INCENSE INFORMATION

The smudging ritual utilizes the smoke of burning incense for cleansing, purification, and healing of a person, space, or object. Praying and visualizing while smudging is a very important part of the ritual in order to get the most benefit from it and take full advantage of the magical and spiritual energy and properties of the burning herbs and botanicals. The plants and herbs used during smudging each have their own electromagnetic frequency and energy that interacts with the energy of the person smudging. These energies can either merge to bring balance or imbalance, which is why it is important to perform the Smudge ceremony with a positive and respectful attitude.

Each plant can be thought of as having its own aura and soul and should be treated with respect and gratitude, for the plant is giving up its life for your benefit. This should not inspire guilt, but rather gratitude for its sacrifice, for one day you will give your body for other beings of the Earth. As you light the Smudge incense stick on fire, you should thank the plant for its sacrifice. You should also thank Father Sun, from where all fires arise, and thank the spirit of Fire for coming to help you with the Smudge ceremony. If you are using an Abalone shell, you should thank the life that created it.

Once the smudge is lit and smoking, you should visualize the smoke absorbing all the sickness and negativity out of the room or person being smudged and then carrying it away. If you can see auras, look for discolored places in the aura and direct the healing smoke towards those places. Feathers and wing fans aid in the cleansing process and have the effect of combing the human aura, therefore adding to the cleansing. Particular feathers bring in the qualities and medicine of the bird of origin. Some would insist that the movement of the fan should be in keeping with the movement of the particular bird’s wing in flight.

In addition to visualizing, you should also pray while performing the smudge. Different tribes have different smudging prayers that program the smoke to do a specific action, such as cleansing or aiding in divination. You can say the prayers silently but it is recommended to say them out loud to make them more powerful. You may also chant them. Saying or chanting your prayers will release their energy into the universe so that the universe can hear them and respond to them. An example of a chant you can use is “Light Invocation” by Dael Walker, which he recommends repeating three times. The chant is below: