Incense4u carries a wide line of
Incense sticks, cones and powders along with out
line of Smudges, Sweetgrass Braids and Amulets Bags
A
smudge stick is a bundle of dried herbs, most
commonly gray sage or white sage. Often other
herbs or plants such as
sweet grass are
used or added and the leaves are usually bound
with string in a small bundle and dried. Some
other herbs and spices that are often used
include cilantro, cedar,
lavender, and
mugwort, none of which are native to the
Americas. They have a strong, pleasant aroma
when burnt.
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How to Perform a Native American Smudging
Ceremony
Have you ever felt uneasy moving into a new
home? Does there seem to be an air of lingering
negative feelings or an unclean atmosphere in
some area of your abode? Historically, Native
Americans used locally found
herbs to cleanse themselves and
their living space.
Change a bad start of the day
or week to your favor and improve your attitude.
With the proper respect and a sincere attitude, you
too can enjoy the benefits and general
self-improvement associated with a smudging
ceremony.
Native Americans consider sage, cedar, sweetgrass
and tobacco as the Four Sacred Herbs. Sage is found across North America, with
white sage being the most potent and gray sage found
in many northern areas where the gray will not
over-winter. Cedar and sweetgrass also are
indigenous to this continent. Tobacco can be found
in many forms; however for this ceremony Nicotiana
Rustica, or a similar dried tobacco leaf, native to
America is preferred. Cigarette tobacco contains a
lot of chemical additives that are not conducive to
the ceremony's purpose.
It's important to set a proper stage and attitude
for your ceremony. A recording of Native American
flute music may help to focus your thoughts. Set a
time where you won't be interrupted by people,
telephones, or other distractions. The earliest
part of the morning can be best to establish good
feelings for the rest of the day. If you've had
something troubling you throughout the day, perhaps
a time late in the evening could help facilitate a
relaxed night's
sleep. Some individuals use an elaborately
carved smudge bowl, but a simple abalone shell or
even a flat rock with a small center indentation
works as well. You may also select a feather to fan
the smudge as the
herbs are burned.
How To Smudge Yourself
Put the smudge stick to flame using a match or
candle light. Blow on or wave the flame with
your hand to put out the fire. Allow the smudge
stick to smolder, freeing the smoke to circle in
the air. Fan the swirls of smoke around your
body's aura from head to toe.
Smudging to cleanse the
atmosphere in a room or building, or to clear a
space for meditation and spiritual practices has
become popular in recent years. Based on a North
American Indian tradition, you can adapt the
smudging ceremony to suit your needs. We recommend
using a feather to move the smoke around and an
abalone shell to catch the ash.
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Western Grey Sage
Used
as either a medicinal remedy or as a ceremonial
herb, sage has always played an essential role in
Native American beliefs and tradition. The dynamic
Artemisia ludoviciana, known also as prairie sage or
grey sage, is considered sacred by the Native
American culture for its inherent healing
properties.
This herb is believed to cure a
broad spectrum of ailments including headaches,
fevers, arthritis and allergies. Grey sage has
been commonly used for colds and respiratory
problems - used as a tea, inhaled as a steam vapor,
or added to
baths to relieve muscle aches.
This prairie herb has also been
used as a cleansing tonic to assist in liver and
kidney functions. Sage is reported to have
antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, as
well.
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California White Sage
The
white sage varieties used as herbs
stem from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor and Sage
has been grown in Central Europe since the Middle
Ages.
The name Salvia derives from the
Latin 'salveo', which means 'to heal'. Indeed this
herb is highly regarded for it's healing
qualities. An ancient proverb states, 'Why
should a man die who has sage in his garden?' The
ancient Greeks used it to treat consumption, ulcers
and snake bites.
The Romans considered sage to be a
sacred
herb and concocted a whole elaborate
ceremony just to pick it. A sage gatherer would have
to use a special knife (not made of iron as it
reacts with the sage), have to have clean clothes
and clean feet and a sacrifice of food would have to
be made before he could begin. The Romans would use
it for toothpaste; they also believed it to be good
for the brain, senses and memory.
Flat Cedar Sticks
Cleansing
on emotional level
In Native American tradition the smoke of cedar is
used to carry prayers to the creator. It is used to
bridge the gap between heaven and earth. It also
seems that the cedar tree has connections with power
and the sun through many varying traditions such as
Sumerian legend, Cabalistic lore and Eqyptian
mythology. It is often associated with breaking the
misuse of power or powerful forces that may be
having a negative influence. This does connect
further with Native American tradition where the
burning of Cedar is used to help banish nightmares
and also to release heavy emotional energies such as
depression.
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