Sanctifying, Clearing and
Anchoring Sacred Space
through Smudging
In many spiritual traditions, different herbs or resins are burned during ceremony to clear negative energies away, draw positive energy in, sanctify space, as well as prepare oneself for entering sacred space.
When smudge or incense is used during spiritual practice, it can act as an anchor into spiritual reality, especially when it is used regularly by the individual for that purpose.. As soon as that familiar smell reaches your nose, your psyche is triggered into dropping down into spiritual awareness and relaxation through that recognition.
In shamanic traditions, the smoke is often waved around any participants, as well as any ceremonial tools that will be used in a ceremony. I always smudge a person before I begin any healing
ceremony to clear negativity out of the auric field. If a shamanic extraction is performed, I usually burn more smudge to clear away what ever has been removed. The same goes for a major catharsis. I often burn more at the end of the healing ceremony or session, to clear the space after the work is done.
In this way, smudging can also be used to clear a home, a room, or an area of unwanted influences, and negative or stuck energies. It is often used in house blessings, as well as when some event has happened in a place which leaves people feeling uncomfortable in a home or room. Smudging can often remedy the problem.
In Hindu and Buddhist practices, the incense is used as an offering to the Divine as a way of honoring and invoking the spiritual presence. No matter what your tradition, it is very good to light some incense before meditation, and offer it to the spiritual forces that you work with. The incense will act as a vehicle to carry your love and prayers to the Divine.
When smudging a person, a home, or a spiritual tool, you may use just the hand to wave the smoke over the area that needs consecration or transformation. The best, however, is to use a feather or feather fan. Incense and smudge help to invoke and convey the energies of fire and of air. Bird feathers are a natural instrument for this work, as they have a clear affinity to air through flight.
Blessings,
Sylvia Brallier
The Director of
The Tantric Shamanism, Institute
Smudge Fans can be found here http://tantricshamanism.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=3
Incense can be found here.
http://tantricshamanism.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=10
