Many of you want to know how to perform a cleansing ceremony
with the use of burning sage, also known as “smudging.” A smudge
stick is a dried and bundled plant. One can also use loose
leaves in smudging, but before we get to the particulars of such
a ceremony it will help to have an understanding of the origins
of this sacred practice and how it will cleanse, heal, and
consecrate an energy field, or thing, or space. The Origins and
History of Smudging People commonly credit smudging as being a
Native American practice, but the use of rising smoke in
spiritual rituals has been practiced across many cultures for
thousands of years. The ancient Hindu texts reveal this was
practiced 6,000 years ago with the burning of incense. Smoke
purification was performed in Egypt, with the burning of
aromatic resins for religious ceremonies. It was practiced in
Babylonia, Greece, Rome, Japan, Tibet, China, among the ancient
Hebrews, and among indigenous tribal cultures around the world,
with the native tribes of North Ameri