How to Smudge Respectfully for Healing; Utilizing 5 Elements
Recently updated 07/27/2025
I enjoy the art of smudging because it’s so healing. I only recently began this practice about six years ago. I began utilizing it after discovering how wonderful it is to clear emotions and energy within a person and/or a sacred space.
After it became a regular practice I started to hear the rumblings of cultural appropriation. How disrespectful it can be (and in some cases) even harmful towards Indigenous Peoples/Native Americans.
Well with me being part Indigenous myself (based on my paternal 5th generation ancestry (Seminole Native)). I wondered if that was enough and was it within my right to continue to practice this method?
Yes and No.
Some may say YES, because it is within my bloodline. Allbeit 5 generations or so ago. However, proclaiming my native ancestory is something although I am proud of I would never try to capitalize on. My limited knowledge of it is simply good enough for me. My bloodline history is based upon my families storytelling of where we orginate from which is primarily West Africa (Ghana), Indigenous America with Seminole roots and England. Part of this was verified on a genealogical test that I had done in 2015.
My Black Indigenous Family from Florida
As, I digress, there are thousands upon thousands of people of color in the United States whom identify as Black-Indigenous/Afro-Indigenous, having both indigenous and African American lineages. You can read more about it here: BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRO-INDIGENOUS AMERICANS and even watch a discussion with an amazing panel here: The Black-Indigenous/Afro-Indigenous Experience Panel.
Can “rightfully” perform smudging?
Although my bloodline is part native, smudging was not within my families set of rituals or even religious practices. There is no history of it being a healing practice for me other than when I started it six years ago.
However, If honor and respect for why it is sacred and how to fully do it in the traditional ways are known, I feel you may have access to it.
In keeping with this, I have outlined a few steps and a few suggestions one may utilize in learning about smudging than practicing the honor of revering the art.
These suggestions contain the steps on how to do it respectfully while honoring both the people and land.
Learn more about the history of Native American smudging:
After I did some research I was able to have a deeper appreciation for it. Here is a book that may cause you to feel the same:
Sacred Smoke: The Ancient Art of Smudging for Modern Times
Book by Harvest McCampbell
This book gives you the history related to smudging. The bulk of this book is about how to gather and prepare the resources you will use with a perspective on the spiritual aspects. This book is written by Harvest McCampbell who is from the Oswegatchie band of Onondaga and graduated from Humboldt State Univerity in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies. I suggest you purchase this book and dive in.
Land acknowledgment
As for as land acknowledment, not all indigenous peoples practiced smudging it’s just assumed that it was (and is) a common practice. However, it is commonly known that one or more tribes did so we include it has a gift of origin to the native lands of North America as a hold. So to acknowlege it as a herbs as gifts to the land itself you can discover what tribal named territories you occupy today by visiting the Native Land website and entering your address. Why is this important? “The act of mapping Indigenous connection to land and waters is complex, it offers an important opportunity to acknowledge the deep, living presence of Indigenous peoples and stories ; when done with care and accountability, can be a pathway toward understanding, reconciliation, and reconnection.”
Here are the steps to smudge respectfully and responsibly:
1) Begin the act of smudging mindfully. Acknowledge that smudging was traditionally used by Native Indigenous people to heal the mind, heart and body. You may also choose to say this in the form of a prayer. There is an example prayer further down below.
2) Light your sage.
3) Wave the smoke over yourself either by hand or with a feather. Tradtionally one will cleanse by pulling the smoke towards themselves and even gently inhale the smoke through their nasal passages and exhale.
Cleanse over your head, the ears, the closed eyes, the closed mouth and then over your heart and at your feet. In this way you will spiritually cleanse yourself “in a good way” These areas are vitally and spiritually important. The following are rationale for the cleaning process:
• We smudge to clear the air around us.
• We smudge to clean our minds so that we will have good thoughts of others.
• We smudge our eyes so that we will only see the good in others.
• We smudge our ears so that we will only listen to positive things about others.
• We smudge our mouths so that we will only speak well of others.
• We smudge our whole being, so we will portray only the good part of ourselves through our actions.
4) You can also smudge you surroundings, like your home, your belongings, your stones/crystals and more. However leave a window open so the smoke can escpae and so that there is proper ventilation. Please be careful with your smudge around your fur babies and pets as it can be harmful to them.
5) Then after a period of time return the ashes to mother earth (Pachamama) by disposing them outside on bare soil.
It is believed that the negative thoughts and feelings have been absorbed by the ashes and your path to walk freely is now blessed.
What else do you need to know and how does it speak to sacred honor?
There are four traditional elements involved in a smudging and I have personally added a fifth element.
They all honor the ways indigineous peoples have utilized them for healing.
• Use one of the four traditional sacred plants; either cedar, sage, sweetgrass, or tobacco. These plants are considered gifts from mother earth (Pachamama). They represent the first element earth.
• The second element is water. Water is demonstrated by the container that will catch the ashes when your smudging is complete. The container most commonly used is an abelone shell which is a water element that also has a natural iridescent shell lining that creates an auric sense of healing.
• The third element is the fire produced from lighting herbal plants. Fire cleanses and purifies by eradification.
• The fourth element is the smoke produced from the fire which represents air. When the smoke is waived over an individual or through the air it has effects of subtle energy clearing and movement.
Use this fifth element to avoid cultural appropriation:
My suggestion is to add a fifth element of spiritual honoring. Honor the creator and the creativity given to Native American people, the land, the one that needs to be healed and the aether/ether the Divine energy that creates all things and acknowledges all things as energy.
You can do this with a simple prayer that goes something like this:
“I thank you great creator and your gifts of plant medicine to provide healing for my mind, body and spirit. I not only dedicate this gift back to you and the people who have been blessed with this Divine knowledge but also to my healing and all those that may be affected by the ripple effects of extended energy and its healing. Thank you, I love you, I honor you.”
You can also adapt and use your own language as you see fit.
Lastly, if youd like to further commit to the servitude of Native Indigenous Americans visit Partnership With Native Americans
They are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to serve the needs of native indigenous people with long term solutions.
Now if this blog has changed any way you feel about smudging please drop me a comment and let me know. I welcome you to share your thoughts.
With Reverance and Respect,
Ava
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