What Is Shamanic Smudging?

Shamanic smudging--or just smudging--is an age-old tribal tradition which has been used for centuries to create harmony and peace. There are many different shamanic smudging ceremonies, and different tribes use a variety of herbs for smudging.

To define it more clearly, shamanic smudging is the burning of herbs or incense for cleansing, purification, protection of physical and spiritual bodies, banishment of negative energies and creation of sacred space. You can use smudge sticks (herbs that are tied into a bundle for easier handling), braided herbs and botanicals (like sweetgrass) or loose herbs (burned on charcoal or mugwort, or in a firepit). Shamanic smudging releases the energy and fragrance of the herbs and botanicals so they can heal, cleanse and purify.

In many traditions, shamanic smudging involves a four directions ceremony or prayer, which sends specific kinds of smoke or prayers into the four directions. Different tribes have different smudging prayers that "program" the smoke to do a specific action, such as cleansing or aiding in divination.

In general, shamanic smudging can be used in daily life for practical purposes--to restore physical, mental and emotional balance; to shield against negative energies; to cleanse yourself, your magickal tools and your space; and to restore you sacred space.


COMMON HERBS USED IN SMUDGING 
Although different tribes and traditions use different herbs for shamanic smudging, some of the most popular herbs include desert sage, white broadleaf sage, juniper, pinon (sometimes in resin form), sweetgrass, copal (in resin form), mugwort, lavender and sacred tobacco. Here are some general uses for the different herbs often used for smudging:

PINON RESIN
Primarily fire element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Has a pleasant and meditative fragrance. Is cleansing, strengthening, warming, and used by Native American cultures for its spiritual and healing properties. Produces a thick stream of smoke, and is excellent for refreshing the senses and reviving a tired soul.

COPAL GOLD RESIN
Primarily fire and water elements though can also be used for four-element general purposes. When burned, the scent is sweet, resinous, slightly woody, mildly earthy and spicy. Was a holy incense used by the peoples of Mesoamerica. Traditionally used as incense in divinatory and cleansing ceremonies. The resin contains aromatic chemicals called terpenes, which make it volatile and flammable. Used by Mayan shamans prior to ingesting mushrooms.

MYRRH RESIN
Primarily earth element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Produces a lot of smoke when burned, very earthy, piney scent. Gathered from an almost leafless Middle Eastern shrub called the Commiphora Molmol. It was used by the ancient Egyptians in rituals of Healing and Passing. It is one of the ingredients used by the Egyptians to embalm bodies. Useful for spirituality, meditation, happiness, release, transformation, strength, confidence and stability.

FRANKINCENSE RESIN
Primarily fire element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Is the resin of an African tree and produces a rich, dense smoke when burned. Used extensively in meditation and healing. In numerous religious traditions, frankincense's spiritual scent was believed to confer divine blessing. Pliny the Elder mentioned it as an antidote to hemlock poisoning.

DESERT SAGE
Primarily air element though can also be used as for four-element general purposes. Has a somewhat sharp, light and refreshing scent. One of the most sacred herbs among Native Americans. Used to purify the mind, body and spirit before prayer, meditation, ritual or ceremony. Also used to purify sacred items such as pipes, magical tools, tarot decks and eagle feathers. Can be used for area, house and personal cleansings. Some people carry a small amount of Sage in a pocket or medicine pouch to insure personal and spiritual safety.

JUNIPER
Primarily fire element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Has a sharp, piney scent. Excellent to stimulate and revive when tired in body, mind or Spirit. Used in ancient times for ritual purification of temples. Smoke believed to aid clairvoyance. Also useful for purification and to stimulate contact with other worlds. Burned during the Plague to resist disease.

LAVENDER
Primarily air element. Has a light, aromatic and refreshing scent. Useful for attracting peace, happiness and restful sleep. Also reduces depression, grief and sorrow. Aids in meditation and divination, and often said to aid in manifestation. Known as Elf Leaf, Nard, Nardus, Spike and Lavandar. Traditionally associated with fairies and elves

WHITE BROADLEAF SAGE
Primarily air element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. This is a broad leaf sage that is highly prized for its strong aromatic properties (strongest of the different types of sage). Considered the king if all sages. Excellent for meditation, divination, smudging, cleansing and purification.

YERBA SANTA LEAVES
Traditionally used for enhancing psychic abilities, magical protection, healing and spiritual strength. Excellent for meditation and divination. Said to be ruled by the moon. One Native American tribe rolled the leaves into balls, dried it in the sun and chewed it for a natural mouthwash.

HIBISCUS FLOWERS
Primarily fire and water elements. Produces a sharp, invigorating scent that lasts for a long time after burning. Often used in divination and psychic communication. Excellent for rejuvenating the senses and restoring life force.

ROSE FLOWERS AND PETALS
Primarily water element. Produces a heavy, warm, aromatic scent with just a hint of sharpness – scent lasts a long time after burning. Excellent for meditation, divination, increasing psychic abilities, contacting powers and beings in other dimensions and psychic communication. Also traditionally associated with attracting love, conferring peace, stimulating sexual appetites and enhancing beauty.

SWEETGRASS
Primarily air element. As its name suggests, sweetgrass produces a sweet and light fragrance that does not last for long. Excellent for cleansing sacred space. Sweetgrass is a rare grass which is found growing wild in very few places. Traditionally, sweetgrass is believed to invite the good spirits.

You can burn these herbs singly or in combination with each other. One good combination that covers all four magical elements of air, fire, water and earth is pine resin and sage (either desert sage or white broadleaf sage). This combination is appropriate for general use, cleansing, ceremony and ritual.


WHEN TO SMUDGE YOURSELF 
Smudging yourself on a daily basis can be very helpful in keeping yourself balanced and maintaining a peaceful state of being. However, you should definitely use shamanic smudging techniques when you've been around people who are ill, depressed, fearful, angry or generally emotionally unbalanced; before meditating to create a calm state of being; when you're feeling blue or depressed; or when you've been under a lot of stress.

Smudging yourself is easy. If you're using a smudge stick, light the smudge stick on a candle flame. Hold the stick in the flame until there is a lot of smoke and the stick is burning well (that's why a candle is better than a match--it can take a while to get the stick really smoking). Using a feather (or feather fan) or your hand, gently fan the smoke onto your body, starting at the top of the body and moving downward. Get the back of your body as best you can (it's often easier to use a smudge pot and loose herbs for this). When you're done, inhale a little of the smoke (just a little!) to purify your insides.

If you're using a smudge pot or Firebowl and loose herbs, light the herbs (using self-lighting charcoal --not the barbeque kind!) until it is smoking well. Then, put the Firebowl on the ground and stand over it with your legs spread and feet on either side. Weave back and forth in the smoke until you have been thoroughly cleansed. Clothing is optional for this approach, and smudging in the nude is recommended for a more thorough cleansing. Again, when you're done, inhale a little of the smoke to purify your insides. People often feel more relaxed, lighter and brighter after smudging.

If you're going to use the smudge smoke during meditation, use a charcoal burner or Firebowl, light the herbs and enjoy the scent and smoke as you meditate. Meditating with these herbs often produces a deeper and longer-lasting state of relaxation and contemplation.

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Getting Answers from the Four Directions

It is often said that two heads are better than one. Well, how about four heads? When you really need some new and different perspectives on a situation or event that has been bothering you, one of the best guidance you can get is from the four directions. Tribal and religious customs have long acknowledged the power of the four directions as source of advice and guidance. They have made use of four directions ceremonies and prayer.

A simple way to receive guidance from the four directions is to ask one direction per day for help. This is a simplified four directions ceremony. You'll need a Sun Yellow candle (any candle that is bright yellow), pen and paper, and some white broadleaf sage (you can use either the leaf clusters or a smudge stick). While white broadleaf sage is primarily an air element botanical, it has enough of the other three elements (fire, water and earth) to be used in all four directions. White broadleaf sage is highly prized for its strong aromatic properties (strongest of the different types of sage) and is considered the king of all sages. It is excellent for meditation, divination, smudging, cleansing and purification.

Ready? Here's how to ask for answers from the four directions.

Four Directions Ceremony
DAY 1

• Sit facing East, direction of the element Air (thoughts, communication, ideas, inspiration, enlightenment).
• Write the situation on paper as clearly and succinctly as possible. Then write the outcome you want, also as clearly and succinctly as possible.
• Light the Sun Yellow candle with a paper or wooden match (no lighters!).
• Hold your hands up to and around the candle flame and say in a strong voice:

"Child of wonder,Child of flame,Nourish my Spirit,And protect my aim!"

• Hold the situation and the desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes (with eyes open or closed).
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What ideas, inspiration or communication is needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Then write whatever answers come to you. Do not question or think about the answers – just write! Write until there are no more answers.
• Thank the East.
• Tear the sheet or sheets of paper that have the answers off the pad and store them in a safe place. Do NOT read the answers.

DAY 2

• Sit facing South, direction of the element Fire (action, passion, will, power).
• Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
• Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What actions are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
• Thank the South.
• Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.

DAY 3

• Sit facing West, direction of the element Water (emotions, compassion, language of Spirit).
• Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
• Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry you question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What emotions or Spirit changes are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
• Thank the West.
• Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.

DAY 4

• Sit facing North, direction of the element Earth (manifestation, physical reality, the body).
• Have the paper on which you have written the situation and desired outcome in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse, same as the day before.
• Hold the situation and desired outcome in your attention for a few minutes.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry your question or prayer to the direction.
• Ask aloud to the direction: "What physical changes are needed to resolve this situation and create the desired outcome?"
• Record the answers, same as the day before. Again, do not think about the answers, just write them.
• Thank the North.
• Store the answers in a safe place, but do not read them.

DAYS 5 and 6
Do not think about the situation or ponder the answers you have been given. Do not read the answers you wrote.

DAY 7

• Sit in the South facing North, with the Sun Candle and your answers in front of you.
• Light the Sun Candle and say the verse.
• Light the white sage from the Sun Candle – the sage will carry your thanks and appreciation to the four directions.
• Relax and read the answers.
• Thank the four directions.
• Meditate on the answers for as long as feels good.
• Go where the answers suggest, following the ones that your intuition tells you are appropriate at the moment. 

The four directions never fail to give good directions. Have fun with this simple yet effective four directions ceremony.

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