Smudging the Blues Away

What is smudging and do we really need to use sage?

Smudging is, traditionally, a ceremony for cleansing a person or place of any negativity. Sage, Cedar, Sweetgrass, and Tobacco are used. Smudge when you are feeling emotionally drained, when you just moved to a new space, when you just had an argument with someone.

To prepare the room, cover mirrors, close windows, open doors (including cupboards), and turn off all electronics. You start on the left side of the door and you stay to the left all the way through the house or apartment, while praying the whole time.

With the smoke you ask for the good spirits to stay and the negative spirits to go away,” says Eddy Robinson, Ojibwa cultural educator and founder of Morningstar River, which provides aboriginal culture education.