Margaret's Sacred Smudge Blend

Instructions for use: Burn on charcoal in an abalone shell or a fire-safe dish. Use to clear your own energy. Use to clear your home or workplace. As you walk through your home, say prayers asking that all negativity leave and that goodness, light, and love come in. Smudge in all the corners, closets, windows, and mirrors. Handmade with love by Margaret Ann Lembo When and Why to Smudge Yourself or Your Space  : Because old thoughtforms and other negative vibes tend to accumulate no matter how clear you try to keep yourself or a space, it is a good idea to smudge every so often to continue to attract positive vibrations into your life. Smudge any time you feel that negative thoughtforms, including your own, have gotten stuck in your energy field. You know you need to smudge or clear your space when chaos is present, arguments abound, anger arises, or there are general feelings of agitation and frustration. If an argument just occurred, clear your space. If you encountered an unpleasant situation, clear yourself. If your children are unruly and your spouse is cranky, clear your space.  How to Smudge: You can use a ready-made smudge stick, make your own, or use loose herbs. Smokeless alternatives are also available and will be discussed a little later. To use loose herbs for smudging, you will need herb-burning charcoal discs and a dish to hold the burning herbs. Abalone shells are often used for this purpose, since they are sturdy and represent the element air. When a shell is used, the vibration of all four elements—earth, fire, air, and water—is present. (The dried herbs represent earth, the burning embers represent fire, and the smoke represents air.) When all four elements are working together, the cleansing effects are magnified. Place one piece of charcoal in the dish or shell, and ignite one end. Wait until the whole piece of charcoal has ignited, then add your herbs or herbal blend. If you are using a smudge stick, light one end and allow the edges to smolder and release smoke. Hold the stick over a dish, or more preferably over an abalone shell for the full effect, to catch any wayward embers. The herbs only need to smolder. They should not be on fire after the initial lighting. Again, use caution, and practice mindfulness for fire safety. You may want to protect your hand with an oven mitt while handling the fire-proof dish or abalone shell. Have a plan on how to distinguish any embers that escape. When the herbs are smoldering and releasing smoke, you are ready to clear the intended space, person, or items. If the embers go out during the smudging, simply relight the herbs until they are once again smoldering and releasing smoke." ~Excerpted from All About Smudging an eBook by Margaret Ann Lembo