BY Lloyd T. Rich taimloyd@webtv.net MSN MESSENGER MonAmis@lakota.net

What Is Smudging All About ? I carefully put the Sage I am using in a flatish shell I use for Smudging and carefully both spiritially and physically I light the smudge and saying a prayer lowly blew on it where it glowed reddish until the smoke started rising from it. I offer the smudge to the Creator, and then smudge myself and this keyboard I am writing this on to share my Smdging Ceremonies with you, and .... I have noticed the distribution of Smudge Sticks, Wands , and material in stores usually Spiritial or Occult, and even some food and other stores, and now on the World Wide Web , For those who are not into Smudging, are new to it or who want to understand better what it is about I provide this Infromation from all my experiences and some ceremoneys I do. I first learned about Smudging from a Chippawa Medicine Teacher named Sun Bear who now has journeyed into the next dimention + . He told us that SMUDDGING IS A SACRED CEREMONY .... I had seen it done in church as the minister would wave incense seeing it's scented smoke rise around Alters and the church but never realized the really great importance of it before. Now I watch my prayers rise with the smoke when it is done. Smudging has been done for hundreds of years by many cultures and traditions in many ways. Archeolgists have found indication of Smudging, and burning incense during ritials and Ceremonies from centuries of years ago. It has been used as an opening Ceremony before Councils, Meetings, before and during important ritual times and Ceremonys. It was done with Incense in churchs, temples, and synagoges, It has been done with Sacred Plants at Sacred Shines, Spots, and Alters . Herbs such as Sage, Sweet Grass and Cedar they considered sacred were used by the Native Americans and other Sacred plants many other Traditions use in smudging. It has been done using different kinds of Incense Burner, Shells, Bowls, Bundles, Wands, Branches, Resin, Braids , and it is believed a Carved Stone hole may have been used for smudging....

SMUDGING CEREMONIES by Lloyd T. Rich I am sharing with you several types of smudging Ceremonies I have done . These I share with you out of respect and so that you will understand the use of smudging better . You may use different ceremonies in smudging but what is important is how it is done . With Respect , Doing a smudging ceremony is similar to that being done by a priest or minister spreading incense around a church to purify the alters and church and even in some places animals and homes. What we will cover is the spiritial as well as visible side of smudging . The smoke rising from the White Sage I use (Many other tribes have also combined it with Sweet Grass, with Cedar or both) with Creators help purifys spiritilaly what it touches . The raising smoke directs our prayers raising to Creator. I prefer Sage by itself because of the Plains tradition I observe as it is considered very Sacred and a visible physical form of your prayers rising to Wakontanka The Creator or whatever you call the Creator . Wakontanka is Lakota for The Greatest Mystery and it makes a real great mantra chant . I always chant 4 or 8 timres -4 is Sacred. ... WA___ KONNN_ TAAAWNKAAH.... Smudging is a link with the creator and obtaining positive energy .This I always keep in mind when I am smudging . We are all surrounded by an Energy Field. It's energy can be felt when you hug someone which can be used to balance the energys. You can heal this way and give the Earth a great healing hug. Tai Chi uses this energy.. Smudging purifys and clenses the enerfgy fields. The smudge is put in a large sea shell to symbolize the Earth from which it came and the waters that create the circle of life which surround it, Fire is applied to it to start it burning creating te smoke Spirit which rises into the air/sky taking our prayers to the Greatest Mystery. Thus Earth, Water, Fire and Air are symboicaly joined togethe Smudgin combines them and purifys the energys by penetrating and joining the dimentions of physical and spiritial. worlds. This is observed by smudging and burning insense in many traditions. When I first experienced smudding at the Wild Fire meetings the large shell was always used for smudging, and we would SMUDGE OURSELVES before each Wild Fire meeting . We used a shell and said prayers to Creator as we brought all 4 elaments togeter. A Ceramic Bowl used for Ceremonys only has symbolism on it representing water, and having sand in the bottom symbolising the waters surrounding the Earth and earth that touches them can be used if a Large Shell is unavauilable.. Sage is used as a Purifyer alone by me beause of the Plains Tradition I observe.. The Smudge can also be a combination of it and others. Sage (dried leaves) is used for driving out negative energys, and for purification. Cedar (l4eaves/inner bark) is a cleanser good when sickness is around. Like Sage it and Juniper (leaves) draw in Posituive Energies.,Sweet Grass (all but the roots) pulls in Positive Energys and is braided for it is considered the sacred hair of the Earth. The Tobacco (leaves) draws and absorbs negativite or positive energies . It is never inhaled during Ceremonies but the smoke is held in the mouth during prayer then released as you watch them being carried to God~Creator on the smoke. REMEMBER SMUDGING IS A VERY SACRED CEREMONY . IT IS DONE AT THE THE BEGINING OF CEREMONIES .The herbs are part of the ceremony. The responsibility of the cleansing depends on you. You have to allow it to happen to discover how to do it. It can be used to clense a friendship and rooms after an argument, (see House Smudging).. and where sickness is. The Sage is placed in a large sea shell and lit until it is smoldering. The smothering sage and it's raising smoke would be passed from one person to another or one person would do the smudging of each individual usually with a feather or group of wing feathers. Depending on the meeting. When smudging a room or house II use a Wand of sage because it is easier to direct smoke into the hidden places including cabinets (See House Ceremony).. While being smudged you visualize the positivre energy of the smudge in the smoke and you pull it towards yourself, and guide the smoke over your head , directing it over your body, legs and arround it to the ground. It will clense your energy fields (Aura) surrounding your body. and increase the positive energy around and in it.purifying it. You can visuallise it passing through the fiber molecules of your clothes to purify your body where you can not touch it. Sun Bear said , " Draw the smoke around your heart, and over your head to receive it's blessings" You feel the energy of the smudge surounding cleansing, and purifying yourself physically, and spiritially becoming one with it's positive energy centering yourself . In a Sacred way purify yourself completely with the smudges energy and as you watch it ask the creator to purify you and increase the positive energy around and within you . Watching your prayers rise to the creator in the clensing smoke . Sun Bear said that the smudge destroys the negativity of the person being smudged . "If people can let go of their negativity , and feel the good energy centered within them , they will get alot more out of what comes later ". Then you offer the smudge to the 4 directions ( I was surprised to find reference to them in the Bible .... ) in thanksgiving and offer it to Creator, and Earth . This is done by the person if one person is doing the smudging before smuddging everyone else if smuddging everyone berfore a meeting or ceremony. Often with the use of feathers. Everyone should be in a circle while they are being smudged by the person smudging everyone . If the shell is passed the shell is held in left hand and the right hand guides the smoke over your body. If you are being smudged by someone use your hands to help guide the smoke over and around your body. Visualize where you want the smoke to go pulling extra smoke to where you feel you need healing or to bo more balanced. Smudging is the important begining of all ceremonies ~ rather meetings, sweat lodges, and begining all spiritial events , and ceremonies . You can even smudge your vehicle to increase the Positive Energy within it before traveling . It can even become a part of a ceramony . I have seen a circle of positive energy created around a Sacred spot or place before a ceremony by visualizing , guiding the smoke outwards , overhead, and down to the earth and below to drive out negativity, and protect all those within the Sacred Circle during the sacred ceremony being done even becomuing a part of it. . Smudging should also be done on a daily basis to begin the day if possiblle. I do it after taking a shower purifying myself in two ways ~ physiclly, and spiritially. If not it should be done once a month and on Sacred Days to purify yourself and dwelling, and drive out all negative energies that may cling to the shoes and be brought into the dwelling. It will also protect the dwelling from negative energies that may try to enter it . By smudging the house it balances the energies within the house and increases the positive energuies . Offices can also be smudged. When I have to smudge and have a guest visiting me I will inform them what Smudging is, and it's importance in sacred purification. Then explain not to leave the house until the ceremony is over or leave before it begins. Anyone who disrespects any ceremonys, alters, etc... are told to leave and not return .... . HOUSE SMUDGING The Earth is covered with Energys which include strong Negative energys. They are usually near the surface and will cling to the shoes and will enter the house this way. You can leave them by the door and the energys will be drawn outside by the greater amount of negatve energys there, or smudge the shoes, and your guest completely to keep the negative energies from being brought through the house and increasing them. Smudging the whole house will remove them. These are my house smudging ceremonies. To me my house is a Temple, and I have Alters in and around it. When I smudge my house I use a Large Sage Wand as it is easier for me to use for this then the smudging shell with loose Sage,, but you can use the shell for smudging this way also. A tent is also a house as is a Tipi, and Leanto so I smudge it and everything within it after I put it up. This is the same reason some people smudge their rooms, offices ,and pray in a Sacred Way while smudging their cars . I also smudge my bike. Before I smudge my house I lock all the doors and close all the windows . I then take a shower and smudge myself and create a seal with the smudge over and around the locked doors. This seal is not to be broken before the ceremony is over. No one who wishes to partake of the ceremony , or is in the house during the ceremony is allowed to leave nor anyone to enter and break the seal until after the smuddging is done because the smudging drives off the negative energies and destroys them . It then replaces them with Positive energies . By breaking the seal before the ceremony is done Negative energy can retur Positive energy from smudging fills the inside with so much Positive Energy that the negative energy will find it very difficult to reenter it. Thus breaking the seal before the ceremony ends and vacuum of negetivity that has been destroyed is filled with positive energy still in it will allow other negative energys from the outside to come in to refill it with negetive energy . Requiring the ceremony to be redone if the seal s broken before the ceremony is done. Now for smudging the house . Usually I start by taking a shower and letting the water clinse me physically then smudge myself all over with the Smudge wand (I use Sage only, or Sage and Sweet Grass when required) . I visulize the smoke passing all over, and under me seeing it passing into and through me purifying my body completely Then when the house is sealed as above while still sky clad I smudge my house on the inside . I wear boxers I have smudged if there is someone else present .. I always only walk and smudge in a clockwise direction when smudging to increase the Positive Energy. I just wondered which dirrection would I smudge if I was in Australia where the water runs in the opposite direction - counter clockwise. You must maintain positive thoughts during the smudging ceremony and avoid all distractions. I always start with the Bathroom where I have just taken the shower . I direct the smoke from the Smudge at the shower, drain directing the smoke as I visuali8ze it journeying. I then direct it at the bathroom window making a circle clockwise four times arroud the closed window driving negative energy through it and out the window and to keep it from reentering. Remembering mirrors are also windows I smudge them also using the sage smudge wand by itself or in a shell dirrcting the smoke around them in 4 circles seeing negative energy being pulled out and trapping it into them . I smudge inside the medicine cabinet towel, holder, wherever the negative energy can try to hide. I also smudge all the Sacred alters and objects in the room and all it's corners.. Don't forget the electric plugs and telephone jacks as negative energy can use the to sneak back nto the house and hode in them. Also dirrect smoke towads the vents visualizing the energy from the smudge going through them driving out and destroying the negative energy hding within them. Once a room has been completely smuddged there is no more negative energy within it. Now having smudged the entire room we come to the door. The door is an entry way like a window or mirror so facingit Smudge the whole ourtside of the door and moving the smoke arround it 4 times and then through it. After you have smudged the door you can walk through it. My Heater is right in front of me so I smudge it also dirrecting the smudge all over, and arond it seeing the energy from it searchingout and drivingaway any negative energy hiding within it. I don't forget to smudge 4 times its plug. Also I will smudge thewater heater completely . The doorway to the living roomhas no door but I smudge it anywayit is still a dor directing the smoke 4 times arround it and trough it before entering. There is a chair to my righ5t so I smudge it 4 times in a circle to destroy any negative energy left , and hiding in it. I also smudge my hat, shirt, and jacket on it. Next to it is my Alter so I open my Alter and direct smoke first into the center representing the creator, and then on each side dirrecting the smoke in 4 circles visualizuing all the objects i it being smudged , I then smudge the entire Alter outside and the area surrounding it. I have a Sacred Objects and aMedicine Wheel near by and I will smudge them also. I have It and 1 main Alter which are the Most Important ones . I have many other Altars in each room in the house some being Sacred Objects with Alters within them .. I will smudge them al as I go by them, and all Sacred Objects directing the smoke around the 4 times. There are some records and tapes nearby so I smudge them too . I also smudge the heat controls in 4 directions To my right is my Study so not smudging all of living room due to open doors to it I smudge the door to my study in clockwise circles 4 times. Inside it I smudge the closet, vents, and visualize smoke going into all the corners destroying the negative energy. I smudge my book cases, pictures in 4 directons clockwise for the glass in them can act as a mirror which is a dimentionqal window. I smudge my Alter, Computer completely all over and every part visualizing the energy from the smudge travelinghrough out it and destroying any negtive energy within it.. I then remember how a computer that had been smudged began working better. I continue clockwise smudguing the windows and Medicine Objects next to them 4 times in circles . I remember to smudge all the plugs to keep negative energy fro entering, Even the Friends (pets) on my sofa and elsewhere when get o them. I smudge my sofa clockwise 4 times. Smudgimg the Medicine Obejcts on the door 4 times in a circle I smudge the door 4 timmes in a .... from now on when I say 4 times it means 4 times in clockwise circles . I then go into the living room where I smudge my Tapes that I have listed as well as ones in my Trade List of Anime . I now Smudge the electric plug clockwise, and my Sound System, Television 4 times individually clockwise. I next Smudge my living room window and lights and curtin within it. I smudge the area next to door where people leave their shoes to keep negativity from beig brought farther into the house from outside, I smudge the shoes there. I smudge the door 4 times around even though it is sealed and my hiking staff for it helps me travel, and helps support my tent .. I smudge my Go table 4 times about seeing the smoke journying trough the Go Stone ferreting out any negative energy hiding there. I then direct smoke through the cabinet. The Sacred Smoke .journeys arround and through out . I smudge my clock in 4 dirrections in a circle as it is electrical, as do all my windows . I then proceed to smudge my plants and sofa and Rocking Chair (I feel every magical house should have one) in 4 circles visualizinfg them being filled with positive energy. I visulize the smoke traveling upwards toward my overhead light and smudgig it . Remember Negetive energy is energy like electricity and likes to hide with it sometimes . I make sure all the electrical items are smudged including plugs. Smudging the door way I enter the Kitchen, and smudge the refrigerator visulizing energy surrounding it and it's plug,. I then smudge inside the Freezer top, and bottom, as well as around and inside the Microvave oven next to it. I next smudge the cabinets opening the insides of them visulize the energy journying through them and everything within them. I do this with al cabinets including under the Kitchen Sink. I smudge the Kitchen Sinks down the drain,, and 4 times around the windows above it, as well as the shelves. I smudge over and al around the stove smudging the burners, and inside the oven top and belowit. Visulizing I see the positive energy from the smudge going behind, and under it so there is positive energy in everything I cook and bake. I then smudge the window and objects aound and on it . I smudge the kitchen table and chairs in a Clockwise direction including the Cookie Jar on it. I smudge my Kitchen Indian maiden (instead ofa Kitchen Witch) , and broom closet, and everything else in it. After finishing Smudging the Kitchen, I smudge the door to the wash room f times, and then my laundrymachine, and elictric plugs. Finally I( smudge the back door, and it's window 4 times ia circle Then moving to the front of the house I smudge the entire bedroom and closets, inside each cabinet drawer, Alter, and then the beds. I smudge it in a clockwise directtion visualizing the smoke going through and around it, and then inside the side dressers by the bed. I then smudge the clothes closets seeing the smoke flowing through out them. After smudging the door I smudge the whole inside of the house flowin through it seeing al the negative energy being drawn out through the circles of outward energy I made so they could not return back. Then after returning to the front door with the house complertel smudged and all negative energy being drive out I go tothe front door, and with a prayer to the Creator ~ Wakontanka for a blessing to the house . After dressing I break the energy seal on the door. Moving hands in a circle and bowing in great Thanksgiving to the Creator for a blessing I then open the door. The inside of the house has been totaly smudged. Lloyd T. Rich AHO MITAKUYE OYASIN THESE CEREMONIES ARE DONE BY ME.. YOU MAY ADOPT THEM TO YOUR TRADITION OR USE YOUR OWN> I GIVE IT AS AN EXPLANATION AND GIFT TO YOU AND FOR THE CREATOR OF ALL LIFE. AHO ~:^{) taimloyd@excite.com MonAmis@lakota.net

SMUDGING OUTSIDE OF HOUSE After Smudging inside the house I dress in a Ceremonial Outfit (optional for you) and go outside. I then do an Earth Hug as I described in my Galactic web site above , and make some offerings to the Great Spirit and Earth mother as well as giving thanks as mentioned in the Earth Ceremony. I start smudging outside with my Alter . I smudge my outside Alter to The Creator ~ Wakontanka/God/ J_ (Creator goes by many names ) and in four directions (Zech 6 :1-8) . I direct smudge to the 4 directions giving thanks and seeking Introspection~ West, Knowledge North, and Illumination East, Healtgh and Healing ~ South. I offer up Smudge to the Creator ~ chanting Wakontanka (Lakota name for Greatest Mystery ) 4 times for each direction, and say a prayer of Thanksgiving to God/Wakontanka/Creator/Je... or whatever name you give to the Creator then smudge the outside of the house. I start by Visualizing the Smudge going around and over the whole front of my house and through the water tunnel spouts surrounding it. I visulize the smudge clensing the roof of the house. I smudge the outside of the door and windows in clockwise directions visulaizing the negative energy being pulled away from them and being replaced with positive energy. I then smudge each whole side of the house offering up a prayer for the protection for the house . I also direct smudge smoke to the power lines telephone lines, and meters , etc, as I smudge all sides of the house, windows, and doors until it is compltely smudged. If you have a chimney smudge it visualizing the smudge driving the negativiy away from it. I have a Picnic table in my yard so I smudge it in 4 directions with circle watching the smoke purify it as I picture it being used . I also smudge my clothes line purifying it and it's poles. It is also a good idea if you smudge swing sets if you have any making sure the smoke from the smudge journeys through the holes and hidden placews in t via visulization of it traveling there. I do not have a swing but I enjoy using them. I smudger my Gardens starting at the Medicine Wheel Alter as above described then going clockwise I smudge the outside inward seeing the smoke from the smudge going over and around the ground and seeds . etc. while they are growing., and plants. If you have a shed or barn smudge it like the house . Smudge your garden from the time you start it, begin to plant, smudge the seeds to help the seeds grow, and the Garden after planting when the positive energy is needed to help it. Smudge it to strengten the plants and purify it's contents. After the whole house , yards, etc ..has been smudged I thank Wakantanka ~ God (You may use your name for Creator ) for the purification, and to protect and watch over it and everything in and around it and give thanks for all creations .. There are many Ceremonies using Smudging . I share some I do to help you understand what smudging is an how to do it. The House/Outdoor Ceremonies should be adopted to your house as this is how I do my house.. Use them as Creator guides you. REMEMBER SMUDGING IS ABOUT RESPECT. Many uses of Smudging such as in Vision Quests, Sweat Lodge, Life and Seasonal Cremonies and Rituals, and other Very Sacred Ceremonies and Gatherings I have observed and know about are too Sacred to be described here. Creator I thank you for this opportunity to share , and heal with all my relatives in you. AHO MITAKUYE OYASIN Lloyd T. Rich MonAmis@lakota.net taimloyd@webtv.net ~ MSN MESSENGER IF TREATED WITH RESPECT THIS MAY BE USED, COPIED AND DISTRIBUTED ~ :^{)

May the Sacred Smoke of the Sage cleanse you .... AHO

THANKS ALL MY RELATIVES
AHO MITAKYE OYASIN +
WAKANTANKA AHO .... O

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