Smudging for Beginners

Recently, smudging has become an increasingly popular practice among people. But, despite the popular opinion that it is a new practice, smudging is an ancient method that can cleanse the body, mind, and soul. If you have heard of this practice and want to try it, but you are unsure where to start, you have come to the right place!

Today we are covering the topic of smudging, what it is, and how beneficial it is for the body - simply put, a “how to” guide on smudging for beginners. Let’s learn about all the benefits of this ancient sacred tradition.

Smudging Explained

This practice involves burning sage, resins, or herbs to release a kind of sacred cleansing smoke. As the smoke spreads into the air, it begins to cleanse you along with your mind and body, and it continues with cleaning the room or any space of negative or bad energy. The First Nation and Indigenous people have used this cleansing method for thousands of years. They believed that it is the best way to remove evil spirits and make way for healing and healthy energy, combined with positive thoughts.

Today, people have taken the time to dedicate themselves to their professional and personal lives. However, at the end of the day, this leaves them with the burdensome feeling of stress, thus having no time to focus on their mental welfare.

Going from one space to the next, constantly absorbing the energy of the people around you can leave you with a lot of stagnant energy within. The result of that may be apathy, having low levels of energy, feeling unlucky, uninspired, stuck, or even depressed. So, when this happens, the best way to fight it would be through the process of smudging!

How to Smudge

Nowadays, smudging for beginners has never been easier. The reason for that is the availability of information and products which are needed to get the ritual done. In the past, people used white sage sticks if they wanted to purify the air, move the energy around in a certain space, and get rid of some airborne pollutants.

Now, even though white sage is not the only material that is used in this practice, it’s an excellent starting point for beginners.

As you deepen yourself into the process, you will notice that you have the ability to tailor the experience to best suit your needs. The bottom line here is – you can use any type of plant or herb you want! Each plant and herb on this planet has its purpose – some of them have medicinal properties, and others are used as cleansing tools. One thing’s for sure, though, all of them are excellent and can be incredibly beneficial.

Do your research on the subject and notice how most plants are exceptional in cleaning the body, spirit, mind, and space. You will soon realize that once you start smudging for beginners, you will quickly move from the novice level and start growing.

If you want to try smudging with basil, then you will invite peace and harmony to your life! On the other hand, If you use cloves, you will attract a lot of romance and love into your life. Lastly, by using ground eucalyptus, you can protect yourself from all the bad energy that may be floating around.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the process.

First of all, once you start smudging for beginners, you need to know that there are certain supplies you should always have by your side. These include:

• A herb bundle, a sage stick, or a smudge stick. The only thing we don’t recommend smudging with is palo santo.
• A smudging bowl or any other type of heat-resisting dish.
• A pot of sand or soil, or an ashtray, so you can extinguish the burning sage.

The Smudging Steps

Let’s break down the process – we will go over it with you, step by step. If you are doing smudging for beginners, all you need to do is follow these simple steps, and you will manage to pull off this method successfully.

1. Set an intention – before you start smudging, you need to have a purpose for doing it. Maybe it can be a prayer of some kind, or you may want to attract some positive energy into your life. But it is always a good idea to think about what you want to smudge about before you begin. No matter what you’re aiming for, you must always set a clear intention!
2. Open all doors and windows – it doesn’t matter if you are cleansing your space or yourself - for the bad energy to leave, you need to open the doors and the windows. This is the only way for the sacred smoke to purify your space. You need to guide the energy away from yourself and your home.
3. Light the stick – take your stick, hold it above the heat-resistant dish, and light the end of it. As the flame ignites, gently blow on it so it will start releasing the healing smoke.
4. Start cleansing – you need to move clockwise in your home. Keep the smoking sage stick in your hand and enter each room, covering every corner of it. Go through the open space and make sure to smudge everywhere – even the cupboards and closets too.
5. Put the fire out – after you have finished, the sage stick might still be going. In this case, use your pot of soil or sand to press the stick into it until the smoke stops. Remember not to leave any smoking sticks unattended.

Smudging for beginners is now an easy and accessible practice. We hope to have provided you with enough information to get you going! If you are interested in starting a more holistic lifestyle filled with mindfulness, contact us!