Smudging
There are many traditions and uses for Smudging. We offer a collection of procedures,affirmations, and prayers that have worked for us during our lives journey.
General Smudging Safety
Use a heatproof object to hold the sage, and catch ashes after it has been ignited. it is common to use an abalone or other shell, A piece of thick fired pottery can work as well.
Keep the air as still as possible when you smudge. Turn off fan, close doors and windows. Any gust of wind could blow sparks and ashes out of the bowl!
Avoid wearing billowy clothing, and try or wear flame resistant fabrics.
Make sure there are clear walking paths in the areas you wish to smudge before starting.
If you have long hair - Tie it back back.
Light the sage near a sink or other place you can place it if something goes wrong with initial lighting.
Set your intention before starting the smudging.
Keep the air as still as possible when you smudge. Turn off fan, close doors and windows. Any gust of wind could blow sparks and ashes out of the bowl!
Avoid wearing billowy clothing, and try or wear flame resistant fabrics.
Make sure there are clear walking paths in the areas you wish to smudge before starting.
If you have long hair - Tie it back back.
Light the sage near a sink or other place you can place it if something goes wrong with initial lighting.
Set your intention before starting the smudging.
Affirmation / Prayer.
“I allow all energies that no longer serve me to be released from me and this space and into the divine light. I remove all negative or stagnant energies from this place.These energies no longer have nor hold power here. Loving and peaceful energy is welcome and invited in now. This is my space, and anything that no longer serves me is released with the sage smoke.”
Smudging in the Seven Directions
Face East - Say aloud “I welcome the energy of the rising sun, the beginning of the day and the light of illumination. I welcome the energies and spirits of the East. Yah!”
Face South - Say Aloud “I welcome the energy of noonday sun and the spirit of action in the world. I welcome the energies and spirits of the South. Yah!”
Face West - Say Aloud “I welcome the energy of looking within to find the gifts of healing. I welcome the energies and spirits of the West. Yah!”
Face North - Say Aloud “ I welcome the Grandmothers and Grandfathers who teach me. I seek their wisdom and blessings, teach me to be generous and honor all that I receive. I welcome the energies and spirits of the North. Yah!”
Look above - Say Aloud “ I welcome the energy of Father Sky and the spirits above.I welcome the masculine energies from above, and the scope of All those residing above. I welcome the energies and spirits of Father Sky. Yah!”
Look down - Say Aloud “I welcome the energy of Mother Earth, and those who dwell in the earth. I welcome the feminine energies from below, and the sense of All those residing below. I welcome the energies and spirits of Mother Earth. Yah!”
Look within - close your eyes and place hands over heart. Say Aloud “ I welcome the energy of self and understand the principle of interconnection. I welcome the gifts of balance, oneness, and the connection with all things, for all things are one and all things are related. I welcome the Great Spirit within. Yah!”
Face South - Say Aloud “I welcome the energy of noonday sun and the spirit of action in the world. I welcome the energies and spirits of the South. Yah!”
Face West - Say Aloud “I welcome the energy of looking within to find the gifts of healing. I welcome the energies and spirits of the West. Yah!”
Face North - Say Aloud “ I welcome the Grandmothers and Grandfathers who teach me. I seek their wisdom and blessings, teach me to be generous and honor all that I receive. I welcome the energies and spirits of the North. Yah!”
Look above - Say Aloud “ I welcome the energy of Father Sky and the spirits above.I welcome the masculine energies from above, and the scope of All those residing above. I welcome the energies and spirits of Father Sky. Yah!”
Look down - Say Aloud “I welcome the energy of Mother Earth, and those who dwell in the earth. I welcome the feminine energies from below, and the sense of All those residing below. I welcome the energies and spirits of Mother Earth. Yah!”
Look within - close your eyes and place hands over heart. Say Aloud “ I welcome the energy of self and understand the principle of interconnection. I welcome the gifts of balance, oneness, and the connection with all things, for all things are one and all things are related. I welcome the Great Spirit within. Yah!”
Smudging an Object
If you have an object you wish to cleanse, hold it in your hand (if it is small enough). Waft smoke from below the object, so that the sage smoke covers the object from below.
Swirl the smoke around the object until you feel the cleansing is complete.
Remember to repeat your intention or mantra during the activity.
It is a good idea to periodically smudge a protective object that you have exposed to negative energies. The object may have absorbed some negativity and may not be functioning at peak performance.
Swirl the smoke around the object until you feel the cleansing is complete.
Remember to repeat your intention or mantra during the activity.
It is a good idea to periodically smudge a protective object that you have exposed to negative energies. The object may have absorbed some negativity and may not be functioning at peak performance.
Smudging Yourself
Bend over, so that the bowl is about the level of your feet and ankles.
Gently waft the smoke upward.
As you slowly unbend and straighten up, bring up the sage and holder and fan the smoke upward until you’ve sent the smudging smoke up above your head.
Remember to repeat your intention or mantra during the activity.
Gently waft the smoke upward.
As you slowly unbend and straighten up, bring up the sage and holder and fan the smoke upward until you’ve sent the smudging smoke up above your head.
Remember to repeat your intention or mantra during the activity.
Smudging others
Have them turn around in a circle, while you smudge them.
Start at the feet and work to head on all sides.
They should turn slowly in a clockwise direction, while you stand stationary and smudge them.
Remember to repeat your intention or mantra during the activity.
Start at the feet and work to head on all sides.
They should turn slowly in a clockwise direction, while you stand stationary and smudge them.
Remember to repeat your intention or mantra during the activity.
Smudging a Room or House
Keep the windows and doors closed to the room you have chosen to smudge. Start in one corner of the room and gently waft the smoke from the floor up to the ceiling. Always start from the bottom and move to the top - This is the natural pattern of smoke - to move up and carry away.
Start in the back most corner of the room, and move to the next corner, following the same pattern.
If you encounter a window, waft smoke into the four corners of the window, starting from the lower left corner of the window moving to the upper left, then to the upper right, then back down to the lower right.
Seal the window by completing the "loop", in other words, make sure the smoke is wafted over the entire window frame.
Move to the next corner, and waft smoke from the bottom to the top of the corner, and once you complete the final corner, move to the center of the move, raise the bowl to chest height, and waft smoke up towards the room center. You are now done with this room. When you leave, shut the door behind you and allow the smoke to penetrate the room for at least 15 minutes.
Upon returning, open the windows and doors to release the energies that have attached to the smoke.
The room should feel lighter and fresher.
Do each room in the above fashion.
Start from the back of the house and move to the front. Start from the bottom floor and move to the top. Make sure to get all rooms and if you have a room with cabinets - open the cabinets and waft smoke into them the way you would for a window. Your last room should be the one with the front door.
Upon completing the house, exit through the front door and close the front door. Allow the smoke to work for at least 15 minutes.
Once you are ready to return, open the doors and windows of the house.
Start in the back most corner of the room, and move to the next corner, following the same pattern.
If you encounter a window, waft smoke into the four corners of the window, starting from the lower left corner of the window moving to the upper left, then to the upper right, then back down to the lower right.
Seal the window by completing the "loop", in other words, make sure the smoke is wafted over the entire window frame.
Move to the next corner, and waft smoke from the bottom to the top of the corner, and once you complete the final corner, move to the center of the move, raise the bowl to chest height, and waft smoke up towards the room center. You are now done with this room. When you leave, shut the door behind you and allow the smoke to penetrate the room for at least 15 minutes.
Upon returning, open the windows and doors to release the energies that have attached to the smoke.
The room should feel lighter and fresher.
Do each room in the above fashion.
Start from the back of the house and move to the front. Start from the bottom floor and move to the top. Make sure to get all rooms and if you have a room with cabinets - open the cabinets and waft smoke into them the way you would for a window. Your last room should be the one with the front door.
Upon completing the house, exit through the front door and close the front door. Allow the smoke to work for at least 15 minutes.
Once you are ready to return, open the doors and windows of the house.
Native American Ceremony - Purifying
- If desired, you can also add in Cedar (healing) , Sweetgrass (brings positive energy), and/or Juniper (for healing).
1. Use your hands to roll the dried herbal leaves, crumbling them into your bowl.
2. Placed the rolled and mixed plants into the bowl.
3. Burn the leaves until they begin to smolder, giving off clouds of smoke.
4. Fan the smoke with a feather or with your hand to circulate it into the air. Starting with your heart and working your way up to the head, you will visualize the smoke entering your body and spirit, pulling out the impurities. Continue this procedure all the way down the body, and back up again.
5. All the while, pray for your spiritual deity to assist you on your life path and ask for good, positive energy and spirits to guide you.
6. Offer the smoke to the 7 directions - North, South, East, West, Father Sky, Mother Earth and the Great Spirit. Request their assistance on your journey and ask they will help to lead the negativity that is attached to your life - out of your life.
7. Continue cleansing anything that you may feel needs the purification. Your home, your family and friends, or even something that is causing you great pain such as a person (smudge their photo or a letter), finances (smudge the bills) or even an illness (smudge the medication).
8. Following the smudging, you should pray to your spiritual advisor and relax your body with soft stretching and then relax your mind with meditation or sleep.
1. Use your hands to roll the dried herbal leaves, crumbling them into your bowl.
2. Placed the rolled and mixed plants into the bowl.
3. Burn the leaves until they begin to smolder, giving off clouds of smoke.
4. Fan the smoke with a feather or with your hand to circulate it into the air. Starting with your heart and working your way up to the head, you will visualize the smoke entering your body and spirit, pulling out the impurities. Continue this procedure all the way down the body, and back up again.
5. All the while, pray for your spiritual deity to assist you on your life path and ask for good, positive energy and spirits to guide you.
6. Offer the smoke to the 7 directions - North, South, East, West, Father Sky, Mother Earth and the Great Spirit. Request their assistance on your journey and ask they will help to lead the negativity that is attached to your life - out of your life.
7. Continue cleansing anything that you may feel needs the purification. Your home, your family and friends, or even something that is causing you great pain such as a person (smudge their photo or a letter), finances (smudge the bills) or even an illness (smudge the medication).
8. Following the smudging, you should pray to your spiritual advisor and relax your body with soft stretching and then relax your mind with meditation or sleep.