There is something comforting about learning ancient rituals, beliefs and practices. It helps connect you to the past while helping you understand our present and possibly the future. I was lucky to grow up in a home where natural remedies were preferred and pharmaceutical medications were never the first option. This taught me the benefits (and many applications) of herbs, essential oils, massage, acupuncture, smoke cleansing and baths. Isn’t it funny that most of those things sound luxurious? Things we only indulge in when we have a “spa day”. We really should be incorporating these things into our daily lives.
Most cultures have a history or rituals around incense, herb burning or smoke cleansing and they all seem to accomplish the same thing- cleansing, clearing and healing. One ritual that I’ve always been drawn to is smoke cleansing, not to be confused with smudging, a complex and sacred Native American ceremony. I personally use smoke cleansing when I’m ending something, beginning something, when I feel stuck or need to clear negative emotions or energy.
When my husband and I moved into our home nine years ago there was an energy that just wasn’t ours, ya know? We scrubbed everything from top to bottom, painted or refinished every surface but the space still didn’t feel like it was ours. As part of a house-warming gift my sister K gave us sage sticks. (Years ago I read that you shouldn’t buy smoke cleansing sticks, you should make them or receive them as a gift. I don’t know if that’s true but I like believing that there’s something extra to sage sticks given as a gift.) I used this gift to cleanse every room in our home. This helped me reset the vibe of the house so it could start to absorb our energy.
There are a variety of resources online that tell you the history and how-to’s of smoke cleansing but I tend to just do what feels right to me. Here’s how I cleanse my house:
- I choose a time when I can concentrate and won’t be disturbed
- Before I begin, I think about what I’m trying to accomplish (clear negative energy, attract positive energy, clear space etc)
- I light my sage stick (or whatever herb I’m using) and let smoke develop
- I move through my house in a clock-wise direction, starting at the front door
- As I move through each room I repeat my intention (in my head or softly out loud) and concentrate on attracting positive energy
- Many sources say to open a window to release negative energy from your space- I do this as long as it’s not too cold
- I walk around each room, ensuring smoke reaches corners high and low (I’ve read that negative energy accumulates in the corners of a room)
- Once I’ve finished cleansing all rooms I will either let the sage stick burn out on its own or I will press it out on a heat-proof surface
Without fail smoke cleansing brings me peace; I feel grounded and my soul feels happy. I suggest trying it if you feel a negative energy in your space, if your soul feels heavy or if you’re trying to attract positive energy. I know some people believe that smoke cleansing goes against their religion but I believe, like religion, smoke cleansing is personal. You decide how you use this process, maybe it’s a prayer you’re sending to your God, maybe you’re connecting to nature. Your intentions are what’s important.
XOXO
