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Smudging: A
Spiritual Awakening
Some Aborigines believe that
healing must take place only after one has cleansed them
selves of certain conditions. These teachings date back to
ancient times. Some of the conditions consist of:
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Negative thoughts of one’s past
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Negative thoughts of one’s
future and others as well
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Emotional illness like:
bitterness and envy
-
Evil spirits
-
Attachments of others and
negative feelings from others
These healings often take place
in a sweat lodge or a teepee/cave filled with smoke and heat.
The smoke and heat is used to treat the sick or ill person of
these and other conditions.
These places are used as a
sanctuary of sorts that can be filled with the spirit or god
to heal the sick without interference from others. Many use
burning herbs or resins which accomplish this same effect and
with others the smoke is grasped in hand and rubbed on the
body---or Smudging
There are many herbs and plants
that can be used for this purpose. Below is a list of the most
commonly used herbs, plants, and grasses in smudging
ceremonies. You can also cleanse your space and body outside
for protection and other purposes:
Sage Sprigs:
The word sage is from the Latin word “Salvia” which means “To
heal” sage is among the most commonly used and is good for
protection and cleansing. Also from the sage family:
Which are also used for cleansing
and protection. You can combine some of the branches with
other herbs and plants to get other effects. It is said that
combining pine and white sage will bring prosperity.
Cedar and
Juniper branches: These are most often used to cleanse and
purify one’s house or other spaces. They are also used to
protect your belongings.
Sweet-grass:
Is used as well to purify and protect your home-it is known to
draw out negative influences and restore good ones into the
home.
Copal: Is
a plant resin which is used to cleanse and purify a person or
thing through its touch.
Frankincense
and Myrrh: Though we often associate these with Christmas
and the birth of Jesus they are used in Africa and Europe for
ceremonies and rituals to balance yin and yang in a dwelling
or place.
Tobacco:
Many use tobacco to raise their prayers upwards to their
creator. When burned with other herbs like Sage, Cedar or
sweet grass they are said to enhance the magical intentions of
smudging.
You can purchase Smudges and
resins at an occult shop or new age shops almost anywhere.
Some are also available online in new age shops. The branches,
plants and resins are believed by some to not work and be a
sign of voodoo or other pagan religions. Though this is not
true it is known that the smoke does create positive place for
energies to flow in your space and that it can bring positive
energy to you replacing the negative energy you are fighting
leaving you feeling good and recharged.
Smudging is another way to feel
good spiritually, emotionally, and physically better and what
can be better then that!
Source:
http://www.differentmedicine.com |
