Touchwood 

 smudge sticks

Touchwood Smudge-sticks are various sizes, as depicted. (Actually now I often make jumbo sized ones, up to £6 each).  Prices vary according to size.  Each one has been grown at Touchwood in Clyne Valley in Swansea, and harvested with permission, and intent to form smudge.  Availability is limited; please e-mail your requirements before sending a cheque.

  Note: American smudging ‘sage’ may be various plants including British sages (Salvia spp), or Mugworts (Artemesia spp).  To avoid confusion I call Artemesia species ‘sagebrush’ rather than sage.

 CHOOSE FROM THESE SMUDGESTICKS

Pure yomogi sagebrush  (Artemisia princeps)

£2 - £6 depending on size, so just ask for one of £3 or of £4 etc  (these sticks are more generously sized for their price than the mixes)

Double sagebrush  (Artemisia princeps with Artemisia ludoviciana (Louisiana sage))

£2.50 - £5 depending on size, so just ask for one of £3 or of £4 etc 

Sagebrush with lavender (Lavandula spica)     

£3.00 - £5 depending on size, so just ask for one of £3 or of £4 etc 

Sagebrush with sage (Artemisia princeps with Salvia officinalis f. purpurea )

£3.00 - £5 depending on size, so just ask for one of £3 or of £4 etc 

PLUS £2.50 P&P (UK) for however many sticks you buy (as at May 2010)

For shipping costs to other countries, and payment options, please contact Carrie.

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 What is smudging?

Smudging is the burning of certain herbs to create a cleansing smoke 'bath', which is used to purify people, places,  ritual space,  and objects such as crystals.

Smudging is a form of "spiritual cleaning." In theory, the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as the smoke clears it takes the negative energy with it, releasing it to where it will be transformed into positive energy.

Smudge sticks can be used for cleansing of the aura, for example before meditation or prayer, or they are often used by healers. They can also be used for cleansing your home or workspace etc.

Smudging is very effective when you've been feeling depressed, angry, resentful or unwell or after you have had an argument with someone. You can smudge your home or work space as part of a general spiritual housecleaning and you can cleanse crystals or other objects of any negative energy with a smudging ritual.

The herbs are burnt on their own or in mixtures. Often used is a type of sage or sagebrush (Artemisia spp): not the same as the British ‘sage’ (Salvia spp, although some of those are also used). It is used for psychic awareness and as a cleansing and purifying agent, the effect of the smoke is to banish negative energies. To clear one's actions and to promote forgiveness, lavender flowers can be added to the mixture to bring the quality of loving energy and peace.
The smell of the mixture is wonderful and the effects are almost instantly noticeable.

 How to Smudge

Any action, undertaken with intention and belief can become a potent ritual so consider your intention before you smudge and hold it clearly in your mind during your work. Use it like an affirmation or chant...if you say it out aloud as you work you are bringing in another powerful energy: the spoken word, as well as the intent.

  Light the smudge stick with a flame: it may take a little time to get the stick burning. Once there's a flame blow it out so that the smudge stick is smoldering, not burning.  You will need to keep the end glowing every so often so that it doesn’t go out, and produces enough smoke.  Fan it with eg, feathers, or gently blow on it with the thought intention of adding life-giving air-energy to increase it’s effectiveness.

 Smudging yourself

  With your hand or an object, such as feathers, fan the swirls of smoke around your body from head to toe. You may want to especially focus on areas where you feel there are blockages or where there has been or is physical, emotional, or psychic pain. Imagine the smoke lifting away all the negative thoughts, emotions and energies that have attached themselves to you. If you are feeling depressed for instance you could visualize the smoke carrying away all your feelings of depression.

 Smudging another person

Smudge as if you were smudging yourself, fanning the smoke all over their body. You may want to speak an intention or a suggestion for the smudging as you do it. For instance "Allow the sacred smoke to cleanse your body and spirit and bring you present and available into this moment".  If you can see auras, look for discoloured places in the aura and direct the healing smoke towards those places on the other person’s body.

 Smudging a room or space

Light the smudge stick and walk about the perimeter, giving special attention to the corners and the places behind doors, and even in cupboards.  I open the windows first, and smudge through the room towards the windows. 

 During healing work

Smudging is used for cleansing and purification of the physical and spiritual (or energy) bodies.  During healing work, the smoke may be fanned over the person either by your hand or with feathers. This clears out unhealthy energies and brings in the special attributes of the herbs. You may also direct smudge to each of the person's chakras and as you do so visualize each chakra coming into balance as it is purified by the smudge. After healing is completed, smudge yourself, and the patient, any helpers, objects, and then finish with the space. Cleansing and clearing of all things, at all levels.

 Cleansing crystals or other objects

Hold the objects to be purified in the smoke or fan the smoke over them. If you are clearing your crystals prior to programming them thank both them and the smudge stick for helping achieve perfect programming.

 Extinguishing the smudge stick

  I use an earthenware container filled with dry sand and twist the burning end of the smudge-stick into the sand, as they can be difficult to extinguish by any other method.  Water works well, of course, but I find it creates an unpleasant smell.  Always make sure that a smudge stick is out before leaving the room where you leave it.  The remaining portion of the smudge stick can be used later, they burn for a long time altogether.