Smudge sticks

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And how to make your own

Smudge sticks come in all sorts of different herbs and combinations

of herbs. The most commonly used herb in smudging in Sage, or White

Sage. There are also combinations of sage with other herbs, like

lavender, juniper, sweetgrass, cedar and pine, just to name a few.

All a smudge stick really is, is a tightly bound group of dried herbs

that can be lit, then blown out so it glows and smokes. Then the

smoke can be feathered or guided over whatever area, item or person

needs to be smudged or cleansed.

To make your own, simply grow your own, or buy fresh herbs from the

grocery or nursery. If you grow your own, or pick them from a

growing plant, do not take so much that it kills the plant. Take

leaves from the ends of the plant, asking the plants permission

before. Be sure to thank the plant for it's offering of herb, and if

you like, you can leave an offering in return. The indians used to

leave tobacco in respect of the plant. But I find shiny copper

pennies do well also. Then hang them in bundles in a cool dry place

for them to dry naturally. Then when they are good and dried, group

them in large bundles, sometimes called " wands " and wrap them with

cotton thread to keep them together. That's it! You have a smudge

stick. Your sticks may look crude at first, but with more practice

and stickmaking, you will grow to make fine smudgesticks for your own

smudging needs.

To smudge a space for cleansing or clearing, fallow these steps:

1. Ground and center yourself. Take a few deep cleansing breaths and

thank The Devine Power for it's blessings.

2. Hold your smudge stick in your reciving hand (usually left) and

light the end. Allow it to burn slightly and blow it out so that

it's glowing and smoking.

3. Next take a feather, or fan, or even your hand and begin to direct

the smoke in the direction of the area you want to smudge. If your

smudging a whole house for a moving in ceremony, then take small

circles starting in the center of each room and slowly begin to move

into bigger circles and don't forget the corners. Stagnant energy

loves to collect in corners.

4. If this smudging is indeed for a moving in ceremony, then remember

to open cupboards and closets as they collect energy as well.

5. When you feel your space is sufficiently smudged, stamp out your

smudge stick, or sprinkle water on it to put out the glowing embers.

Then be sure to place it in a heat safe place, like the kitchen

sink. Herbs can still be a fire hazard even if it looks like it's

all been stamped out.

6. Thank The Divine energy in this space for it's cleansing and

visualise white light surrounding your space, sealing in the fresh,

clean energy. You might even want to place a cleansed clear quartz

crystal in the center spot in your home to retain the intentions of

the clearning.

Herbs

Smudging with different herbs can bring different results. Here are

a few suggestions on herb combinations and what they are used for.

Sage-- Cleansing, Strength, wisdom, mental clarity. Good for

clearing negative energy from a space.

Cedar-- Draws positive energy to a space and aids in healing.

Sage & Lavender--Peace, wisdom & cleansing. Lavender is often used

in aromatherapy to promote relaxation and peacefulness.

Sage, Juniper & Sweetgrass--Cleansing, purification & bringing in

sweetness to an area.

Sage & Pine--Cleansing and purification.

Try wrapping your different combinations of herb sticks in differnt

colored thread so you can tell which is which.