How and Why to Smudge

Smudging
Smudging with sage is an Indigenous American sacred purification ritual that dates back over 2,000 years. Smudging is ritually burning sage, which is often times bundled, to clear negative energies. As the smoke is released from the dried herb it adheres to the the unwanted stagnant energies. The smoke neutralizes the energies and expels it all via the smoke into the atmosphere.
 
Many people are intimidated by the thought of performing such a ritual. With clear intentions, a little instruction, and following proper safety precautions, it is really quite simple.
 
Smudging ourselves assists in ridding us of unwanted energies however, energies of all kinds can attach to all things. To name a few places, you may want to consider smudging your home, work places, healing crystals, ritual tools, family heirlooms, and houses for sale or rent.
Benefits of Smudging with My 2 Favorites ~ White Sage and Palo Santo
White Sage
There are many types of grasses, flowers, and herbs that can be used in smudging however Sage and Palo Santo are simply my favorite. The word "sage" stems from the Latin word salvia, which translates to "healthy" or "to heal". 

Here is a list of the benefits from smudging with Sage:
•   Relieves common cold and flu symptoms, stress, asthma, inflammation, and headaches
•   Eases anxiety, depression, and emotional issues
•   Improves mood
•   Increases clarity and awareness
•   Heightens wisdom
•   Heightens the sensitivity of healers
•   Enhances memory
•   Cuts tension in the air
•   Banishes negative energy
•   Offers protection
•   Reduces airborne bacteria
•   Purifies and cleanses the atmosphere
•   Reduces odors

Palo Santo Sticks -  Sticks available at Shift Studio are sustainably harvested in Peru
Palo Santo is a sacred wood that comes from the mystical Palo Santo tree indigenous to the coast of Mexico, Central, and South America. When burned, Palo Santo has a very pleasant warm and bright scent reminiscent of pine, lemon, and mint that, in my opinion, immediately centers your state of being. In Spanish, palo santo literally means "Holy Wood".  

Here is a list of the benefits from smudging with Palo Santo: 
•   Raises vibration for meditation
•   Allows for deeper connection to Source energy
•   Enhances creativity
•   Increases clarity and awareness
•   Heightens wisdom
•   Relieves common cold and flu symptoms, stress, asthma, inflammation, and headaches
•   Eases anxiety, depression, and emotional issues
•   Calms the immune and nervous system for faster recover from illness
•   Heightens the sensitivity of healers
•   Relieves headaches
•   Repels mosquitoes and other insects
•   Reduces odors


Smudging Tools You Will Need 
A candle / A lighter or matches
Smudge stick- sage (traditionally), sage mixture, cedar, palo santo, sweetgrass are some other common options but certainly not a limited list.
Fire-proof vessel
Feather- your hand or a homemade paper fan will do as well to waft the smoke.
Clear intention - it is important to identify your objective, reasons why you are smudging, and clearly state it with your inner voice, aloud, or both.
Gratitude- for the sacred offering of your smudge before you begin and when you are done.

How to Smudge Your Home or Space
Before you smudge, clean your home or space.
If possible, open a couple of windows and/or doors  a bit so that the smoke can be released.
Set up all of your smudging tools on a surface clear of clutter.
Say a prayer or set a clear intention of why you are performing this purification ritual either aloud or silently.
Focus that intention through the entire smudging ritual.
Light the candle (or use lighter) and hold your smudge over the flame until your smudge is smoldering (it may have to be lit multiple times so keep a lighter handy as you move around. If you are smudging with a sage bundle, you can gently blow into the bundle to really get it going.
Hold the smudge stick above your fire-proof vessel.
Begin at the furthest point from the front door or main entrance in a clockwise or  counter-clockwise motion (just be consistent and in the flow of your movement).
With your feather, waft smoke from bottom to top as if you're washing the walls with the smoke and push the smoke out of each room, include bathrooms and closets (carefully). Make your way to the front door or entrance. Open the entrance and push the smoke out with the intention of moving the negative energies out. Energy gets trapped in corners so pay close attention to the corners of each room.
Some people prefer to simply carry the smoldering smudge stick around above a fire-proof vessel allowing the smoke to disperse. I prefer this technique for maintenance and the above technique for deep energy clearing.
Remember garages, basements, and attics are part of the house too.
*If you are using palo santo, allow smudge stick to smolder out on its own.
*If you are using a sage bundle, turn the burning side down and stub the bundle into a fire proof vessel that holds sand or salt. You can also extinguish your bundle simply stubbing it into the bottom of your fire proof vessel until it is out. 
Express gratitude for the assistance from the earth and air in clearing all energy that is negative.
Dispose the ashes back to the earth.

The Importance of Smudging Ourselves

Regardless of what you are smudging, the ritual starts and beings with you and whomever is joining you in this purification practice. It is important to smudge ourselves at the commencement and completion of your ceremony. You certainly do not want to bring energies into or take any attached energies out of anywhere. If you are an energy healing practitioner, I strongly urge you to smudge yourself and your space before and after every session.

How to Smudge Yourself
Smudging yourself clears your aura of negative energy attachments.
Say a prayer or set an intention of why you are performing this purification ritual either aloud or silently.
Focus that intention through the entire smudging ritual.
Light a candle and hold the smudge stick over the flame until the stick is smoldering.
Hold your lit smudge stick above your fire-proof vessel.
Using your hand or feather, waft the smoke up toward you encompassing your whole body including hands and feet. Wherever you start is where you end.
To smudge the back of you carefully bring the smudge stick between your legs grabbing it with your opposite hand to bring it up your back and over your head.
*If you are using palo santo, allow smudge stick to smolder out on its own.
*If you are using a sage bundle, turn the burning side down and stub the bundle into a fire proof vessel that holds sand or salt. You can also extinguish your bundle simply stubbing it into the bottom of your fire proof vessel until it is out. 
Express gratitude for the assistance from the earth and air in clearing all energy that is negative.
Dispose the ashes back to the earth.

How to Smudge Objects
Smudging personal objects clears them of negative energies and attachments of others who may have touch them in the past.
Say a prayer or set an intention of why you are performing this purification ritual either aloud or silently.
Focus that intention through the entire smudging ritual.
Light a candle and hold the smudge stick over the flame until the stick is smoldering.
There are a few ways you can smudge your objects:
Hold your lit smudge stick above your fire-proof vessel.
Using your hand, feather, or simply holding the wand waft or circle the smoke toward, around, and under the object if it is light enough to pick up.
Placing object(s) in a strainer is another way to get underneath of them.
If objects are fire-proof and small enough you can place them in the fire-proof vessels with the smoldering smudge stick.
*If you are using palo santo, allow smudge stick to smolder out on its own.
*If you are using a sage bundle, turn the burning side down and stub the bundle into a fire proof vessel that holds sand or salt. You can also extinguish your bundle simply stubbing it into the bottom of your fire proof vessel until it is out. 
Express gratitude for the assistance from the earth and air in clearing all energy that is negative.
Dispose the ashes back to the earth.