The first post, "The Wisdom of the Sages" covered the types and used of sage and sagebrush used in smudging. In this post, the herbs and flowers found around the world are covered.
Into this smoke,
I release all energies that no longer serve me,
all negativity that surrounds me,
and all fears that limit me. So it is.
Smoke or smudge has been used in ritual and ceremony throughout the ages around the world for cleansing and healing. The word “smudge” comes from Middle English word ‘smogen’‘ means to ‘soil, stain, blacken’. In 1860, it was used to refer to ‘make a smoky fire’ and in 1903, a ‘smudge-pot’ (medicinal). During a smudge, plant leaves, stems or flowers are burned allowing the fire to release the plant spirit which wafts through the air to cleanse and purify and to bring in positive energy and healing.
The Smudge Garden
In her article, Sacred Smoke, Annette Høst describes the plants commonly used in smudging and discusses how nature has so wonderfully seen to it that no matter where you live there are always native herbs with exactly the quality you are looking for, including every smudging purpose. For example, in Europe, woodruff and wormwood are used instead of sweetgrass and sagebrush and in eastern Siberia juniper/cedar are used.
Angelica, Angelica archangelica
Family: Apiaceae
Native Region: Syria
Affinity: Angels, clarity, harmony, healing, protection
Element: Fire
Basil, Ocimum basilicum
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Region: Iran or India
Affinity: Abundance, clarity, happiness, love, peace, protection, prosperity, sedation
Element: Fire
Bearberry, Uva ursi
Family: Ericaceae
Native Region: North America, Canada
Affinity: Blessings, intentions, prayer, vision
Element: Water
Bearberry has traditional use as a smoke medicine among many Indigenous people, often mixed with other herbs to make a blend called Kinnickinik.
Calendula, Calendula officinalis
Family: Asteraceae
Native Region: Europe
Affinity: Happiness, protection, strength
Element: Fire, Water
Chamomile, Anthemis nobilis
Family: Asteraceae
Europe, Western Asia
Affinity: Abundance, cleanse, love, protection and purification, relaxation, sedation
Element: Water
Elecampane, Inula helenium
Family: Asteraceae
Native Region: Europe
Affinity: Cleanse, fairies, protection
Element: Earth
Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus radiata
Family: Myrtaceae
Native Region: Australia
Affinity: Healing, protection, strength
Element: Water
Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Region: Southern Europe, Asia
Affinity: Bless, calmness, clarity and focus, cleanse, protection, purification
Element: Fire
Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Region: Mediterranean, Middle East and India
Affinity: Blessing, calmness, cleanse, courage, dream-work, fairies and angels, inspiration, introspection, love, peace, protection, purification, sedation, strength, vision
Element: Air
Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus
Family: Poaceae
Native Region: Asia and Europe
Affinity: Awareness, balance, relaxation, sedation
Element: Air
Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria
Family: Rosaceae
Native Region: Europe, Western Asia
Affinity: Insight, forgiveness, joy, love, releasing
Element: Water
Motherwort, Leonorus cardiaca
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Region: Central Eurasia
Affinity: Blessings, calming, confidence, healing, longevity, motherhood, protection, strength, trust
Element: Water
Peppermint Mentha piperita
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Region: Europe, Middle East
Affinity: Abundance, clarity and focus, cleanse, energize and refresh, purification, protection, release and renewal
Element: Air, Fire, Water
Rose, Rose app
Family: Rosaceae
Native Region: Asia
Affinity: Blessings, fairies, friendship, love, grief and loss, meditation, prayer, relaxation, strength
Element: Water
Rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Region: Mediterranean
Affinity: Abundance, blessings, cleanse ,dream-work, energize, grief and loss, happiness, love, meditation, memory, past life recall, protection, purification, releasing, sedation, strength
Element: Fire
St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
Family: Hypericum
Native Region: Europe
Affinity: Calmness, courage, confidence, relaxation, sedation, strength
Element: Fire
Sweet Woodruff, Galium odoratum
Family: Rubiaceae
Native Region: Europe, Asia and Japan
Affinity: Relaxation, uplift
Element: Fire
Sweetgrass, Hierochloe odorata
Family: Poaceae
Native Region: North America, Europe
Affinity: Blessings, cleansing, honesty, kindness, love, prayers, purification, relaxation
Element: Air, Water
Thyme, Thymus vulgaris
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Region: Mediterranean, Central Europe, Russia, China
Affinity: Awareness, cleanse, confidence, courage, energize, fairies, healing, love, offering, purification, sedation, strength
Element: Water
Vervain, Verbena officinalis
Family: Verbenaceae
Native Region: Europe, Asia
Affinity: Balance , dream-work, harmony, happiness, sedation, strength
Element: Water
Yarrow Alchillea millefolium
Family: Asteraceae
Native Region: Europe
Affinity: Dream-work, peace, protection wisdom
Element: Water
Yerba Santa, Eriodictyon californicum
Family: Borafinaceas, Hydriophylloideae
Native Region: California, Oregon; Mexico
Affinity: Ancestor work, blessing, courage, divination, empowerment, encouragement, energizing, forgiveness, growth, meditation, nurture, uplift
Element: Air, Water
So, why consider the element?
The elemental nature of the plant can provide additional information about the plant's affinity or use.
Earth, which corresponds to the roots of the plant, represents the physical body and grounding. It is associated with the astrological signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Water, which corresponds to the stem of the plant, represents feeling and emotions. It is associated with the astrological signs of Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces.
Air, which corresponds to the leaves of the plant, represents the mind, thoughts, communication, and respiration. It is associated with the astrological signs of Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra.
Fire, which corresponds the flower, the spirit of the plant, represents intuition. It is associated with the astrological signs of Aries, Sagittarius, and Leo.
In part 3, we'll cover how to make and use smudge.
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