Smudging is a ceremonial ritual practiced by many. It has been used cross culturally to symbolize prayers
rising to the heavens, cleansing, and turning away negative energies. Judaism, and Buddhism have similar uses for Smudging herbs, while White Sage is a herb typically used by Native Americans. Palo Santo is most often used by Shamans.
In addition to dissipating negative energies, this practice is also cleansing and purifying. It has been used among healers to achieve a state of health and clarity. It is also a common Feng Shui practice for clearing out unwanted energies in your home.
So while Smudging cross culturally differ by tradition, they all share a common goal; a return of balanced harmony. Regardless of the herb, or ritual it is meant to connect man with spirit, to cleanse and purify both the soul and surroundings.
White Sage is ideal for cleansing negative energy, connecting to your spirituality, enhancing your intuition, ridding yourself of other people's negative emotional energies (envy, stress, anxiety), rejuvenation, restore, renewal to start fresh, or overcoming adversity and illness, as well as setting positive intentions.
Instructions:
Burn Sage in a well-ventilated area. Do not leave burning sage unattended. Keep away from Children, animals, and flammable material.
Always think good thoughts and say your blessing or prayer. Never blow on the smoking sage; it is believed that in doing so you blow away your own spirit and positive energy.
Hold the sage stick at one end and point it downward at a 45-degree angle, bring a flame to the downward pointed tip, and rotate the stick to light different parts of the sage. Light the stick until it catches fire. Put out the fire by blowing it out with a feather or your hand. Fan the sage to develop a nice even ember. To increase the amount of smoke the sage produces, fan the ember to increase its size.
Place the smoking sage in a heat proof, non-flammable bowl to catch ash and embers. You may also hold sage in your hand while you smudge. Be careful the embers do not touch you, others, or things around your home.
Smudge your body with the smoke; cleanse yourself with the smoke. Smudge your hands to prepare yourself for your ritual. Smudge your legs so you walk through this ritual, and life in a positive way. Smudge your mouth to speak positive things. Smudge your eyes to see no evil, and witness beauty, good, and positivity. Smudge your ears to be the bearer of good news, and to keep out the bad or negative news. Smudge your heart to feel good things, and invite a loving embrace. Smudge your head to see things clearly, and think positively.
Smudge the room you're in by moving the smoking sage around the room to cleanse the entire room from floor to ceiling and from corner to corner. Repeat this process until your home is cleared.
You can smudge other people and objects by moving the stick around the person's body or the object from top to bottom.
To prevent the embers from dying out, fan the embers. When you are done, snuff out the embers on your smudging bowl.
Repeat all the steps, but this time with a Palo Santo instead of Sage. This will bring in harmony and invite all things good after a Sage cleanse.
Blessing and Prayer
Great God, Our Creator, I come before you with an open heart. I ask that you hear me, and I thank you for this Sacred Plant. I respectfully light this sacred plant and humbly call on its spirit. As its sacred smoke touches my body, I ask that it cleanse my mind, body, and spirit. As its sacred smoke fills this room, I ask that it purify, protect, and bless this space. As its sacred smoke rises, I ask that it carry away all negativity, fears, and attachments. As this sacred smoke leaves, I ask that light, joy, love, and blessings take its place. And so it is.
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