Smudging means using things like Sage, Palo Santo, incense, resin (like frankincense, copal, myrrh, benzoin, and more) or special herbs to remove bad energy from yourself and your space. It makes room for good, bright energy to come in.
What is Sage?
Sage is a common name for a group of perennial herbs in the Salvia genus, part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). This group includes various species of plants with aromatic leaves that are often used for culinary, medicinal, and ceremonial purposes. One of the most well-known species is Salvia officinalis, commonly referred to as common sage or garden sage.
Sage is known for its distinctive, savory flavor, and it is a popular herb in many culinary traditions around the world. It is often used to season a wide range of dishes, including poultry, stuffing, soups, and stews.
In addition to its culinary uses, this aromatic herb has a long history of medicinal and ceremonial use. In some cultures, burning dried sage leavesin a practice known as smudging is believed to cleanse or purify a space and remove negative energy. This practice is common in Native American traditions and has also gained popularity in contemporary spiritual and wellness practices.
Sage is known for its strong aroma and a variety of health benefits attributed to its active compounds. It is rich in antioxidants and has been used for its potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The herb has also been explored for its potential cognitive and memory-enhancing effects.
Overall, sage is a versatile and culturally significant herb with a range of culinary, medicinal, and ceremonial uses.
You can light one of these smudging things and either walk around your home with it or move it around your body to clean your energy. But if you want to make the good effects even stronger, you can say a special saying while smudging.
Words are powerful. When you repeat a saying while smudging, you’re using your words to fill your body or space with good feelings while getting rid of bad feelings with the special smoke. You can choose any of the sayings below that feel right to you, because the ones that feel the best are likely to make the most positive changes.
At the end of this article, you’ll also find 7 important things to remember to make your smudging work really well.
11 Mantras to Say While Smudging
Here are 11 mantras you can use while smudging:
What is mantra?
A mantra is a sacred word, phrase, or sound that is repeated during meditation or in spiritual practices. Mantras have deep roots in various religious and spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and others. They are used as a tool to focus the mind, cultivate mindfulness, and connect with spiritual or divine energies.
“I clear away any heaviness and negativity from my home.”
This mantra is useful, especially after having guests over. It’s a good practice to smudge your home after hosting visitors to remove any unwanted energies. This is especially important if you’ve had any draining or negative individuals around. Even well-meaning guests can carry some negative vibes from a tough day, and by saying this mantra aloud while smudging each room, you can cleanse and refresh the atmosphere.
“I live in harmony of mind, body, and spirit.”
You can use this mantra when smudging yourself: “I live in harmony of mind, body, and spirit.” Whenever you’ve been feeling like your energy is stuck, and you can’t quite explain why you’re feeling negative, low, or disconnected, this mantra can bring you back into balance.
This mantra is also great for times when you’re facing physical, mental, or spiritual challenges, like experiencing aches and pains, having a low mood, or doubting your connection to the divine. While waving your smudge stick around your body, repeat these words to clear any blockages in your energy and bring back a positive feeling.
“I am grateful for health, abundance, and happiness.”
If you want to attract more abundance into your life, try smudging with this mantra: “I am grateful for health, abundance, and happiness.” When you show gratitude for the things you already have, it opens the door for the Universe to bring even more abundance into your life.
Additionally, using your smudge stick can help you get rid of any negative energy related to abundance, good health, and joy. This includes worries about money, anxieties about your health, and feelings of apathy.
As you smudge yourself or your home, repeating this mantra can help you let go of a mindset of scarcity and welcome in a mindset of abundance.
“I release all energies that do not serve me.”
Here’s a helpful mantra for smudging: “I release all energies that do not serve me.” We all go through moments when negative thoughts intrude, which is perfectly normal. If you catch yourself repeatedly thinking things like, “I’m not good enough,” “Good things don’t happen to me,” or “I can’t succeed,” you may be holding onto negative energy that needs clearing.
These negative thought patterns can come from other people or be ingrained in us by our culture or upbringing. Regardless of their source, repeating this mantra while smudging, either yourself or your home, can be beneficial. Saying these words during smudging helps you let go of the negative energy and creates space for positive energy to fill.
“I release conditioned patterns and trust the Universe and my intuition to guide me.”
Continuing from the previous mantra, here’s another one to consider: “I release conditioned patterns and trust the Universe and my intuition to guide me.” When you’re held back by conditioned and negative thought patterns, it can impede your intuition and your connection with the greater source, causing you to rely on your logical mind rather than your inner wisdom.
While smudging your home or yourself, repeat this mantra as many times as necessary. The smoke will assist you in letting go of any lingering negative energy, making room for fresh, positive patterns to take root. This practice can help you break free from old limitations and foster trust in your inner guidance and the Universe.
“I release any worry from my body and my home.”
Here’s a soothing mantra for smudging: “I release any worry from my body and my home.” If worries have been weighing you down lately, repeat this mantra while smudging to reconnect with your heart’s wisdom. Keep in mind that your mind can create problems that may not actually exist or exaggerate their severity. On the other hand, your heart knows what’s truly beneficial for you and how to help you flourish.
By smudging with this mantra, you can effectively dispel worrisome energy and invite in an atmosphere filled with love and positivity. This practice helps you let go of unnecessary concerns and embrace a more tranquil and loving environment.
“I am filled with love, light, and peace.”
Here’s the mantra, which is best used after clearing away negativity: “I am filled with love, light, and peace.” You can use this mantra in combination with any of the other mantras mentioned earlier.
While repeating this mantra, you might even imagine your body or home being bathed in radiant white light. Combining this visualization with the mantra and smudging can ensure that both your body and your living space are filled with nothing but love and light. This practice allows you to create a harmonious and peaceful environment, promoting positivity and well-being.
“I release attachment and call in freedom.”
You can use this mantra when you’re worried about losing material possessions or relationships: “I release attachment and call in freedom.” If you have concerns about losing your partner, money, or belongings, saying this mantra while smudging can help cleanse you of egoic attachments.
As you smudge, visualize these attachments being released from your body. In their place, a sense of freedom will emerge, leaving you feeling calm, grounded, and secure. This practice can help you let go of unnecessary attachments and embrace a more liberated and peaceful state of mind.
“I choose joy”
“I choose joy” is a powerful mantra. It reminds us that joy is a choice, even when negativity surrounds us. If you’ve been struggling to feel joyful, perhaps due to interactions with friends, family, or coworkers that left you feeling frustrated or apathetic, it’s time to bring joy back into your life.
While smudging your body and your space, repeat this mantra to reinforce your intention to choose joy. You’ll likely feel lighter and freer as you embrace this positive outlook.
“I call all of my power back to me now”
“I call all of my power back to me now” is a mantra that can be particularly helpful if you’ve been in situations where you feel powerless, especially if you tend to be a people-pleaser. If you’ve been feeling like others are taking advantage of you or taking you for granted, using this mantra can help clear your solar plexus chakra and restore your sense of empowerment.
While repeating this mantra during smudging, you may sense energetic cords being cut. This signifies that those who were previously able to diminish your power no longer have that influence over you. This practice can help you regain your strength and assertiveness.
“I call in protection from negative energy”
“I call in protection from negative energy” is a mantra that goes beyond simply clearing negative energy. It invokes loving protection against hate, worry, apathy, and similar negative forces. While smudging, this mantra calls upon your loving spirit guides, angels, and ancestors to create a protective, light-filled shield around you. Over time, as you use this smudging mantra, you’ll likely feel less affected by external negativity, as this shield becomes increasingly effective.
Top 7 Tips for Effective Smudging
Here are 7 important tips to keep in mind for effective and powerful smudging:
Smudge yourself before you smudge your space
Think of smudging as a two-step process akin to cleaning a dirty floor. Imagine you’re about to mop a floor covered in dirt and grime. If your own feet are also dirty, you’ll likely end up with a less-than-perfectly clean floor.
In the context of smudging, your body’s energy can be compared to your feet in this analogy. If your personal energy is clouded or carrying negative vibes, it’s like having dirty feet while trying to cleanse your home. The energy you bring into the space can affect the effectiveness of the smudging process.
So, to ensure the most thorough and successful smudging experience, start by cleansing yourself first. This means smudging your own body, from your feet to your head, to clear any negative or stagnant energy you may be carrying. Once you’ve purified your personal energy, you can proceed to cleanse your living space, knowing that you’re in the best state to invite positive energy and cleanse your surroundings effectively.
Be mindful of the direction when smudging
Pay close attention to your smudging direction. When you’re smudging your home, it’s a good practice to move through each room intentionally, rather than randomly. You have two main options: clockwise and counter-clockwise.
If your goal is to remove negative energy, such as after a party where you may have used the mantra “I cleanse my home of any heaviness and negativity,” consider walking through each room in a counter-clockwise direction, starting at the front door. This deliberate choice aligns with the intention of removing unwanted energies.
On the other hand, if you’re using a mantra like “I am grateful for health, abundance, and happiness” to bring in positive energy, move through your house in a clockwise direction, again starting at the front door. This intentional movement supports the goal of inviting positivity and good vibes into your living space.
Smudge your sacred space, meditation space last
Reserve smudging your sacred, meditation, or altar room for the final step in your smudging ritual. Many individuals have a dedicated space within their homes where they engage in spiritual practices like meditation, tarot or oracle card readings, yoga, or other forms of introspection and connection with the divine.
What us tarot?
Tarot is a deck of 78 playing cards, usually divided into two parts: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Each card in the deck is rich in symbolism and can represent various aspects of life, emotions, and situations. Tarot cards are commonly used for divination, self-reflection, and gaining insights into personal and spiritual matters.
This special area holds a unique and sacred energy, often referred to as a “sacred space” or “altar room.” It’s a place where they seek solace, inspiration, and a deeper connection to their inner selves or higher powers. The energy in this space is carefully cultivated and maintained to facilitate these spiritual practices and experiences.
To preserve the sacred and magical ambiance of this area, it’s advisable to smudge it as the final step in your smudging sequence. By doing so, you ensure that the negative energy you’ve cleared from the rest of your home doesn’t inadvertently affect this sacred space. Smudging it last allows you to refresh and reinforce the positive and harmonious energy within, enhancing the effectiveness of your spiritual practices and creating a serene and uplifting environment for your journey of self-discovery and connection.
Setting Intentions for Smudging: What to Remove and What to Invite
Consider setting intentions before you begin smudging, either to remove something negative or to invite something positive into your space. Take a few moments to meditate on this intention before lighting your smudge stick. This meditation helps you connect with the emotions and energy associated with your intentions.
For instance, you can set an intention to release any lingering negative energy brought by a guest who visited your home earlier. Alternatively, you might choose to invite an essence of abundance and prosperity into your living space. This intentional focus adds depth and purpose to your smudging ritual, making it a more powerful and transformative experience.
Using Sage Spray in Smoke-Free Environments
At some point, you’ll likely find yourself in environments where traditional smudging with burning sage isn’t an option due to smoke restrictions or concerns, such as hotel rooms or office buildings. This is precisely where sage sprays prove to be an invaluable alternative.
Sage sprays come in compact, portable bottles, containing the essence of the sacred plant. They offer a practical and smokeless way to disperse the cleansing and purifying properties of sage into the surrounding atmosphere. This makes them well-suited for situations where open flames and smoke are prohibited.
By carrying a sage spray with you wherever you go, you’re prepared to address stagnant or negative energy in any space, regardless of its smoking policies. These sprays allow you to effectively cleanse and rejuvenate the energy around you, helping create a more harmonious and positive environment, even in smoke-free zones.
Open Doors and Windows for Energy Flow
When your intention is to use smudging as a means to clear away negative energy from your living space, it’s crucial to pay attention to this valuable tip. Smudging works by purifying and shifting energy, but for this process to be most efficient, the expelled negative energy requires an exit route.
To aid in banishing stagnant vibrations and ensuring the smooth flow of energy, consider opening both doors and windows in your space. Think of this practice as creating an energetic pathway for the sacred herbs’ cleansing effects. By doing so, you effectively encourage the negative energy to leave your home through the open door or window, preventing it from getting trapped inside.
The concept is akin to providing a gentle nudge for the negative energy to exit, making your smudging ritual even more effective in transforming your space into a harmonious and positive environment. So, before you begin smudging, take a moment to let the natural flow of air and energy play a role in revitalizing your living space.
Completing Your Smudging Ceremony: The Importance of Closure
Just as in yoga, where we conclude our practice by bringing our palms together and saying “namaste,” it’s essential to conclude your smudging ceremony appropriately. One way to do this is by repeating your chosen mantra one final time.
What is namaste?
“Namaste” is a Sanskrit word commonly used as a greeting and gesture of respect in India and in many other cultures, particularly in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is often associated with yoga and meditation practices but has a broader cultural and spiritual significance.
The word “namaste” is typically spoken with the palms of the hands pressed together in front of the chest, fingers pointing upward, and accompanied by a slight bow or nod of the head. The word is both a salutation and a sign of acknowledgment and respect. Its literal translation varies slightly, but it is often understood to mean:
- “I bow to you.”
- “The divine in me honors the divine in you.”
- “I recognize the divine light within you.”
The gesture and word “namaste” are used as a way of recognizing the shared divinity or interconnectedness between individuals. It reflects a deep sense of reverence and humility and acknowledges the sacred essence within each person. It is a way of saying hello, goodbye, or thank you, but it also carries a profound spiritual message of recognizing the inherent divinity within all beings.
In yoga and meditation contexts, “namaste” is often spoken at the end of a session as a way for the teacher or practitioner to express gratitude and respect to the students and for the students to reciprocate that respect to the teacher. It is a moment of connection and unity, emphasizing the idea that we are all part of the same universal consciousness.
Once you have smudged every room in your home or completed the smudging of your body (or both), take a moment to recite your mantra and rekindle the energy it represents. This final recitation serves as a closing ritual, sealing the intention of your smudging ceremony.
Afterward, extinguish your smudge stick, marking the end of your smudging session. This ceremonial closure not only signifies the completion of the process but also helps solidify the positive energy and intentions you’ve invoked throughout the smudging ritual. It’s a way to bring your focus back to the present and acknowledge the transformation and purification you’ve initiated in your space or within yourself.