What is Smudging, and how can I do it in my Home?
Smudging is a Feng Shui Space Clearing ceremony designed to clean the negative energy in the home to allow for fresher, more vibrant chi to enter. Smudging can be repeated as frequently as needed.
When To Smudge
I always recommend that you smudge when you are feeling stuck, negative, sluggish, or even depressed, feelings which often indicate that there may be some stagnant energy in your field or environment. A field can include your emotional, energetic, mental, spiritual, or physical body and your environment (home, office, or other physical space). Stagnant or negative energy can have extremely detrimental effects on your mental and physical state and is even believed to manifest into a lack of happiness and success.
Whatever transpires in the environment is absorbed into the walls, furniture, carpet, ceiling, and objects. Frequently, these negative energies accumulate in the corners, closets, basement, garage, and tucked away places. Also, if you had a negative event happen recently or a lot of sadness or fear, it is suggested to cleanse your space immediately.
During smudging, herbs are set alight, and the smoke is directed into the areas of the home that need a blessing, clearing, and protection. White sage is one of the oldest and purest methods of cleansing both people and spaces and has been used for centuries in folk medicine, religious and healing practice, and rituals. The herb is known to dispel negative energy, drive away thoughts of ill spirits and free up the space to invite positive energy.
Palo Santo offers a grounding and positive energy and also enhances creativity and invites good fortune.
Incense is used as a part of the daily Puja ritual, which is a religious offering performed by Hindus to their Deities, especially during the beginning of a new venture, or to commemorate special occasions. The most common fragrances are Patchouli, Sandalwood, Rose, Nag Champa, Lavender, and Frankincense.
They all work separately to cleanse the space but when used in tandem, they make a powerful ritual when combined with intention.
When smudging, burn Sage first to clear out the negative energy, Palo Santo next to invite back the abundant energy and seal it with intention with your favorite Incense.
Preparing for Smudging
Before you smudge, there are a few basic supplies you’ll need to have on hand:
- A sage bundle (or smudge stick)
- An abalone seashell or bowl of ceramic, clay, or glass to hold the burning sage and ash
- A smudging feather (optional)
- A clear intention for the smudging held in your mind and heart: For example, your purpose could be to cleanse your space of any bad energy, impurities, negativity, problems, or anything else that does not support anyone living in your home.
How to Smudge your Home
Before smudging your space, I always recommend clearing your space of clutter and opening the doors and windows of your home to let the fresh air in (and the negative energy to leave afterward). Turn off all electronic devices within the space.
Prior to beginning, you also want to clear your body, mind, and spirit of any negative or stagnant energy. Start by lighting your smudging bundle or stick. It’s important to burn the bundle or stick in its entirety, placing it in a bowl to catch the burnt herbs. Next, breathe deeply and direct the sage smoke around your body from head to toe, front to back, right, and left.
Then, starting at your front door, slowly walk around the areas of your home, waving the smoke into the air, paying special attention to areas where the energy enters the room (doorways and hallways), and ensuring closet and cabinet doors are open. Smudge each area you would like to cleanse, including corners, closets, under counters, behind curtains, along ceiling lines, laundry room, basement, and garage. Let your intuition guide you. You can also guide the smoke in all four compass directions: the heavens above, the earth below, and within.
As you move throughout your home, repeat positive affirmations about what you want to attract into that area of your life. For example, in the Love area of the house, you could say, “This home is now filled with loving relationships.”
After you have cleansed all the areas of your home, cup your hands over the smoke and “wash” your face with it, repeating it all over your body. As you do this, visualize any negative residual energy disappearing entirely.
Finally, end the ritual outside of your front door and leave the sage stick safely outside. Do reignite until it’s completely extinguished and monitor it for safety.
For assistance with smudging your home, we encourage you to inquire about our Space Clearing Service, which has proven effective for many clients in combating negativity, clearing the energy in their field, and helping them start anew. Click HERE to book your free Discovery Call to learn more about the benefits of this service.