Smudging

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 May 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Sorceress_Jade	01 May 2002
I'm sure it's been asked before... but here it is again then for you: What is smudging, how does it work, any and all info would be appreciated. I'm curious.

.dc	01 May 2002
smuding is kewl. it's a smokey way to cleanse energy and purify stuff. and that's a basic definition of it. there are lots of ways to do smudging. the following is my version and experiences with it. you can use incense, a smudge stick (usually sage bundled together and burns like a incense stick) or water spurged from a cup. smudge sticks are most common, however. basically you light whatever you wanna do, get it good and smokey and then you start in one corner of a room and work your way around till you feel the energy has changed. if you do this to, oh say a tarot deck, you can pass the deck thru the smoke a few times until you pheel it's better. if you smudge a person, you start at the top of their chrown chakra in front, move down their body with it, sometimes under their feet and then back up from the backside. hope this helps. smudging is good. i've always loved to be smudged. helps to lighten things and get rid of nasty energies that won't go away. i smudge my house at least twice a year to clear anything out as well. usually its also done before the start of spells or rituals, any time you use intense energy workings. blessed beltane, .dc

Diana	02 May 2002
edited

lunalafey	02 May 2002
There are a few plants that are used for smudging. Sage, Cedar, sweetgrass. Sweetgrass is usually braided. the cedar and sage are sometimes combined. The sage clears the air and negitive energy. The sweetgrass brings sweetness, good energy, tranquility. The Native American people used a feather to fan the smoke over thier bodies.

.dc	02 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Diana .dc: what do you mean "water spurged from a cup". I can't find "spurge" as a verb in my dictionary. I'm interested because I can't use incense of any kind (makes me feel pretty ill), and anything smoky with a strong smell I also find hard to handle. So perhaps spurging from a cup will help me, if I only knew what it was! spurging is a term another majician used. it means to cleans by ways of splashing water (lightly) on yourself, someone or something. it's not as powerful as a true smudging but it does help and is easy on the allergies. to use this method you get a bowl or cup of water, maybe add some salt or other scent pleasing to you. then you concencrate it by whatever means (moonlight, prayer, dumping energy, etc.). when you think it's ready you dip your fingers into the cup.bowl and then lightly sprinking or flick the water on whatever you intend to cleanse. lemme know if you have any other questions. blessed be, .dc

Diana	02 May 2002
edited

aeonx	02 May 2002
Hi all. I don't know. It feels to me that smoking incense on my cards kinda gets them dirty. *lol* :P I like the idéa of having them out in the sun, shuffling them when you're sitting outside. I love it when I'm at the porch, looking through a new deck. I'm airing them! :) Seems healthier to me. ;) (a tiny paradox, since I smoke :P )

Liliana	02 May 2002
Id dont think Id advise vapor, steam would likely really damage the cards, but mostdecks are sealed so a light sprinkling of water,just a couple of drops, immediately wiped off shouldnt hurt it :THP

Zhritza	02 May 2002
Diana, I think sweetgrass is indeed American. In fact, as with sage, I think many people use it because it has a long history of sacramental use with the Plains Indian nations. The smoke and smell of it is lighter than that of sage. You can probably find sweetgrass sticks online pretty easily, and you can get cedar essential oil and burn a few drops of it on one of those... um... What are those medallion-shaped coal things called, pagans? I used to do this myself! Dang... Also, pine is very cleansing, easy to get, and less of a knockout than any of these other things. But if all smoke is bad news for you I would just go with sunlight, if you have a big window you can spread all the cards out face-up in front of. Personally I think moonlight would be great, but that's got a bunch of issues attached to it...

Diana	02 May 2002
edited

Phoenix	02 May 2002
Diana, I am the sam way with incense, but I do love the smell. I find that using it in a room that has all the windows open helps, and so does only burning half a stick(if you use stick incense).

zorya	02 May 2002
in addition to the above smudging lists, i would add copal, and mugwort. when smudging a room or house, i always start with the east, smudging clockwise. pay special attention to doors and windows, including computers! i use a feather to waft the smoke. in my humble opinion :) the best time to smudge is under a full moon. it also helps to smudge after a visit from someone with negativity problems. :OL

Sorceress_Jade	02 May 2002
Smoke is baaaad for computers and other electronics, I would not advice wafting smoke in your computer's direction. I actually have some sweet grace that someone gave me. I never knew what to do with it, lol. So now i think i'll go home and check it out... eh, i don't just burn the heck out of it, i light it similar to incense right?

.dc	02 May 2002
diana, yes you're right dumping water on your cards doesn't work. but you can sprinkle and wipe the water off before it does damage. i've never gotten my cards dirty from a smudge. smoke doesn't really stick. i've also heard of people rubbing oils over the edges of cards to give them a good smell and not actually damaging the cards. i dunno, you may find that good but it's not something i'd wanna do. i've spurged water over laptops... just being careful where i aim. i've also had my machine smudged as well. smoke does damage but if you don't do it all the time a once over with a smudge stick is fine. smudge sticks can be purchased online from any metaphysical store site, they aren't 100% american. i dunno... smudging can be done however you want, whenenver you want. blessed be, .dc

zorya	02 May 2002
sorceress, i am absolutely convinced that some very bad things can come through the computer. i'm certainly not suggesting one leave a smudge stick smoldering next to one. but, every once in a while, i do waft a little smoke in the direction of my computer. as far as how to burn your sweet grass, you light the tip. waft the smoke, then put it out. smudge sticks can be used over and over. :OL

.dc	03 May 2002
how odd... i;ve never had issues with negative energy coming from a computer. and i do a lot of readings and majick thru the web. i do have a friend who kills any electromagnetic energy fields... so she's always killing watches, phones and computers... i DO NOT let her near my book. you don't have to keep smudge around your machine to cleanse it. you can do a small amount once every 2 months. or you can do a computer protection spell on it or surround it with white protective energy. that's just my ideers, .dc

Maan	03 May 2002
I always use a stone for the negative energies that come from coputers, cd players, etc. I think you english people would call it black tourmalin???????? It really works miracles

The Smudging thread was originally posted on 01 May 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.