How to Smudge a House

Smudging has been used for centuries to rid an area of negative energy or spirits. It involves burning certain dried herbs to form a smoke bath that cleanses and purifies people, objects and homes. Generally sage, sweet grass and cedar are burned.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dried white sage
• Sweet grass
• Cedar shavings or chips
• Large feather
• Small ceramic or stone bowl
• Matches

1. Put a small mixture of the sage, cedar and sweet grass in the bowl.
2. Light the herbs with a match. The flame should self-extinguish leaving you with only smoke, but if it doesn't gently blow on it to get rid of the flame.
3. In the first room take the feather and softly fan the smoke from the bowl into all four corners starting with the West. As you fan the smoke say out loud, "I fill this home with love and light." If you don't feel comfortable saying this, then say a prayer as you work.
4. Once you have completed all four corners walk around the rest of the room and fan the smoke in every direction repeating your statement or prayer. Move from room to room in this fashion until you have smudged every room in the house.
5. When you have finished, extinguish the smoke with a little water and dispose of the used herbs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to use loose herbs you can use a smudge stick.
• If you use a smudge stick, extinguish it by simply dabbing the lit end on the bottom of the bowl.
• You do not have to use all the herbs mentioned. You can use sage only.
• The Cedar works as a purifier and draws in good energy.
• The Sage drives off evil spirits and negative thoughts or feelings.
• The Sweet grass brings in positive energy.
• Do not use around small children.
• Do not use around people with asthma or other respiratory problems.
• Be careful around draperies and other furniture so you don't catch them on fire.