Guest Blog by The Sage Goddess, "Smudging 101: How to Clear Your Space With Sacred Herbs and Resins"2/4/2014 MindBodyBeing welcomes the beautiful Athena, The Sage Goddess, to share her insight and wisdom with us. As we prepare to RELEASE in the fire what no longer serves us, ignite the flame of passion and gratitude from the blessings of our past and take with us all the wisdom into our future, we will use this sacred cleansing. Before you begin your fire ceremony in STEP III of the Transform Process, you will be invited to cleanse your space and your energy field. Athena has shared with us the history and essence of smudging. "Clearing your sacred space before ritual, ceremony, or meditation is very important for magical work, and perhaps the most time-tested method is to burn sacred herbs and resins. Since the earliest times in recorded history – and I’m sure even before that – our ancestors have burned herbs, resins, and other materials. This was partly an homage to our sense of smell (think of how differently, and how beautifully, rosemary smells when burned as opposed to pine or parsley) and partly a recognition that via our sense of smell, we could be transported – our energies shifted, our vibrations raised. Our history also evidences a deep transcultural belief that passing items through smoke cleanses or purifies them (including our own bodies). The origin of modern day perfume can be traced back to incense; in fact the Latin root of the word perfume, per fumem, means “through smoke.” Our Egyptian and Roman ancestors “perfumed” the air with incense they burned. In pre-Christian times, Frankincense was the most valued type of incense – it was rare, expensive, and prized. No wonder it was one of the three gifts brought by the Wise Men to Christ’s manger; it was a gift fit for a king. Today, we still burn Frankincense, as well as myrrh and many other herbs and resins that are literally as old as time. Burning these herbs and resins connects us energetically with our ancient ancestors. Their spirits are drawn to the smell and to our ceremonies where those scents perfume the air. TO SMUDGE: All you need to do is burn one or more of these ingredients on a heat-proof surface. You can direct the smoke around your space or body using your hand or a feather. In native traditions, we begin smudging by facing the direction of east, then turn south, west, north, and back to east to put the ashes out. As you smudge, visualize any negative or low-vibration energies leaving your space or your body. Most of us feel instantly better after we smudge! And you can smudge any time of day or night, as often as you like." Keep an eye out in your inbox for a special smudging kit from Athena to MindBodyBeing readers! In the meantime, check out her Etsy store for Divine gifts!! Click HERE >>> https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSageGoddess <<< Below are Athena's Top 10 smudging herbs, woods, and resins and their magical or healing properties: 1. White sage or salvia apiana White sage is used to clear negative energies from a place, space, or person. 2. Coastal sage or artemisia californica Coastal sage also clears negative energies and it heals holes or tears in the aura. 3. Lavender Lavender brings peace and restful sleep. 4. Frankincense resin Frankincense reduces stress, eases tension, and connects you with Source energy. 5. Myrrh resin Myrrh resin is physically healing and grounding. 6. Pinon pine resin Pinion pine is protective, healing, and nurturing. 7. Palo santo Palo santo is deeply healing to the physical body. Can be used to clear a home of energies associated with illness. 8. Mugwort or artemisia vulgaris Mugwort brings clarity and develops/deepens psychic abilities. 9. Thyme Thyme is excellent for releasing ceremonies. It allows us to recall the past without pain. 10. Cedar Cedar banishes fear and enhances courage in difficult times. |