Smudging Ideas

Smudging Smudging Smudging

 

Let’s talk about why we should smudge.

The practice of smudging dates back to prehistoric times, and is still very much in use today worldwide for cleansing everything from dwellings to human spirits. 

However recent research has shed light on the popularity of this activity, revealing that burning certain plant matter actually clears harmful bacteria.

All Western use of burning herbs and plants for spiritual purposes aside, the activity rests firmly in the sensibilities of ancient cultures in that, historically, smudging was believed to put forth the spirits of various ‘allies’ to provide ease and balance to an individual or group.

In this way, the practice was used to clear spiritual and emotional negativity that has built up in a body or a space.

The research study looked into herbal and non-herbal remedies that were administered by the burning of various matter.

Of course, there are skeptics who belittle the practice as unscientific and akin to magic. 

The practice has a negative association to a form of cultural imperialism, where traditions of dwindling indigenous populations are co-opted by the descendants of those who more-or-less conquered them.

The scientific paper entitled “Medicinal Smokes” and published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology focuses a scientific lens on the practice, which is becoming more and more widely practiced, despite skepticism.

It serves to play against the role that this activity has played in a culturally diverse range of religions and tribal beliefs.

 

The research included information from 50 countries over 5 continents and found that, predominantly, smoke administered medicinally is mostly used to aid lung, brain and skin function. 

In addition, it was revealed that passive fumes doubled as a sort of air purifier.

The purpose of the study was to see whether or not these medicinal smoke deliveries could be explored by western medicine, because “The advantages of smoke-based remedies are rapid delivery to the brain, more efficient absorption by the body and lower costs of production.”

A follow up paper published in the same periodical, “Medicinal smoke reduces airborne bacteria,” found that the research concluded that, in addition to health benefits, smudging was a powerful antiseptic.

“We have observed that 1 hour treatment of medicinal smoke emanated by burning wood and a mixture of odoriferous and medicinal herbs (havan sámagri=material used in oblation to fire all over India), on aerial bacterial population caused over 94% reduction of bacterial counts by 60 min and the ability of the smoke to purify or disinfect the air and to make the environment cleaner was maintained up to 24 hour in the closed room.

Absence of pathogenic bacteria Corynebacterium urealyticum, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Enterobacter aerogenes (Klebsiella
mobilis), Kocuria rosea, Pseudomonas syringae pv. persicae, Staphylococcus lentus, and Xanthomonas campestris pv. tardicrescens in the open room even after 30 days is indicative of the bactericidal potential of the medicinal smoke treatment.

We have demonstrated that using medicinal smoke it is possible to completely eliminate diverse plant and human pathogenic bacteria of the air within confined space.”

In short, burning medicinal herbs cleared airborne bacterial populations by 94%, and the space was still found to be disinfected a day later. What’s more, a month after smudging, much of the pathogens originally found were still undetectable.

This has profound implications, as modern air quality in the developed and undeveloped world is atrocious, containing up to 1800 bacterial types, many of them pathogenic. 

With an increasing deadly array ofantibacterial-resistant strains, we’ll need all the help we can get.

Conventional methods of sterilization often employ chemical cocktails that are typically much less effective than purported. Smudging seems to be an effective alternative, while also being natural and safe to use.

In conclusion, the ancient practice of burning powerful herbal material may be much much more than just a primitive belief that we can simply disregard due to it being unscientific.

Of course, this should not take away from the properties of smudging in the area of energy system and soul cleansing and in the power of aromatherapy.

 

Thanks to thespiritscience where this article first appeared and to bestblender.

9 Different Sacred Smudging Herbs 

1. Lavender 

Lavender is a herb that we tend to use for a number of things already and smudging it is a wonderful treat. It promotes peace and relaxation. If you’ve been needing a bit more rest you should consider it. 

2. White Sage 

White sage is my favorite above all else. It is used to clear negative energies and does well for me. I use this one at least once a month if not every two weeks and it can help with stagnant energies in some big ways.

3. Common Sage 

Regular sage overall is also used for cleansing and is great at helping to release negativity but it doesn’t necessarily work as well as white sage to me. If you want something that is a good start this is an option I would never turn someone away from.

4. Cedar Wood

While it might sound odd cedar is great for helping get rid of fear. It offers us a sense of power we do not find elsewhere. If you’re already operating properly this can be a great tool to make things easier.

5. Rosemary

Rosemary is often used to help to rid of sickness and clearing of the mind. It will make you feel better overall and I have when using it noticed it bring a sense of weight being lifted from my shoulders forth. While that might sound weird, it is quite true for me.

6. Blue Spruce

When smudging blue spruce you’re bringing forth a more generous atmosphere. This meaning you’re bringing in kinder energies and allowing them to work their magic. While not always the best on its own when paired correctly this is also a wonderful tool to have.

7. Palo Santo

Palo Santo is a very common one that you will likely hear about often. It helps to heal the body and can cleanse the home as well. It is often used when someone is ill.

8. Pine 

Pine itself has rejuvenating properties and is used in smudging for a number of things. It is more commonly used to help others heal and can work wonders on your emotional state. I use pine quite often myself.

9. Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a great thing to smudge when you’re trying to remove obstacles and open doors. For instance, if you’ve been feeling stuck you may want to add this one to your list of things to pick up. It will make you feel much freer.

While there are tons of other herbs as well these are easily my top 9 go-to’s. If you think any of these speak to you perhaps you should give them a go. If not, try looking into things and choosing some for yourself. For information on how to smudge please check out the video below.

White Sage

We've been busy drying out our White Sage from the past fall, making smudge sticks.

We prefer to grow our own, rather than buying them from those who cut and destroy these plants in the wild. 

We've posted this video before, we wanted to share it with you again.

White sage (Salvia apiana) is a plant native to high desert, and grows mostly in California.

For hundreds of years, white sage has been regarded as a sacred, cleansing, purifying, and protective plant.

The leaves of the plant are a whitish-green, and just by rubbing the fresh leaves between your thumb and forefinger you release a refreshing, cleansing scent.

Native Americans used and use White Sage to cast off evils spirits and negative energies.

White sage is used in rituals and ceremonies for protection and get rid of negative and toxic influences.

The White Sage plant is alive, it has it's own energies, offering protection, and clearing. 

Sage Smudging is a ritual where the leaves of the Sage plant are burned, and the smoke is brought into areas where clearing and protection are needed.

As the leaves are burned, the smoldering leaves smoke attaches itself to any negative energy in the area, object or being. 

As the smoke clears, the spirit of White Sage carries with it the negative energy that was once attached, back up to the Spiritual Light.

You can perform this smudging ritual on anything or anyone that needs a clearing.

You can use White Sage to help you clear a room, a building, or a property of any negativity.

White sage can assist you in releasing energies and thoughts that no longer serves you. 

You can use Sage to help you cleansing unknown energies from a stone, or something that you received as a gift.

Once you have lit the smudge stick and there are flames, blow them out quickly. 

Do not let it flame burn.

Once it is lit, and the flame is blown out, it will smoke.

The movement and release of the energy comes with the smoke and not with the flame.

The use of dried white sage however, is a 2,000 year old Indigenous practice. 

The shamans used dried sage plants on their fires as a ritual.

Any conflict, anger, illness or evil was absolved by the sage smoke, cleansed from the energy field of a person.

You can smudge whenever you feel the need to do so.

* When you move into a new residence.

* When you begin a new job or start your own business.

* Before, but especially after a visitor enters your home.

* After an argument or any illness.

* Upon returning home from crowded situations.

Fix Your Vibe – 7 Different Magical Smudges

Thank You Ashley for bringing this article to our attention.

Fix Your Vibe – 7 Different Magical Smudges

By Gerald Sinclair 

If you’ve noticed that your household or person overall was a bit out of whack then chances are you’ve wanted to do something about it. While you might not have figured out just what you should do yet, smudging could be a good option. 

For those who do not know, smudging is basically a process that helps to remove negative energies from your home or off of your person. This is done by burning sacred herbs and resins. While it’s not something everyone is willing to do, it can benefit all of us greatly if we embrace it and do things properly.

Sure, most people smudge with sage but that’s not the only thing you can smudge with. You can you many herbs and things of the sort or even a mixture of several. What you end up using should depend on what you’re trying to achieve as well as what you’re drawn to. I personally always allow my intuitive side to choose for me but when you’re first getting into things perhaps knowing what each herb is for could benefit you.

Below I am going to go over several things that can be smudged and what those things are for. After learning about that you should feel much more secure in deciding what would be best for your household. Of course, if you’re still undecided mixing two or three could also be a great option.

9 Different Sacred Smudging Herbs 

1. Lavender 

Lavender is a herb that we tend to use for a number of things already and smudging it is a wonderful treat. It promotes peace and relaxation. If you’ve been needing a bit more rest you should consider it. 

2. White Sage 

White sage is my favorite above all else. It is used to clear negative energies and does well for me. I use this one at least once a month if not every two weeks and it can help with stagnant energies in some big ways.

3. Common Sage 

Regular sage overall is also used for cleansing and is great at helping to release negativity but it doesn’t necessarily work as well as white sage to me. If you want something that is a good start this is an option I would never turn someone away from.

4. Cedar Wood

While it might sound odd cedar is great for helping get rid of fear. It offers us a sense of power we do not find elsewhere. If you’re already operating properly this can be a great tool to make things easier.

5. Rosemary

Rosemary is often used to help to rid of sickness and clearing of the mind. It will make you feel better overall and I have when using it noticed it bring a sense of weight being lifted from my shoulders forth. While that might sound weird, it is quite true for me.

6. Blue Spruce

When smudging blue spruce you’re bringing forth a more generous atmosphere. This meaning you’re bringing in kinder energies and allowing them to work their magic. While not always the best on its own when paired correctly this is also a wonderful tool to have.

7. Palo Santo

Palo Santo is a very common one that you will likely hear about often. It helps to heal the body and can cleanse the home as well. It is often used when someone is ill.

8. Pine 

Pine itself has rejuvenating properties and is used in smudging for a number of things. It is more commonly used to help others heal and can work wonders on your emotional state. I use pine quite often myself.

9. Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a great thing to smudge when you’re trying to remove obstacles and open doors. For instance, if you’ve been feeling stuck you may want to add this one to your list of things to pick up. It will make you feel much freer.

While there are tons of other herbs as well these are easily my top 9 go-to’s. If you think any of these speak to you perhaps you should give them a go. If not, try looking into things and choosing some for yourself. For information on how to smudge please check out the video below.

awarenessact.com

Smudging

Smudging

 

It's 2017

 

With 2016 ending and as 2017 begins, try smudging away any negativity.

 

Release Negativity on the Day of Sage

 

Getting the Smudge Ready

We've been busy harvesting our Garden Sage, our White Sage and Rosemary to make smudge sticks.

The Garden Sage Or Common Sage is a close relative of White Sage, and has many of the same beneficial properties as its cousin, White Sage. Common Sage originally comes from Europe, and its medicinal and magic uses date back to the Middle Ages. 

White Sage is the main event when it comes to smudging.

Versatile and effective, perfect for any smudging ritual—cleansing, healing, protection and meditation.

Rosemary may be a culinary herb but it's great for smudging.  It clears negativity, inspires confidence, and invigorates the mind and body.

Rosemary is an Old World herb with a long history of use in incenses and rituals.

Smudging and Negativity

Great video, to rid yourself of daily negativity and toxic people.

Ancient Art of Smudging

Pagans and Native Americans practice smudging to purify a room with the smoke of sage and other herbs to clear out negative energy.

Actually, smudging has been around for thousands of years, maybe pre-dating the Native American culture. 

The act of burning herbs happened in Egypt in 1530 B.C.E and in Israel in the fifth century B.C.E in ceremonies.

Now scientific evidence validates the ancient knowledge about the effect of ethnopharmacological aspects of natural products’ smoke for therapy and health care on airborne bacterial composition and dynamics.

Researchers discovered the burning of wood and herbs over a one-hour period in a closed room resulted in a 94 percent reduction in airborne bacteria.

Pathogenic bacteria were found to be absent in an open room after 30 days following the smudging.

Smudging also works as a defense against depression, resentment, anger, fear and grief.

So, while we live in a world of skepticism, science shows that ancient cultures understood nature well enough to know that smudging is much more than superstition.

Smudging does more than cleanse the surrounding air of harmful bacteria and negativity.

Smudging is a great way of clearing crystals and stones of unwanted energy. 

Lght your smudging materials and fan them gently to smolder and give off smoke. Now pass your stone several times through the smoke of burning cedar, sage, sweetgrass, or incense.  

When you are finished, take a moment to thank the crystals.