I do house and business cleansing as a service but I also use the technique in ritual and in general day to day life.
It is a practice that has been done for 100’s of years all over the world.
Many modern Pagans seem to go for the White Sage pre made bundles that are easily purchased over the internet (starchild.co.uk) or in local supply shops. There have however been recent rumblings that as White Sage is not native to our European landscape and may even be becoming scarce so we might do better by using something local.
Rosemary, lavender or our own indigenous sage that we use in cooking are all good alternatives that many of us could make from our own gardens. If you are in a rush then a simple incense stick or cone would do. You could also use frankincense or myrhh on a piece of smoldering charcoal.
The act of smudging is to cleanse any negativity, it also helps shift ‘stuck’ energies. With a house you can work methodically from the top to the bottom, finishing at the door moving all the energy outside to dissipate. With a person you can do whatever you feel comfortable with, some work from the feet upwards, others start at the heart and work down each limb. Whatever you feel is right for you is right. You can ‘wash’ the smoke over the person, object or building with your hand or a feather or a beautiful smudging fan.
As well as the smoke from the smoldering herb bundles we can utilize noise, from short sharp clapping to little bells or singing bowls. Sound vibrates through the air which is very effective at moving and cleansing energy that is vibrating at a denser or just a different level. You could also use musical instruments such as a drum or didgeridoo.
Try it out if you’ve never done it before and if you do it anyway experiment with some different methods and herbs. Let me know if you like it!
Old Ways Cottage 