Smudging is the practice of the burning of sacred herbs for spiritual cleansing and purification. It’s a ceremony that has been practiced by Native Americans for centuries.
A selection of herbs, usually white sage or cedar, is bundled with a cotton or hemp string. The bundle is then dried. Once the herbs have thoroughly dried, it’s lit and allowed to smoulder. The smoke is then fanned around an area for cleansing.
8 Reasons You Should Smudge
According to our in depth guide to the benefits of smudging and how to do it, smudging has been found to have a host of health benefits, including:
- Increasing your sense of well-being and improving mental focus
- Clearing negative energy
- Acting as “nature’s anti-depressant”
- Clearing the air
- Cleansing objects
- Offers calming and relaxing effects
- Increases energy
- Improves sleep
Read the rest of this article here: 8 Reasons You Should Try Smudging
Best Herbs For Smudging
You can use several types of herbs to make smudge sticks. I personally like to use herbs I prune out of my garden. They are a lovely way to use excess herbs.
However, if you wish to make smudge sticks based on a specific purpose, try any of these combinations:
sage— negative energy clearing
pine needles — cleansing and purification
balsam fir — cleansing and purification
mugwort — lucid dreaming, purification, and calming
juniper — cleansing and purification
holy basil (tulsi) — purification and calming
rosemary — protection
lavender — calming
rose petals — meditation, calming and attracts love
peppermint — healing and protection
yarrow — eliminates toxins from the body
lemon balm — spiritual cleansing and calm
calendula – for love and constancy
dill – for protection, luck, money, and lust
chamomile – for protection and purification
As an added bonus, most of these herbs are great for keeping pesky bugs at bay.
My favorite combination is rosemary and sage. It’s the perfect combination of protection and clearing negative energy and that’s the combination I chose to use for these homemade smudge sticks.
How to Make a Smudge Stick
Watch our step-by-step video to see how to make these smudge sticks and then continue below for photo and written instructions.
Supplies
- fresh rosemary
- fresh sage
- cotton thread or organic hemp string
- snips
Lay several sprigs of herbs on top of each other. You’ll want to make it thick. It will lose volume when it’s dry.
Secure the bottom of the bundle with a double knot.
Wrap the thread tightly around the herb bundle. Make sure it’s snug. Tie a double knot at the top.
Lay the bundle on a screen or rack. Let the bundles dry for several days. They need to be completely dry before you can burn them.
How To Use Your Smudge Stick
Light the end of the smudge stick with a lighter, match, or candle.
Once the smudge stick has a steady flame, blow it out so it is smouldering and smoking. Make sure you have a dish under the smudge stick to catch the ashes. This Abalone Shell is a great idea to catch the ashes. Waft the smoke with your hand or with a fan into any area you wish to purify and cleanse.
These smudge sticks make great gifts at a cost of virtually nothing (if you grow your own herbs). Try it out and experiment with different herb combinations.