How to Make Your Own White Sage Smudge Sticks
Save Money by Making Smudge Wands by Hand with Home Grown Herbs
Nov 12, 2009
Smudging is a general term to describe the burning of certain herbs, resins, and incense for purification, energy cleansing, or to focus before a ritual, as explained in the book The Smudging and Blessings Book by Jane Alexander. Many cultures use fragrant smoke for magical purposes, but the term smudging and the tied bundle of herbs that is a smudge stick comes from Native American traditions.
White Sage is the Most Common Native American Smudging Herb, But Not the Only One
Most of the commercially available smudge sticks are made of white sage, but that's not the only herb that's well suited to burning in a bundle. Any herb that grows in stalks makes a good choice for a smudge bundle - but beware of herbs that are toxic to handle or to burn. Some common cooking herbs can be dangerous when burned, so be sure to check a variety of reliable sources before assuming something is safe to inhale.
Some good choices are sweet grass, rosemary, thyme, lavender, juniper, and cedar. Each of these herbs has it's own special spiritual or metaphysical purposes - such as remembrance and healing from rosemary, or peace and balance from lavender. Picking the appropriate herbs for the smudge wand can help support the intent of the spell, and may be easier to find growing than white sage.
Fresh Herbs, String or Twine, and a Pair of Scissors Are the Only Materials Needed
Once the appropriate herb or blend of herbs has been located, it's time to harvest. Pick the greenest tips from the plant, to avoid damaging the plant. The tips also have more fragrant oils than the woody stalks. Clip the stalks about 6-10 inches long - shorter smudge wands are fine for short rituals, but longer ones get unwieldy and tend to burn unevenly.
Dried herbs can also be used, but only in the middle of a bundle of fresh herbs. Dried herbs, even whole stalks, are difficult to wrap together and tend to break off during the wrapping process. Arrange the herb stalks into a bundle, pressing them together tightly and twisting slightly if desired. Use a cotton or natural fiber twine or thread, such as embroidery thread, and tie the end of the thread tightly around the base of the bundle. Make sure there's an inch long tail left from the knot.
Start wrapping up the bundle, pressing the stalks together and smoothly any stray pieces down as the wrapping progresses. When the thread reaches the top of the stalk, go back down, until the thread reaches the starting point. Tie it around the bundle once or twice, then cut it with a inch long tail. Tie the two tails together to finish the wrap.
Native Americans Honor the Plants They Harvest
It's customary, in the Native American tradition, to honor anything that is harvested or gathered with an offering and a short prayer. Tobacco is the most common offering material in the Native American tradition, but any material, such as flour, cornmeal, or even candy, should do just fine as long as the intent is the same.
A short prayer, even just as simple as saying "Thank you for granting us use of you and helping us with our work", is a nice way to acknowledge the plant's sacrifice and to thank it. If the gathering is done in public and saying a prayer out loud would draw too much attention, then a simple silent prayer of thanks should be enough.
Smudge Sticks Are Easy to Make, and Allow for Variation
While it's easy to buy white sage smudge wands at many metaphysical supply stores, there a few good reasons to make them at home. One is the money saved by doing them by hand. Another is the customization factor - homemade smudge wands can contain any herbs you have on hand or can order, while most commercial smudge bundles are made only from white sage.
Sources:
The Smudging and Blessings Book, Jane Alexander, Godsfield Press (1999).
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