Allow it to burn for 30 seconds and then blow it out. Place it on any heat-proof burning surface like an abalone shell, a traditional vessel used by Indigenous American people that represents the element of water. If left to rest the stick will smoulder and release smoke for approximately 5 mins.
Smudging is always voluntary.
People should never be forced or pressured to smudge. It is completely acceptable for a person to indicate that they do not want to smudge. That person may choose to stay in the room and refrain from smudging or leave the room during the smudge.
A surefire way of knowing if smudging or saging worked is if you don't feel any negative or bad energy in your home anymore.
If you sage another time during the day, the energy may be more dense. In the morning is when the ``energy of the day (traffic, negative thoughts, etc)'' hasn't settled, and I find it to be the best time to complete the process.
Once you have your intention in mind, light the Sage or Palo Santo and hold at a 45 degree angle pointing the tip down towards the flame. Allow it to burn for 30 seconds and then blow it out.
Prayers to Say While Smudging
“Release any negativity, density, or attachments into the light. Help me shine with higher vibrations and guide me with a team of Angels and guides.”
Before we begin, it's important to know that there is no "wrong" way to smudge. Do what intuitively feels "right" to you. There are many different herbs that you can use for smudging and it is a cleansing practice using herbs or sacred wood.
6. It is recommended to use sage to smudge because all people can smudge with sage during anytime of the month. This is particularly important for the young women in the class or school especially when they are on their moon time (menses). During this time, women can only use sage as a way to smudge.
Possible health concerns related to smudging
Smoke typically contains dangerous particles and chemicals that pose a health risk, especially when exposure occurs often. Over the years, these chemicals and particles may build up in the body and cause or exacerbate respiratory diseases, including asthma and OCPD.
Smudging, also known as saging, is a ritual to cleanse your mind, your space, and the energy around you. Here's a quick How to Smudge guide where we will fill you in on what it is and how you do it. From Danielle, our Founder.
Fan the flames - You shouldn't blow on your smudge. Use a feather to fan the flames. Use only when sober - Sage should never be harvested, plucked, burned or used in any way, shape or form if you're "under the influence" — so no drinking or smoking and smudging.
Start by lighting one end of your sage bundle. The dried leaves will catch fire, burn for a couple of seconds, and then extinguish. Blow softly on the lit end until the bundle begins to glow and produce smoke. Place your sage bundle on a glass, ceramic, or clay dish to catch ashes.
Start wafting the smoke on the bottom level of your home and move upward. Slowly walk around each room clockwise and allow the smoke to flow into every corner—some people like to gently wave a feather or their hand to push the smoke into all parts of the space.
When we smudge, we cover a few key areas: the mind (top of the head), ears, eyes, mouth, heart, back, hair, and whole being (push the smoke down the body towards the floor) and the feet. First, cleanse our hands with the smoke as if we were washing our hands. We then draw the smoke over all of those different areas.
“Some people do this [smudge] every day, as a ritual or way to start their day. I say do it when you feel your space needs it,” adds meditation and mineral guide, Lauren Spencer King. “There is no wrong time.
Any woman who is in her menstrual cycle is not permitted in the dance area or in the Sacred Fire circle. This is due to the spiritual energy carried by a woman on “her time”. This tradition respects a woman's gift.
Burning sage improves awareness and focus. It commonly used to practice mindfulness and transcendental meditation. Traditionally, sage is burned to rid an environment of negative or stagnant energies. It can also be used to clear negative energies from people.
Open the windows & doors
All that negative energy needs somewhere to go. By making sure you open up the windows and doors in the space you're saging, the energy has a pathway to exit the room. Otherwise, the negative energy gets trapped, canceling out the positive effects of the smudging ceremony.
Feather Alternatives for Smudging
The smoke produced by burning sacred herbs and medicines can easily be wafted around your person and your environment with a feather alternative which can be as simple as your hand.
Freeing your home of stagnant energies can be done anytime, but it's a good rule of thumb to do a thorough smudging of your home four times a year when the seasons change. You may also wish to smudge your living space whenever it has been compromised by negativity or foreign energies.
There are four elements involved in a smudge:
The four sacred plants (cedar, sage, sweetgrass and tobacco) are gifts from the earth and represent the second element. The fire produced from lighting the sacred plants represents the third element. The smoke produced from the fire represents air, the fourth element.
Scripture does not encourage or forbid burning sage.