Smudging ????

[Anonymous]

You can all call me 'thick' here but can someone explain what 'smudging' is ?      I have never used it in my rituals.
I saw a small bundle of herbs and bowl in a shop 'for smudging' but I'm thinking it'll make a real kind of burnt mess.  

I tend to use incense instead.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Smudging is a method of clearing negative energy by burning (in the same manner as incense, rather than having an actual flame) a bundle of herbs (sometimes called a smudging stick).

I've never heard of a bowl being used. Incense, when used for cleansing, is basically the same principle.

[Gryphon]

Smudging is a Native American custom. Bundles of herbs are lit until they smoke and the aromatic smoke is fanned onto the body or area to be cleansed.

When you have a loose mix of herbs, they are often piled on top of a charcoal briquette to make them smoke. The bowl is used to hold the briquette and the herbs, and after the ceremony is over the ashes are in a nice container to be disposed of in a sacred manner as you see fit. I often use a shell to catch the ashes.

On our living room altar we have a small fire proof bowl filled with volcanic ash which we also use to smoke our incense or smudge mixes. Some folks use resins instead of incense, smudge bundles or smudge mix.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, they are all available at Magickware.com

[NachtSorcier]

From what I've read, the only real difference between using bundles and incense is the term.  Using bundles is called smudging, whereas using incense is called fuming.

[mermdotcom]

Ooo! I have more questions!

How long will a bundle burn?  The local magick supply shop only has small, 4-inch sage bundles, but Magickware sells them as large as 8-9 inches.  I don't know what size to get for cleansing my apartment or my friend's house.  Also, if the bundle doesn't burn all the way down before I'm done, should I let it burn out in a fireproof bowl or put it out?

[Gryphon]

The larger the bundle the longer it will burn. A small smudge bundle (I call them baby bundles) will smudge a medium sized home or a coven full of people.  
 
If there is still unburned smudge left when you are done, it is best to smother any other burning bits and when you are sure the bundle is no longer smoldering, store it in a moisture proof container. Damp smudge doesn't burn well.
 
I have had the larger bundles last me for several seasons of rituals.
 
Since the bundles are hand made and different harvests of the herbs tend to burn at different rates, an exact burn length isn't possible to determine.
 
I believe there are some links to books about smudging at amazon on the smudge bundles pages at magickware.

[Rowan CedarWolf]

All I can do is agree with what everyone else here has already said. I have used white sage, desert sage, cedar, sweetgrass both seperately and combined.

[NachtSorcier]

Just be warned that sage smoke smells like burning marijuana, so make sure that nosy neighbors won't be calling the cops or anything.

[Anonymous]

Brilliant ......  now I understand what smudging is ..... Thanks.

I want to do a thorugh house cleansing this week so now I know what I'm meant to be doing with the bundle of herbs.