Smudging

A ceremony of several Indigenous peoples of North America, and why witches outside them say smoke cleansing.

Smudging names ceremonies of several Indigenous peoples of North America in which sacred plants such as white sage, sweetgrass or cedar are burned with prayer. These ceremonies belong to their communities and are passed on within them. They are a closed practice: not open to everyone who is curious.

Many witches therefore do not call what they do smudging. Burning herbs to cleanse a room is known in many cultures, and the general word for it is smoke cleansing. Rosemary, lavender, juniper or garden sage from your own region work well. Burn them in a fireproof bowl with a window open, and never leave them unattended.

Wild white sage is also overharvested. If you want to burn sage, grow garden sage yourself.

Related: cleansing, closed practices.