Your Step by Step Guide to Smudging

Cleanse that sh*t!

Holy Smoke

Let me take you on a journey into the magical world of smudging. We will deep dive into the whats and whys of smudging, which plants to use, the tools you will need as well as a step-by-step guide to performing your own smudging ceremony. You can also download your free printable guide.

Let’s start with the basics: What is “Smudging?”

Smudging, or more correctly known as “smoke clearing” or an “incense blessing,” is both a spiritual practice and a general term for such smoky rituals. The word “smudging” has become popularized in recent years but it originally comes from Native American religious practices in the USA. However, using different kinds of aromatic smoke for energy clearing is a global practice in many cultures. Incense has been used since 2345-2494 BC with its first recorded use during the Egyptian Fifth Dynasty.

Depending on location and traditions, these smoky rituals can range from burning a juniper leaf in Scotland or Tibet, to burning a tiny chip of wonderful-smelling wood in a Kōdō appreciation ceremony in Japan. The Roman Catholic Church burn incense to symbolise prayers rising to heaven and the Indian, Hindi and Chinese, Buddhists burn meticulously blended incense sticks to purify and as an offering.  Many cultures burn a bundle of herbs or small pieces of fragrant herbs and resins on an open fire, on a charcoal disc in a cauldron. You don’t need to be aligned with a specific religion or culture to still participate in this ancient practice. 

Why do we smoke cleanse?

Our physical eyes might not see the invisible toxins and unsettling energies lingering in our home, around objects, or within our own energy field, but often, our soul can sense their presence. Have you ever walked into a space and immediately felt off-kilter? That’s your intuition, your sixth sense, picking up on something amiss. Just like a gas leak, energy can accumulate in spaces, around our cherished possessions, and even within us, subtly influencing our well-being.

When simply opening the windows doesn’t cut it, a smoke cleanse is your go-to solution. This ancient practice doesn’t just refresh your home; it also purifies objects that hold sentimental or spiritual value and rebalances your personal energy field. By embracing this ritual, you’re not just cleaning your surroundings; you’re also blessing and rejuvenating every aspect of your personal environment, setting the stage for harmony and positive energy flow.

What plants do you use to smudge?

You can use a variety of plants and woods to perform smudging and smoke cleansing ceremonies including White Sage, Yerba Santa, Sweetgrass, Cedar, Palo Santo, and Mugwort. Each has its own unique physical and metaphysical properties:

– My Smudge Selection –

White Sage

White Sage is the mother of all smudge bundles. It is renowned for its healing, benevolent energy. The scent calms the mind and purifies the body. Sage smoke is believed to have the power to carry prayers to the heavens, to remove spirits, and cleanse ritual space making it the ultimate demon detergent! The most-used types of sage have proven antimicrobial properties. Burning them to purify the air is a centuries-old tradition which we now realise can actually help keep infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi at bay. White Prairie Sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) is both antimicrobial and antibacterial while White Sage (Salvia apiana) is also antimicrobial.

Yerba Santa

Yerba Santa is psychic stuff! It is a sweet and minty herb which is burned to honour ancestors, enhance psychic abilities and bring healing and protection. Keep it around the house simply for its natural crisp scent or light it up in a smudging ceremony.

Sweetgrass

Sweetgrass is said to be the hair of Mother Earth and is a female medicine. There are 28 strands in a Sweetgrass braid to represent the female cycle. It is calming and soothing. Sweetgrass has a unique vanilla-like scent – one of the most beloved of all Western plants for smudging. Sweetgrass is usually used after other medicines or clearing your space with White Sage. It brings in positive energy to you and your space. It is also known to bring harmony amongst discord in your home. It has a deeply feminine energy, with a soft, sweet scent, perfect for boosting your girl power. 

Cedar

Cedar is a true a medicine of protection, to purify and return balance. Cedar trees are very old, wise and behold powerful forest spirits. Cedar is used to heightening positive energy, to uplift feelings and evoke positive emotions. Cedar is very high in Vitamin C and also makes a great healing tea.

Palo Santo

Palo Santo is a sacred wood that has healing properties and is native to the coast of South America. In Spanish, Palo Santo means “holy wood” or wood of the saints. It is a strong medicine that has been popularized for its heavenly presence in keeping energies grounded and clear.  The aroma is just incredible, very fresh with hints of mint and citrus, proving to be one of the most fragrant woods. It confers extraordinary blessings to those who use it.

Mugwort

Mugwort is used as incense for magical practices such as spell work or divination and is said to enable connections to the other realms. Also known as Black Sage it has powerful natural antimicrobial properties. Often used to relax the mind and calm the body it has been traditionally burnt in smoke cleansing ceremonies or kept near the bed for protection while you sleep. A must have for any witch, wizard or voodoo priestess.

Here’s a little-known secret about smoke cleansing:

it’s not just the smoke that does the work, but the specific vibrations of the plants used that create a shift in energy. When you burn sacred herbs like sage or palo santo, they release a unique vibrational pattern that interacts with the energy in your environment. This vibrational shift is what actually helps to clear out negative energy and make space for positive vibes.

Ready to transform your space with a Smoke Cleanse Ritual, but not sure where to start? Let me guide you through it, step-by-step, with some extra tips and tricks to make it super effective!

What You’ll Need:
– Your chosen plant bundle or wood for burning (see my list of herbs and their properties)
– A heatproof bowl
– A fire source (like a lighter or matches)
– A smoke fan (this can be a feather or just your hand)

Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Set Up Your Space: Layout everything you need. If you’re indoors, crack open a window – this lets the old energy (and any excess smoke) flow out.

2. Ignite: Light up your plant-based bundle, leaves or wood. Let it catch flame, then gently blow it out to let it smolder and smoke. You might need to relight it a few times during your ritual.

3. “Waft the Smoke”: Gently walk, clock wise,  around your space, wafting the smoke into every corner from the floor to the ceiling. Be thorough and intentional. Visualize the type of energy you want to fill your space with, letting your actions mirror your intentions.

Here’s my home cleansing and blessing prayer that you can use:

Divine Spirit, Universe, Source of all that is,

As I stand within these walls, I call upon your light and wisdom. Bless this home with your divine grace. Let each corner be touched by your presence, filling this space with peace, love, and joy.

May this home be a sanctuary of warmth and welcome. May it be a vessel of tranquility and harmony for all who dwell here. Protect it from negativity, both seen and unseen, and let it be a haven for positive energies and light.

With this smoke, I cleanse away the old, making way for new blessings and joy. May laughter echo in these rooms, may love fill every nook, and may the aura of protection and prosperity linger always.

Bless all who enter this home, with their hearts open and spirits lifted. May this home and those within be safeguarded, nurtured, and ever embraced in the arms of peace and love.

So mote it be.

Feel free to adapt or modify this prayer to suit your personal beliefs and intentions. Your own energy and the sincerity of your words greatly increase the power of a home cleansing and blessing ritual.

4. Completing the Ritual: Once you feel the energy shift, place the smoldering bundle in your heatproof bowl to cool. Most bundles will stop smoking pretty quickly.

Pro Witch Tips:
– Filling the Void: Post-cleansing, your space is energetically empty and vulnerable. Fill this void by burning some organic incense or sustainable Palo Santo. This reintroduces positive energy and sets the tone for what you want to attract.
– Seal the Deal with a Blessing: As you burn the incense or Palo Santo, whisper a blessing over your home. This act seals in your intentions, keeping your space as a sanctuary of good vibes.
– Keep the Energy Flowing: Occasionally, open windows or use a fan to keep the energy in your home fresh and flowing, even when you’re not doing a full cleanse.

Want to get all the nitty-gritty details and elevate your smoke cleansing to the next level? Interested in mastering the art of smoke cleansing? Want your space to feel magically vibrant and energetically balanced? Join my coven and I’ll share with you my exclusive guide, filled with all the insights you need to transform your space and your spirit. Let’s embark on this magical journey together!

Happy Smoke Cleansing!

P.S.

If you are interested in a deeper dive into Smudging and Smoke Cleansing or would like some extra tip, tricks and cost-saving ideas then join our community of spiritual seekers, connect with like-minded, tap into a source of wisdom and become a spiritual powerhouse.