Lesson 5 - Smudging

[~Elise~]

This is a compliation of info I've gathered over the years:

Smudging is a sacred tradition that has its roots in the indigenous cultures of the world. As a tradition, it has been passed down for millennia and many ways and variations exist. The common thread is that, the smoke from sacred herbs can be used for purification and spiritual preparation.

We can smudge to clear and ground ourselves and our intentions before and after healing, initiation and ritual. The smoke will help purify our crystals and other sacred objects. We can clear rooms and create sacred space. The herbs can also be burned to give thanks and to aid us in our prayers.

Smudging can totally transform your life and luck. If you feel as though life is an uphill battle, as if fate is never on your side then smudging might just be the answer. Smudging is the art of cleansing your self and your environment using simple ritual and ceremony. For thousands of years it has been a part of Native American tradition but now the power of Smudging is available to everyone.

The effects of smudging can be swift and dramatic. It can help you banish stress and attract love; soothe you or give you energy. It can bring your family closer together and let you adjust to the healing seasonal rhythms of the year. Above all, it can turn any space, however humble, into a soothing sanctuary, a place of renewal. I have used smudging for many years and often combine it with techniques from other ancient traditions to provide a totally holistic approach.

But how can smudging be so powerful? The answer lies in the sub-atomic world of subtle or spiritual energy. Homes and bodies are not just made of purely physical matter; they also vibrate with subtle, invisible energy. Cleansing a space or our bodies with techniques such as smudging clears away all the emotional and psychic "garbage" that may have gathered over years or even hundreds of years. It's like spiritual spring-cleaning.

These ideas are not new-fangled nor are they airy-fairy New Age waffle. Native American tradition dates back millennia and most traditional cultures, from the Zulus to the Maoris, from the Chinese to the Balinese, have age-old forms of cleansing and blessing ritual. Even the West retains relics of it, although we have long forgotten the true purpose behind many of our rituals and ceremonies. The incense wafting through a church is cleansing the atmosphere just as surely as the medicine man's bowl of sacred smoke, or smudge. The bells that ring out on Sunday morning were originally intended to purify the whole parish through sound and lead the community from everyday space into worship - just as the shaman's drum can lead us on sacred journeys into the world of the spirits.

The act of smudging is done with a bowl, cauldron or Abalone Shell or a fireproof surface with the appropriate herbs directly lit or burned on a coal or Self lighting charcoal tablet, NOT THE BBQ kind. When using charcoal tablets the bowl or shell should be filled with sand or a flat stone to prevent over-heating the container. Smudging is also done with herbs tied in bundles called Smudge Sticks. In either case the smoke is “washed” over the person or object with a Feather or by fanning the smoke with one’s hand.

Using a smudging tool is part of many Native American traditions. The burning of herbs for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification is also common practice among many religious, healing, and spiritual groups. The ritual of smudging can be defined as "spiritual house cleaning." In theory, the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as the smoke clears it takes the negative energy with it, releasing it into another space where it will be regenerated into positive energy.

There are many ways to actually smudge. One ancient way is to start by drawing on the power of the five elements, by burning your smudging herbs in a shell. An abalone shell represents Water and the flowing and filling power this element offers us. The sacred herb is a gift of Earth and represents her creativity and strength. When we light the herb we are invoking the transmute element of Fire and the smoke that rises represents Air, carrying and releasing our cleared intentions and prayers. Through our deliberate action, we ourselves bring the fifth element: ether or life energy.

Next we offer the smoke to the seven directions: east, south, west, north and up, down and center. Returning to center we are now ready to purify ourselves. Start by holding the shell in front of you and gently fan the smoke up to your heart. Pass the shell up along the center of your body, encircling your head. Be aware of how you feel through out this process. Are there places that you feel a desire to clear and honor? It is important to follow your own inner guidance.

Passing them through the smoke, in a spiraling or a figure eight motion can clear Crystals and other sacred objects. Both are sacred symbolic movements: a spiral represents an ever expanding and focusing energy; a figure eight on its side is the symbol of infinity.
Sacred spaces are created by passing the smoke around the perimeter of the room, moving sunwise: east, south, west, and north.

As with all things this is only one of the ways. Trust your inner feelings and allow yourself to create what is sacred and meaningful to you. Explore and have fun!

Another view on smudging: To do a blessing of a person begin by looking into the eyes of the person for a moment to “greet” them, fan the smoke first at their heart and then up to the right side (your left) of the person’s head moving around clockwise (sun-wise), gently washing them with the smoke. Continue brushing smoke down over their left shoulder and the length of their arm and back up again to the shoulder. Wash the smoke down the left side of the torso, left leg and foot. Now smudge the right foot, up the left leg, torso and down the length of the right arm and back up to the shoulder. Now Turn the person around, turning to their right (sun-wise again) and repeat these movements as you smudge and bless the person’s back.

For objects, bless them moving sun-wise around them also.

[~Elise~]

Sage The use of sage is for healing, the smoke is used to bless, cleanse and heal the person or object being smudged. Sage is used to “wash off” the outside world when one enters ceremony or other sacred space. Objects are likewise washed off with sage medicine smoke to rid them of unwanted influences.
True sages are in the genus of Salvia; this includes Salvia Officinalis (garden sage) and Salvia Apiana (White Sage). Many of the herbs called sage come from a completely different family of plants, the Asteracea family. This family brings us the genus of Artemisia from which come New Mexico Sage (Artemisia tridentada), and the sage from the Dakotas (Artemisia ludoviciana). All of these sages (Salvia and Artemisia) are used for healing and cleansing.

Cedar is a medicine of protection. Cedar trees are very old, wise and powerful spirits. Cedar is often used to cleanse a home or apartment when first moving in. Inviting unwanted spirits to leave and protecting a person, place or object from unwanted influences. Cedar is used as a name for a number of different genuses of trees and shrubs. The primary ones are Cedrus, Thuja, Libdocedrus and Juniperus. The Junipers are not truly Cedars (scientifically) but are used as such by many people. Keep in mind that these scientific names have little meaning to the people using them as medicine in traditional ways.

Sweetgrass Also called Seneca grass, holy grass and vanilla grass. This very special herb’s sweet vanilla-like scent is the breath of the Earth mother, bringing the blessing of Mother Earth’s love. Sweetgrass is burned to remind us of essence of the feminine and that the earth provides us with everything we need. Most commonly found as braids, Sweetgrass can be unbraided and lit, blown out and the smoke that follows washed over the subject of the blessing. This wonderful medicine can be cut with a scissors into small pieces and sprinkles on hot Charcoal.

Lavender This native of Europe is often used for invitation of the spirits. The name may be derived from the Latin lavare (to wash) or livendula (meaning bluish). In Ancient times lavender was an important herb used in mummification. There is a legend that the clothing of baby Jesus was laid upon a lavender bush and acquired the fragrance. Some Christians still regard the scent of lavender as a safeguard against evil.

Copal This is tree sap from Mexico that is similar to Frankincense. When burned it has a crisp, clean, sharp scent that is almost citrus-like. Copal is sacred to the native peoples of Mexico, as it is a gift “pleasing to the gods”. Because copal is the blood of trees it is offered to honor the enormous gift given to us by all of the tree people of our planet

Frankincense At one time both Frankincense and myrrh were considered to be more valuable than gold. Used to embalm the bodies of the Egyptian Pharaohs, this tree resin is considered to cleanse and protect the soul. Frankincense became important to most every major religion in the world and is still used in Muslim, Jewish and Catholic rituals. Frankincense is said to ease depression and promote clairvoyance.

Myrrh This tree resin is said to help one maintain a state of enlightenment. Also it connects one to the spirit of youth and clears the path of debris that stands in the way of one’s truth.

Pinon Resin Has a pleasant and meditative fragrance. Is cleansing, strengthening, warming, and used by Native American cultures for its spiritual and healing properties. Produces a thick stream of smoke, and is excellent for refreshing the senses and reviving a tired soul.

Juniper Has a sharp, piney scent. Excellent to stimulate and revive when tired in body, mind or Spirit. Used in ancient times for ritual purification of temples. Smoke believed to aid clairvoyance. Also useful for purification and to stimulate contact with other worlds. Burned during the Plague to resist disease.

Yerba Santa Leaves Traditionally used for enhancing psychic abilities, magical protection, healing and spiritual strength. Excellent for meditation and divination. Said to be ruled by the moon. One Native American tribe rolled the leaves into balls, dried it in the sun and chewed it for a natural mouthwash.

Hibiscus Flowers Produces a sharp, invigorating scent that lasts for a long time after burning. Excellent for rejuvenating the senses and restoring life force.

Rose Flowers and Petals Produces a heavy, warm, aromatic scent with just a hint of sharpness and scent lasts a long time after burning. Excellent for meditation, divination, increasing psychic abilities, contacting powers and beings in other dimensions ad psychic communication. Also traditionally associated with attracting love, conferring peace, stimulating sexual appetites and enhancing beauty.

Amber is a sweet resin that can be burned on charcoal to release fearful and painful energy. It is often crumbled into massage oil as a healer for the skin or it can be rubbed directly onto the skin as a sweet subtle perfume.

Mugwort is a versatile sacred herb. It can be used for spiritual cleansing, protection, healing, and consecration, and it can aid dream work, trance, and intuitive development, along with enhancing divination.


Smudging Feather It is traditional to use a bird’s feather to brush the smoke over the person or object being blessed. It is important to use the underside of the feather to wash the smoke over the object of blessing. It is the underside of the bird and its wings that face the Mother Earth as it flies and it is this surface of the feather that offers the blessing medicine of the bird.

[~Elise~]

House Cleansing Ritual

All areas where people live or work will "collect" energies - both positive and negative. Every person who visits or uses the space will leave their own imprint of their energy. Thoroughly cleansing and purifying the area will remove these energies and create a more harmonious space.

This ritual is especially useful when moving house - to remove all your energies from your old living space and also to cleanse your new living space in order to prevent living amongst the old occupant's emotional baggage.

Take a bunch of dried cleansing herbs, eg. sage, and light them holding them over a smudging bowl or other suitable vessel. Next smudge the entire house. Open ALL cabinets, closets and drawers, making sure smoke goes into each corner. Work around the house in a clockwise, deosil, direction room by room. Start at the front door and then end there as well, sending the negative energies out. Or you can send out the negative energies in each room by opening a window and directing the energies out it.

Light a protection incense, I use sweetgrass to bring in blessings, and fill a bowl with salt water. Go through each room and at every window, door, phone point, outlet, ventilation grill, every exit to the outside, draw an invoking pentagram using your finger dipped in the salt water. Draw the pentagram on the window, door or other exit and say:


With the powers of Water and Earth,
I consecrate and protect this space.


Wave the protection incense over the opening and say:


With the powers of Fire and Air,
I consecrate, protect and bring blessings into this space.


Repeat this throughout the house until all the rooms have been cleansed and protected in this way.

[~Elise~]

Smudge yourself on separate occassions with different herbs and report the difference in results...as well as report on the actual smudging themselves.

A house cleansing and blessing ceremony is a good way to clear out stale and negative energies and bring Light into a home. This is especially helpful when moving into a new house or apartment, or for shifting and cleansing the energy in a present home. Do a house cleansing and report results.

[Jenne]

We're leaving for vacation this Thurs a.m. Can I do this when I get back?
:wave:

[~Elise~]

yup=you can

[Wolf_love]

Sage The use of sage is for healing, the smoke is used to bless, cleanse and heal the person or object being smudged. Sage is used to “wash off” the outside world when one enters ceremony or other sacred space. Objects are likewise washed off with sage medicine smoke to rid them of unwanted influences.
True sages are in the genus of Salvia; this includes Salvia Officinalis (garden sage) and Salvia Apiana (White Sage). Many of the herbs called sage come from a completely different family of plants, the Asteracea family. This family brings us the genus of Artemisia from which come New Mexico Sage (Artemisia tridentada), and the sage from the Dakotas (Artemisia ludoviciana). All of these sages (Salvia and Artemisia) are used for healing and cleansing.

I think this is what I am going to try first. I have done this before (few years back) but the healing sure sounds really nice. and, I do have some sage around. Can't wait to try it.

[~Elise~]

not many reports on this....I'll hold this class over if needed

how is everyone doing on this?

Elise

[Kmartin60]

Hi...sorry it has taken me a bit to get in on what I've been doing...have had 3 calves born in this last week..(One was extremly ill and wound up blind!) so, been busy playing mid-wife/vet teq...8O but should be done birthing when this last one goes today, and next one will have 3 weeks at least before she births! But what I'm planning on.....(Best laid plans of mice & men....sigh:lol: )

I was figuring on going thru and REALLY cleaning out all my odd, old, cluttering pack rat mess! Going to fen-shui (Spelling?) then I was going to do a cleansing wash-down through every room...(Amazing what mess all the furballs and feather tails, and wagging tailed family members can cause!) hopefully before the last baby is born, then go thru with sage, cedar, tobacco, and thinking of one more...just have'nt settled on which one! (So many to choose from!)
I cant wait! At least this..hmmm...roadblock? Has been cute, fuzzy, baby girls! :hehehehe: Brightest Blessings,

[misfitroxy]

I've been suffering with allergies this last week, so I've had to hold off on anything involving the addition of smoke/strong scents to my environment because that will only aggravate the situation. Unfortunately, it's not the kind of thing I can time as to when it's going to go away. But once I'm able to complete the exercise, I'll chime in. Even if it's further down the road. :)

[Skylah]

Pearl, question please.... I have used smudge wands for quite a while now, for cleansing my home and in personal preparation for ritual... and just recently started to make my own sage wands. Do you want me to modify my assignment in any way??...or to go with the flow?....
Thanks Pearl
Blessings!

[~Elise~]

go with the flow!

Elise

[Amythyst]

First off, I have to say that I have to be very careful when using incense or burning herbs in my home. My husband can't tolerate incense, although in his defense, I have to say that he has tried. My oldest daughter Anne has bronchial/asthmatic problems as well, so I try to to use incense only when these two family members are at school or work.

We have a somewhat unusual house and I have used smudging for years to keep things "cleaned up".

I have found, through experimentation, that Sage and Sandalwood work the best for me. I also use a bowl of water with a pinch of salt in it and white candles. I work in a deosil circle.

When I begin in a room, I open a window and I sprinkle the water/salt clockwise around the perimeter of the room, remembering to do the closets. I follow this with the sandalwood incense. In bedrooms I also do this underneath the bed. I use my iron cauldron and fill it with the appropriate
materials to burn the sage and get it smoking. I leave the room then, closing the door behind me-- but leaving the window open.

Upon returning, I use a banishing oil and draw a banishing pentagram on the windowsills and above the doorway. In the meantime, my daughter and I have prepared small black bags by filling them with banishing/cleansing herbs and stones. We tack these above the windows and the door.

I must say, I had never thought of the electrical outlets, and air vents and grills-- and drawers!! And here I thought I was being so thorough. I'll remember this the next time this needs doing.

Inbetween these heavy duty cleansings I use some "quickie" space cleansers, although I know that these quick solutions cannot replace a thorough cleaning.

1. smudging with sage

2. Misting a water/salt solution from a spray bottle

3. boiling herbs in water on my stove

4. Lighting a stationary thurible in the center of a room

5. passing incense over the affected area

6. lighting an empowered white candle at the core of the house and encircling that candle with salt

7. sprinkling a mixture of salt, basil, and rosemary through the affected area (grind these ingredients up with your mortar and pestle to make a fine powder)

8. using sound: bells, chimes, drums, etc. to clear an area

9. when you scrub your floor, throw a pinch of a cleansing herb in your wash water

I use incense to cleanse my crystals, pendulum, tarot cards, Craft tools, etc. I have never smudged another person yet, but with my family's sensitivity to this kind of thing, I'm afraid that they'd spend the evening nursing a terrible headache. I use cleansing herbs in my bath-- my favorite being a sprig of rosemary and a pinch of salt.

I not only use smudging/cleansing inside my home, but outside as well in my gardens. Especially special places where I have created a threshold and boundaries for permanent sacred space.

When you think about it, the possibilities for smudging/cleansing are limited only by your imagination.


(This is "Pickles", dutifully guarding the entrance to sacred space.)

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/Amythyst1/Picklesatthegarden-resized.jpg

[Kahlil the Heretic]

Can Salvia Divinorum, or Diviner's sage, be used for smudging? Does it have any other ritual purposes?

[~Elise~]

I would not use Salvia for smudging. Just me though

It does have ritual uses, but smudging isn't one. It is a legal hallucingen. It can be used to enhance divination....hence diviner's sage

Elise

[moonbride]

Sorry it's taken me so long. It's hard to have time to myself this time of year with the kids all out of school and their different schedules it's always someone in and out all the time here.

I had some sage smudge sticks here and did a house cleansing as you described with them as well as smudging myself. It's been a real good week to have this done as far as it being necessary and I already feel a little more peaceful and protected. Everything I've learned so far in this class has helped a little with some things I've been going through personally. I have only just done the house smudging this morning so I may have more to report on this later.

I just got some nice lavender recently and planning on some more self smudging with this as well and will report on those results as soon as I do.

[~Elise~]

Since we've had so few have a chance to post on this lesson, I'm holding off putting up the next one until next week.

Just a note however--USE WHATEVER HERBS/FLOWERS/ETC THAT YOU HAVE ON HAND. Be practical above all things. Just because it isn't on list doesn't mean that it can't be used... except for Salvia Divinorum...

Elise

[Sage WindMoon]

I would not use Salvia for smudging. Just me though

It does have ritual uses, but smudging isn't one. It is a legal hallucingen. It can be used to enhance divination....hence diviner's sage

Elise

I just wanted to point out that Salvia Divinorum is now illegal in some US states or localities. So check your local laws!

[Sage WindMoon]

Ok - here's what I did:

I got a smudge stick made of white sage. I lit it and, starting at the front door, I went from room to room in a clockwise fashion. I used a large goose feather to fan the smoke into all the corners. When I got to the basement stairs I went down and did the basement in a clockwise direction, then came back up and continued the rest of the rooms upstairs.

I followed this by going back through the house in the same pattern with a bowl of salt water. I sprinkled the salt water in each room, and drew a banishing pentagram on each window and door.

I wasn't sure if it was better to do the sage first, then the salt water, or the other way around.

My 4 year old son followed me through the whole process.

BTW, the sage smoke smells pretty strong - good thing the neighbors didn't come by at that time or they might have thought I was up to something illicit.

[slntmom]

sorry just popping in i do have a question for the smudging i have some sage does it have to be in a container to be be burned or can i just hold it and walk through the house

[~Elise~]

You can light it and carry it through the house... no problem.

Go with the flow, improvise and, above all, be be practical.

Elise

[~Elise~]

Keep posting results from this and other lessons.

Lesson 6 is up!

Elise

[Wytchie]

I just wanted to say that i haven't done this yet as I had a bit of trouble finding smudging sticks in my area, but a friend has kindly agreed to make one for me, so I am waiting to meet up with her to get that before I do this. Just so you know it is a work in progress and hasn't been forgotten about!:hahugh:

[~Elise~]

Yes, a smudge stick would be great, if one was available...but above all, be practical. If you have the herb sage in your cabinet, then by all means use it.
Use Basil--use Thyme--just because it wasn't on my list of smudge herbs doesn't mean it can't be used.
Google what herbs you do have on hand--see its magical properties and then use it! Tell us why you're using it and what you're wanting to accomplish.

Elise

[Rowan Darkmoon]

Sorry this has taken so long for me to post on this. I have been working on this lesson and the next lesson for the past few weeks, and I should have said something about what was going on. I didn't want to do the smudging with my step-son in the house because he has bad allergies, and smokiness in the house makes his breathing wheezy.

I have smudge myself twice now with white sage, and it turns out the same way each time. The smoke starts out seeming like just regular smoke, but then it feels really warm like a blanket? I tried to do what was described in the lesson, but I ended up making a natural figure eight movement with my hands, which worked out well. After both smudgings I felt a lot lighter and more at peace. In addition, I was a lot less crabby after they were done, and I could notice the difference in myself and my reactions. I seemed to be more pleasant to be around. :lol:

My house smudging and blessing was also with white sage, and it took me a while to go through my whole house upstairs and down. My house feels like my body, a lot brighter and lighter. It also seems more cozy. I lit the sage loose in a small candle holder with some salt at the bottom, and then I carried it through the house, and fanned it with my hand into all of the corners and closet. I did it while Rudas was asleep, and then when he came out, he asked, "What have you been casting?" because I usually use white sage smudge to cleanse my ritual space when I'm going to use a circle.

So, that's it. I would like to get some sweetgrass and try that out, and so if I can find some online and get it within a reasonable amount of time, I'll report on that too. :santasmil

[Brightshores]

Ok, so I'm finally able to give my report for this lesson.

I've burnt a lot of incense and essential oils in the past. I use a lot of stick incense, some resins and herbs, and as I do a lot of work with aromatherapy, I burn oils in oil warmers.

Solid-incense-wise, I've always liked the blend of frankincense and myrrh. I burnt that when we moved into our house, and it immediately made it feel cleaner and more like our own home. I also have a blend of various types of pine, which smells very fresh and natural. We've also burnt cedar and white sage, which are nice, but a bit too smoky for my personal taste. Cedar is very meaningful for my husband, so that's one of his favorites.

As for stick incense, I know it's not as pure as the solid stuff, but it is convenient, makes me feel almost as relaxed and centered as the other, and smells lovely. I try to get the natural kind with as few additives and preservatives as possible.

Oils are very useful for me. I burn different kinds and different blends for different purposes. I use citrus oils (lemon, orange, lime, bergamot) with cedarwood to lighten and freshen the atmosphere. I use pine and eucalyptus when I am sick. I burn lavender, geranium, and vetiver when I am stressed out. When I feel like I've eaten too much or something, I burn cypress, juniper, and grapefuit. I could go on... but I use them a lot in many different ways.

For me, incense of any kind is very calming, and puts me into a frame of mind where I can think more clearly and meditate more deeply. It seems to create a space automatically wherein I feel more connected to my spiritual self.

Alright. Here's the amusing part. I was performing the house cleansing today, after physically cleaning out my house (scrubbing floors, sinks, picking up, etc. It just seemed appropriate.). So - I lit a charcoal disk and placed a few grains of pine resin on the heated disk. Now - you have to understand that since we moved into our house, we installed a house alarm with an integrated fire and carbon monoxide detection system. So. Immediately, the smoke started coming up, I was just enjoying the scent, and the fire alarm started blaring. And kept on doing it; as soon as we turned it off, it would go again. We rushed the censer outside and after fifteen minutes or so, the smoke alarm stopped. My poor husband was getting quite upset, and the cats were going nuts with all the noise.
:alol:

So - I think I'm really going to have to be careful what kind of incense I burn in the future. The strange thing is, it did seem to clear the atmosphere in the house, even with all the chaos surrounding it - the air in the house, and the atmosphere in general, seems fresher and cleaner. I really do like the way it cleaned out the energy in my house - I'm just going to have to make a point to only burn the tiniest amount, and buy a large fan. :hahugh:

Anyway - yesterday, I bought a lovely smudge stick made of three different kinds of sage, sweetgrass, juniper, and cedar. I had planned to burn it. What I think I might do instead is hang it in the part of the house where energy seems to stagnate the most, and hope that the energy of the herbs is at least somewhat effective in their unburned state. I will also have to use stick incense and oils whenever possible.

So - that's the end of my story. Sorry if I've rambled on a bit! And thanks for your patience in waiting for my response.

[~Elise~]

plastic bags over the smoke detectors while smudging works great. PLEASE PLEASE remember to remove the bags when you're done.

Elise

[Skylah]

After experimenting with different herbs, I feel that I still prefer to use sage. I also found lavender personally very loving and uplifting, and cedar very cleansing and renewing. I have been, because of this, now making my smudge wands a combination of Sage, Cedar and Lavender. Going through our home deosil and very thoroughly, it now feels so much cleaner and lighter. After using the smudge wand for our home, we smudged each other using my smudge bowl and loose leaf white sage, with a feather that my son found (I don't know what kind of feather it is, but it's very pretty with white and grey and a bit of blue, about 5 inches long). Smudging each other, we agree made us feel peaceful and closer to each other.

I have a question though. The last couple of times I was smudged (once by myself, the other by my son), the smoke refused to go near my sacral chakra. Could you tell me why this is?? Thanks!

[Kmartin60]

Well, so far have cleaned out all old, useless, pack rat stuff! Both physically/mentally/emotionally/ and pyschicly!

I cant drive, and hubby is still not quite aware...8O So...I washed counter clockwise each room (Aftter cleaning and sweeping!) with a spritz of water/ACV/lemon/and sage...then lit a incense wand, juniper smelling candle, and sprigs of cedar, for each room......Also used water/salt mix and marked each doorway and window.

Hoping next doc visit, when I can finally leave house, will try to stop and pick up more herbs (Other than for cooking!) :idea: If it seems to be awhile, might try to order online....will this be enough for time being? Till can get proper herbs? thanks,

[~Elise~]

I have a question though. The last couple of times I was smudged (once by myself, the other by my son), the smoke refused to go near my sacral chakra. Could you tell me why this is?? Thanks!

Check with meditation to why for sure--BUT off hand, I'd say that there are issues there that need serious chakra work.

I'm also assuming that by sacral you're NOT meaning root chakra. Spirituality, sexuality and creativity are based there. Any issues with those areas? You don't have to answer onlist--just ideas to toss at you for areas of possible work.
Those three areas are intrinstically interwoven; same goals-same origins--you can't deny one without denying all.

JMO

Elise

[~Elise~]

Well, so far have cleaned out all old, useless, pack rat stuff! Both physically/mentally/emotionally/ and pyschicly!

I cant drive, and hubby is still not quite aware...8O So...I washed counter clockwise each room (Aftter cleaning and sweeping!) with a spritz of water/ACV/lemon/and sage...then lit a incense wand, juniper smelling candle, and sprigs of cedar, for each room......Also used water/salt mix and marked each doorway and window.

Hoping next doc visit, when I can finally leave house, will try to stop and pick up more herbs (Other than for cooking!) :idea: If it seems to be awhile, might try to order online....will this be enough for time being? Till can get proper herbs? thanks,

what you've done is just fine--nothing more needs to be done--in my opinion anyway

Elise

[Wytchie]

I finally managed to get hold of some sage so I dried it, then burned it in a small cauldron and carried the cauldron around the house to different doorways, windows etc. I hope this is alright as i couldn't get proper sticks and haven't a clue how to make them tbh...if anyone does know and wants to enlighten me I would be very grateful!

[~Elise~]

so-how did your house feel afterwards? how did YOU feel afterwards?

It isn't about the herbs, folks--it is about intent.

Elise

[Sobeq]

Okay, I have smudged my room! I took some sage from the kitchen -- wrong kind of sage, but it smelled right to me -- some rose petals, a little bit of mugwort, put them in some water in a dish of what's really meant to be an oil diffuser or... well one of those things that melts scented wax. I lit the candle underneath the dish after letting the mixture steep for a little while, and let the water burn off. It left a pleasant scent of sage, roses and mugwort. I walked back and forth through my room (there's no room to make a circle, or I would've -- I sort of pretended that I was really going in a circle) at first with a feather I had found, brushing the steam around my room, willing the room to be cleaned. After I had done that for a little while, I set the burner down on my dresser and let the water boil off. I've also reorganized my room and cleaned it. It feels good!

[~Elise~]

awesome--

good on ya for using what you had on hand, too!

Elise

[Philosophia]

Smudging results:
I choose 4 herbs to smudge and cleanse myself with:
Sage
Lavendar
Myrrh
Rose

Sage
Sage is already my preferred smudging herb as I can easily gain access to it. When I smudge myself with Sage, I feel as if I'm cleansing myself of the negativity that sometimes cling to me throughout my everyday activites. Its like a solid but airy bath where I physically wash myself with the sage's essences and afterwards I sometimes feel rather light. Usually I ground straight afterwards due to this lightness but it all depends on whats been "sticking" to me. When I smudge myself, I tend to start from the bottom and bring it slowly upwards. I usually repeat this process many times before I decide that it is enough. Afterwards, I feel cleaner, lighter and somewhat happier (like a cloud had been lifted, as strange as that seems).

Lavendar
Lavendar isn't a herb I use for smudging (rather I primarily use it for healing) but I tried it for the first time. While it smelt nice, I don't feel it worked the way I would've liked it but I did feel it smudged well. When I first used it for this intention, I wasn't feeling to well so maybe that influenced the results I got. After doing my "normal" smudging ritual but with lavendar, I felt it didn't properly cleanse me with the depth that sage would. Afte the ritual, I still felt rather heavy with negativity and the herb didn't cling to me, or "wash" (metaphorically) away the energies I had built up during the day. While my experiance with lavendar for smudging has made me wary of using it for that purpose, I will continue it for healing purposes.

Afterthought: maybe it wasn't the herb itself, but rather my technique that night. I used it yesterday but instead of simply soaking in it, I used it as an incense stick to get rid of a migraine and it worked. I might use it for this instead of simply never using it for smudging.

Myrrh
Myrrh is a herb I use exclusively for the cleansing of my altar because it can be expensive. However I used it only once and felt overwhelmed by it. For me, its a thorough cleansing agent and I felt very "smudged". Unfortunately, I could only use a small amount as I'm running out of the herb but I wouldn't use it unless I was doing a major ritual.

Rose
Rose was a weird herb and something I never contemplated using for smudging. The only occasion I used Rose for was self-love rituals I've done so it was something very different. It worked similar to lavendar, however I may have used to much the first time because I soon got a headache. The next night I repeated the ritual but I cut the amount in half and it was better. However, I don't think it worked as well as the other herbs because I become rather silly (I was giggling for awhile) that I decided to stop the ritual. I couldn't concentrate well enough for me to fully be involved so I waited until the next night. Unfortunately, I couldn't do it then because of personal reasons so I waited for a more appropriate time.
I had a ritual planned for the full moon (self love) so I decided to do rose smudging for this occasion. It actually worked better because I was more concentrated than previous experiances and I decided to go down the lavendar route and use stick incense. While this was easier to find (as my rose supplies was becoming short), it also meant that I was determining how much I need a lot easier. The smudging set the mood for the ritual and I was impressed with how smoothly and intense it became.

One thing I learnt was to experiment more and not stick with one smudging herb. Its okay to be different and to use a herb that may be more beneficial to me.

House cleansing ritual
I couldn't do a full house cleansing because I live at home with my parents (and they wouldn't be too impressed with a ritual in the living room) so I decided to keep it in my bedroom. It went rather well and I felt the definite change as I walked through the room. I didn't use it to often as it was very smokey and the weather was rather warm. I had to be careful and I didn't go outside because of this risk.
When I was doing this ritual, a perculiar thing happened. Before the ritual, the wind outside was very strong and wild. It blew a lot of dust and debris around. I was extremely unsure of whether to continue but as soon as I started the ritual it died down to nothing.