Smudging is a ritual, a sacred act of cleansing, purification, and communication with Spirit. Indigenous cultures and spiritual practitioners from around the world agree and invoke the healing, cleansing, banishing, and protective qualities and presence that this practice facilitates.

      First, we must open to the idea that "we" human beings, are a part of a greater cycle of life, one of countless sacred threads woven throughout the great mystery. We live on this planet, which gives us all we need to sustain physical life, and as such we are inextricably interconnected to all other life, elements, and timelines. Once we relax into the idea that we are a part of, not outside of all of life, this ritual becomes more powerful than ever.

      There are many ways to "smudge", "purify", "clear", "banish", "activate" or "seal" energy. And in this series, we'll discuss each.  Preparation for a smudging ceremony can be elaborate, or simple as you desire or is as needed depending on what you are intentionalising.

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      What is your purpose or intention for smudging? One of the most common uses for smudging is to clear negative or unwanted energies from your person, aura, or space. It is also common to use this practice to speak with Spirit, God, Source, connect with your guides, angels, the elementals, and other dimensions. You may wish to seal space, protect, or create an energetic barrier. Perhaps you wish to connect time and space, to open or close a portal. Some of these are more advanced applications of smudging, however, they are all possible, just be clear in your heart and mind what you are invoking and why.

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      Now that you are clear on what your purpose is for smudging, consider your smudging materials. In the United States, First Nations Peoples prepare ceremonies with gifts from that Earth that represent the Four Elements and give prayer and acknowledgment to the Four Directions. For instance, coastal First Nations peoples might have a shell representing the gifts and element of Water and the direction of the West (other cultures may use salt), they might also have collected tobacco, sweetgrass, sage, or cedar representing the gifts and element of Earth in their area and the direction of North (in South America Palo Santo, or in Australia Eucalyptus Branches are gifts of the Earth), the flint or fire representing Fire and the direction of the South, while the smoke of the plant medicine, incense, or resin that creates smoke represents the element of air (don't forget breath, sound like flutes or whistles are also air), and the direction of the East.

      You might like to try something similar and try calling in the elements that resonate with you in the sacred directions. Have a think and a look around your home and surrounding nature to see what you already have, or what nature may have gifted you in your yard or along your walk.

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      As a Classically-trained Feng Shui Practitioner and Geomancer (using earth to divine), my elemental and directional practice varies as I'm guided at any moment by my connection to my ancestral lineages, the earth, and my spiritual training. I call in the Four Cardinal Directions as well as the Semi-cardinal Directions such as Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. I also am a carrier of Storm Medicine, so I call in storm element as well as Wood, Metal, and Cosmic, energy. There is no right or wrong way to do this, it is very appropriate for you to feel and speak what feels right to you and attune to your intuitive knowingness. You have deep cellular wisdom within you, always experiment and follow your inner guidance with a light and conscious heart.

      If you were to attend a more formal ceremony with me, you'd find a metal chalice with moon water, essential oils, crystals to create a grid and neutralize center energy, roses, my handmade copper and crystal anchor rods, a seed gourd rattle, and one of my sacred healing smudge feathers of Owl, Blue Heron, Raven, or Turkey that I use to facilitate the movement of sacred smoke among other tools. If I am out and about and need to do an informal or impromptu clearing, you'd see me sing a salt shape (I keep a pouch of salt in my purse ;-)), or flick water or blow flowers or soil using my breath, draw into the earth with a branch. Remember ritual and ceremony are intentional, the magick and medicine are all around and within you.

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      Now that you have your Intention and have selected your tools (and know you can do this practice anywhere) - prepare your voice heart and mind. All cultures use song, voice, dance, drumming, rattles, whistles, make some sacred noise and let mama earth and the spirit beings know of your loving and protective intentions, open your heart and speak out loud, sing and move your energy.

You can start your Sacred Smudging by:

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                  *Blessing space, opening to your highest guidance and Creator, honoring the traditional landowners for where your feet and body stand, honor your blood, bones, and personal lineage, give thanks to the elements and the four directions.

                  *Speaking in your intention for the smudging, are you: bridging sacred understanding, calling your Soul's memories and knowledge, inviting in good spirits and protection, inviting negative energy that is not helpful to leave, or sealing space or portals?

                   *If you are clearing or purifying, move the sacred smoke using a feather or your breath or your hands or all three, direct the smoke in the space counter-clockwise to open, clockwise to ground, in the personal aura feel where the smoke and feathers are guided and clear the aura intuitively, direct smoke or over the object being cleared or pass the object through the smoke, with clear intention and prayers, chanting, singing, drumming, or speaking - invite communion with the earth, that she may receive all cleared energy for transmutation and purification, slice or cut away any energy that feels like it is attached or corded in some way, invite mother earth or your spirit team to assist you to remove and release and speak that it is no more (**smoke is a conductor of spirit, use it wisely - all energy can move between the veils and dimensions easily through smoke, so be clear when you are using smoke to speak in specifically the energies you desire and speak out those you do not desire).

                   *Be open to what you receive, hear, see, smell, sense, and feel, give your sacred ceremony a beginning, middle, and an end.

                    *Celebrate and close your smudging with gratitude prayer, song, seal in the good energy, acknowledge that your purpose for the ceremony is complete, close your eyes in appreciation, and know it is done.

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      Stay tuned as I finish my book "Easy Energy," coming out this May, I'll share many practical, energy healing, and ritual techniques so go ahead and give the sacred art and act of smudging a try and see what healing comes through you.

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As always All is in Motion, Love, Blessings & All things Sacred,

Shama Besley

Azure Ray Healing & Sacred Healing Jewellery