Herbal Smudge Sticks

[Lady River Dragonsong]

Herbal Smudge Sticks

Smudge Sticks, Bundles, Wands

Many religious and spiritual traditions practice the burning of herbs for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification. Smudging is a ritual way to cleanse a person, place or an object of negative energies, spirits or influences. You may want to use a smudge stick if you have strong negative feelings of anger, hurt or sadness, cleansing a home of past energies, or to set the atmosphere for a ceremony.

There really is no limit to the kinds of herbs that can be added to a smudge stick. The more aromatic the better. Some examples of good smudging herbs are:

· Sage(all smell different so experiment)
· Cedar
· Rosemary
· Lavender
· Rose petals or buds
· Sweet Grass
· Tobacco
· Sandalwood
· Pine needles or bark
· Yarrow

To make your own smudge stick is not that difficult but may require a couple of tries to be sure that the results will hold together as it smolders.

Take your chosen herbs and using that largest leaves as the holders, wrap the smaller herbs within the layers of leaves starting from the stem end and tying as tightly as you can without breaking the embroidery floss. Criss cross the resulting bundle often for an even wrap. Taking care to keep the bundle tight will ensure that your smudge will smolder and not openly burn. The idea is that you want to have the smoke without the flame. Hang the tied bundles upside down to dry.

You will need to have a flameproof vessel to set the smoldering smudge stick in after you light it. A large shell works very well but any other dish or tray will do. If wafting the smoke around the intended person or object is desired, a feather is appropriate and works exceptionally well as does a hand fan of some sort. Something that has sacred meaning to you would be right no matter what it is. Some people simple wave the smudge around for a bit and that is fine as well but be careful of the dropping ash. To put out the smoldering, you may tamp it against the flameproof vessel.