Elevating the Experience of Sage/Smudging
If you missed Part One of my series on smudging and cleaning out negative energies from your home, I highly recommend you go back and give it a read. It's super quick and a great primer to the space. Now, onto Part Two: Elevating the Experience
I'm so excited to walk you through my steps and how it has such an impact on me. For obvious reasons, some may be hesitant to walk around their apartment with some burning herbs- but fear not! Let me show you how to enhance this ritual so you feel comfortable, connected, and clear.
Step 1: Prep for Smudging. Anytime is a good time for high vibes and spiritual cleansing, I personally try to do it weekly but many feel an ad-hoc basis works best for them. Either way, I've found that de-cluttering and doing a little physical cleaning of the space beforehand always helps for movement and getting deeper into the process. It allows me to focus on the "non-physical" part of my home to clear any stale energy. Trust me, you don't want to come across a pile of clothes on the floor while smudging and remember how you've been meaning to pick it up for days- not the best way to keep your rhythm or stay in the moment!
Step 2: Set an Intention. You're likely focused on cleaning out negative energy and refreshing your home, but it always helps me to have a more specific goal in mind. Maybe you've had a fight with a significant other recently, your boss came down hard on you, or your kids are misbehaving at school. Whatever the reason, I search for a mantra or something I can focus on while smudging that addresses how I'm feeling and what I want to do about it. Feel free to say out loud or think to yourself, "Into this smoke I release all energies that do not serve me, all negativity that surrounds me and all fears that limit me". Stay focused on that message as a mini-meditation, perhaps by repeating it out loud and/or focusing on your breath as you work your way through your home.
Step 3: Conclude with Purpose. This is meant to solidify and close out the experience having accomplished what you set out to do- rid your home of bad energy, commit to your intention, and finish strong. Take a moment to contemplate why you felt that mantra was impactful and appreciate the care you've taken of your home and space. Place the smudge stick in a fire safe container so that it can burn out on its own. Traditionally, Albacore shells are used as a natural water element you can use to store or display your smudge stick (I use one). Previously I've used a copper bowl or even an empty candle container. Now that the saging process is done, light a candle to re-invigorate your home. Let go of that mantra and visualize your home completely cleared and filled with bright light and energy. This process, to me, signifies the end of a clearing and your home starting anew.
If you're new to smudging, feel free to start slow and stick to the basics. Once you feel more comfortable, add in these enhancing steps until you get the hang of it. For those new and experienced, I would love to hear your feedback on this process- have you tried doing it with a mantra? What impact did it have? And how often are you doing it? Please comment below and share your process!
A few Smudging Essentials
