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How to smudge (shamanic)
From: Enchanter
Subject: Smudging Text File
SMUDGING: HOW TO DO IT--HOW NOT TO DO IT
~~~
I came across a very interesting article from "Shaman's Drum" which was
reprinted for Vision Quest Bookstore. I will attempt to convey the gist of
it, along with my views, as a student of the Ways of the Teneh, about it.
Smudging is a way of using the smoke from burning herbs as a way to cleanse
the body, an object, or a given area of negative influences. I myself use
smudging to "cleanse" crystals before using them in jewelry projects I may
do, and for protecting my home from some recent "bad vibe"-producing events.
(landlord troubles!) I imagine that the skillful use of the proper herbs
could help in warding and banishing ceremonies as well, if used properly and
with reverence. The three most used plant material for smudging are sage of
all types, cedar, and sweetgrass.
Sage
~~~~
There are two major genii and several varieties of each genus of Sage that are
used for smudging. Salvia, or the herb sage used for cooking,comes in two
major varieties: S. Officinalis, commonly known as Garden Sage, and S.
Apiana, commonly known as White Sage. Salvia varieties have long been
acknowledged as healing herbs, reflected in the fact that its genus name
comes from the Latin root word *salvare*, which is the verb "to heal" or "to
save." Artemisia is the genus commonly considered "Sagebrush", and is more
common in the wilds out here in California. There are two major varieties to
the Artemisia genus: A. Californica, or Common Sagebrush, and A. Vulgaris, or
Mugwort. There are many other varieties of both Salvia and Artemisia, and all
are effective in smudging. Sage is burned in smudging ceremonies to drive
out evil spirits, negative thoughts and feelings, and to keep Gan'n (negative
entities) away from areas where ceremonials take place. In the Plains
Sweatlodge, the floor of the structure is strewn with sage leaves for the
participants to rub on their bodies during the sweat. Sage is also used in
keeping sacred objects like pipes or Peyote wands safe from negative
influence. In the Sioux nation, the Sacred Pipe is kept in a bundle with
sage boughs. I would think special crystals could be so protected this way
as well.
Cedar
~~~~~
True cedar is of the Thuja and Libocedrus genii. Some Junipers (Juniperus
genus) are also called "cedar", thus complicating things some. Some Juniper
varieties ARE cleansing herbs, especially J. Monosperma, or Desert White
Cedar. But for smudging, the best is Western Red Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
and California Incense Cedar (Libocedrus descurrens). Cedar is burnt while
praying to the Great Spirit (Usen', the Source--also known to Plains nations
as Wakan Tanka) in meditation, and also to bless a house before moving in as
is the tradition in the Northwest and Western Canada. It works both as a
purifier and as a way to attract GOOD energy in your direction. It is
usually available in herb stores in chipped form, which must be sprinkled
over a charcoal in a brazier.
I like a piece of charcoaled mesquite for this purpose, rather than the
commercial charcoal cake.
Sweetgrass
~~~~~~~~~~
Very important to the Sioux and Cherokee nations, its botanical name is
Hierochloe Oderata. In these tribes, the sweetgrass is braided like hair
braids. It could be burnt by lighting the end of it, or (more economically)
by shaving little bits of it onto charcoal in a brazier. Again, use
charcoaled Mesquite (I believe it comes packaged for barbecue use under the
brand name "Red Arrow") to burn it, not pressed charcoal tablets. Sweetgrass
is burnt after smudging with sage, to welcome in good influences after the
bad had been driven out. Sweetgrass is very rare today, and traditional
Plains people have been attempting to protect the last of it. Myself, I
believe that Cedar, which is not endangered, can safely be used this way.
Also Pinon pine needles (used more frequently by the Southwest Teneh, like
the Navajo and Apache as well as the Pueblo people and the Zuni) and Copal
(used by the Yaqui and in ancient times by the Azteca and the Maya) have
similar effect. The three mentioned here are redily available either through
gathering yourself or, in the case of copal resin, from any good herb shop.
Using Smudging
~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Burn clippings of the herb in a brazier...not a shell as some "new age"
shamanic circles do...it is an insult to White Painted Woman (The Goddess) to
do this, especially with the abalone shell which is especially sacred to Her.
If the herb is bundled in a "wand", you can also light the end of the wand
that isn't woody and use that. I like the latter way. Direct the smoke with
your hands or with a Peyote (feather) wand over the person or thing you wish
to smudge. If you can see auras, look for discolored places in the aura and
direct the healing smoke towards those places on the patient's body. For
cleansing a house, first offer cedar smoke to the four directions outside the
house. Then,take a sage bough and go throughout the inside of the house,
making sure the smoke penetrates every nook and cranny of the house. It
might help also, if you have a power animal, to visualize your animal doing
these things, to also dance your animal, and if you have a power song, to
sing that too. Then finally, run through the house with a white candle that
is well protected, to "light up" the house. Careful not to burn it down when
you do it!!!
Final Thoughts
~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Smudging should be done with care, with reverence, and in an attitude of LOVE.
Show your respect and honor to the plants that Usen' has given us for our
healing, and they will return the favor by keeping us well and free from
disease and negative energy. Aloe Vera plants,though not to be burnt, are
good for the cleansing angle as well. Keep one or more potted Aloe Veras in
the house (modern varieties are too tender to plant in anything but full
shade outside) in organic (wood or ceramic, never plastic or metal) pots. To
honor the plant when you transplant it, sprinkle the roots with corn meal and
smudge it with cedar once it is transplanted. The spirit of Aloe Vera is a
good protective spirit, and if you burn yourself, can also be used to heal
your skin. BE SURE TO ASK THE PLANT'S PERMISSION before cutting part of the
leaf off for the healing juice. If you don't, the protective power of the
plant will cease, and you will be left with but an inert houseplant...and
perhaps some bad karma to boot.
Hi-dicho, it is finished....ENJU!
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