Smudging, or burning dried herbs, is a ritual that has been around for centuries. Although they are available commercially—and are fairly inexpensive—it's easy to make your own if you've got herbs growing in your garden, or if there's a place nearby where you can go wildcrafting. You can use a variety of herbs to create your own smudge sticks for burning. After the smudge sticks have dried, now they are ready to burn. Let the stick smolder and white smoke will start to travel upwards. I told you it was simple! Apr 22, 2015 - DIY smudge stick illustration by Katie ... Halloween Character Ideas How To Dry Sage Making A Bouquet Smudge Sticks Journal Pages Crafts To Do Dried Flowers Zine Ephemera. Experts explain how to sage a house correctly to cleanse it of negative energy. Now you’ll have a fresh, DIY, organic smudge stick. Smudge Sticks: White Sage, Palo Santo, Cedar, Yerba, Flower White Sage Sticks - Smudge Kit Handmade in Southern California. How to Smudge a House. I smudge my space frequently to keep the vibration high. Apr 22, 2015 - DIY smudge stick illustration by Katie Bush. Generally it takes about two weeks for fresh smudge sticks to dry completely. If you have a vacuum food sealer, that's even better. Set an intention and carefully use the smoking sage stick to cleanse your space. It is best to tie a few branches at a time to speed up the process. Light one end evenly over a heat-safe bowl and let it burn for a few seconds, before putting out the flame. To smudge :: Light the tip of the smudge stick with a lighter, match, or candle. How do you smudge? Air Drying. Sage itself is an herb that comes from the salvia plant family. Keep your sage in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and use it as needed. You can also use different types of herbs that dry well like lavender, juniper, pine, rosemary, cedar, and even roses! Take one group and shape it into a bundle. Apr 22, 2015 - DIY smudge stick illustration by Katie Bush. Then, begin to move around the home. It’s incredibly easy to make a DIY sage spray! I use my hand and it works just fine. Whether you’re gathering ingredients for your your favorite comfort food dinner or holiday feast, using home dried herbs can be a serious money saver. Move mindfully and with care, walking clockwise around the entire perimeter of the home. These White Sage Smudge Sticks come in a set of two. You'll need: Place the bunch in a paper bag so the bottoms of the stems are at the opening. This method requires that a bunch of sage branches tied together at the bottom. So get out your sage stick and let’s get started! You can opt to leave your stick out in the sun to dry, hang it up in the shade, or put it on a rack/in a paper bag. In order to perform a smudging ritual and turn the house into a sacred space, sage is needed along with an abalone shell or some other form of a vessel to hold the sage. I wrote about how to make smudge sticks, and as promised, wanted to write a bit about smudging herbs and some of the best plants to use. Holding the stick at the base, use a match or lighter to ignite the top end of the smudge stick. Hang the bundle upside down in a cool, dry place for at least a week. Once your sage, herbs, and flowers are dry enough, divide them into groups for each stick that you plan to make. The leaves are easy to dry for year-round enjoyment. Your home is not the only place that can attract and hold negative energy. Should people be buying/selling traditional medicines like sage? These days, you can choose from a vast array of smudging herbs, each with a different energy, aroma, and cultural history. Now, let’s discuss how to smudge. 6. Smudging is an ancient practice in many cultures and religions. But you can burn any kind of sage, including garden varieties, as well. If using fresh herbs, allow the smudge stick about 2 weeks to dry completely. Sometimes less (such as in Summer). I keep several smudge bundles at home so that I may satisfy any intention at a moment’s notice. In the busy, overstimulating world we live and work in, it’s easy to get stressed out. I love to smudge my house ~ I’m a firm believer in smudging my house at least every 2-3 months to keep out the bad energy that might be brought or created in our home. Store in a cool, dry location. How (and Why) to Smudge Yourself by Donna Stellhorn There are a lot of instances when you realize you probably should do a clearing on yourself with a sage stick or other means. Next, all you need to do is let it dry. Fireproof dish or abalone shell Sand or soil for extinguishing herbs at the end. And I love making my own! Doing a regular sage smudge of your house can not only keep the evil spirits out but all the bad energy left behind. This is fitting since salvere means to heal in Latin. Cedar is used for an overall blessing or to cleanse where there has been illness. 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