Smudging is widely known across the world as a technique to cleanse your space and remove bad energy, but where did this idea come from, and does it actually do anything?
The burning of sacred plants, flowers, and herbs can be dated back many centuries; the Egyptian incense burners can be traced back to their 5th dynasty, roughly ~4500 years ago, so this idea by far isn’t new. The burning of these products of nature was said to provide many healing benefits, ward away insects, and create a balance of energy within a room. To some, burning certain plants can be a direct communication line to the gods! In Native American tradition, this is called the Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing. Said to call upon the energies of the plants you a burning, this powerful technique can be used to restore balance to an individual, place, or object. Today, that same premise is associated with smudging.
The basic components of smudging are meant to embody the energies of all the natural signs– fire, water, earth, and air. Typically you burn your herbs in a shell to represent water, the lit herbs represent fire, the ash it turns to represents the earth, and finally, the smoke that is released represents air. An important aspect of smudging is burning the right herbs. There are many that can be used for different purposes, but there are three that are most commonly used: Sage, Cedar, and Sweetgrass.
Sage comes in many different shapes and sizes; there are over 900 different species just within the Salvia genus! Not to get confused with Salvia divinorum, known for its hallucinogenic properties, Salvia officinalis and Salvia apiana are the most common forms of Sage that people use in their rituals. S. officinalis, better known as western sage is known for its medicinal benefits that can help with many illnesses like laryngitis, tonsillitis, and headaches. This is because this type of sage contains many flavonoids, monoterpenoids, diterpenes, and triterpenes that provide antimicrobial, antipyretic, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. In medicinal usage, sage is usually made into tea and ingested for maximum effect. White Sage, S.apiana, is usually burned and is used for purification, protection, and cleansing of negative energy by releasing negative ions which can boost the mood chemical serotonin. Burning a Cedar stick can produce a similar achievement, but is most notably known for attracting good spirits. Sweetgrass is particularly common in Sioux and Cherokee ceremonies. Known as the “hair of Mother Earth”, burning sweetgrass is said to carry the prayers over into the spirit world and is done after sage has already been used.
There is no doubt that smudging has been used for centuries and the believed benefit from this ritual will continue to be carried on from generation to generation. As far as we can see, the medicinal benefits are there, and although the spiritual connection cannot be proven, that hasn’t stopped people from all different backgrounds from using this in their rituals.
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