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Holy Smoke (Smudging)
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Featured November 29 , 2007
Smudging is the tradition of using herbal smoke to bless or cleanse.
 If you've ever been to a pow-wow, you've probably caught a whiff of a sweet and pungent smoke in the air. The distinctive smell of smouldering sage or sweetgrass is a mystic scent that stays with you. Smudging is a tradition used to bless or cleanse, shared by many native cultures. There are different ways to smudge. A small amount of the herbs can be set smoking like incense in an abalone shell. There are smudge sticks, which are tightly wrapped bundles of herb stalks, that can be held in hand. To smudge large groups of people, the dried herbs can be laid on the embers of a fire. The smoke is encouraged and directed by fanning with a feather or a special fan made of feathers and/or leaves. If you want to make a smudge stick, be sure to use an herb that is appropriate as well as safe. Sage, sweetgrass, and mugwort are centuries-old traditional smudging herbs. Cedar, eucalyptus, lemongrass or bay laurel may seem like good choices at first because of their aromatic properties but the smoke of these herbs can irritate the mucus membrances, especially if the smudging is in an indoor, closed area. Lavender is a gentler, safer choice. Sage, however, is the best - not only because the herb has histamine properties but it is also an antiseptic. It is naturally cleansing and its smoke is sweet, not harsh. Cut your smudging herb early in the morning. Cut just the tops of the plant. Avoid plants that have already flowered or gone to seed. Right before they flower is the best time to harvest. Best stalks for making a smudge stick are about eight inches long. Cut them a little longer if possible, to allow for trimming. Don't forget to thank the plant for its use and thank the Creator for the gift. When you have enough to make a bundle about two inches across, tap the bottom to evenly line up the stalks, then bind it not too tightly but not too loosely in a spiral winding of yarn, string or wet willow bark. If wrapped too tightly, it won't dry in the center and may get moldy. Set it aside for a few days. The herbs will shrink a little when dried. If it is too loose once its dry, you can wrap it again. When the smudge stick is ready, light the tip of it just enough so that it is smoking, not flaming. Some fanning may be needed to get it going. If it does flame, use your fan to extinguish it down to a glowing smoulder. Once the smudge is smoking, direct the smoke all over your body, as if you are bathing. There is no wrong way to smudge. You can cleanse your chakras or move the smoke around you to the seven directions. Don't forget the bottoms of your feet. Breathe the smoke in very lightly, with your normal breath. There's no need to inhale deeply. When you are finished, the smudge stick can be extinguished or left to burn itself out in an abalone shell or any other safe container. If you extinguish it, trim the burnt end and it can be used again. Never smudge around pet birds or fish, as they are super-sensitive to the smoke. The good feeling after being smudged is both calming and energizing. Some like to pray or meditate while smudging. Spirit is present where there is sacred smoke. |
Hearth
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