I get a lot of questions about smudging, how I do it, why I have this habit and how to make the bundle / stick I smudge with. Your questions led me to writting this post so, if you still have any doubts after reading it, please share them with me by the end of the post.
WHAT?
Smudging is the act of burning special healing herbs as part of a cleansing ritual to clear energies, air or a physical space.
According to Marika Messager, at the Numinous, smudging can be seen as the psychic equivalent for “washing your hands before eating” and it has science proved facts: as stated by Prof. Chandra Nautiyal, smoke from some herbs can even change the molecular structure of air and energy. Smoke attaches itself to negative energy and when smoke dissipates, negative energies dissipate as well.
Studies show that burning some plants can reduce bacteria in the air, even after that smoke has gone.
More sceptically speaking, when burned, sage and other herbs release negative ions, which are linked to a more positive mood. How? Smoke increases the oxygen supply in the brain, producing muscle relaxation and, therefore, a happier, more relaxed self.
Personally, I feel the energy shifting around me when I smudge with sage or palo santo and I don’t skip this ritual, at least, on a weekly basis. I use both a homemade sage bundle and a palo santo stick, choosing one over the other when I feel like it.
WHEN?
It is nice to smudge before/after healing practices like yoga, meditation, self-love rituals, after an argument, when you move to a new living or working space, before a special event, whenever you feel down or are surrounded by stagnant energies.
You can smudge daily, weekly or simply when you feel like it. You can also not smudge if you don’t like, believe or feel it, has it is a very personal practice. I believe you can, of course, Please Consider it and try it but, as always, it is totally up to you.
HOW?
- INTENTION
I like to start with an intention while I’m lighting the stick. Think of what you want to cleanse and how you visualize the outcome.
You should be in a good and peaceful place/mood and focusing on cleasing the negative energies and replacing them for positive ones throughout the whole ceremony.
- MAKE IT WORK!
Light up the tip of the smugding bundle or stick with a lighter or candle, let the flame rise energetically and fan the burning side so it starts to smoke (you shouln’t blow it yourself since it can contaminate the smoke and energy of the whole pratice). Repeat until you see red choals, since this keeps the stick smoking for longer.
I like to play nice soothing music during the ceremony, stronf noises are not advised.
- SELF
Always start by clearing your energies first, gently waving the smoke around you, up and down, 360º around yourself clockwise, and then do the reverse. Meanwhile, ask so that your energies are cleaned and you don’t attract any of the ceremony’s “left-over” energies.
- ROOM / HOUSE
To smudge a house or a room, start in the furthest corner and make your way towards the windows, so energies leave as well as the smoke (windows can be open). Special attention to corners, doors, closets. Continuously focus on cleansing the energies, visualise the room being protected and good vibes to come and stay. Finish it by saying a final sealing prayer.
- PERSON
I like to start by bringing the smudging stick close to one’s heart, go up to the head and make my way down, always visualising the person surrounded by warm loving energy. From the shoulders down and from the waist down. You can bring the smoke to the chakras and cleanse each one individually.
I feel like clearing a bit the room after smudging the person so that the energies don’t stay in the room.
- THE END
Put the smudging bundle or stick on a fire-proof surface, like sand, earth, a shell or a natural ceramic plate. I use a shell I love and the most common is an abolone shell but you don’t find them in Portugal. Do not wet the stick and let it go on until the smoke goes out or, very gently, press the smoking tip on the surface to keep from smoking much longer. Keep the smudging material on an open shelf, if possible, close to your special amulets and above shoulder height.
HOW TO MAKE A SAGE BUNDLE
It may sound difficult at first but I assure you that it is easy and you’ll get even better with each bundle you make.
You’ll need sage and/or other herbs (check here a list of herbs and their uses) and a long piece of cotton string, all natural and, preferably, organic.
Harvest the sage or buy it, always organic – you don’t want to burn all those nasty chemicals during your cleansing ceremony, right? – and make it while still fresh. Choose the biggest leaves and stalks.
Be in a mentally good place while making the bundles. Remember they will have a powerful role cleansing all energies.
- Get all the stalks + leaves together and hold them with the chubiest stalks in your hand. Keep it tight and start from the bottom, crossing the bundle with the cotton string until you reach the upper part.
- Twist the cord and come down, crossing tightly and making sure no leaves stay out from the bundle. If so, holf them in and cross the string over it.
- Knot the root of the bundle very tight – the leaves will dry and loose volume – and cut the ends of the cotton string. Optionally, trim away the top of the bundle, like shown in the photo.
- Let the bundle dry in a well ventilated place. You can hang it so it dries a bit faster. When completely dry (check the interior), it is ready to use.
I hope this article helped demystifying smudging and that you try it, at least one time 🙂
Show me your bundles by tagging them on instagram with #pleaseconsiderliving.
Do you use regular sage for this? I have been looking for white sage but unable to find it in Portugal.
Hi Jodi,
I didn’t find white sage yet either but I use the regular green sage that I source through my organic supplier.
They both hold benefits although the white one is known to be more powerful.
I you can find it, let me know!
xx
Joana
Olá Joana, adorei o artigo e já comprei a salva! Mas não encontrei a corda que seja de material biológico. Onde compras? Obrigada!
Olá Rita 🙂 corda de algodão mesmo bio não sei mas compro 100% algodão em qualquer lado 🙂 Beijinho
Obrigada Joana! Beijinhos 😊
Hello 🙂 where can we buy the cotton cord? Thank you in advance! ❤️🙏
Hi Martyna!
You can buy it at any crafts shop or in some supermarkets, some of the food safe strings are made of cotton 🙂
xx
Joana
Hi Joana, my smudging stick doesn’t keep burning, I have to keep lighting it up. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Angelica 🙂
Are you sure it is completely dry?
Any humidity will keep it from burning. Also, it doesn’t burn “forever” like incense, just for a few minutes. The more fire you give to it, the longer it will burn.
Hope I’ve helped <3
Joana
Yeah I think it wasn’t completely dry, I’ll try again. Your blog is awesome, thank you for your help.
Thank you so much. Hope next times goes great!
x
Joana
Hi Joana, I’m wondering approx how much sage it takes to make one bundle. Thank you for the help.
Hi Melissa!
Oh that’s a tricky one, it will always depend on the size you want to create but I reckon around 150-200gr for a small-medium bundle would be enough 🙂
Have a beautiful day,
Joana
Love your blog. I have problems with the string unraveling when my smudge stick burns down. How do you keep the stick from falling apart?
Hey Cheryl, Thanks for the love!
Well, first of all you have to push the string very tightly when you’re making your smudging sticks. Then it shouldn’t fall apart if completely dried and held tight.
If it still becomes a problem, you can always pass a new string around the part that’s falling apart and tie it again 🙂
I hope it helped!
love,
Joana
You should burry it in the ground when you are finished. The reason we use a shell is because it represents water, the feather for wind and of course fire and earth. I start at the front door leaving it open. And you absolutely must have open doors or windows to allow an exit for the unwanted.
Thank you for all the great tips!
I usually don’t burry it cause mine is big and lasts for other times. I simply keep it on the shell. You think that’s wrong?
Thank you once again 🙂
Joana
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/smudging
Referring to smoke cleansing as “smudging” is confusing it with the common name of an indigenous peoples’ practice. “Smudging” is a cultural ceremony that also consists of specific prayers in the ritual. It’s important to keep the concepts separate.
Thank you for sharing
x
Joana
I am excited to try! When you say it will loose…will the bundle get loose when it dries?
Yes, it will because when drying it looses moisture.
That’s why it is important to tigh it very well and tight.
x
Joana
Love this and thanks so much! My only problem is that I’m Pretty Sure the word “smudging” is only used by Native American practices, and if you’re not in that it should be called smoke cleansing or something like that. Again, thanks a bunch!
Thank you for your suggestion and feedback 🙂
love,
Joana
Hi! I stumbled upon your website after trying to search what mistakes Ive done in the making of my smudge wand. Everyone says to just dry them. and I did that. They are all dried to the point where theyre crispy and will easily breakup. The problem is the smell. I dried cooking sage and rosemary.. Its been 2weeks since Ive dried then. Its quite dry here where I live. When I burned them today I coupd only smell ‘ burning smell’ Not anything like white sage or aromatic fragrance. Same goes to rosemary. Also I have a store bought dried bay leaf which people say is another alternative for smudging and even this one has the same problem. No fragrance, just that burnt smell. Like what do you think is the problem? I bought a dried lavender and burnt them too but they were quite ok in that I could smell abit of lavender. Please help, what could be the problem with the smell? :0
Hello Heidi,
Could it be you’re burning them too fast? Usually what gives the scent/fragrance is when you let it smoke without flame. I usually light it a bit so a small part turns incandescent, put it off and let it smoke gently.
I hope it helped 🙂 <3
Joana
I thought you might like to know that “smudging” is the name of an elder lead ceremony of Native North Americans. Otherwise the term is smoke cleansing.
Thank you for clearing that up 🙂 <3
How do I put resin in a smudge stick? I want to make a smudge sticks with myrrh, frankincense and copal. Would it burn right if I were to put the chance of resin on the inside of the smudge stick?
Hi Alisha,
I believe natural resins would still burn but I haven’t tried so I can’t say for a fact 🙂
xx
Joana
how do you store your sticks after you have them made and they have dried properly? Than you
Hi!
I usually store them around the house for decoration, I don’t make too many and prefer to make as I go.
Just try to not keep them in a very humid environment so they don’t spoil or gain mould.
x
Joana
Do you have to use cotton string? I have a thin macrame jute. Is that ok?
I think so yes 🙂
x
Joana
What’s the substitute for cotton strings? Can I use yarn?
I would say a natural fibre is usually a good choice, once it will burn and you don’t want synthetic materials smoke.
x
Joana
Can you ase pineapple sage?
Hi,
It’s best white sage for its purifying properties 🙂
x
Joana
Hi Joana,
I’m in the states, where do you purchase your raw sage stalks?
I’m based in Portugal and never been to the states so I’m afraid I can’t help much.
Here you can buy in organic supermarkets when in season. I would talk with my locals vendors at my usual farmers market and ask if they have it or if they know someone who does 🙂
Hope it helped!
x
Joana
Do you burn the cord you tie the bundle with? Or do you start to remove it as burning gets close to it?
I usually let it burn as well, that’s why it is important to use organic cotton or the best natural fibre you can find 🙂
xx
Joana