Smudging

What is Smudging

• Smudging is a cleansing ritual using smoke from herbs or resins
• Clears negative energies
• From a place, person, object and just about anything else
• Can be used to instil positive energies (i.e. into crystals)
• Can be used to reset energies of an object to their base line
• Can be used ceremonially to maintain focus & raise vibration
• Can be used during the beginning of a meditation also for focus and to ground afterwards

Historical Roots of Smudging

• Burning cleansing herbs & resins has been used for 1000’s or years
• Some cultures also use/used sound vibration with bowls/cymbals/bells/chanting
• Cultures including Egypt, Babylon, Greek, Roman, Hindu, Buddhist, Australia Aboriginal, Christian & Native American
• Smudging today is based on the Native American tradition
• Where it was known as the ‘Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing’
• It was used when feeling depressed, unwell, angry, jealous
• Also as a part of welcoming visitors, ceremonially & during times of celebration
• Grandfather/White Sage is the most commonly used herb

What Tools are Needed

• A heat proof censor i.e. abalone shell, stone dish, terracotta dish 
• Sand, salt or soil 
• Fan or feather 
• Herb (loose or wrapped) or resin (loose) 
• Coal tablet (optional) 
• Candle (to light smudge sticks)
• Representations of the four elements:
• Water (dish)
• Earth (herbs ashes/coal tablet)
• Fire (smouldering herb/resin)
• Air (smoke).

The sand, salt or soil is used in the bottom of the dish is to help contain the heat of the coal tablet. Some people do not use a coal tablet, when working with wrapped smudge sticks they are not really necessary, however if working with resins only then they usually are. If you do use a coal tablet be sure to use tongs when lighting it to avoid being burnt

Where Can Smudging Be Used

• Basically it can be used anywhere
• Although there are times & places it may not be appropriate (i.e. outdoors on days of total fire ban)
• Don’t smudge around people with severe asthma, respiratory disease, allergy reactions to smoke, young children or pregnant women
• In other circumstances just use common sense​

How to Perform a Smudging

Preparation

• Make sure the area is well ventilated.
• You can open doors & windows after the ritual as long as you do vent the area
  
• This ensures the negative energies can escape
• Some specific smudging mixes do not smell nice & the smoke could be irritating
• Make sure the area is clear of clutter, dust & unnecessary items to allow energies to move freely
• Take a few moments to clear your mind, relax & most importantly focus your energies & intent
• Write your intent down & practice it prior if you feel more comfortable​

Beginning Your Smudging

• Imagine yourself surrounded by or being flooded from above with a brilliant white, golden or violet light where only positive energies can exist
• If you would like to use sound to help raise your vibration & improve energy flow please do so at this point
• Ask you guides or guardians (whatever you are more comfortable with) to join & help you
• As you are doing this light your smudge stick or place loose herbs or resins on the pre lit coal tablet
• Once the smudge stick is lit with flame blow it out so it continues to smoulder

Smudging Yourself & Others

• Use the same imagery mentioned previously when smudging yourself
• Smudging to the cardinal directions – North, East, South, West, Up Down and Centre
• Fan the smoke around your body, from your head to your toes
• Visualize negativity or negative feelings being carried into the smoke and dissipating as the smoke does
• Avoid blowing on the stick or coal tablet as this is could possibly instilling the smoke with negativity
• Continue focusing on your intent as you do these
• When smudging another person be sure they are willing to participate & have them also focus the same intent & use the same visualization

Smudging Areas

• When smudging an area, house, room etc., follow the same method as above with visualization & intent focus
• Then smudge the directions North, East, South, West
• I start with North & end with West
• Traditionally other’s start with East and end with North
• Begin each direction at the bottom and work up
• Pay close attention to the corners, behind doors & furniture etc., making sure they are well smudged as negative energies can become stuck here
• Always maintain focus & intent

Smudging Objects

• Again for the most part repeat as above with focus & intent
• Hold the object in or fan the smoke over the object
• Repeat your intent to the object as you do this

Smudging Crystals

• Smudging crystals is basically done the same way (refer to Crystal Cleansing & Dedication)
• Ask the spirit of the crystal to awaken, be cleansed & energized by the smoke
• Focus you intent for the crystal
• Thank the crystal for helping
• Speak the intent out loud or visualize it toward the crystal

Other Smudging & Crystal Ideas

• If you are wanting to smudge around the perimeter of your home you can enhance a protection field by placing crystals in strategic positions
• Place a charged and dedicated crystal at each of the four compass points
• Use either clear quartz points that will amplify & focus their charged intent or charge coloured corresponding crystals
• We use North – Red, East – Green, South – Brown & West – Blue
• You can also place crystals charged with repelling those with negative or harmful intent at the front and back door
• Place cleansed and dedicated rose quartz in the family areas to promote loving peaceful family interactions
• Place tourmaline near electronic equipment to reduce EMF pollution
• You can charge crystals to absorb negative energies and expel them as positive energies (make sure you cleanse these ones regularly to keep their pre-verbal batteries charged)​

Ending Your Smudging

• When ending a session of smudging always offer gratitude & thanks to your guides/guardians for their presence & help
• Visualize your intent as having succeeded
• Visualize yourself as grounded (returning to daily routine)
• Extinguish your smudge stick making sure it is completely out
• Press it into the sand, salt or soil to smother it or into a damp cloth
• For coal tablets it is best to let then burn themselves out or submerge them in water (I find a coffee mug to be useful)
• ALWAYS ENSURE IT IS EXTINGUISHED PROPERLY

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     Smudging can be done at any time as often as you want or as you feel it is necessary. As mentioned above this has been built around no specific belief system, if you feel you would like to add elements of your own belief system into it go right ahead. The more comfortable you are & the more concentrated your intent, the more effective your smudging will be.