Saging Ceremonies
SMUDGING CEREMONIES
Like most events in life, ceremony has a beginning, a middle, and an end. However, the end is the beginning of another ceremony. The circle continues, just as it does with all things.
One may use the smudging of the sage as a ceremony to communicate with their Creator, as a dream pillow, in healing ceremonies, and as an energy cleansing tool. It's uses are quite diverse.
SageBrush Smuding Ceremony
Select the proper sagebrush, place it in a sturdy bowl and light the sagebrush.
2. When the sagebrush is burning use a wafting motion to put out the flame. Throughout the ceremony you will need to intermittently fan the herbs to keep them smoldering.
3. Once the herbs are smoldering draw the smoke (not the wand), just the smoke to your heart, then over your head, down your arms, and down the front of your body. Repeat for the back of your body toward the ground. If you need special balancing or healing in some part of your body you can emphasize by pulling the smoke there.
4. It is your responsibility to clean your own energy field. The plants help. THEY DO NO DO IT FOR YOU.
5. Next offer smoke to the six directions: up to the creator, down to the Earth Mother, North, East, South and West.
5. After you have smudged yourself and offered the smudge you can hold the sagebrush while other people present smudge.
6. You may then walk around the area you will be using, wafting smoke. If you are inside, smudge around the walls of the room paying particular attention into the corners.
8. Smudge any medicine tools you will be using in the ceremony.
OTHER METHODS OF CLEANSING
Although smudging is most often used as a cleansing method in Medicine Wheel ceremonies, there are occasions when another way of cleansing is appropriate. If you are doing a fire ceremony you may offer herbs to the fire and then smudge yourself with the smoke from the fire.
If you are doing a ceremony related to water, Grandmother Moon, or the water (Frog) clan - and circumstances permit- you can cleanse yourself by submerging in water to the point where the water covers the crown of your head. Duck yourself once briefly to cleanse yourself, once to cleanse for your family, and once to cleanse your relationship with the Creator.
You can also cleanse yourself with sound. Use a rattle or drum and smudge yourself with the sound beginning at your head and going to your feet. Afterward flick off any energy clinging to the instrument and ground this energy in the earth.
Center Yourself and Enjoy!