The first time I heard about smudging was when I
worked at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. I was the manager of
the Changing Exhibit Hall at the time and we were featuring the Lewis and
Clark: Across the Divide traveling exhibit in our exhibit hall. This exhibit
told the story from the point of the Native tribes that Lewis and Clark met and,
many times, depended on when they were commissioned by President Thomas
Jefferson to go on this tour of discovery.
Out of all the exhibits that I took part in as
manager of the exhibit, The Lewis and Clark Exhibit was my favorite. While I was working in this special exhibit
many representatives from the Plains Tribes visited and I learned so very much
from them.
Smudging is a powerful cleansing technique of the
Native American people, but the burning of herbs for emotional and spiritual
cleansing was also practiced among many religions. It’s funny that it took me
so long to connect that the Catholic priests using burning incense to cleanse
the church during special holidays, was no different than what we do with
smudging. While the church uses Frankincense and myrrh to chase away demons, the
most common herbs used for smudging are Sage and sweetgrass.
Intentions
Everything has an energy field around it, including
us. When we pick up negative energy that can cause us to become ill in spirit,
mind and body, smudging helps to displace this unwanted negativity and restore
our aura to a pristine boundary around us. Smudging can be used to cleanse
people, places, and objects.
Set your intentions before you begin to smudge.
Smudging is an ancient sacred ceremony which should be done with the proper
mindset and protection. Smudging is using the power of the sacred plants to
restore balance. You must believe in the ceremony and its results. Sage drives
away negative energies while sweetgrass attracts positive energy.
Smudging
Using a clay pot, shell or flat rock, light the dry
herbs with a match and allow it to burn for a few moments. Using a large
feather (I use a hawk’s feather and a large seashell) fan the flames out. It is
the smoke that we will use.
You might want to open windows to allow the negativity to depart. While you smudge, you walk around each room in a clockwise fashion, fanning the smoke into all the corners While do the smudging of the room, you should be praying for our Creator to keep you safe as you send the negativity towards the heavens where they will be consumed and turned into positive energy.
You might want to open windows to allow the negativity to depart. While you smudge, you walk around each room in a clockwise fashion, fanning the smoke into all the corners While do the smudging of the room, you should be praying for our Creator to keep you safe as you send the negativity towards the heavens where they will be consumed and turned into positive energy.
When smudging a person, you want to follow the
course of the Chakra. We are attempting to draw universal light into the body. Locate
the point of origin of a person’s aura field. Each person is different. You
need to feel their energy field. Fan the burning herbs towards each chakra,
back and front of the body and from head to toe.
Benefits
When we remember that all life is connected
throughout the Universe, when we remember that we are part of nature; not above
it, when we realize that there are negative entities; human and demonic, when
we remember to hold tightly to the LIGHT, then and only then will we become
enlightened and cleansed. I’ve included a site that sells Native American
Smudging Supplies: http://www.horsekeeping.com/smudging/smudge-kits/smudge-kits.htm
and the site for the Lewis and Clark Exploration: Across the Divide: http://www.mohistory.org/node/223
and the site for the Lewis and Clark Exploration: Across the Divide: http://www.mohistory.org/node/223
No kidding, Marie, this is fascinating stuff, although I'd probably burn the house down or asphyxiate everyone...including my aura. You are truly amazing, my dear. Thanks for sharing this with your readers.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, Victoria, I laughed when I saw your comment. I have to tell you about the time I almost burned down my grandsons' play teepee
DeleteVery interesting stuff. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt really is, Dawn and it's something that doesn't always have to do with ghosts.
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