Smudging can sound a bit intimidating to anyone who is unfamiliar with the process, but is not complicated and totally safe when you follow several very simple steps. Because smudging is an ancient and sacred ceremony, it is best to do it with full awareness and in a slow, mindful manner. You’ll want to have intent and belief behind the process, that what you’re doing is in fact, working. Even the happiest homes accumulate negative vibrations over time so it's good to smudge your home thoroughly a few times a year. You can also use smudging to clear your own energy or the energy of other people, or when you buy antiques or second-hand items. I like to do this when I move into a new home as well.
If you feel that the energies in your home are negative or spirits that you’d rather not have there, you can rubber band a palo santo stick to your sage stick to give it a little extra boost to banish the energy or spirits from your home. You may want to repeat this process every 2 to 3 months, or when needed.
Say a Prayer Or blessing is a wonderful way for setting your intention for the clearing of your home or items. Please feel free to ask for the divine aid of any spiritual helper you feel comfortable in aiding you in protection, this can be a deity, archangel, or spirit guide. Ask that any and all stagnant energy and energetic attachments be cleansed and released from your home or items, and that they be infused with positive and vibrant light, to assure that these they align with providing your home or workspace with love and all that is of higher vibrational energy. End Your prayer or blessing by thanking Great spirit, God, your angels, or guides, etc. You can also command that spirits that are not of the highest good leave your home as well.
Smudging Your Home
Step #1. Light the tip of your sage and/or palo santo stick(s) and say a prayer or just focus your energy, then gently wave the stick in the air until the tip begins to smolder.
Step #2. Hold the smudge stick over the fireproof container at all times in order to avoid any lit herbs falling on the floor. You can use a feather, if you have one, but usually just gently waving your hands to waft the smoke is enough. Remind yourself to stay connected to your breathing throughout your smudging session.
Step #3. Go clockwise around your house (usually starting at the front door), and gently wave the smoke into the air. Spend a bit more time smudging the room corners, as they tend to accumulate stagnant energy. Be sure to also open the closet doors and carefully smudge inside. Do not forget about spaces such as the laundry room, the garage or the basement.
Step #4. When you have smudged all areas of your house, come back to where you started and gently extinguish your smudge stick (dipping it into sand while applying a bit of pressure usually works well, however, if you don’t have that, it will blow out eventually, just keep it in your bowl. A drop or two of water also works).