Smudging is a way to energetically cleanse a space to invite positive energy. When smudging a space, you burn plant material. The resulting smoke fills and purifies the environment. It is a tradition practiced by indigenous peoples the world over, including those from the American Southwest.
To conduct a smudging, start at the front door of the home and light your smudge stick, making sure to remove any string that may be securing your sacred plants. Move mindfully and with care, walking clockwise around the entire perimeter of the home making sure to allow the smoke to drift into even the hidden spaces. 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 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. 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.
- 8" stick made with desert sage and cedar
- Sacred plants are gathered and bundled by Native Americans in Taos Pueblo
