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How to Guide
Smudging Rituals
How to burn a smudge stick for spiritual cleansing
Summer is typically fast paced and full of energy with long days on the go. Take stock and embrace the shift in energy with the changing season. As the leaves fall, Autumn is a wonderful time for self-reflection, rejuvenation, healing and letting go of what no longer serves you well.
Whether through meditation, journaling or a long soak in the tub, Autumn is the perfect time to embrace or reawaken these daily practices that support rest and rejuvenation. To support my Autumn rituals, I traditionally welcome this new season by clearing the air through the ancient art of smudging.
What is Smudging?
The act of burning ritualistic herbs for spiritual cleansing is referred to as smudging. Traditionally, sage has been carefully prepared due to its spiritual significance representing the cleanest smell of the desert while symbolising a true gift from the Creator.
The smoke is fanned using your hand or feather and directed either over yourself and/or throughout your home to wash away impurities, sadness and anxiety. It’s the perfect ritual when first moving into a new home or after an illness or relationship break down.
The practice of smudging or some form of it, has been embraced by native cultures around the world, across multiple continents for centuries. The most common smoke-purification ritual called smudging has long been practiced in Native American traditions to bring in good spirits and dispel stagnant and negative spirits. Let’s explore some of the wisdom and the technique of this ancient ritual.
What is A Smudge Stick?
Crafted with herbs and ingredients sourced from nature, smudge sticks are known for their aromatherapeutic properties as well the deep symbolism that the objects and the ritual represent.
- The shell or the clay bowl represents water
- The herbs represent the earth
- The feather and the wind represent air
- The flame represents fire
What are the Benefits of smudging?
Smudging can inject positivity into every space supporting a mindful existence for increased calm and clarity. It also helps to elevate your daily meditation practices by:
- Cleansing
- Dispelling Negativity
- Improving your mood and mindset
- Refresh and revive the air quality with aromatherapy benefits
How to Use A Smudge Stick?
- You need a clay bowl or flat shell, your chosen smudge stick, a feather (or you can use your hand like I do) and a flame. It is important to be present in the moment with focused intentions while you perform a smudging. This ritual ushers in positivity and clears out any negative energies, it’s a perfect time to manifest positive intentions and visualise happiness and harmony in your life.
- Open doors or windows of your room to promote air circulation and the release of stagnant energies.
- Gently separate the stems or buds from the leaves, you can either hold the base of the smudge stick in your hand or place it into a clay bowl or shell. Using a match or lighter ignite the flames allowing them to flame for 20 to 30 seconds before using a sweeping hand to extinguish the fire. You will see smoke steadily smouldering from the herbs now.
- I like to start by washing the smoke over myself first from my head to my toes using cupped hands to disperse the smoke. Breathing slowly and deeply manifesting happiness and positivity.
- Use a feather or a hand and gently direct the smoke into corners of the room or rooms, moving over your furniture and plants. Continue to manifest your positive thoughts.
Once I have finished smudging, I like to return the ashes to soil.
Organic Merchant’s Australian White Sage and Frankincense Smudge stick is perfect for use in meditation or for cleansing your home. Once lit it has the most beautiful aroma of minty sage entwined with the exotic and spicy aroma of Frankincense. These smudge sticks are handmade in Victoria, Australia using organic Sage and Frankincense and they make a fantastic natural, chemical-free air freshener.
Health benefits of burning sage and frankincense:
- Sage is antimicrobial, helping to keep infectious bacteria and viruses at bay.
- Burning sage is known to improve mood and alleviate stress and it smells amazing!
- Frankincense has been used since ancient times, believed to calm and centre the mind, body and spirit.
When you’re practicing meditation, having a sage smudge stick burning by your side can support positive emotions, minimize the wandering thoughts, and help you focus your energy on clearing your mind.
Palo Santo wood for healing and clearing negative energy
Used for centuries Palo Santo is known to help in the purification and clearing of negative energy. The wood, resin and oil from this tree is known to release brain-oxygenating terpenes which when lit provide an uplifting and positive effect.
Palo Sticks are burned like incense and have been used by indigenous peoples for thousands of years to treat various ailments including symptoms of pain, anxiety and stress. Organic Merchant Palo Santo Bundle is ideal for daily use creating a heady aroma inside or alternatively burnt outdoors as a natural insect repellent.
ORGANIC MERCHANT Palo Santo Bundle
For times when you’re feeling drained of energy, and outside forces are having a negative influence on your wellbeing, smudging can support positive thoughts and help you transcend to a more spiritual level and bring peace. It certainly works for me!
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