Smudging is a North American Indigenous ceremony, practiced by nations such as:
While each nation is different, smudging generally includes:
If you weren’t taught by that community, you are not smudging.
You are practicing your own culture’s smoke tradition.
Across the world, people burned herbs for:
The method is global — but the herbs change with the land.
Below is a worldwide view of smoke cleansing traditions.
Smoke cleansing is universal — but always rooted in local land and local spirits.
White sage (Salvia apiana) is sacred to several Indigenous nations, and commercial harvesting has endangered wild populations.
You never need white sage.
You have powerful herbs wherever you live.
That also means knowing which plants can be dangerous to burn — check our comprehensive guide to Herbs Never to Burn in Ritual for safety and clarity.
This method respects worldwide traditions without appropriating Indigenous ceremony.
“Smoke of earth and leaf of land,
Clear this space and bless it clean.”
Use “smudging” only if:
If not, “smoke cleansing” is the correct and respectful term.
If you want to build a smoke practice rooted in safety, ancestry, and the land beneath your feet, these guides will help you take the next steps:
How to Use Herbs for Smoke Cleansing — a practical walkthrough of choosing the right herbs, preparing them, and building a personal cleansing ritual without cultural borrowing.
Herbs That Are Toxic When Burned — an essential list of plants that release harmful compounds when burned, so your practice stays safe, informed, and grounded in real herbal knowledge.
Yes. Smoke cleansing is global and local—choose herbs from your land and follow safe, intentional practices. It is distinct from smudging, which is a sacred Indigenous ceremony.
Smudging has lineage, prayer, and cultural protocols. Smoke cleansing is a worldwide tradition using herbs for purification, blessing, and protection, without appropriating Indigenous ceremonies.
No. Some herbs release toxic smoke. Stick to locally sourced, non-endangered plants like mugwort, juniper, thyme, or bay. Avoid unknown or wild-harvested endangered species.
In folklore, smoke carries intention, clears stagnant energy, and marks sacred space. The ritual engages both senses and attention, creating a psychological and spiritual effect.
Only if you were taught by the relevant Indigenous community. Otherwise, use local herbs—every land has its own magical smoke.
Traditionally, at thresholds—new homes, seasonal transitions, after illness, or before rituals. Any time you want to reset energy is valid.
Yes. Across cultures, smoke was burned to guard homes, spaces, and people from sickness, envy, spirits, and lingering heaviness. Check out: Herbs That Keep Evil Eye Out for more.
Set a clear purpose, move the smoke mindfully around doors, windows, and corners, and close with a grounding phrase. Your attention and focus are what give it power.