CLEARING YOUR SPACE / Making a Smudge Stick
I believe that most people have had the experience of someone coming into their home or office and leaving some unpleasant residue in their wake. That's when it's time to smudge!
Smudging has been an integral part of the Native American, Celt, and other ancient cultures as a way to cleanse, purify, clear, and release energy. It's used in many ceremonies and rituals, setting the mood, and preparing those involved emotionally, spiritually, and psychically. It often employed before meditation, prayer, sweat lodge, when people are ill or depressed, or just to move out stale, stuck energy and create a renewed flow. Smudging can be performed in one's environment, on the physical body, and personal possessions.
Although the most popular herb for smudging in my area seems to be sagebrush, other ones commonly used include white sage, cedar, pine, pinion, juniper, sweetgrass, mugwort, tobacco, lavender, and various resins and roots. Commonly, smudging is done with a bundle or stick. Another method is to put the herbs into a pot. Either way, the herbs are lit to form an ember that imparts a stream of smoke. This smoke is fanned or moved around the area, person or items, generally in a clockwise direction. While smudging, one might honor the four directions and elements, Mother Earth and Father Sky, Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun, or something else that feels appropriate. An invocation can be used for healing, clarity or other purpose and this is always a good time to express gratitude and ask for guidance.
I have been making smudge sticks for quite a few years and would like to share my method. You can use any or a combination of the herbs mentioned. I have come to be partial to a cedar/sage combination because sage helps dissipate the negative energy well and cedar tends to invoke positive energy. Whatever mix you use, the smoke will work on transmuting non-beneficial energy.
The first step is to gather the plant branchlets. You should always ask permission from the plant devas and leave a "thank you" gift of hair, cornmeal, tobacco or the like behind. Some people say that it's best to harvest in the spring but I believe with the proper intention that a good smudge stick can be made any time of year. The next thing you'll need is some natural twine like jute, hemp, or cotton. Cut about two yards of twine. Then lay your herb cuttings out---cedar with sage on top and you can form a slight roll making it easy to wrap. Use enough for an eight to ten inch stick that is about 4 to 5 inches in circumference. On one end of the twine, tie a loop, then thread the other end through it to make a slip knot. Next, pick up the herb pile, place the loop around the base and pull tight to anchor. Now, begin to wrap the twine around the stick keeping a moderate tension (if it's too tight it may not burn well). When you've wrapped all the way to the top, continue wrapping downward until there's just enough twine left to tie back on itself. I use a crotchet hook to pull the short thread back through. Voila---you now have a personalized smudge stick. Let it dry out completely before using.
Smudging your space once a week is a good habit to get into or you can just light up your smudge stick and cleanse any time you feel like the energy needs a better flow.
The aromatherapy Room Refresher Atomizer "Air Repair" is a great alternative to smudging.
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