Smudging and Cleansing Techniques

Gemstone Articles

Smudging and Cleansing: Message for cleaning your environment

Smudging is a cleansing technique used for many years, yet it is unknown exactly when smudging began. This Native North American ritual is simply a way of cleansing oneself of negative energies and creating a sense of peace and harmony in the body, an object as well as in the home or space around you. Most believe that the body and home are made up of only physical matter. However, they also have a silent clairvoyant energy as well.

Everything has an aura

This silent energy is also known as your aura. An aura is often described as a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source. Everything has an Aura. Plants, animals, humans, minerals and even the Earth.

Smudging and Cleansing

Sometimes, as we go through life, we tend to get tired, occasionally feel uneasy or possibly have a feeling of weight on our shoulders. This is due to negative or unhealthy energy around us. Some of the most common examples of this include:

  • Trouble in the home
  • Depression
  • Illness
  • Loss of a loved one
  • Or even just simply having a bad day!

Its best to rid yourself of these feelings as they occur. You can easily do this by smudging.

To properly smudge yourself, or an object or a space you will need:

  • Smudge Stick
  • Large feather
  • Candle and a match
  • Large shell (small ceramic or stone bowl that can withstand heat will work)

Smudge sticks are most commonly made of sage and sweet grass, both of which play an important role in the smudging process. Sage is used to evacuate the negative energies, spirits and influences, while the sweet grass will gather new and positive energies.

Attunement doesn’t happen overnight. It will take some time and a good amount of practice before you become attuned to your stone; but once it happens, you will know it.

Smudging yourself

To begin, light the candle with the match. Use the candle to light one end of your smudge stick. Hold it in the flame until the whole end is well lit.

Gently fan the smudge stick to extinguish the flame and it should begin to smolder and smoke. Place the smudge stick in the shell and place the shell on the ground.

Using your right foot step over the shell passing through the smoke. Pick up the shell and use the feather to waft the smoke toward your body as you slowly move the shell upwards from the ground.

Envision the negative and unwanted energies leaving your body through the smoke. You can speak out loud asking powers that be, remove all negativity and unwanted energies. Continue to move the smoke side to side as you move upwards until your reach the chest and throat area.

At this point you can encircle your head with the smoke and then repeat down the back side. This time you may say out loud powers that be, please fill me with new and positive energies. When you reach your feet, sit the bowl on the ground and step through the smoke with your left foot. You may repeat this smudging technique as many times and as often as you like.

Smudging your home or space

This ritual is performed somewhat the same as smudging yourself. Start in the northern most corner of your home and work clockwise from room to room. It is best to open all windows and doors so the unwanted energies can exit.

Be sure to smudge the corners of each room you enter and go from top to bottom when working in the corners. You may also burn sage or sweet grass anytime to purify your home between smudging.

Smudging can an effective and fun method to keep your environment cleansed.



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