DIY Smudge Sticks

Smudging is the practice of burning herbal material, most often for ceremonial or spiritual purposes. First Nations people of Canada and Native Americans of the United States traditionally employed (and still do) smudge sticks to purify or bless people and places.

Though sage is commonly associated with smudge sticks, and in fact is used by tribes, many different herbs are used, often depending on region, time of year, and cultural beliefs. Sage is by no means universal.

These days, smudging might not refer to unrelated practices as well. The term smudging is sometimes used in reference to burning smudge sticks as insect repellent or in reference to smudge pots utilized to prevent frost in orchards. Others burn them in new apartments to symbolically clear away in a bad mojo left from previous tenants. It’s also practiced in other spiritual pursuits, such as Wicca.

However we might like to use them, the fact of the matter is that smudge sticks nice to have around, and they are fun and interesting to make. So, why not try?

Cultural Versus Mainstream Smudging

Source: Fanshawe Institute of Indigenous Learning/YouTube

Smudging by indigenous people in North America involves medicinal herbs, with plants like sage, cedar, tobacco, and sweetgrass. It’s often used to remove negative energy and connect with higher powers. Whether ceremonial or just a daily cleansing, Native American and First Nations smudging practices usually have common procedures, which changes from culture to culture, so there is no right or wrong way to do it.

The practice has gotten controversial from time to time, both with indigenous practitioners being denied the right to do so (in school dorms or hospitals) and with non-indigenous practitioners being accused of misappropriating it. This misappropriation has been particularly thorny in the use of certain herbs, such as white sage, which is being overharvested with the rising mainstream popularity of smudging.

All of this is to say mainstream smudging can be a nice practice for those who are not indigenous, but it is important to source our smudge sticks and herbal materials responsibly and respectfully. One of the best ways for doing this is making our own smudge sticks and, even better, growing our ingredients to do so.

What Makes a Good Smudge Stick?

Source: Sunset/YouTube

When not for established ceremonial or ritual purposes, smudge sticks can be made from a large variety of aromatic herbs and spices, including the commonly put in culinary herb gardens and flower beds. The idea is to choose smells we enjoy and create tantalizing mixes to fill the air. The mixes can be simply for the pleasant smell, they can be designed for aromatic health benefits or they can have practical uses, such as repelling mosquitoes.

Some favorites for mainstream use include:

• Rosemary
• Lavender
• Pine
• Garden sage
• Juniper
• Mullein
• Peppermint
• Lemon balm
• Cedar leaf
• Rose petals
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Dried orange peel

How to Make a Smudge Stick

Source: Magical Crafting/YouTube

Making a smudge stick begins with what herbs to include. When possible, these should be cut into sprigs of about six to eight inches long, leaving a bit of stem. Flower petals and smaller samples, lacking stems, can be gathered as well, but there must be some more substantial sprigs of herbs to act as the sticks core.

Once the fresh ingredients have been collected, the long sections of herbs should be put together with the stems all facing the same direction. At the base of the stems, the herbs should be tied together with cotton, hemp, or some other natural twine about four times the length of the herbs (roughly two feet).

With the herbs tied together, the twine should be wrapped around the bundle, using several rotations to reach the tip of the leaves. At this point, the twine should be a circle around the end of few times before spiraling back to the stems. Circle the twine around the stems a few times and tie it off. Finally, trim the ends of the bundle.

The smudge stick should sit in a dry, airy place—a drying rack, basket or kitchen windowsill—for a month to several weeks to dry out.

Burning a Smudge Stick

Source: The Preservation Project/YouTube

Whether the process is to be magical, spiritual or just enjoyable, the smudge stick should be lit and allowed to smolder in a fire-safe container, such as a shell or ceramic dish. The smoke can be wafted throughout a space or over one’s face and body. It’ll be an even richer experience with DIY smudge sticks from your own garden.

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