Can you smudge?
Experienced persons in touch with mother earth best conduct smudging. Experienced smudgers have a relationship with the sacred plant spirits developed over years of love and reverence for the entire spirit world. Originally, only American Indians who had been selected by the spirits themselves smudged; Indian elders taught the tradition of calling upon plant spirits to create balance to those who posed the gift. All of us posses the ability but few have learned proper reverence and love required to effectively smudge. Try it! Give it time and practice and you will feel the positive effects. Accepting a proper smudging will lighten your heart, blessing you and those around you with happiness.
How to Smudge:
First, disconnect fire alarms; remove small children and asthmatics from the space to be cleansed, locate all your materials.
Second, clear you mind, concentrate on the process you are about to under take. Meditate. Contact the spirits of mother earth you will need to assist you in the cleansing. Make sure those who are not in tune or fail to take smudging seriously are far away…. it is no use if you offend the spirits. (NOTE: If you cannot get into the correct state of mind do not waste your time. Either call an expert to smudge for you or wait until you are mentally prepared. Smudging is only effective if the smudger and all present are in the right mind and are willing to accept the spirits and positive energy they bring.)
Start with sage or a combination of sage, sweetgrass, cedar and lavender (sage is absolutely necessary to drive out negatives; sweetgrass is needed to call in the positive, the others are complements to the potency of the cleansing. Light the sage and let it flame for a minute or so.
Extinguish the flame so the sage is smoldering and smoking.
Take the smudge container and waft the smoke over your body and call on the spirits of each herb individually; ask each herb to enact its powers of purification to drive away the negative energies and bless you with the positive energy of the herb spirits (Exact wording is not necessary but address each spirit you are calling on by the name of the plant; example "spirit of sage purify this place/body/item, drive away negative and replace it with the goodness or you spirit"). (Focus on areas of negativity.) Wafting with a sacred eagle feather or other natural object is recommended. You can do this on any item or for the whole house one room at a time. Waft smoke into every corner of every room repeated calling on the spirits to purify and bless the space with positive energy. When done allow the smoldering to extinguish on it’s own or smother it in a safe place (patio, sink, tub).
Focus longer in negative areas; subsequent smudgings are recommended on negative areas and as a preventative measure.
Materials needed to smudge:
A small fireproof bowl (Keep it natural.); something to waft the smoke (eagle feather recommended); purifying herbs (sage, sweet grass; lighter or matches. (IMPORTANT NOTE: All items (not herbs) used to smudge should be smudged thoroughly before used to smudge.)
When should I smudge?
· If you've been feeling depressed, angry, and resentful.
· If you’re going to participate a special ritual or ceremony.
· As part of a general spiritual housecleaning.
· To cleans items of negativities.
