Thursday, May 10, 2012

Smudging, Why Do It?






I admit it, I am a lover of smudging.  It may have something to do with the fact that I am 50% Ojibwa and that I am being guided by my ancestors to do it, or in simpler terms I just love how it feels after I smudge my house.  Normally I smudge at the beginning of every new season unless I feel the need to do it more often.  There was a time that I was doing it every month or every other week, but those days are over with now.

Smudging is a Native American ritual of burning items such as cedar and sage, but with the psychic work that I do my smudge mix is a lot more complicated than just using sage or cedar.  Even though, when I do my work I always put a circle of White Light around me with a purple flame above my head for protection from any negative or evil spirits, they can still sometimes creep into my home, so every time I smudge my mix looks like this:

cedar - for the removal of negative energies and creating an area of protection
sage - for the removal of negative energies and creating an area of protection
sweetgrass - brings in blessings and healing energies
tobacco - used in most Native American rituals for cleansing and healing
rosemary - this banishes a negative energy that my be lingering in your home or sacred space, negative energies can not stand the smell of rosemary so it chases them away
nettle - this also banishes a negative energy from your home or sacred space

Smudging has been used by many groups, whether it's the Native Americans using sage & cedar or the Catholics using frankincense and myrrh which were delivered to the baby Jesus.  Incense has been used by many cultures for many different things.  I am only talking about what I do to cleanse and honor my heritage.

I also burn the tiny incense cones that come in various scents, my favorite are cedar, healing, protection, and cedar/sage.  I always burn them at my desk when I am either working on my blog or writing my book - it helps to clear the energy and allow me to hear what I am supposed to write next.

Until next time....

4 comments:

  1. "Smudging... Why do it?"
    Because we're not the only energies out there, and not everyone plays nicely.
    'Nuff said.
    BTW, it's tremendously cool that you're Native American!!! :). I'm soooo not worthy...

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  2. I thought you knew that I was Native American... you've seen pics of me, don't I look it? I have the high forehead, the round nose, the high cheekbones, the fuller face... my complexion comes from my Mexican heritage, I'm 50% Ojibwa and 50% Mexican. I should wear a sign that says "Don't piss off, contents under pressure!" LOL I have a very short fuse. But you're right, there are other energies out there and some don't play nice. I've had a few try and get at me mostly at night and my g-g-great grandfather's entire tribe comes to my rescue. It's awesome to see them! I wish so badly that you could see what I see.

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  3. Oh yes, girl... I knew... just wanted to give my mad props to you. Having been born in Plymouth, MA, I fully respect all Native Americans. Oh, and my ancestors were pilgrims and witches (hung in the Salem Witch trials)!!! :)

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