Smudging-Elizabeth LI by Elizabeth(Yanran)

Step 1: What is Smudging

ly500033 — 2025-05-21 16:34:28 UTC

Smudging is a practice similar to prayer. It is a Mi'kmaq way to create connection to their spiritual belief, their creator. By understanding what smudging is, people can be more engaged into it with more respect.

Step 2: Gathering Materials

ly500033 — 2025-05-21 16:40:46 UTC

Mi'kmaq smudging uses the four sacred medicine, including sage, cedar, tobacco and sweet grass. There's no right or wrong ways to smudge, it's not mandatory to smudge using all four sacred medicines. For preparing, you need to place the medicine(s) in a bowl or a shell.

Step 3: Light the medicine(s) and the Eagle Feather

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:04:39 UTC

Prepare a match and an eagle feather. Use the match to light the medicine(s) in a clean and not contaminated bowl. Then use an eagle feather to help you smudge. Before smudging yourself, make sure to smudge the other items that you are wearing. For example, smudge your glasses first before you smudge your face or your senses.

Step 4: Speak to the creator

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:10:47 UTC

Speak sincerely to the creator so that they know you are addressing them. Clean your hands and smudge the eagle feather to cleanse it before using it to smudge other people.

Step 5: Smudge your senses

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:17:04 UTC

Begin by smudging your senses. Smudge your breathe, your eyes, your ears. It helps you to connects to the creator and to make better interactions with all the good and wonderful things and spirits around you.

Step 6: Smudge your hair

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:23:02 UTC

Smudge your hair to remember your identity. Your hair represents part of your identity and it is carries the history of your culture.

Step 7: Smudge your body

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:27:57 UTC

Smudge your body to cleanse it and create connections with the spirits and the surroundings around you.

Step 8: Smudge your feet

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:30:55 UTC

You smudge your feet to cleanse your feet. Feet are the part of your body that touch the mother earth. Smudging them shows great respect.

Step 9: Smudging others/Being smudged

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:35:38 UTC

Smudging other people in the circle is usually the job of the Elders. They make sure that the open side of the bowl or the shell is facing you, and you will receive the smoke that brings your message up to the creator.

Step 10: Pray in silence

ly500033 — 2025-05-25 21:38:17 UTC

After smudging and also during smudging, you pray in silence. You can pray for the thing that you need, create spiritual connections with the creator and be sincere.