
You want to prepare the space for ceremony, the way you would clean your house, cook, and decorate when your family comes for a holiday. Grandmother Wapajea says, “The goal of smudging is to make a place clear of lingering energy that is different from what you may be intending for that space. To get some insight into the ancient art of smudging, Native American healer and singer Grandmother Wapajea Walks on Water-with lineage from the Choctaw, Creek and Cherokee tribes-sheds some light on the topic. Smudging is an ancient ceremony in which you burn sacred plants, such as sage, to allow the smoke to clear and bless a space. Smudging can help combat this negativity, clear the energy in your field, and help you start anew.

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. Your field can include your emotional, energetic, mental, spiritual or physical body, and your environment-whether it’s your home, office, or other physical space. If you’re feeling stuck, negative, sluggish, or even downright depressed, it may be due to some stagnant energy in your field to allow positive energy to enter.
