Smoke Cleansing With Flower and Herb Bundles

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The practice of smoke cleansing is the age-old tradition of burning botanicals, wood, and resins for spiritual and health reasons. It’s an ancient tradition found in various cultures around the world. Its beginnings are diverse, and the practice doesn’t belong to any one culture or people.

In Sanskrit writings, in the Vedas, an ancient Hindu text, incense was mentioned as a way to cleanse a space and prepare it for sacred ceremonies. But the use of incense actually predates that writing.

Incense or herb burning was used around the world in many cultures by many people. Romans, Chinese, Egyptians, witches, women, priests, and more have all used smoke for cleansing spaces and spirits.

We still use smoke today in many ways. Whether in traditional Native American smudging, Orthodox churches, Wiccans or even traditional Smoking Ceremonies by Aboriginal Australians. Fire, herbs, and wood come together to cleanse us or our spaces.

But first Originally

This post appeared on another webpage of mine. I decided to rewrite it to perhaps share some of what I have learned along the way. I could have trashed the article and pretended to never write it. But for me, it was more important to move forward.

The journey into understanding and respecting smoke cleansing has been a personal one for me. As I delved into the histories and traditions of various cultures, from the ancient Hindu texts in the Vedas to the sacred rituals of Native American smudging, I became acutely aware of the richness and diversity of this practice.

In this exploration, I encountered one crucial learning point: the significance of cultural appropriation. This was a concept that, admittedly, I hadn’t fully grasped in my earlier writings. Back then, I wrote about smudging, a term and practice deeply rooted in specific Indigenous cultures, without fully understanding its cultural significance and the importance of respectful practice. The term ‘cultural appropriation’ was not part of my vocabulary then, but it was indeed what was happening, albeit unintentionally.

I am deeply sorry for this oversight. The journey of learning is ongoing, and with new understanding comes the responsibility to do better. This realization is why I’ve chosen not to erase my past mistakes but to confront and learn from them. It’s important to share this evolution in understanding, as it’s part of the larger journey of appreciating and practicing smoke cleansing in a way that honors its diverse origins.

As I continue to practice smoke cleansing in my own life, I do so with a renewed sense of respect and mindfulness. It’s not just about the act but understanding the ‘why’ behind it. Whether it’s celebrating Beltane with fire or guiding our animals through the smoke, it’s vital to recognize the cultural depths and significance of these actions.

Now, as we turn towards a more hands-on aspect of smoke cleansing, let’s explore how we can create our own herb bundles. While rooted in tradition, this practice can be a personal and respectful way to engage with the natural world around us. Before we begin, remember that this is a journey of both respect and discovery.

Incense is smoke cleansing in the modern age. Incense didn’t always come in cones and sticks. It was often herbs, plants, and pieces of wood burned together to clean or freshen a space.

Let’s Make Some Herb Bundles for Smoke Cleansing!

Before you get started, it’s a good idea to understand that I am not an expert and do not profess to be one. Everything in this post is purely experimental for me. So use your best judgment when making your own herb bundles. Or just be inspired by this post to learn and grow.

Do your research. Do you have any historical significance you can call on for cleansing with herbs? Research that. Contact a wise woman, read your plant books, and formulate a plan for your plants. I relied heavily on a couple of great books, Alaska’s Wilderness Medicines, The Boreal Herbal, and Discovering Wild Plants. All wonderful and full of wisdom, I recommend them to everyone who asks about wild plants for food, medicine or craft.

How To Make Your Own Herb Bundles for Cleansing

The list isn’t long. Be sure to harvest plants where you’re allowed to, such as your yard or a friend’s yard. Be sure the plants you’re collecting aren’t treated with chemicals. Peruse your wild plant books and find things that grow in your area, such as weeds, wild plants, and flowers, as desired.

For mine, I used (stinkweed) yarrow, both flowers and their ferny foliage, mint, chamomile, sweet clover, regular clover, and marigolds. I chose these because my research showed that all these plants can be used in cleansing.

You will also need:

• scissors
• pure cotton string
• drying rack, an old window screen is nice, it allows for air circulation

If you love making things out of the stuff that grows in your garden or yard consider trying my Calendula Salve or my Cottonwood Bud Salve!