Hello My Witches!

I see smudging coming up a lot so guess what this posts about? Smudging and smoke cleansing has existed for centuries and is practiced by many cultures. There are often arguments over closed practices and cultural appropriation such as the use of the sacred white sage of Native American practices. You can basically smudge or smoke cleanse with any herb or tree. As with all things witchy the personal traits and values you place on something are what they mean to you. It’s your craft. 

The terms smudge and smoke cleanse cause issue as I have heard from Native Americans who claim the term smudging. Let me tread carefully here. I try not to tell others how to practice their craft as everyone’s path is different. That being said, honoring each others beliefs and being respectful is never a bad way to go.

Here’s a quick, and surely not complete, known history of the word. 

Early 15th century the English word smogen appeared meaning to stain, soil or blacken.
1767 smudge derived from smogen meaning to suffocate with smoke. A way to get rid of bugs.
1806 the word was used to describe the bunch of whatever that was burned that created dense smoke.
By 1903 Native Americans started using the words smudgepot and smudgestick to describe existing ceremonial practices. The Cree and Ojibwe names for smudging, or medicinal smudging respectively, is atisamânihk and nookwez.

Source: https://www.etymonline.com/word/smudge

Knowing the etymology of the word one might ask, “so why do Native Americans get upset when people smudge or use the word smudge?” This is deeper than the word history obviously. The practice of smoke cleansing and smudging has existed in just about every culture since recorded history and most likely way before as well. Smoke cleansing was an integral part of Ancient Egyptian culture as an example. Used to ward off spirits, plagues, bad energy and to purify people and objects. 

I am not Native American and I have talked with those who are as well as read up on the subject and these are the concerns taught to me. 

The word itself is an English word but it was not used in the context Native Americans gave it. This is why using the word can upset some people. The use of sacred plants such as white sage in a manner that may seem almost flippant to Native Americans by modern witch smudgers, when compared to its holy status for Native Americans, is a big issue. To them they should be harvested with ceremony, offerings and respect. Over harvesting of sacred plants like wild white sage of North America and Palo Santo for South American indigenous people, has made it harder for them to find as well as putting Palo Santo close to the endangered species list. In Peru and Ecuador it’s illegal to cut down the tree as their belief is that the holy tree should never be cut down. The final, and probably the most important, reason is that so much has been taken from indigenous people. From land, languages, histories, freedom, rights, cultural practices, etc. It’s not a huge jump, in my opinion as an empathic witch, for people to see how the improper harvesting, ideas and uses being applied to their sacred practices, when combined with generational trauma, hurts and ultimately angers Native Americans. What is anger but hurt and sadness after all?

All that being said it will make some witches happy to know, if they don’t already, that in witchcraft intent is everything. You don’t need to smudge or smoke clean with white sage. If your intent is true you can have the same results using common sage! The Egyptians, Greeks, Roman, African tribes, and more have used sage of some variety for thousands of years. It’s anti-microbial in any of its varieties. Purple sage is one of my favorite herbs to grow and very hardy as well as beautiful. You can choose to respect the wishes of indigenous people and lose nothing.

Empathy in witchcraft is very important in my opinion. Understanding the human spirit and condition is as important as understanding the elements and the rules of the universe.

Here’s a quick rundown of smoke cleansing herbs you can try.

Cedar
Sweet grass
Frankincense
Myrrh
Roses (rose petals are one of my favorites for smell and personal connection.)
Basil (considered a proper direct replacement of white sage and it smells like heaven.)
Rosemary (an herb that can replace any other herb in any cleanse or spell and also a favorite… ok I just love all herbs whatever.)
Lavender
Any of the mint variations…chocolate mint! I love it and it’s dark reddish stem color looks beautiful growing next to purple sage…just saying.
Mugwort (great for dreaming also.)
Thyme

You can also combine herbs and flowers for different meanings and a more specific intent. This is in no way a full list just some ideas. Cleansing with incense is also a great option and a practice I normally use. There’s just something that feels neat and precise to me.

Smoke Cleansing Mantra

Intent is where it’s at. So when you cleanse come up with a blessing or mantra for yourself, family and home. Personally I’m a seat of my pants kind of witch and say what I feel at the time.

Here’s an example that you can also use.

I open this space to divine love, may all the energy that flows through here benefit the heart space. May it hold compassion, nurturance, forgiveness, and truth.

Happy cleansing!