What is Smudging | A Basic Energy Clearing Method

Although well-known to shamanic and energy healers, many people new to these kinds of subtle energy treatments have never heard of one basic but important practice called smudging. For example, a common question my new clients and students ask is: “What is smudging.”

What’s Smudging

Smudging is a tradtional method of clearing negative or toxic energy used by many different indignous people and cultures since the beginning of human history.

Nowadays most healers and some private individuals use smudging.

The aim the method is to transmute negative energy from a space, object, or person both for the purpose of healing and to enhance the effectiveness of their offerings.

Why Is Clear Energy Important

Shamans and energy workers typically begin their sessions by removing negative energy from their healing space. They may also use one of several smudging methods to clear themselves and their clients before and/or after the session.

A Growing 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. They may smudge themselves, but they don’t typically smudge their clients.

As noted above energy clearing facilities the flow of subtle life-force energy and other healing energy frequencies such as Reiki or Integrated Energy Therapy (IET). Unbl0cking and rebalancing this flow is at the heart of energy healing.

Traditional Smudging Methods

Throughout human history, many cultures used this ancient practice of smudging for spiritual and health purposes. For some, transmuting energy was essential to basic hygiene and hospitality (e.g, Yemen).

Arguably, the smoldering dried herb bundles or sticks made from the right plant material is the most well-known smudging method.

Common Herbs Found in Smudge Sticks

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

I like to add Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis) to my smudge because this plant draws in positive energy and protection.

People in India and Sri Lanka used Sandalwood (Santalum album) for centuries, typically in the form of incense.

In the Middle East Frankincense (Boswellia cateri) resin is the traditional cleansing oil. Palo Santos (Bursea graveolens) is common in South America.

How to Make and Use Smudge Sticks

Creating herb sticks is straightforward. People first identified appropirate plants for smudging, They then tied the herbs and twigs tightly together together into wands or sticks.

To use these bundled herbs, they lit them on fire. They then extinguished the flame, causing the sticks to smolder. This smoke was the cleansing agent. People passed the sticks over people and objects, covering them with smoke. They also used this smudging method in healing spaces and homes to purify and clear negative energies.

For those who are sensitive to, or dislike smoke, there are altenatives.

Alternative Methods For Clearing Energy

Smudge can take a number of other forms:

essential oil and hydrosol diffusions, which are smoke-free smudge options
loose dried plant herbs
smoldering resins such as Frankincense (Boswellia cateri)
incense, although this form often containes other plant products and artfical ingredients

In addition, vibration or sound (rattling or drumming), crystals, and a variety of energy healing practices (e.g., symbols, meditation, breath work) can be cleansing. (See my ebook Essential Oils for Smudging, my blog post on a Five-Minute Clearing Meditation, and a powerful Traditional Reiki Meditation.

Essential Oils For Smudging

Diffuser Oils for Energy Cleansing

Diffuser oils made for high-quality essential oils can be added to a diffuser, volatilized, and dispersed into a space to transmute energy. 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 clearing blend, creating a more complex and multipurpose blend and specific healing effect.

For ideas on additional essential oils to use, see Smudging: Creating a Clear and Protected Space, one of my more popular natural healing and wellness eBooks.

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

This liquid form 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 on Smudging:

See my Starchaser eBook Smudging: Setting a Clear and Protected Space. The book provides information on smudging, over 20 plants and essential oils that can reinforce or expand the intentions of the clearing, and descriptions of other methods of smudging.

Updated July 19, 2024

Updated July 15, 2025

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