Smudging Ceremonial Herbs
Desert Sage. This plant is used to trap and drive out negative energies, spirits and influences and is used to purify people and places before any sacred ceremony.
White Sage. This plant is used just like desert sage, however, most people prefer White Sage because the aroma is much sweeter than Desert Sage.
Cedar. After cleansing with Sage, Cedar is often used to carry negative energies on the Sage smoke to the creator. It also brings in good influences.
Sweetgrass. This herb is used after Sage to restore positive energy and good spirits after negative energies are banished by the use of Sage and Cedar.
Lavender. Lavender restores natural balance and restores a peaceful and healthy atmosphere.
Mugwort. This herb is known for its use to stimulate psychic awareness and prophetic dreams. It is also believed that when Mugwort is burned it "makes the bad spirits sick", and they move away from it.
Copal. Copal is a resin most often used by the Mayans as a food for the Gods. The Mayans believed that as the smoke of the Copal would rise, it would carry their prayers to the ears of the Gods. This plant is used in divination and in purification ceremonies.
Juniper. This herb was often carried in a medicine pouch. It is used to purify and to create a safe and sacred space.
Yerba Santa. This sacred herb is used to purify and also to set boundaries and protect them. Traditionally used for enhancing psychic abilities, magical protection, healing and spiritual strength. It is great for meditation and divination. Said to be ruled by the moon.
Osha. This root is burned as incense and is often carried for good luck and protection.
Hibiscus Flowers. Fire and water elements. The smoke has a sharp, invigorating scent that lasts for a long time after burning. Often used in divination and psychic communication. Excellent for rejuvenating the senses and restoring life force.
The following herbs can also be used as four-element general purposes.
Pinon Resin. Fire element. Its fragrance is pleasant and great for meditation. It is used for cleansing, strengthening and warming. Native American cultures use this herb for its spiritual and healing properties. It is known for refreshing the senses and reviving a tired soul.
Copal Gold Resin. Fire and water element. When burned, the scent is sweet, resinous, slightly woody, mildly earthy and spicy. A holy incense used by the peoples of Mesoamerica. The resin contains aromatic chemicals called terpenes which make it volatile and flammable. This resin is traditionally used as incense in divinatory and cleansing ceremonies.
Myrrh Resin. Earth element. It is useful for spirituality, meditation, happiness, release, transformation, strength, confidence and stability. When burned, produces a lot of smoke. It has a very earthy and piney scent. It comes from an almost leafless Middle Eastern shrub called the Commiphora Molmol. It was used by the ancient Egyptians in rituals of Healing and Passing. It is one of the ingredients used by the Egyptians to embalm bodies.
Frankincense Resin. Fire element. Hailing from a tree that grows in Africa, it produces a rich, dense smoke when burned and is used extensively in meditation and healing. In numerous religious traditions, frankincense's spiritual scent was believed to confer divine blessing.
Juniper. Fire element. Has a sharp, piney scent. Excellent to stimulate and revive when tired in body, mind or Spirit. In ancient times, it was used for ritual purification of temples. The smoke is also believed to aid clairvoyance. It is also useful for purification and to stimulate contact with other worlds.
White Broadleaf Sage. Air element. Considered the king of all sages. Excellent for meditation, divination, smudging, cleansing and purification.
Desert Sage. This plant is used to trap and drive out negative energies, spirits and influences and is used to purify people and places before any sacred ceremony.
White Sage. This plant is used just like desert sage, however, most people prefer White Sage because the aroma is much sweeter than Desert Sage.
Cedar. After cleansing with Sage, Cedar is often used to carry negative energies on the Sage smoke to the creator. It also brings in good influences.
Sweetgrass. This herb is used after Sage to restore positive energy and good spirits after negative energies are banished by the use of Sage and Cedar.
Lavender. Lavender restores natural balance and restores a peaceful and healthy atmosphere.
Mugwort. This herb is known for its use to stimulate psychic awareness and prophetic dreams. It is also believed that when Mugwort is burned it "makes the bad spirits sick", and they move away from it.
Copal. Copal is a resin most often used by the Mayans as a food for the Gods. The Mayans believed that as the smoke of the Copal would rise, it would carry their prayers to the ears of the Gods. This plant is used in divination and in purification ceremonies.
Juniper. This herb was often carried in a medicine pouch. It is used to purify and to create a safe and sacred space.
Yerba Santa. This sacred herb is used to purify and also to set boundaries and protect them. Traditionally used for enhancing psychic abilities, magical protection, healing and spiritual strength. It is great for meditation and divination. Said to be ruled by the moon.
Osha. This root is burned as incense and is often carried for good luck and protection.
Hibiscus Flowers. Fire and water elements. The smoke has a sharp, invigorating scent that lasts for a long time after burning. Often used in divination and psychic communication. Excellent for rejuvenating the senses and restoring life force.
The following herbs can also be used as four-element general purposes.
Pinon Resin. Fire element. Its fragrance is pleasant and great for meditation. It is used for cleansing, strengthening and warming. Native American cultures use this herb for its spiritual and healing properties. It is known for refreshing the senses and reviving a tired soul.
Copal Gold Resin. Fire and water element. When burned, the scent is sweet, resinous, slightly woody, mildly earthy and spicy. A holy incense used by the peoples of Mesoamerica. The resin contains aromatic chemicals called terpenes which make it volatile and flammable. This resin is traditionally used as incense in divinatory and cleansing ceremonies.
Myrrh Resin. Earth element. It is useful for spirituality, meditation, happiness, release, transformation, strength, confidence and stability. When burned, produces a lot of smoke. It has a very earthy and piney scent. It comes from an almost leafless Middle Eastern shrub called the Commiphora Molmol. It was used by the ancient Egyptians in rituals of Healing and Passing. It is one of the ingredients used by the Egyptians to embalm bodies.
Frankincense Resin. Fire element. Hailing from a tree that grows in Africa, it produces a rich, dense smoke when burned and is used extensively in meditation and healing. In numerous religious traditions, frankincense's spiritual scent was believed to confer divine blessing.
Juniper. Fire element. Has a sharp, piney scent. Excellent to stimulate and revive when tired in body, mind or Spirit. In ancient times, it was used for ritual purification of temples. The smoke is also believed to aid clairvoyance. It is also useful for purification and to stimulate contact with other worlds.
White Broadleaf Sage. Air element. Considered the king of all sages. Excellent for meditation, divination, smudging, cleansing and purification.
