How to Cleanse the Mind With Indian Rituals
Spirituality and spiritual rituals are a vital part of Native American culture. Though not considered a religion, it is a way of life. Native Americans often using smudge stick rituals in order to cleanse the mind and body of negativity before delving deeply into spiritual realms or everyday life. A smudge stick is a bunch of dried sticks and various herbs tied together with string or twine. When lit on fire, the herbs do not burn but create a pungent smoke that is often used for cleansing.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Sit down for 10 or more minutes and meditate in a comfortable and quiet room. Think about the ideas, thoughts or feelings you wish to dispel from your mind. Try to find the root of these thoughts or feelings and what thoughts you would like to have instead. Once your mind has calmed and you have a clear idea of what you want dispelled, take a deep breath a light your smudge stick.
-
2
Put out any small flames and let the smudge stick smoke for a few seconds. Without actually inhaling any of the vapor, imagine the cleansing smoke entering your mind, and starting to loosen your mental negativity.
-
-
3
Slowly trace the smudge stick along your limbs starting with your feet and moving up toward your head. Let the smoke bathe your skin and cleanse your body. Trace the stick along your arms and around your torso. Imagine the herbs dispelling negative energies.
-
4
Trace the stick up the neck, not actually touching the skin and finally around the head. Close your eyes and imagine the smoke pulling away negative thoughts, images or patterns you wish to eliminate. Bathe your hair in smoke and finally put the stick out in the bowl or continue to smudge your surrounding area to dispel any negativity in the vicinity.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
