The Norse had a deep connection to nature, to the Earth and the phases of the moon, and Norse spirituality has many similarities with shamanism around the world. The smoke is traditionally fanned using the hand or a feather (eagle feathers are treasured for this) and directed over a person or throughout a living space. No problem! Those who drink gin already know the "medicinal" properties of juniper. I made this post ages back. Smoke cleansing is an ancient practice of burning aromatic plants, woods, and resins for health and spiritual purposes. (2018, April 4). They were both a way for people to honor the gods and for the chiefs to show off their wealth. As a polytheistic religion, the Norse believe in a range of deities. This is form of Viking or Norse meditation and coming in contact with spirituality and to seek answers, knowledge, wisdom or contact with goddesses, gods, ancestors or spiritual beings. I will start at the front door and then walk clockwise through the home or business. As Carmicheal points out, Saining with smoke is usual not only at quarter days but at other times. Smoke cleansing is also used as an act of goodwill to welcome and protect visitors. It is intended to clear negativity and foster peace and wellbeing. Gotland is under a spell and under water during the day and out of water only during the night, a spell that is broken by ieluar lighting a fire on the Island. The juniper smoke is allowed to thoroughly fumigate the buildings until it causes sneezing and coughing among the inhabitants. Then blow it out. I suggest the same for your home or business. If you are a Christian, then you should know that believing in energy, auras, protection from evil energies, house cleansing with sage and other ceremonies are witchcraft. Let It All Go: Smoke Cleansing for Mind, Body & Spirit. Greece: the Latin name for mint, Mentha, comes from an ancient Greek myth. Smudging is the ritualistic burning of herbs and plant resins in a shell or clay bowl while prayers of gratitude and wellbeing are said aloud. Ancient Romans burned, In Africa, traditional healers and spiritual leaders burned herbs on charcoal or threw herbal powders into the fire so that the smoke spread around a person, and they bathed in it. Light the recaning stick and blow the smoke onto the mark-fetch. No wholesale account? Burning incense is a staple ceremony in ancient Egypt as a way of worshipping their gods. a term with old english roots that conveys the proper meaning of smoke cleansing in witchcraft . It is unclear whether they were doing this as a spiritual practice, some form of cleansing, or both. Want to learn how to respectfully work with at-risk plants? Smoke cleansing has been a popular practice throughout history, and has been called many names. From assorted herbs and resins to abalone shells and feathers, we have a wide selection of tools you can choose from depending on your preference. https://musingsofmagick.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/recaning-smoke-cleansing-in-witchcraft/. An example of one I use is below: "With this smoke I cleanse this space and remove the past; With this smoke I release all energy that is not for my highest good; With this smoke I dispel all negativity that surrounds me; With . (2021, October 20). Seasonal holidays in the Celtic calendar like Beltane and Samhain traditionally included a fire saining. Salt is one of the best cleansing agents there is. The burnables that resonate with me at a cellular level are the coniferous evergreens common to the northern forests, as well as fruitwood from my orchard and the protective garden herbs that my people have grown, and harvested, and cherished over centuries: comfrey, elderberry, valerian, lavender, rose, etc. He is rarely seen without his enormous flaming . Smudge sticks are pretty specific to North American indigenous traditions. Depending on the herbs used, the goal might be a purely healing one and/or it might be part of rituals to connect to the spirit world. Quantity. It helps purify indoor air and remove bacteria and allergens. Smudging vs Smoke-Cleansing. There are different ceremonies and rituals that can be done. After finishing the cleanse, place the burned stick in the abalone shell (or bowl). Also, while smudging has its roots in the Indigenous cultures, smoke cleansing isnt tied to any group or culture. Agarwood and sandalwood were considered particularly potent and precious. The same pattern is repeated on the domed lid, which is decorated with small ridges and perforated at regular intervals to allow the scented smoke to escape. ), often mixed with raisins, wine, and honey. Create Your Own Smoke Cleansing Traditions, Also look at the means by which you burn your botanicals of choice. where two of the three precious gifts given by the wise men. The Arabian peninsula was the principle place to acquire these spices and incenses. The spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs". 5. At this time, communities would build a ritual fire, often with. Place a charcoal tab on top and light it up. When To Cleanse or Consecrate For ritual space, clearing and cleansing should be done before each use. But it is basically a ritual for cleansing, purifying and protecting the physical and spiritual bodies. Ive also added Oregon grape just recently, which I grow in my yard, because this powerful ally has been part of my personal life since the moment I could walk. One of the earliest written records of smoke cleansing comes from the Vedas. Other smoke cleansing rituals from around the world often have similar goals and outcomes as smudging, but also can be used to achieve a wide variety of different purposes. | Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy. For example, for Marinas Day which is celebrated in Romania on July 17, mothers celebrate Marina, the protector of the souls of dead children, by crafting brooms with bristles made out of Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and offering them to each other alongside flowers, corn, and chicks, and they keep the brooms which they use to sweep their homes and yards. When Indigenous people gather white sage, they always leave the root and say a prayer . The practice was sometimes referred to as "howling". The Wormwood broom is also used by the Romanian people to bring someone back home, to sweep away evil forces, and even illness by sweeping around the ill. Into the 20th century, French doctors recommended burning rosemary and thyme in sickrooms and hospitals to purify the air. As I walk through your house I repeat a mantra that I have prepared. Start smoking your head then move downwards. However, the word has evolved to describe the smudging ceremonies of Indigenous people where herbs and medicinal plants are burned for cleansing, health, and spiritual purposes, the Canadian Encyclopedia states. After finishing the cleanse, let the incense blend fade completely by itself. Read on to learn more. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Wassail, Saining is a Scots word for blessing, protecting or consecrating. https://www.theoldcraft.com/2018/05/14/the-witchs-besom-how-to-craft-and-use-your-own-magical-broom/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%AEs-p%C3%AE, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/reocan#Old_English, https://utrianlax.tumblr.com/post/47034486631/rune-stone-s%C3%B6-140-korpbron-jursta-%C3%A4gor-ludgo/amp. Meaning, anyone can perform it. The Roman Catholic church practices incense burning to amplify prayers so that petitions and intentions would rise to heaven. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://cabinemonde.com/blogs/journal/sage-smudging-the-where-what-why#a, G. (2020, July 31). A particularly popular incense of the day was called kyphi. Our ancestors had personal relationships with these plants; they have been part of our peopleour DNAfor time immemorial. It will not magically melt away your stressors or resolve your issues. Smoke cleansing can be done to drive away negative energy, elicit a sense of community, mark a sacred space, or induce good sleep. The members of the community would take turns jumping the fire through the smoke to cleanse (purify), heal, and protect. The manufacture of kyphi involves blending and boiling the ingredients in sequence. The Christian church saw the pagan rites as deviltry, and medieval authors took little interest in them, as compared to the myths. It was mainly practiced by a Vlva (Vlva) - a female seeress, spiritual leader and healer, who practiced shamanism, witchcraft and magic. The first recorded mention was at Fordwich, Kent, in 1585, by which time groups of young men would go between orchards performing the rite for a reward. You can also use your hand or a bundle of leaves. While smudging is unique to the Native peoples (and must be duly recognized as such), the use of aromatic smoke for spiritual healing and warding off negative energies has been a common practice among diverse cultures, customs, and faiths all over the world for thousands of years. Saining is an age-old Celtic practice. However, weve focused too much on what these rituals could do for us that we forgot to look into the rich history that brought us these rituals in the first place. [2][3] While many of the surviving saining prayers and charms are Christian in nature,[2][3] others that focus on the powers of nature are used as part of Gaelic Polytheist ceremonies. This is necessary to remove negative energies that may cloud their vision and wisdom. (Go figure? Did the Norse smoke? In West Africa, there are long traditions with N'tabanok (Cola cordifolia), Ganianka (Combretum mole), and Nr(Parkia biglobosa). , the verb smudge is an English word from the mid-18. A thymiaterion (from Ancient Greek: from thymiaein "to smoke"; plural thymiateria) is a type of censer or incense burner, used in the Mediterranean region since antiquity for spiritual and religious purposes and especially in religious ceremonies. The smoke should now billow up. Many people start the cleansing process by fanning smoke near their heart, head, and along the front and back of their bodies. Another TCM burnables therapy with a long history of use is moxibustion; often used in conjunction with acupuncture, practitioners burn ground mugwort that is formed into sticks. Smoke cleansingburning botanicals, resins, wood, etc. The "Nine Herbs Charm" is an Old English charm recorded in the tenth-century CE[1] Anglo-Saxon medical compilation known as Lacnunga, which survives on in the manuscript London, British Library, Harley 585. I know theres still debates or sensitive issues surrounding being respectful with ancient North African and Middle Eastern religions where whitewashing and theft of artefacts is still a important topic to address. After that, gently blow out the flame so you see orange embers on one end. Kyphi is a compound incense that was used in Ancient Egypt for religious and medical purposes. Without damage, and then retreat. Increasingly, the term smudging is considered specific to those peoples spiritual practices. That's why contracts and partnerships in both the private and public sectors benefit from Norse's experienced cleaning division. At this time, communities would build a ritual fire, often with juniper, rowan, or elder. They were also extraordinary craftsmen, very talented silversmiths and jewelry makers. The Assyrians burned cedar, cypress, juniper, boxwood, and fir. The study took place in India, looking specifically at havan samagri, a mixture of ceremonial and Ayurvedic herbs, wood, and roots used throughout India in fire oblations. [6] Saining with juniper was also used in healing rites, where the evil eye was suspected to be the cause of the illness, but it apparently fell out of use by the end of the nineteenth century after a young girl with respiratory problems suffocated due to the amount of smoke that filled the house. A man could also be a seer, but they did not receive the same respect as the female Vlva. Fire source - To light your plant or herb stick, youll need a match or small gas lighter. But over the years, this ritual has become widely known in the metaphysical world as smudging which is a sacred ceremony specifically practiced by Indigenous groups in North America. The question is how the Vikings used the fibers, seeds and oil from this versatile plant. At the bottom is Romanian sweeping traditions but I cant say 100% if its open or needs training I trust the blogger on their own culture, Its an old post so no worries if I made any errors in it or history. And yes, the research did show that this form of smoke cleansingspecifically burning havan samagri for one hoursignificantly reduced the bacterial count in the air. 3. Odin will fight the wolf and lose his life, to be avenged by his son Vidar (Varr), who will pierce the beast to the heart. *House of Formlab Presents A Magick Guide to Smoke Cleansing. There are many well recorded instances of the Apple Wassail in the early modern period. Then, it represents your unique bond with the gods/goddess and reflects your personal beliefs. The numbers nine and three, significant in Germanic paganism and later Germanic folklore, are mentioned frequently within the charm. After cleansing your home, spritz some of it in every room for an added seal of. Aim for sustainable herbs, ones we can grow or which the earth offers us in organic abundance. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the verb smudge is an English word from the mid-18th century that originally meant to obscure or smother something with smoke and was often used in terms of filling an area with smoke to get rid of insects or to protect plants from frost. 2. Seir was considered a secret and sacred knowledge. Every ritual must have items representing the 4 elements of nature: the plant (earth element), fire source (fire element), smoke (air element), and the shell (water element). I either use my hand or just gently wave the Juniper stick in the air. In an abalone shell or bowl, place a handful of sand/small rocks for slippage prevention and heat insulation. Do not use water, and do not try to blow on the stick (it is considered to be disrespectful to the spirits). Before beginning, however, you'll want to set an intention. Please note that smoke cleansing is not the same as smudging, which refers to a specific indigenous tradition. The Nordendorf fibula has wigionar, interpreted as wgi-onar "holy Donar" or "sacred to Donar". Perhaps you heard about an issue that came up a few years back that started when a number of popular American media outlets featured smoke cleansing articles with titles like, The Science Behind Smudging and The Benefits of Burning Sage Include a Better Nights Sleep (no wonder its an ancient ritual). The articles referenced a 2007 study, Medicinal Smoke Reduces Airborne Bacteria, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Grow or which the earth offers us in organic abundance take turns jumping the fire through the home business... In sickrooms and hospitals to purify the air # x27 ; ll to... Home or business question is how the Vikings used the fibers, seeds and oil from this plant. Their gods ll want to set an intention one of the day was called.... 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