For Indigenous people, Smudging is one of the simplest ways of purifying ourselves and our space. The Smudge can consist of one or a combination of these Medicines: Cedar, Sage, and Sweetgrass. It depends upon the teachings you have been given and what is available to you. Smudging materials vary from Nation to Nation. Smudging tools that are needed:
- A Smudge Bowl: an abalone shell, a pottery bowl, or a round stone.
- A Feather or Fan can be used to start and keep your Smudge from going out.
- Wooden matches to light the Medicine.
When we prepare the Smudge, we talk to the Medicine about why we are using it and we pray and have good intentions.
The Medicine that is burned smells nice and creates smoke. We use the smoke to clear away negativity, and when we feel that we need to have a cleansing. The smoke that comes from the Smudge is used to purify our body, mind, and spirit and bring about good feelings.
When we Smudge, we bring the smoke over our heart - lots of love for ourselves; we bring the smoke over our head - so that we may think good thoughts and use our mind in a good way; over our eyes - so we can see what we need to see; over our ears - so that we can hear what we need to hear and that it be helpful; over our mouths - so that we can say good things. We Smudge the left side of our body (feminine side) and the right side of our body (masculine side). Someone may Smudge our backs, or we can bring the shell around our body ourselves.
When Smudging indoors, open a window, or a door, so that the smoke can go outside.
We can pick the Medicines ourselves; first offering Tobacco to Mother Earth and the Creator, giving thanks. If you ask someone for Medicine, then you should offer them Tobacco first, as a gift of gratitude. If you have to buy it, as urban people have to do at times, then go outside and make an offering of Tobacco to Mother Earth and the Creator, giving thanks for the Medicine and where it comes from.
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