If this is your first time hearing about smudging, we’d like to explain briefly: burning sage or smudging is a little ceremony that purifies your space and helps to stimulate positive energy.
Native Americans are said to have practiced smudging for centuries, and it’s a lost art that was performed by those early Native Americans.
Smudging is the act of burning sage (or other herbs) and wafting the smoke around your living space or workspace. It’s said to purify the air and cleanse away negative energy. Some people even use smudging as a way to protect their homes from ghosts or evil spirits.
So, what exactly does smudging do? There is scientific evidence that smudging has a cleaning efficacy or capacity to remove harmful bacteria from the air. It is comparable to washing one’s hands before a meal in the sense that it helps to purify a person by giving an aromatic smoke bath.
If you’re looking for a way to freshen up your home or get rid of negative energy, smudging may be worth a try. Who knows – you might just find that it works wonders for YOU!
Why and how to smudge
The basic principle is to use the smoke from a burning bundle of herbs to purify and cleanse a space. Sage is the most common herb used in smudging, but other herbs like lavender or palo santo can also be added to the mix. The smudge stick is lit and then allowed to smolder, producing a thick stream of smoke. This smoke is then wafted around the room, using either your hand or a feather. As the smoke moves through the space, it is said to absorb negative energy and cleanse the area. Take your time and breathe deeply as you move around the space.
After smudging, it is important to open a window to allow fresh air to enter and complete the cleansing process.
Smudging itself, in fact, generates negative ions, which have been observed in research to improve mood and offer a number of advantages. The air around us is full of positive and negative ions. Ions are atoms that have gained or lost electrons, giving them a charge.
Positive ions are created by electronic devices, like computers and TVs, and they can have negative effects on our mood and energy levels. Negative ions, on the other hand, are created by natural sources like sunlight and waterfalls, in other words, nature itself, and they’re thought to have positive effects on our mood and health.
When in enough concentration, negative ions can remove mold, viruses, bacteria, spores, pollen, and other hazardous particles from the air. These ions attach to the positively charged allergens, causing them to become too heavy to stay airborne. They fall to the ground or attach to a nearby surface like walls or objects, thereby eliminating them from the air you breathe and preventing disease.
It is similar to taking an energizing shower or spending a day in the mountains breathing fresh air and pine scent, which has a quick relaxing effect. The smoke from the burning herbs helps to clear away negative energy, leaving you feeling refreshed and uplifted. In addition to its cleansing properties, smudging also has a pleasant scent that can offer a direct positive effect on reducing stress levels.
7 reasons why you should smudge your room today
Smudging, in addition to removing impurities from the air, has a variety of positive effects, including:
Enhancing your sense of well-being and mental focus.
Smudging neutralizes the negative effects of abnormally high amounts of positive ions in the air, which is comparable to a natural antidepressant.
Clearing negative energy.
The smoke purifies the air and energy by altering its molecular structure.
Because the sense of smell is strongly connected to both memory and instinct, by stimulating the sense of smell smudging is a wonderful technique to reduce anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, and depression.
Decreasing allergy symptoms.
By eliminating hazardous particles from the air which includes potential allergens, smudging can help to alleviate allergy symptoms.
Cleansing the objects.
Smudging may be used to cleanse a room as well as objects.
A smudge stick is a wonderful tool for purging your home of negative energy. When you bring a new thing into your house, especially an old thing or something like an antique that during the years has most likely been exposed to bad energy, use a smudge stick to clean and purify the object so it doesn’t affect you or the environment.
Smudging has been shown to reduce blood pressure, alleviate tension and stress, and provide relaxing effects. Helps normalize breathing rates as well.
Increased physical energy.
Studies have shown that being exposed to negative ions can increase serotonin levels, which can improve mood, focus, and outlook.
Improve sleep quality
Negative ions can help people relax and sleep better, according to Italian research. They may also aid in the production of serotonin.
Some of the best herbs for smudging
There are a lot of different types of smudge sticks available for purchase. You may use any combination below to make your own smudge sticks based on a certain goal:
- lavender – calming effect
- sage – clears negative energy
- peppermint – protection / healing
- juniper – cleansing / purification
- chamomile – protection / purification
- balsam fir – cleansing / purification
- mugwort – lucid dreaming / calming / purification
- rosemary – protection
- holy basil (tulsi) – purification / calming
- rose petals – meditation / calming / attracting love
- pine needles – cleansing / purification
- yarrow – eliminates toxins from the body
- lemon balm – spiritual cleansing
- calendula – love / constancy
- dill – protection / luck / money / lust
My favorite combination is rosemary and sage, which is a great balance of protection and cleansing. That’s the combination I chose for these homemade smudge sticks.
Making a smudge stick
Arrange several sprigs of herbs over one another for a decorative touch. It should be thick because it will lose some volume when it would be dry. With a double knot, bind the bottom of the bundle. The herb bundle should be wrapped with thread firmly. Make sure it’s secure. At the top, tie a double knot too.
Allow several days for the bundles to dry. They must be completely dry before you can burn them.
Smudging tips and techniques
To ensure that your energy is well-harmonized, prepare yourself by doing some meditation for a few minutes before smudging.
Open a window for ventilation before you begin and then lay the herb bundle on your heat- and fire-resistant surface. Gently blow out the flame as soon as the material ignites, allowing it to smolder.
When you’ve built up a sufficient quantity of smoke, use your hand or a feather to guide it over your body, starting at your feet and working your way up to your head and back again. As you do this, be sure to stay connected to your breathing. The act of smudging can be very relaxing, so take some time to enjoy the experience.
Remember to clean the inside of closed spaces, such as closets and cabinets, too, by opening their doors and carefully smudging the interior.
Make certain to smudge all areas, every room, basement, and garage. The idea is to push all negative energy to leave your home – from each entrance towards the main front entrance. It should be similar to chasing a fly outside your door.
When should I smudge?
Simple answer – any time you want.
Negative energy may be absorbed without even being aware of it, resulting in restlessness during sleep, disputes or arguments, sicknesses and headaches, and even unwanted visitors. All of these occasions are excellent opportunities to use your smudge bundle.
When you move into a new place, or when you bring a new object into your living space is a good occasion too.
Long story short – choose your herbs and enjoy!