You may have heard this word ‘smudging’ buzzing around the health and wellness community or maybe you’ve tried it yourself!

What is smudging?

Smudging is a sacred tradition of burning herbs to cleanse and purify the energy of a person or place. This ritualistic activity was brought to us by indigenous cultures and there are many ways to practice and begin your own sacred smudging. Smudging is a way to energetically cleanse a space to invite positive energy. When burning the smudge stick, the smoke fills and purifies the environment and those in it.

Types of smudge sticks

Traditionally you may have heard of sage sticks or palo santo; both being popular forms of smudging and cleansing energies, these herbs and sacred trees are beginning to be over-harvested with a higher demand for smudging tools as the tradition catches popularity in Western culture.

Other herbs used can include mugwort, cedar, lavender, juniper, rosemary, and more.

You can gather herbs from your own garden to make your very own smudge stick at home!

*When sourcing your smudge sticks, make sure to gather herbs sustainably, as to not harm or kill the plants. If buying elsewhere, check to see if the product has been sourced sustainably. *

What else do you need to start smudging?

Fireproof Container

Aside from your actual smudge stick, there’s s couple things that might be good to have on hand. A small dish to catch embers and ash as the smudge stick is burning is always helpful.

Traditionally, smudge sticks rest in an abalone shell to incorporate the water element into the burning ritual.

You can use any type of fireproof bowl or dish. I prefer a pretty ceramic dish and I only use this for smudging rituals.

Matches/Lighter

It’s all about preference for how you light your smudge stick.

I recommend lighting a candle nearby so you can use the flame to re-light your smudge stick and keep it smoking for your ritual.

You’ll need matches or a lighter to light your candle if you decide to do this, or you can simply use the matches or lighter to continue re-lighting your smudge stick when needed.

*Please be mindful of fire safety*

Bowl of Sand

Although the herbs incorporate the earth element, you may find you want a bowl of sand to help extinguish the embers or flame of your smudge stick. This helps with fire safety and ensuring there’s no fire hazards left after our ritual.

What my smudging practice looks like…

To me, the smell of burning herbs is so calming and relaxing. Smudging helps me feel grounded and connected to Mother Earth. I smudge for spring and fall cleaning and I smudge to cleanse energies when things are feeling stuck or icky. Smudging is a part of my meditation practice, yoga practice, and I even smudge my car!

I basically use smudging to cleanse space of negative energy or to create protection and peace. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or feeling weighed down by the world, I light my smudge stick and I offer cleansing. I offer the space to be cleansed, my body to be cleansed, my mind to be cleansed, my home to be cleansed, my family to be cleansed, my friends to be cleansed, and so on and so on. I guess it’s my way of asking for a refresh, a way to get grounded and feel calmer.

How to Perform a Smudging Ritual for Your Home

Now that you have all your tools and preparations in place, you can begin the smudging ritual.

Start at the front door of the home and light your smudge stick. Then, begin to move around the home. Move mindfully and with care, walking clockwise around the entire perimeter of the home. Be sure to allow the smoke to drift into even the hidden spaces, like inside closets, basements and dark corners. If there are stairs, just go up or down when you encounter them. Then keep moving clockwise until you meet the stairs again. Then continue to go down or up the stairs and resume the main floor.

Moving around a sacred object, idol, or space like this is called “circumambulation”. It’s a practice that’s been done for centuries in ancient cultures to make a space more sacred. And, if it feels okay to you, it’s helpful to chant a mantra or a prayer that you’re connected to. I use the Tibetan Buddhist mantra “Om mani padme hum”, the mantra of compassion, the same one on my sound bowl. This mantra is a way to fill the space with more cleansing vibrations.

When you arrive back at the front door, chant your final mantra or prayer. Visualize the entire home is filled with bright white sunlight. Then speak your intention one last time to close the smudging ceremony.

Smudging rituals are a beautiful technique to clear a space. This can be done annually or more often. It’s especially powerful to perform a space clearing when you first move into a home, on the lunar new year, or during the season changes.

You can cleanse objects by creating clockwise circles around the object; I personally do 3 circles, a number with many significant meanings.

What do you think?

Will you try smudging? Do you already practice smudging?

Tag me and share what your smudging rituals look like!

What is smudging and why you should do it