What is Smudging?

What is smudging and liquid smudge

Smudge is a method of energy clearing. The aim is to transmute negative energy from a space, thing, or person. That’s what is smudging.

Shamans and energy workers typically remove negative energy before conducting healing or spiritual work. This enhances the efficacy of their practices.

However, more and more a wider range of practitioners such as massage therapists, acupuncturists, counselors, and the general public use smudge to clear and refresh their homes, offices, and other spaces.

Traditional Smudging Methods

Smudging is an ancient method practiced by many cultures for spiritual and health purposes. Probably the most well-known method is smoldering dried herb sticks or wands.

Herbs and twigs are bunched and tied tightly together into wands or sticks. The bundled stick is lit on fire, the flame extinguished, and the resulting smoldering stick is passed over people and objects. The smoke can also be passed throughout a healing space to purify and clear negative energies.

White sage (Salvia apiana), sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), and sagebrush (Artemisia californica) are several of the most common herbs used in North America.

Adding Additional Healing Plants

Sandalwood (Santalum album) has been used in India and Sri Lanka for centuries, typically in the form of incense. In the Middle East Frankincense (Boswellia cateri) resin is the traditional cleansing oil.

There is a downside to this type of smudging with burning and smoke. The smoke from smoldering herbs can be overpowering and irritating. This form is not advised for people with allergies to smoke and respiratory issues. Fortunately, there are two other smudging methods.

Alternative Methods

Essential Oils

Diffuser oils made for high-quality essential oils can be added to a diffuser, volatilized, and dispersed into a space. This form of smudging can be applied continuously over some time by just leaving the diffuser running.

You can combine different essential oils with the basic smudge blend to create a more complex and specific healing effect. See Smudging: Creating a Clear and Protected Space, my natural healing and wellness eBook for ideas on additional essential oils to use.

Diffusion works well for practitioners who see many clients, one right after the other. It’s ideal for a busy spa, wellness center, or mental health practice.

Very light dilutions effectively express the medicinal properties: less is better. Just three or four drops of diffuser oil can adequately clear an average size room of 12 square feet.

Liquid Smudge

Liquid smudge is typically very light and exceptionally vibrational, especially when made from all-natural plant substances such as hydrosols. Because their scent is extremely light, there is little or no scent creep between healing sessions, making them ideal for spas, wellness centers, and offices.

For More Information: 

For more information on smudging, 20 plants and essential oils that can reinforce or broaden your intentions, and other methods of smudging, see my Starchaser eBook Smudging: Setting a Clear and Protected Space

or, to buy my ebook, go to my shop eBook page, and select the book from the dropdown menu.

You can also register for one of my in-person or virtual personal development, natural healing, and wellness workshops on smudging.

 

About Patricia Bonnard, PhD, ACC

Mind-body-spirit healing. Addressing the whole person, I blend conventional coaching, embodied practices, and energy healing to help you live a more balanced, confident and conscious life. Offering sessions in-person (Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC area) and virtually anywhere in the world. Workshops, eBooks, free guided meditations, and an active blog are also available.