Smudging Your Home

The practice of ‘smudging’ is a ceremony that was initiated by Native Americans. It involves burning sacred herbs in the home, to spiritually cleanse and bless the space. It is believed that carrying out the act of smudging will help to remove heavy energy that may have been harboured by negative emotions, frustration, anger and sadness. However, even if these emotions haven’t been recently present in your home, smudging your house can still have a positive impact, lightening the energy and cleansing your home.

The Belief of Burning Sage

Burning sage is perhaps the most popular way of smudging your home. Sage comes in dried small bundles tied together with string and can be used several times before needing to be replaced. In a sense, smudging is a ritual alchemy, a way of shifting the energy in your home and connecting with the spirit world. The use of dried sage has been practiced for around 2,000 years. Indeed, Shamans used to put dried sage in their fires to call upon their ancestral spirits. They believed that any negative energy, germs of illness or evil spirits would be cleansed and released through the smoke of the sage.

How to Smudge Your Home

Before you smudge your home, make sure your space is tidy and ready to be cleansed. Light a candle and ask for your Spirit Guides and the Angels to help you. Light the sage and hold it over a small bowl to catch any dropping ash. Walk into the corner of each room holding the smoking sage to cleanse the space, wave the smudge stick around the doorways and into dark areas. You can say and repeat your own prayer as you move through your home or personalise the following example:

“Dear Spirit Guides and Angels, please help me to cleanse my home and remove any negative energy or emotions. Bring in positive energy, happiness, love, laughter and light. Thank you…”

The practice of smudging can also help to cleanse your energy and your aura by wafting the smudge stick around you while you say your own prayer. Visualise any negative emotions being taken away by the smoke.

Once you have finished smudging, allow the sage to either burn out or extinguish in a fireproof container. If it is the end of the smudge stick, you can bury it in the earth of your garden to complete the cleansing ritual.