Sacred Smoke

This blog excerpt was taken from our store: Westport Trading Post. To read the entire article please click here.

Almost 10 years ago, my family moved into an old country house with a long history. Unfortunately, that history included some bad karma from old conflicts linked to the previous owners. It resulted in a random but serious act of vandalism on the property just before we moved in.

We were devastated. We had innocently and unknowingly inherited the consequences of other people’s bad actions. The question was: how could we divest ourselves from the residual energy of past events? All we wanted was to feel happy and comfortable in our new home, not fearful or uneasy.

The answer, as it turned out, was smudging.
Friends of ours with Indigenous heritage recommended we cleanse our space by burning a sage bundle to clear any lingering negativity. They suggested we move through each room, wafting smoke and repeating a mantra, which would set a fresh intention for our new life there.

The experience was soothing, and left us feeling lighter, relieved of a burden. Once ignited, the glowing embers of dried sage gently smouldered and pungent smoke curled into the air, floating from room to room. It was peaceful, yet powerful.

Smudge cleanses and smoke-bathing ceremonies have been a spiritual practice for centuries in many ancient cultures around the world, but burning sage bundles is a tradition distinct to North American Indigenous tribes. Botanical bundles are now available for those wishing to engage in sacred smudging rituals of their own. Made with sage, cedar, sweetgrass, and other regional flora, they are handcrafted through Monague, a Canadian First Nation-owned business in British Columbia.

Each bundle is blended with unique herbal combinations to create an aromatic experience suited to your ceremony or practice: Sage with Lavender, Sage with Rose Petals, and Sage with Lavender Strawflower. In addition to clearing old energy, the act of smudging can also prepare a space for its next purpose. Sage can be burned before meditation or therapeutic activity; it can be used to cleanse the mental palate prior to engaging in creative work. Some burn sage during particular lunar phases, to align with the beginning cycles of a new moon or endings at a full moon.

Occasions for smudging:

• At a wedding or other meaningful ceremony
• When moving into a new home, office, or creative space
• Before or after hosting guests
• Following an argument, illness, or period of stress
• On days of spiritual significance

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