Anyone who works with herbs knows that they
can work on very subtle levels, particularly the
spiritual. ‘Smudging’ is traditionally a Native
American spiritual practice, which is used to
clear an atmosphere of spiritual contamination
and negativity. Smudge sticks are long bundles
of sweet-smelling plant substance, which are
wound tightly then lit at one end until they
catch fire. It is then blown out so it continues to
glow as it releases the smoke.
The Native Americans would use plants such
as sage, cedar, sweet grass or wormwood. A
plant called prairie lavender is also used in
some places as a smudge stick, although it is not
the same type of lavender we know in Europe.
