I want to clear up some misconceptions that I have seen and heard about smudging with all sorts of crazy reasons no one should ever be smudging. I firmly believe to simply cleanse your house of negative energy is easily done by anyone with the right intentions.
Smudging, smoke, and incense, have been around 1000’s of years being used as a spiritual and religious practice in a wide variety of places. I’m not going to go into the history but it’s out there for you to learn if you are so inclined. Smudging is so popular there is even a study published in Ethnopharmacology in 2007 that found smudging with medicinal herbs for one hour brought a 94% reduction in bacteria found of a room.[i] Yes, that is a long time to be smudging in just one room!
Native American’s use smudging in ceremonies and rituals, their belief is that Sage dispels negative energy, as well as restore harmony to a space. Cedar for cleansing when an illness is present as well as blessings, and Sweetgrass brings in positive energy.
Recently I’ve heard a lot of talk about sage opening portals, that it invites negativity into your home, and to stop using sage in your house because you are opening the door to places that hold negativity. I often say I don’t have all the answers, that I’m not the expert just an enthusiast, so I don’t know everything. After receiving several messages and this subject coming up repeatedly, I did some digging. I came across a few yoga blogs that talk about portals being opened with sage. Here’s the thing people have been using sage for a long time, and if it opened negative portals why would it still be in practice?
I feel these types of negative, fear-based stories serve an agenda to keep people afraid, and away from things the writer does not fully understand or agree with. The agenda is to keep people afraid to smudge, afraid you will do it wrong, afraid of what could happen. That is a bunch of crap, there I said it! Anyone who says smudging allows in negativity doesn’t understand the meaning of its practice, or perhaps wants to be the gatekeeper of knowledge, or is promoting fear-based ideas to hold people back and that’s not ok to me.
I am a teacher my purpose is to receive, research, dig in, comprehend, and turn around to give the information back out for others to learn. I’m not going to allow such fear-based bull to take over, so I dispel myths daily. Myths about spirit, spiritual practices, tarot cards, psychics, and mediums. People who spread fear need to be met with positivity and empowerment.
A person who tells you unless you have the experience you shouldn’t do this, that there are too many steps to be followed to ensure it’s done properly, are insulting your intelligence. Yes, there are steps you can follow for Native American practices and other cultural practices, and if written clearly you can do them accurately. If that is how you choose to smudge that is wonderful, and there are many amazing blogs to guide you.
I am going to share a HUGE spiritual secret with you. Energy goes where intent flows! Here is secret #2 there is no wrong way to do it!! In my opinion, it’s all about your intention while creating and performing this ritual in your home. If your intent is to clear your home or space of negative and to fill it with love light and positivity, that is exactly what will happen.
For me, I first set my intention of why I am going to smudge. I am clearing out the space of negative energy, and things that no longer serve myself and my family. I may add a few other things about the current situation, such as how I want the space to feel when I am done. I prefer to start at the highest point in my house furthest away from the door and work my way down, to clearing the front door last. I’ve also seen to start in the basement, so do what feels better to you.
Try different ways to see which way you like best. I also leave the door or window open to release the negativity. For me, I like to make sure the corners, windows, and doors get cleansed a little extra as I feel energy gets trapped in those places. At the end, I thank the universe for helping me to accomplish my goals. You may want a shell or some type of bowl to hold the sage while it burns so ash doesn’t fall to the floor. Sometimes I use a Turkey feather I found and sometimes I don’t. I go with the flow and send positivity into my space.
I do not believe portals can be opened with sage, nor do I believe that negative spirits can be banished with sage. Sage just spiritually cleans up, brushes away negativity, allowing you to fill the space with positive and happy intentions. But that is what I believe, you are free to believe something different. I just don’t want people falling for the tricks, myths, or negativity being put out there.
Just like anything in life if you believe it helps then it will. If you believe what you’re doing brings bad or negative intentions or evil then it does. Asking for or bringing in more positive, fun, helpful, beneficial, happy energy is never going to lead to unhappiness, negativity, or evil. Intention and frequency are everything so choose kindness, love, happiness, and positivity.
Holistic Mystic D 