Using smoke to cleanse your space & energy.
“The modern day use herbs in ceremony should not be diluted by new age adaptation or ignorance of the sacred & reverent origins of these historical practices, nor should the requests of cultural groups who have spoken to the overuse of their native & sacred herbs be appropriated or ignored, which is why Elemental Remedy chooses not to sell white sage or palo santo.”
The lighting of herbs & the use of using smoke for cleansing has been practiced over centuries, by many ancient cultures across the globe. Each of these ancient practices hold unique significance & ceremonial meaning, depending on the cultural group of its origin, woven with reverence & tradition far greater & more powerful than anything we can fathom...
We come from a lineage of ancestors & I ask that, if you choose to engage in energy clearing using smoke, I invite you to enquire, educate & respect the ancient lineages of those who have come before you, when using smoke in ritual. It is important to honour the sacred & ancient origins of smoke cleansing, now that the practices have become more readily available to us, in this increasingly global & culturally diverse age...
safety note:
Always use a fire proof plate to catch ash + embers, to avoid fire risk.
When working with a lit smudge stick, practice caution & never allow a lit smudge stick to come into contact with your hair, clothes or body.
the ritual:
FOR THE BODY:
as you light the herbs, set your intention…
Suggestions:
"I cleanse my myself of all stagnant, negative energy, inviting in fresh, abundant energy"
or
"I release all that no longer serves me, elevating my vibration to that of light + love only"
or
"As I cleanse my energy, I create new space for positivity to flow"
Move the smoke around the boundary of your body, starting at the base of the feet & moving upwards towards the crown of the head. Concentrate on the joints, underarms & the hair. Our hair is like energetic antenna & can hold a lot of stagnation & tension. I like to let mine down & flip my head forward, allowing plumes of smoke to infiltrate my hair as I gently shake my head from side to side. Trust me, you will feel the release afterwards.
Remember: practice caution here & never allow a lit smudge stick touch your hair, clothing or body parts.
Once you feel clear, extinguish the herbs into a fire safe bowl.
FOR THE HOME:
Again, light the herbs & set your intention. Begin moving the smoke around the boundary of the room as you go, using sweeping motions over doorways & windows. Pay attention to nooks & corners where energy can build up or become stuck.
In corners, move the smoke in an up + down motion. Catch any embers or ash as you go, holding a fire proof bowl in the other hand.
Continue with your affirmation or intention as you work through the space.
To end, ash out the herb stick into a fireproof bowl + ensure it is fully extinguished.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
Never leave smudge sticks burning, unattended or near clothing, the body, children or pets.