Smudge sticks are rolled and bound bundles of dried herbs, such as sage, sweet grass, or lavender. The sticks are burned, and the smoke that wafts from these purifying herbs removes negative energy and wards off unfriendly spirits from objects, places, or people. Native Americans have used smudge sticks for centuries in purification and cleansing rituals. Many people practicing New Age or Earth-centered religions have incorporated the use of smudge sticks into their spiritual practices.
Instructions
1. Hold your smudge stick by the end with the stem. Light the other end on fire.
2. Hold the smudge stick for a minute or two as it burns. Look for the tips of the herbs to begin to glow like embers. If the flame dies out before this, simply re-light it.
3. Blow gently on the smudge stick to put out the flame. Continue blowing to fan the burning embers until the stick is smoking.
4. Keep a heat proof container, such as a bowl censer, small cast iron pot, clean ashtray or seashell nearby. You can use this to hold your smudge stick if necessary by laying the burning part in the container, or to extinguish your smudge stick.
5. Hold your smudge stick in your hand and offer a prayer to the spirits of the Earth and sky to help it drive off negativity.
6. Smudge yourself to purify your body first. Being careful not to burn yourself, raise and lower the smudge stick, holding it away from your body, while fanning the smoke towards yourself from head to toe.
7. Smudge another person by having them stand with their legs slightly spread and arms out. Walk around them, fanning the smoke towards them until it has touched all parts of their body.
8. Purify a location by walking around with the smudge stick in hand, fanning the smoke into corners, around windows and doors, and throughout the entire room. You can smudge your entire home to bring positive vibrations into it.
9. Cleanse negativity from an object by holding it above the smoking smudge stick and running it through the cloud of smoke.
10. Thank the spirits and pray for blessings. Extinguish the smudge stick by snipping the smoldering end off with a pair of scissors, catching the burning embers into the heat proof pot. Be sure there are no burning leaves left on the smudge stick before putting it away.
Tags: smudge stick, your smudge, your smudge stick, fanning smoke, burning embers, fanning smoke towards, heat proof
