Making Smudges

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Making SmudgesGather several fresh stalks of your favourite herbs. Some of the mostCommon herbs yield the best fragrances. Mugwort makes a fine smudge onIts own. You may also want to try cedars, Junipers, Sumac, Osier,

Mesquite, Tansy and Pinyon. Each of these botanicals has its own savoryAroma. Experiment with different combinations to suit your variousNeeds. This recipe makes an aromatic smudge that is wonderful forMeditation. It also makes a fine insect repellent and helps to banish

Mildew.Lay the sheet of newspaper open. Gather the selected herb stalksTogether and hold them tightly in one hand. Bend them gently back overOnto themselves 6 - 7 inches from one end. Quickly bend the remaining

Lengths back on themselves again in this same 6 - 7 inch long wand.Holding this all together well, place it on the newspaper at an angle.Roll it up tightly, like a big cigar and secure it snugly with the

Rubber bands or string.Place the stick in a warm place, out of direct Sun, to dry for at leastSeveral days and preferably a week. You may unwrap it in a day or two toCheck it, then wrap it again more snugly. Let it dry out thoroughly for

A few more days. If it is very humid, it may take a couple of weeks toDry.Unwrap the stick, discard the paper and tie the herb bundle securelyWith fine cotton cord or thread. When ready to use, ignite one end and

Get it smoking. You can use this as a ceremonial smudge. To make aMosquito repellent, perch it upright in a clay pot or coffee can filledWith an inch or two of sand. If you want to burn the smudge for only

Several minutes, you can snuff out the smoking end by rubbing it outsideThe pot or shell or pressing it into the sand. Do not use water toExtinguish it.