What is Sacred Smudging?

Smudging is traditionally the Native and Indigenous Peoples practice of purifying or cleansing the negative energy of a person or place. The goal of smudging is to make a place or person clear of lingering energy that is different from what you may be intending for that space or person.

Smudging involves igniting a bundle or braid of dried herbs and waving the smoke to purify people or spaces. Smudging metaphorically renews and cleanses the body, the mind, and the spirit. Healers, feng shui practitioners and anyone looking to make peace with their mind may choose to adopt this practice.

Smudging creates a "cleansing" smoke bath which mystics say purifies the physical and spiritual body and brings harmony and emotional balance. It releases negative ions, which research shows creates a more positive environment allowing spiritual cleansing and connectedness with the spiritual realm. Some say burning herbs releases the scents and vibrations into the air, replacing negative energies with the healing properties of herbs from the earth.

The Science of Smudging

Like one washing their hands before a meal, smudging helps to cleanse a person in an energetic bath of aromatic smoke.

It's also believed to release negative ions, which has been linked in studies to a more positive mood and many other benefits.

Negative ions are also created by the effects of sunlight and water you've probably noticed a wonderful sense of calm when in nature, such as visiting a beach, waterfall or enjoying a walk in the woods.

In high enough concentrations, negative ions can clear the air of mold spores, pollen, pet dander, odors, cigarette smoke, bacteria, viruses, dust, and other hazardous airborne particles.

They do this by attaching to positively charged particles in large numbers which cause the germs, mold, pollen, and other allergens to become too heavy to stay airborne. They fall to the floor, or attach to a nearby surface, removing them from the air you breathe while preventing them from causing health problems like respiratory issues.

Due to all our electronic gadgets, including computers, TVs, washing machines and the like, as well as carpet and upholstery, our homes have become what some describe as "positive ion prisons."

That's why negative ions that occur from smudging can be so beneficial in counteracting these effects.

Smudging your home, office, or even your body is kind of like taking an energetic shower, or perhaps even spending a day in the mountains, spending time breathing in the fresh air and scent of pine, which offers a direct positive effect on reducing stress levels.

If you think smudging is just some kind of "woo woo" with no science to back it up, think again.

Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology entitled Medicinal Smokes in 2006 found that burning smudge sticks can cleanse the surrounding air of harmful bacteria.

The authors reported: "The most frequent medical indications for medicinal smoke are pulmonary (23.5%), neurological (21.8%) and dermatological (8.1%).

A very large list of pathogenic bacteria was shown to be absent in an open room after a remarkable 30 days following treatment, leading the authors to conclude, "We have demonstrated that by using medicinal smoke it is possible to completely eliminate diverse plant and human pathogenic bacteria of the air within confined space."

Eight Benefits of Smudging

In addition to cleansing the air of unwanted bacteria, the benefits of smudging, and producing negative ions are many, including:

#1 - Increasing Your Sense Of Well Being And Improving Mental Focus

Smudging removes the debilitating effects of excess positive ions in the air in a way that's been described as a natural antidepressant.

#2 - Clearing Negative Energy

The smoke helps to change the molecular structure of both the air and energy, which produces a cleansing effect.

As the sense of smell is strongly linked to memory and instinct, smudging is very effective for combating feels of anger, fear, anxiety, grief, and depression.

#3 - Nature'S Antidepressant

It seems that the negative ions produced from smudging offer serious antidepressant effects, so much so it's said to be at least as effective as a prescription antidepressant without the side effects.

Dr Clarence Hansell, a research engineer who delved into the biological effects of negative ions in the air in the 1930s after noticing that the mood of one of his colleagues changed in response to ions being generated by their equipment, discovered that his colleague was more joyful when the machine produced negative ions and more depressed when it produced positive ions.

In a controlled study published in 1998 in the Archives of General Psychiatry, focused on seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, that was an extension of Hansell's work, researchers found fresh air charged with negative ions was an effective treatment and prevention method of depression, thanks to its effects on serotonin levels, like the way antidepressant drugs works.

#4 - Clearing The Air

In addition to bacteria, smudging can help clear the air of pollen, pet dander, dust, mold spores and other potential allergens to improve allergy symptoms.

#5 - Cleansing Objects

Not only can smudging cleanse a room, but it can cleanse objects.

Whenever you bring a new object into your home, especially something like an antique that's likely to have been exposed to negative energy over the years, you can use a smudge stick, allowing the smoke to pass over the time to help clear it so that it doesn't affect you or your environment.

#6 - Relaxing Effects

Smudging can offer calming, relaxing effects that are known to help lower blood pressure, relieve stress and tension and normalize breathing rates, as the negative ions produced are absorbed directly into your bloodstream, they may even help to fight off damaging free radicals that can lead to premature aging and disease.

#7 - Increased Energy

Studies have found that the negative ions produced also help to normalize serotonin (that well-known feel-good hormone), in the brain, which can help boost one's mood, improve focus and create a more positive outlook.

#8 - Improved Sleep

An Italian study showed that negative ions can help improve sleep patterns, also have positive effects on regulating serotonin production.

Frequently Asked Questions About a Smudge Ceremony

When should I smudge a space or myself?

If you're feeling stuck, negative, sluggish, or even downright depressed, it may be due to stagnant energy in your auric field. Your auric fields include your emotional, energetic, mental, spiritual, or physical body, and your environment—whether it's your home, office, or other physical space. Stagnant or negative energy can have extremely detrimental effects on your mental and physical state and is even believed to manifest into things like a lack of happiness and success as well as pain and disease.

How do I prepare myself for an in-person smudging session?

Set your intention. What is it that you would like to release? What feels heavy or stuck. Prior to beginning your session, Claudia will guide you to take some full deep breaths, and to get clear on the intentions you are calling forth before your smudging session. She will pull some Oracle cards to ask Spirit to guide you on what needs to be released and what energy we need to call into your aura.

How do I prepare a space for a Smudging session?

You want to prepare the space or home for the ceremony, the way you would clean your house, cook, and decorate when your family comes for a holiday. We welcome Spirit, Angels, and ancestors to come and share clean space with us as well.

1. Before Claudia arrives. Clear your space of clutter and mess.
2. Open windows and curtains to provide an exit for trapped negative energy and to allow for clean air to enter. It's important to leave a window open before, during, and after smudging. This allows smoke to escape.
3. Set intentions if smudging for spiritual, energetic, and negativity clearing purposes. Claudia will go over setting intentions before she begins the session.
4. Remove animals or people sensitive to smoke from the home or space. Smudge smoke can be harmful to pets and people with asthma or allergies. Consult your medical provider before you schedule a smudge session to see if it's right for you.

Claudia uses ethically sourced sage and palo santo in her smoke or smoke-less smudge ceremonies. As a non-Native person choosing to smudge, Claudia purchases the sage and palo santo she uses from small Indigenous-owned businesses in the US and South America as a way to directly support the communities where these practices originated.

Sage: The Latin word for sage, salvia, stems from the word, heal. Other qualities believed to be associated with sage when burned are wisdom, clarity, and increased spiritual awareness.

Palo Santo: Spanish for "holy wood", Palo Santo is a sacred tree which grows in select parts of South America and is a natural insect repellent. It has been used for centuries by shamans in ritual prayer, ceremonies, and healing, known for its grounding and focusing effect which can enhance creativity, productivity and increase good fortune.

What is the cost of an in-person Smudging session?

The cost for an in-person smudging session is $122. Note, fees are subject to change at any time. This is for a 45-minute in-person session that includes a 20-minute card reading. Claudia looks at a person's current energy state, asks Spirit what needs to be removed and then asks Spirit what energy needs to be added back into a person's aura after the cleanse for their highest good. Claudia will then use a sage smoke or palo santo smoke to cleanse your aura. Claudia offers smoke and smoke-less options in case of sensitive fire alarms or smoke allergies. Both options work the same and are matter of personal preference.

How do I book a session online or via a booking app?

You can book a session via this website, or you can download the Inner Insights Booking App for booking on the go!

You can book and pay for any of my services on my Inner Insights Booking App. It's so easy to set-up. Using your smartphone, click on the link below to download the App. Make sure to follow the prompts on your iPhone or Android phone.

Say yes to "ACCEPT ALL COOKIES" or you may have issues logging in. User Tip: Save your log-in details and password on your smartphone.

It will save you time and future headaches remembering your password. Trust me, just do it!

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What is the cost of a Smudge session for a space, a business, or home?

The cost of a smudge session for a home, business or space depends on the square footage that you are asking Claudia to smudge. The cost is $111 for every 500 square feet of the space. For example, you would like Claudia to smudge your business space. Your business space is 1,500 square feet. The cost is $333 for the session.

Claudia also offers the option to set up a crystal gemstone grid(s) to protect a space. She can also set up Abundance & Prosperity Grids to attract new business and activate incoming money to a space. In addition, she can set up Harmony & Love grids to neutralize a toxic space and activate unconditional love vibes. Each crystal grid costs $111 per grid. Claudia provides all the materials needed.

How far will Claudia travel to Smudge, a home, space, or business?

Claudia is currently only serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area. Other locations require cost of travel expenses. To schedule a smudging session outside of the DFW area, contact Claudia at claudia@innerinsights.shop to discuss a fee and book an appointment.

How do I schedule the Smudge session for a space, business, or home cleanse?

To request that Claudia visit your home, space, or business for a smudge cleanse, contact Claudia at claudia@innerinsights.shop or call 214-686-5188 to discuss a fee and book an appointment. Claudia charges a $111 fee per 500 square feet of space. Fee is subject to change at any time.

A home, space, or business smudge ceremony can only be booked by contacting Claudia directly via email or by phone at 214-686-5188.

How often should you Smudge?

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to how often you should smudge a person, a space or home.

• If you feel weighed down by stress or worry, it's usually a good indication that cleansing is in order. If you've had toxic clients or harsh situations at work, a smudge is in order.
• If you've noticed that money or clients have stopped flowing into your business, it might be a good time to smudge.
• Home life is starting to feel stagnant, or you or a loved one is recovering from an illness or a fight, yep—a cleanse might be the answer to uplift the vibes.

We are our own best guides when it comes to identifying negative energy—so pay attention to your intuition.

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