Anyone here Smudge?

This is the only place I could think of posting this, it is drivel.  Does anyone here believe in the act of " smudging?" For those who ask, smudging is the act of burning a a dried herb, bark for the purpose of " cleansing or purifying an area. Smudging has been around as long or probably longer than most religions.  I use white sage and cedar, mostly because that's what I have on hand. I won't delve into the spiritual aspects of this. Sage and cedar do smell nice and I do feel a bit more at ease
At the end of some long days. Not to mention that when I cook? Fresh herbs always trump the dried flavorless flakes that some people pay $6 a small bottle for. Not bragging, but I make killer herbed deviled eggs. LolNeedless to say, my sage plant as well as a few others ( my winter savory,chives.oregano and the others that pop Up every year as well)are heading north with me in the spring.   Told you it was drivel.  Perhaps not meaningless.   Larry

Smudging is something we do on a regular basis and it is the start of all ceremonies and rituals.
Sage, cedar and sweet grass are the plants we use for smudging.
Smudging is not much use unless you speak the words as you smudge and you must have a way open for the spirits being driven out to get out.

We smudge ourselves for purity of thought and to cleanse the soul.
We smudge a place, in doors or out doors, to remove bad spirits so they can not cause mischief, to prepare the area for a ceremony or ritual.
All powwows are started with a smudging and blessing of the grounds and people.
All powwows are ended with a smudging and blessing of the grounds and people.

Smudging is spiritual, to use it in any other way you are just wafting smoke.

Redhawk

I always smudge when I feel for whatever reason, that there is negative energy, ie; tension, or what have you. I also usually smudge when I do fall and spring cleaning

I did not want to delve into that spiritual aspects of smudging  words spoken can be really quite simple.
" if you don't belong here? Please leave. The semi proper way to do it is the leave windows and doors open , start at the center of a room,and if as sweeping , work the dirt towards the door. I expected NO responses to this post.
I have people who understood this, I have had people shrug this off as a pagen ritual. Wanna know something??
Everyone loves the smell as long as you tell them" yea, it's incesnce " I like the way it smells . Way I got it fiquire do? No
Matter what anyone believes? Everyone
Enjoys it. I just leave out the reason I do it 😄
Many fiquire it out later.  I love that smell.  Only thing I am missing ? A traditional abalone shell. I'll live lol
Ps Bryant, I always catch things late in text.  Just a wild guess, you are of Native American decent.  
Guess I'm preaching to the choir on this subject . Would like to hear more on the ceramonial aspects.  And the way your culture uses it.   Really. I would

hau Larry, yes  I am Nakota/ Irish and  my wife is Blackfoot/ Netherlander (Dutch)

If you would like to know about the significance of smudging you can pm me.

Redhawk

I've done smudging for both reasons. Sage is a good one unless the person is allergic to sage. Sweetgrass works well.

If someone isn't comfortable about it, I just upplay it as 'really active heavy duty hardcore incense maneuvers'. Oh.