Local thyme recipes how to#

Therefore, many burn it before bedtime. We have several members of this family growing on our farm, so I used sweet Annie for the same purpose. Used traditionally to cleanse energies and get rid of negativity, mugwort also has a reputation for stimulating dreams.

(Make your own or find juniper smudge sticks here.) Mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris)

In modern times it is used to invigorate the mind and body when tired. In some places, Juniper was a smudging herb for ritual purification of temples, and to avoid illness during plague outbreaks. (Make your own or find lavender bundles here.) Juniper ( Juniperus monosperma) You may like to burn lavender to combat insomnia, depression, grief, sorrow, and anxiety. They have been used to bring peace, restful sleep, and happiness. The dried flower buds of lavender release a light, refreshing scent when burned. (Grow and dry your own or find dried rose petals here.) Lavender ( Lavendula angustifolia) They have also been used as smudging herbs for meditation and peace. Many people associate rose petals with love and romance. Bayberry candles are good luck, so why not add a smudge to your end-of-year celebrations to ring in a clean slate? (Make your own or find bayberry for smudge here.) Rose ( Rosa spp.)īeing a rose farm, we don’t lack for these. The wax from the bayberry shrub releases a delicious smell when burnt. ( Find myrrh resin here.) Bayberry ( Myrica pensylvanica)īayberry is another plant we associate with Christmas. These days many use it for meditation, spirituality, happiness, transformation, strength, confidence, and stability. Ancient Egyptians used it as a smudging herb for healing and to embalm bodies. Myrrh is a bit more common, you may find it in your toothpaste these days, and is a resin from a nearly leafless middle eastern shrub. ( Find frankincense resin here.) Myrrh ( Commiphora myrrha) I have burnt it in a sick room to help ease the transition into death when it is necessary for someone to let go. It has a long history of association with meditation, healing, cleansing, and protecting the soul. You may have heard about it at Christmas-time with myrrh and gold. (Make your own or find sweetgrass braids here.) Frankincense ( Boswellia spp.)įrankincense is the dried resin of the African olibanum tree. Burning sweetgrass often follows burning sage. When burnt as a smudging herb it is sweet and light. Sweetgrass is the grass that you find braided at the store. This is one of the most sacred plants of the Native Americans. (Dry your own sage or find sage smudge sticks here.) Sweetgrass ( Hierochloe odorata) It is also used for meditation, cleansing, and purification. Some claim it can change the mood and energy of a room so it is commonly burned after a fight or when someone is upset. The best-known ceremonial smudge plant is sage. Did I mention it smells great?! (Grow your own or find cedar smudge sticks here.) Sage ( Salvia spp.) People have used it to drive out negative energy, bring in good influences, and even to bless a new house when people are moving in. In many cultures, cedar is a sacred plant. The uses listed below are cultural and historical, not necessarily representative of any beliefs we have or are promoting. Note: DIY Natural encourages you to freshen the air with your smudge sticks. This list of common smudging herbs will get you on the path to making your own.

Local thyme recipes how to#

Whenever we want to freshen the house this winter we’ll burn one and remember our summer bounty.ĭon’t know how to burn smudge sticks? Read this article for more information. This year we made most of ours out of sweet Annie, sage, and cosmos. I wrote about how to make smudge sticks, and as promised, wanted to write a bit about smudging herbs and some of the best plants to use. My kids and I recently made smudge sticks with the herbs and flowers from our garden. Last week I outlined how to make smudge sticks and wanted to follow that up by writing about some of the most common smudging herbs to use.