Oracle cards or any of your other spiritual tools, alters etc.
Last note, Smudging is a fantastic, relaxing and healing process and is really enjoyable too, however please do remember that the practice of burning sage is sacred in many communities and deserves our respect. It's something we should always be doing with intention, reverence, and deep gratitude to those who did it before us.
If you would like to get started with smudging or are looking for some new supplies, check out my on line shop https://littleshopofsoul.company.site/
Love and Light
Sharon
Soul Purpose
Email: soulpurposewantage@gmail.com
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