Time to Smudge!

The practice of burning incense or herbs to purify sacred space, create positive energy, or remove negative energy goes back beyond recorded history. Burning smoke was often thought to help carry prayers to the Gods, the Great Spirit or to Heaven, depending on which tradition was performing the ritual. Native Americans turned to a variety of sage called Salvia apiana, or white sage, and burned it to cleanse the spirit and purity sacred space. It is still commonly used in sweat lodges and other ceremonies. This practice has been adopted by millions worldwide and is commonly referred to as “smudging”. Bundles of smudge sticks, which can contain white sage, blue sage, lavender, palo santo, cedar and other herbs are commonly sold in health food stores, bookstores, and boutiques.

Smudging is the common name given to the Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing, a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition using sage and other botanicals. Smudging calls on the spirits of sacred plants to drive away negative energies restoring all back to balance. It is used in almost all Native American ceremonies.