Smudging a Room
Clear an indoor space of stale, negative or low-vibrating
energies.
- Prepare a dish of sand to catch ash and to extinguish
the smudge when you are finished.
- Open windows and doors.
- Light your smudge so that it smolders and smokes a fair
bit without a flame.
- Sweep the smudge into the corners of the room.
- The smoke will carry away the old stale energies.
Smudging a House
Clearing a house of stale, negative or low-vibrating energies.
This is the same practice as clearing a room. Smudge all
closets and cupboards as well as the corners of the rooms.
Smudging an Individual
I love the smell of Artemisia and find smudging (especially
out of doors) to be a very healing and centering practice.
Some teachings indicate moving from the feet upward. Some
people smudge from the opposite direction, from head to
toe. I prefer to smudge in the upward direction of the smoke.
- Prepare a dish of sand to catch ash and to extinguish
the smudge when you are finished.
- Open windows and doors if you are indoors. Light your
smudge so that it smolders and smokes a fair bit without
a flame.
- Hold the smudge up so your friend can waft smoke around
themselves, toward the head and chest.
- Next have them stand with feet spread and arms held
wide away from the body.
- Have them lift each foot as you smudge their soles.
- Next move up each inside leg.
- Smudge up an outside leg.
- Continue moving up each side to the armpit.
- Trace around the inside arm, up the outside arm and
move up the side of the head to the crown.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Have your friend turn around.
- Repeat on the reverse side starting up the inside legs.
- I usually finish by smudging up the spine and circling
the crown chakra (top of the head) several times.
Smudging before entering the circle
A beautiful opening ritual is to have one or two people
smudge others as they enter the circle. This allows other
group members to relax and feel their energy shift. People
could also smudge each other in turn.
Further Notes About Smudging
Smudging is a sacred, heart-centered act. Move slowly to
avoid brushing the burning smudge against clothing or skin.
Focus on the healing and cleansing powers of the smoke to
help clear your friend’s energy field.
Health Note: Sage smoke, like any smoke, can be a lung
irritant. I prefer to use a smudge out of doors. When smudging
indoors I always leave the doors and windows open.
A Cleansing Flame
Another effective way to purify a space is by burning a
small amount of epsom salts and alcohol (denatured rubbing
alcohol) in a fireproof vessel.
This beautiful flame clears the energy of a room without
producing any smoke or ash.
Indoors I use one or two (fireproof) silver or clay wine
goblet placed on a tray (also fireproof). Fill them 1/2
way with Epsom salts. To the salts add enough denatured
rubbing alcohol to just cover the salts. Light with care
keeping your face averted. You can reuse the salts by adding
extra alcohol as needed.
Out of doors use a shallow cauldron or metal container
to burn a larger quantity of salts and alcohol. The upside
down lid of a cast iron dutch oven works well as it is shallow
and wide. Pour epsom salts and rubbing alcohol into your
container. Some alcohol must float on top of the salts in
order to burn. This will produce a dramatic, beautiful flame.
Warning: I would not recommend doing this with small or
lively children present. Don’t ever leave the flame
unattended and keep some sand or salt on hand in case of
an accident.
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