How to smudge

Protect yourself and rid of negative vibes! 

Burning Sage

Firstly, let’s honour where this incredible ritual was born. The ancient Native Americans began burning dried herbs during sacred ceremonies of purification,  prayer and medicine way before anyone even knew what smudging was. It’s important we honour and respect their traditions and show deep gratitude to those who did it before us. 

What is smudging: 

Burning sage is one of the most powerful rituals known and is now carried out globally by millions of people to rid negative energy and promote healing. Smudging is the act of burning herbs to purify negative energies on people, spaces and objects. Many people use it when moving into a new home or space to cleanse the energies of those who lived in the space previously. 

 

Smudging to cleanse your tarot cards and crystals:

Objects can absorb negative energies especially ones that are handled by others. If you have purchased a new tarot deck you must cleanse this prior to using it as it may have absorbed negative energies on its way to you, the same goes for new crystals.  

 You should also regularly cleanse your tarot cards after using them as they are likely to absorb negative energies from others that have handled them when shuffling. You must pass each card through the smoke to ensure it has been thoroughly cleansed.  

 To ensure your deck remains cleansed for a longer period of time, place a protection stone such a black tourmaline or black obsidian on top of the cards, as this will absorb any remaining energies that have been left behind. 

 Be sure to cleanse your crystals regularly and make use of the full moon to recharge your crystals under the moonbeams.

 

How to smudge your house

Use a smudge stick or loose sage, either is good but a smudge stick is easier to handle around the house.

It’s important to set your intentions before lighting the sage, think about why you are lighting the sage and what you are trying to expel.

Light the sage and blow out the flames so the ends of the sage leaves are smouldering.

Slowly walk around each room with the burning sage cleansing the entire room. Ensure you properly put out our sage stick, you can do this by pressing it into a glass bowl, using an ashtray or clay dish.

You may carry out this process as often as you like. 

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Burning Olive Leaves :

Burning olive leaves is an ancient ritual and has been practised for centuries by Cypriots.  The olive leaf is thought to be a sacred leaf carrying protection for all that use it from negative energy and harm. It is particularly symbolic of warding off the evil eye curse, which is simply cast upon people by a malicious stare fuelled by envy. 

Usually, the ritual is carried out at a celebration or when something is going extremely well for someone giving them protection from the evil eye curse. The ritual may also be used for those who already have the curse to break it. 

 

How to burn olive leaves for protection:

You will require a clay or glass pot and loose dried olive tree leaves. 

​Place a handful of loose dried olive leaves into a clay pot with a pinch of salt.

Use a match to burn the olive leaves and blow out the flames so that the leaves are smouldering.

Circle the clay pot around the head of the person that requires the protection at least three times. Traditionally the following chant is used ‘For those who have the eye, may they lose it’.

Ensure you put the leaves out properly, you should not reuse these leaves if they have not all burned they must be thrown away. 

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