Juniper Berry in Smudge
Smudging is an ancient method of purifying and clearing negative energy from a room, sacred space, object, or person. The addition of certain herbs such as juniper berries in the smudge creates a positive and protective space.
Nowadays, smudge is still used for spiritual practices. But, it’s also used energy work and even everyday energetic clearing of spaces such as homes and offices to create clarity, flow, a welcoming ambiance, and shift the mood. The practice is becoming increasingly popular and broadly used. Office workers, mental health workers (e.g. counselors), and ordinary people are among those using smudge sticks and other energetic clearing products.
Methods of Smudging
Three common forms of smudge are:
- smoldering herbs (smudge stick),
- diffuser oils (essential oils) or
- liquid (liquid smudge).
The choice of the smudging method is really just a matter of preference.
Smudge Sticks:
Traditionally, dried herbs such as white sage (Salvia apiana), sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), and sagebrush (Artemisia californica) are bunched and tied tightly together into wands or sticks.
Juniper (Juniper communis) smudge sticks are sold on the internet, but they aren’t common. To smudge, a stick is lit, the flame extinguished and the resulting smoldering stick is passed over people and objects and/or throughout a healing space as the smoke purifies and clears negative energies.
The smoke from smoldering herbs can be overpowering and irritating. While this is a powerful way to cleanse energy, it is not advised for people with allergies to smoke and respiratory issues. Thankfully, there are alternatives.
Essential Oil Diffusion:
Diffuser oils made from essential oils derived from the same aromatic plants can be instead. However, not all smudge herbs yield essential oils. Those that do such as white sage and cedar can be continuously diffused and thus clear and set a positive, safe, healing space continuously. Several essential oils can be combined to create a more complex and supportive smudge and healing blend.
Diffusion works well for practitioners who see many clients, one right after the other. It works well for a busy spa, wellness center, or mental health practice. Subtle properties are effectively expressed in very light dilutions so very few drops (3 or 4) of diffuser oil can adequately clear an average size room (approximately 12 feet square). There is a wide range of diffusers available to suit most preferences (see our blog post on simple diffusers).
Liquid Smudge:
Liquid smudge is light and exceptionally vibrational, especially if made from all-natural plant substances. Because their scent is extremely light, there is little or no scent creeps between healing sessions, making them ideal for spas, wellness centers, and offices.
Juniper Berry for smudging
Juniper Berry (Juniper communis) is an excellent addition to more standard smudges. Most smudges primarily clear negative energy. Juniper does this as well. But, juniper also draws in positive energy and creates a safe, protective, positive, healing space. Juniper berries are energetically and physically detoxifying as well as centering. That’s why they’re added to medicinal teas and detox scrubs, creams, and oils. Add juniper berry to your lunar (new moon energy and full moon energy, solstice (winter solstice and spring solstice) winter inner work celebrations, rituals, and intention setting.
With properties such as these, it’s easy to understand why adding Juniper to smudging. Juniper berry smudge does come in the form of smudge sticks, but it’s more accessible as an essential oil. Using juniper essential oil allows you to diffuse it for smudging and avoid the smoke. Although not common, juniper berry hydrosol, like essential oil, is a product of distillation. In this form, you can use it as a liquid smudge and avoid both annoying smoke and fire risk.
Juniper Berry Description
Juniper berry (Juniper communis) is highly variable, but typically a small evergreen tree or shrub that reaches a height of about 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3.5 meters). It can occasionally grow to 30 feet (10 meters). It has a broad habit (shape). As a shrub, it can be as wide as it is tall. It has one of the most extensive ranges of any tree as can grow in varied temperate and boreal habitats.
It’s native to the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America as well as northern Mexico. It also thrives in Greenland, Iceland, New Mexico, and Arizona. While a coniferous plant in the Cupressaceae (Cypress) family, its cones look more like berries: smoky blue meaty dented globes.
For aromatherapy purposes, the berries are steam-distilled dried, or partly dried to yield both essential oil and hydrosol (also called hydrolat).
References and Resources On Plants:
I use so many resources and references and have firsthand experience so I don’t rely on specific references, but here are a few good ones:
- Botanical Online
- Davis, Patricia (1991). Subtle Aromatherapy. CW Daniel Company, Ltd
- Gymnosperm Database
- USDA Plant Profiles
For More Information On Clearing Energy:
- See my eBook Clearing Energy With Smudging. It’s informative and provides an extensive list of common smudging plants.
- Join one of my virtual and in-person personal growth, natural healing, and wellness workshops, in particular, “Smudging For Creating A Clear and Protected Space,” and Essential Oils for Energy Clearing And Spiritual Healing.” Check my Eventbrite page for scheduled events.
- Additional blog posts on smudging and clearing:
- Or, Contact Me
