For thousands of years, people have burned herbs for many different purposes through all cultures and religions. For this article, I will be focusing on those that can be used to cleanse, purify, and remove any negative energies. This can be used to reclaim your personal space, to remove the energies from the previous occupants when you move to a new home, when you obtain objects that were previously owned, or like many people that I know, to cleanse the energies on crystals and gemstones that accumulate from the exposure to the outside world. This is something that is commonly done by paranormal investigators when leaving a haunted location as well as helping to cleanse a home of negative spirits of people suffering from hauntings that are affecting their quality of life.

Smudging is done with dried herbs, usually tied in bundles called smudge sticks but can also be done with loose herbs with the use of a charcoal puck or disc. Please keep in mind, that proper fire safety should be followed when smudging especially with charcoal discs, as they get very hot, and you need the proper equipment to smudge by this method. The burners for these are most commonly a metal bowl with a screen lid and usually sit on a wooden platform.

***** Please keep in mind that the information that is being provided here is for educational purposes. How the information is used, is used at the reader's discretion. I as the writer or my fellow investigative team can not be held responsible for damages resulting in improper fire safety, as well as any negative repercussions from improper smudging procedure. It is also important to know that if you are performing a smudging to remove negative energies from a space, if done incorrectly it could potentially amp up the activity instead of clearing the energies. It is also important to know that when performing a cleansing ritual, you must fully believe in what you are doing, any doubt in yourself and what you are doing, will make things worse in most cases.

Important things to remember

There are many herbs you can use to smudge your home. The most commonly used is white sage. You can also use Palo Santo, Cedar, Copal, Pine, Juniper, Sweetgrass, lavender, Frankincense, Myrrh, Rose, Bay, Yerba Santa, Mugwort, Yarrow, and a few others that may be harder to obtain, so for this, I will only mention the ones that are more readily available.

It is important to note that white sage will remove ALL energies or spirits positive and negative. So if this is not your goal, and you only wish to remove the negative, Cedarwood and Copal is a strong alternative. If using white sage, I recommend performing the cleansing ritual once with the white sage and repeating the process with Palo Santo. Palo Santo is Spanish for Holy Wood; it only removes the negative energies and allows the positive energies to remain. By using the combination of white sage and Palo Santo, as I mentioned previously, it removes all energies, and the Palo Santo brings back the positive energies into the space.

For a simple cleansing I generally use White sage, and once have completed the first round with the white sage, I do a second round using Palo Santo. I also use a mix of cedarwood and copal which is another potent smudging combination. I would recommend using at the minimum white sage and Palo Santo. At the end of the day, you can use whatever combination that suits you. Its okay if you cant get most of what I mention in this article, the easiest to find is white sage, and Palo Santo, once hard to find, is becoming more common. But do your research because there are some places that sell Imitation palo santo. If you are unable to obtain any of the herbs, we do have some in our online store. If there is something specific that you are looking for, but do not see then feel free to reach out to us and we will do what we can to help you with whatever you may need.

Herbs for smudging

Sage

There are many forms of sage which can be used for smudging, but depending on its intended purpose, the effects of smudging may vary. But one thing they all have in common is that the herb and the smoke itself has antimicrobial properties.

White Sage (Salvia Apiana)

White sage is the most commonly known, and most readily found smudging herb. It is also one of my favorites.  While white sage is the easiest to find, some people do not use this due to claims of sacredness and cultural appropriation. For hundreds of years White Sage also known as Sacred Sage, known for its cleansing, purifying and protective qualities. First known to be used by Native American Indians, it was used to release lingering energies, to seek blessings of health and prosperity, release spirits and encourage protection and it can amplify any clearing and protective techniques that are being used.

Desert Sage (Salvia Dorrii)

Desert Sage can be used to remove negativity. A good choice for any type of psychic or spiritual work. It can help to deflect negative energies, spirits and influences and can be used to purify people and places before any ceremony.

Pitcher Sage (Salvia Azurea) 

Known as Blue Sage, it is less pungent and it can be used in the same manner as White Sage to cleanse and protect. It is very helpful in rituals for healing and abundance. Because of its relaxing qualities, and its less overpowering scent, it is a good choice for cleansing and preparing meditation spaces and it is sometimes used in Exorcism rituals.

Other forms of Sage

Common Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis), Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens), Annual Sage (Salvia horminum), Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea), Cleveland Sage (Salvia Clevelandii), Autumn Sage (Salvia Greggii), Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica), Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha), Woodland Sage (Salvia nemorosa), Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)

Cedarwood

Cedarwood Dispels negative energies and provides protection. Cedarwood can be burned to cleanse a home of unwanted spirits, to protect a person or place from negative influences and also dedicate sacred spaces, to summon helpful spirits during rituals and invocations. It can also be used for divination, lucid dreaming, prophecy and relaxation.

Sweet Grass

Sweet Grass is often used to bless a person or an object. It can be used to purify auras, objects and ceremonial areas, healing spaces of negative energies and it can also be used for protection.

Lavender

The most common use for lavender is purification and to promote calmness and sleep. Lavender can be used to clear negativity from homes, places and objects as well as people. It can also be used to relieve stress and emotions and those exposed to anger. 

Juniper

Juniper is used for cleansing and invites abundance and prosperity through its energy. Use juniper to protect against evil forces and people. It can be used to heal spiritually caused sickness. Juniper helps to create a safe, protective, positive and healing space. It is energetically and physically detoxifying and helps one center their energies.

Balsam Fir

Balsam Fir, also known as Balm of Gilead, is used to create calming and relaxing energies. It helps to ground the body and empower the mind.

Copal

Copal Resin is another one of my favorites. It unites the energizing force of the sun with the grounding, transmuting properties of the earth. It brings out the negative energies and transmutes them into positive energies. Copal aids in healing physical, emotional, or environmental problems which make it a good choice for sick rooms. Copal is great for cleansing and opening all of the chakras, and is highly protective and aids in manifestation, used for new beginnings as it clears old energies.

Benzoin

Benzoin resin incense can be burned to promote emotional balance and soothe sadness, grief, and anger. It can also be used to open a closed spirit, drive away evil spirits, and melt away blockages.

Frankincense & Myrrh

These two resins are generally used in combination. These resins have been used since ancient times. These resins, when used together symbolize purification, connection to the Divine and spiritual awakening. When burned, the smoke can clear contagion from the air.

Dragons Blood

Dragon's Blood is a resin with many uses, and is my number 1 favorite of the resins. It us used to amplify the power of any ritual workings. It can also remove negativity and also energizes psychic abilities, rituals and spiritual work.

Desert Chaparral

Used to cleanse and clear negative energies, and is used for protection and promotes calmness.

Holy Basil

Used for purification and helps to promote calmness

Lemon Balm

Used to calm energies and for spiritual cleansing.

Mountain Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata)

Used to dispel negative energies and to add strength to ritual workings.

Mullein

Used to cleanse sick rooms

Peppermint

Used for healing and protection

Pine

Pine is used to reverse a hex or curse placed on a person. During time of loss, it can help to lift the spirits of those who are mourning. Pine is also used for protection, cleansing, emotional healing, blessing new spaces. It also helps to enhance joy, increase concentration, aids with meditation, attracts positive energies and raises the vibrational frequencies of a location.

Rosemary

Rosemary is used for protection, cleansing, healing and peace.

Palo Santo

****** Palo Santo is a name used for two species of trees. Bulnesia Sarmientoi and Bursera Graveolens. The species Bulnesia Sarmientoi is endangered, Bursera Graveolens is not but it is illegal to harvest living trees. Most of the Palo Santo that is sold today is Bursera Graveolens, it is important to know your source. It is also important to know, that some sources of Palo Santo is not real. True Palo Santo has a subtle, sweet, and woody scent with hints of citrus, mint, and sometimes pine. Some say it also has a slight licorice smell, which can be nostalgic but also overpowering.

Palo Santo is Spanish for Holy Wood and is commonly used in Central and South American Shamanic rituals. Just like White Sage, the smoke of Palo Santo is powerfully cleansing. The spiritual properties of this tree come ONLY during the death stage of the tree. Each tree lives around 90 years on average, and must be left for 4 years before the wood is harvested. 

Palo Santo is used to relieve stress and anxiety. It is also used to help eliminate headaches and symptoms of the common cold. It can help to reduce inflammation, asthma and allergies. It eases emotional or mental trauma like depression. It is often used in conjunction with other healing modalities like crystal healing or Reiki. It can Help to deepen your spiritual connection and raise energetic vibration. It can also enhance creativity. It helps to promote a sense of peace and calm and can be used to cleanse crystals and ritual objects. Palo Santo releases negative energies and invoke a sense of love and connection with spirits. Palo Santo is one of the best choices for clearing and purifying energies of people, places and objects. It is also great for protection, good fortune, love and it inspires creativity. It will not only raise your vibration but can help you connect to the divine source as well as mother earth.

When Should Smudging be done?

Freeing your home of stagnant energies can be done at any time, but it is something that should be done a minimum of four times a year, with each change of the seasons. But it is also up to you in whether or not you need to smudge more than that or not. Other reasons to smudge your space outside seasonal smudging would be in situations where your space has been compromised by negative or foreign energies. Which could be any time someone enters your living space like visitors from out of town, this can also include family or friends. Sometimes these guests leave behind energies that need to be cleared.

Other instances in which you might want to cleanse your space include:

-When you are feeling emotionally drained

-When you are around someone who is experiencing ill or negative emotions

-Before meditation sessions

-When buying something that was previously owned

-When moving to a new home

-After a traumatizing situation or state of fear

-After being around lots of people

-Before any energy manipulating modalities such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong

Smudging Technique

Objects

Smudging objects is an important thing to know, as it is common that you are gifted things from other people, or you are bringing new things into the home. A lot of times, these things are previously owned, whether it be a relative or a stranger, that persons energy is still attached to that particular item. As you are reading this, I want you to think about a time that you brought a "new" item into the house, that once belonged to someone else. Did you ever notice strange things happening once that item was brought into the home? Chances are, you have experienced this. Sometimes these experiences can be good or bad, but either way, you have probably wondered why those certain things were happening, without even considering the root of the issue is/was the item. This is why its important to smudge pre-owned items before bringing them into the home. 

To smudge items like a piece of jewelry or crystals or other knick-knacks, just lay the item out on a table and fan the smoke from the herbs you are using over the item(s). Let the smoke cover and flow over the entire item and let it sit for 24 hours. For larger items, like furniture, work in a clockwise direction like you would when smudging your home, making sure to get every nook and crevice. In most cases, a once over is good enough. But if for some reason, the item feels "off" you can repeat a few times throughout the day, or in rare circumstances several times over a period of a few days. 

People

You can complete this process on yourself or another person. While it is possible to perform this on yourself, it can be easier to have someone perform this process for you.

When smudging a person, you want to start at the feet and work upwards to the top of your head and around your body or the person being smudged. As you do this, you want to visualize the stagnant or negative energies being cleared away. As an energy worker myself, when I am doing a smudging, I reach into the aura and pull the negative energies and toss them away. Now, to get as thorough of a cleansing as possible, you need to take into account your energy field. Just like the rings of a tree, with the oldest part being on the outside, with the younger parts being closer to the interior, its the same with your aura. You will want to start as close to the body as possible without risk of being burned covering all 360 degrees of the field of your body from bottom to top.

Buildings and Living spaces.

Open as many doors and windows as possible.  At least the front and back doors! You’re inviting in new energy and telling the old energy it’s time to go!

If you are using a smudge stick, make sure you keep the lighter with you in case the smudge stick goes out. And just because the smudge stick goes out, that does not mean it is complete. I have known people that thought that when the smudge stick goes out, that it meant that everything was finished.

If you are using resins and loose herbs for your smudging, ensure that you are using a fire safe container for burning the herbs. You can use anything to waft the smoke as you work, a feather or even a piece of cardboard if that is all you have.

Start with yourself first. Smudging yourself as well as anyone that will be involved to ensure that there isn't anyone that is holding any negative attachments or energies. This is also a layer of protection for those involved. If you skip this step, and you or anyone involved has any kind of negative attachments or energies, is providing a "hiding spot" for those energies to cling to. It's the same thing as putting away clean dishes with dirty hands.

To smudge yourself or anyone involve, refer back to the previous section.

Before you start, you can take a moment to close your eyes and ask your angels, your guardians, or your ancestors to fill and seal each crack, crevice, cabinet, closet, door, drawer, and window with their divine light and love. You want these guys around flooding your home with positive energy and light. Ask them to help you cleanse your home of any old, negative or unwanted energies. You also want to ask them to help you raise the vibrations of your home, the property that it sits on as well as yourself. Ask them to protect you and your space and those within from any energies that do not serve a purpose for the best and highest good.

Then at the front door and work your way clockwise around the house.  If you have a second-floor work top to bottom, ALWAYS move clockwise through each room. Returning to the starting point to make a complete circle. One floor at a time. Attics and garages are optional, but basements are a must as they are part of the living space. But you have to keep in mind, the more space you cover means less space for the energies you are clearing to hide. You also want to make sure that you are getting above, below, inside, and behind and every single surface and furniture. If you do have a basement, you could start there just to isolate the energies to the main floors of the location. If there are two stories to the house, start on the top floor and work down to the main level, forcing the energies out of the building.

Light your smudge stick (and keep the lighter with you for relighting)

As you work your way around you can repeat a mantra or prayer here are two you can alternate between depending on how you feel, or you can use your own.

Smoke of air, fire of Earth, cleanse and bless this home and hearth. Drive away all harm and fear only good can enter here!

Dear angels, guides, loved ones, and spirit team. Please come in and flood this home and space with your love and divine light. Please protect myself, my family, and my home from all that is not serving us. Thank you for your help in raising the vibration of this home so that only those who are here for my best and highest good may reside in this home.

And for when you’re feeling strong or negative energy – (ghosts or spirits you’re not willing to share a space with) say the following invocation and stand firm! Be powerful in your words, trust yourself.

Anyone who is not in the light and who is not here for the best and highest good of myself and all involved must leave NOW! You are not welcome here! This is not your home! I banish you now never to return. I send you away with love and pray that you find your own light. You are not welcome here, you will leave now. This is my space and it’s time for you to go. OUT!

***Start at your front door and always work in a clockwise direction. Make sure you are working one floor at a time, moving from room to room. Make sure you are getting around, under and behind everything in each room, inside closets, cabinets and chests also.

To finish a room after working all four corners and making your way back to where you started, move to the center of the room and hold the smudge stick or herbs up high and waft the smoke upwards. When you leave the room shut the door and continue the process until the entire location is completed.

As you finish take time to close our eyes and visualize a dome of light and love protecting your home and everyone within.

Reports of what people feel when the process is complete can vary, but is generally the same. Some report a feeling of "the heaviness lifting" or "It feels lighter and peaceful". But do not use someone else's experience for a basis of comparison. You will know, and feel when those energies are gone. While some of the circumstances may seem similiar, no two instances are the same. 

There are times were it is required to complete the process multiple times, so do not be discouraged if this is the case.

It is also important that you believe in yourself, and what you are doing. If you go into this with a skeptical mindset, or you doubt your ability to do this, it wont work, and there is the chance that the activity can increase.

If you have any questions, or need help, or advice, please reach out to us. Every experience is important. We will never invalidate your claims, and we will do everything that we can do to help you.