Sacred Cleansing

Smudging is a tradition, common to many First Nations, which involves the burning of one or more medicines gathered from the earth.
The four sacred medicines used in First Nations’ ceremonies are tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweetgrass.
The most common medicines used in a smudge are sweetgrass, sage, and cedar.

Smudging allows people to stop, slow down, and become mindful and centred as they connect to the smells of the Earth.
This allows people to remember their essence, to connect, and be grounded in the event, task, or purpose at hand. 

Smudging also allows people to let go of negative feelings and thoughts. Letting go of things that inhibit a person from being balanced and focused comes from the feeling of being calm and safe while smudging

The forms of smudging will vary from nation to nation but are considered by all to be a way of cleansing oneself.

The native of the Central and Southern continent use also Palo Santo, Tobbaco,  Agua florida….

The act of clearing the air, mind, spirit, and emotions may be accomplished in a variety of ways but, according to First Nations’ practice, a smudge is led by any person who has an understanding of what a smudge is and why it is done.

It is voluntary and people are never forced or pressured to smudge. It is completely acceptable for a person to indicate that they do not want to smudge.

The medicine is placed in a smudge container. The container may be a shell; a ceramic or stone bowl; or a copper, brass, or cast iron pan. 

Once the medicine is lit, the smoke may be pushed forward with a feather or a fan. The person who lights the smudge is first.

A smudge sage stick is created mainly from the leaf of the plant, which is rolled into a ball for burning. Only a small stream of smoke for the person who is smudging is required.

When we smudge, we first cleanse our hands with the smoke as if we were washing our hands. We then draw the smoke over our heads, eyes, ears, mouths, and our bodies. These actions remind us to think good thoughts, see good, do good actions, hear good sounds, speak good words, and show the good of who we are.

Once the smudge is over, the smudge ball is allowed to burn out naturally while the person leading the smudge watches, paying attention until it is completely out. Some people choose to bury the ashes or smudge stick ends. Other people prefer to wash the ashes away with water. 

■ We smudge to clear the air around us and our auras.

■ We smudge to clean our minds and thoughts

■ We smudge our eyes so that we will clear the fog and see good things in self and others.

■ We smudge our ears so that we will cleanse what we heard, and only listen to the good and sweet for self and others

■ We smudge our mouths and throats so that we will only speak sweetness, truth and wisdom into our worlds for self and others

■ We smudge our whole being so that we will clear the energetic clutter and negative energies and walk this path giving and receiving all the goodness that life has to offer.