Smudge sticks are a long standing traditional way of cleansing negative energy from a space or aura, and making your own smudge sticks has been something that has fascinated me for a while which came to a head during lockdown. So when the opportunity to review Peg Couch's book Creating Smudge Sticks came along I couldn't wait to get my heads on it and start giving it a go myself.
While smudge sticks are originally native American they are now widely used in many places, which Peg tells us has now placed White Sage on the watch list.
This has made me stop and think before buying any more sage containing products, and think more about how to grow my own and make my own smudge sticks sustainably. So I'll be looking at getting or growing my own sage plants from seed very soon!
Although Peg Couch has opened my eyes to the other herbs, flowers and optional extras we can use in creating our own smudge sticks.
There's one in particular that jumped out at me with Christmas being only a couple of months away as I write this and I thought I'd share it with you here.
What struck me the most is that this particular one doesn't even use sage in of any description, so this was a two for one in my eyes!
Festive Holiday Smudge
with Cedar, Juniper, Rosemary and Cinnamon
"As we reach the end of the year and we find ourselves in the season of winter, where heat and light are scarce, may we turn inward, rest, and focus on warming our hearts. Gratitude can stoke the fire in our hearts. Meditating on all the gifts that we have in our lives - perhaps within us, but also within our relationships - adds fuel to our heart's fire. How do we feed our hearts with gratitude to keep ourselves and those we love warm during this cold wintertime? How do we build those fires to take us into a new beginning with peace and purpose?"
Suggested Intention
"As I burn this aromatic smudge, may I inhale fully and visualize a warm, glowing fire within my heart. May I feel the warmth travel from my heart throughout my body, and may I see myself being filled with warm sustenance. As I visualize all that I am grateful for, may I know myself as blessed. And may I take the warmth in my heart, share it with others, and bring it into the new year. "
Ingredients
Cedar - 5 boughs (approximately 14" long) - releasing negativity, cleansing
Rosemary - 3 sprigs - strength, protection and memory
Juniper - 2 stems (approximately 7" long) - protection, prosperity and cleansing
Cinnamon stick, red rose, baby's breath, anise (optional)
Twine (red/white)
Peg then provides very easy to follow step by step instructions on how to place and tie the ingredients to create your own festive smudge stick, which also includes pictures for reference.
Looking at the finished smudge sticks pictured in this book, it struck me what a lovely gift they would make. So if you're like me and enjoy making Christmas and birthday gifts for friends and family, this would be a great addition to your crafting. Either for yourself and own use or as something new to make for the like-minded people in your life.
As you'll see from the picture below of the Wedding Smudge which also incorporates a ring into the design, to me this would make a lovely gift and way of presenting a piece of jewellery when gifting to someone special regardless of the occasion.
There are some lovely craft ideas included in the book for what to use the offcuts and left over ingredients to make, so that nothing goes to waste. I love the way that Peg doesn't leave anything out and covers every aspect from picking what to use including the energetic meanings of what you're using, how to put the smudge sticks together, to what to do with the leftover ingredients and how to use your smudge sticks once made, and the safety aspect as well.
This is the only book you'll need to make smudge sticks for yourself or for others.
In general this book is beautifully presented hard back with full colour pictures detailing the ingredients, process of creating, what the finished smudge stick should look like and much more.
Covering 15 smudge stick project ideas, it also gives you enough information to create your own combinations by referencing the information which makes the possibilities open up massively if you're inclined to do so.
This is definitely something that I'll be referencing for many years to come!
I would also like to thank Schiffer Publishing for the opportunity to review this oracle deck, if you would like to purchase a copy you can do so by clicking the link above, which will take you directly to their website or it can be purchased from most reputable bookshops and online retailers. If you enjoyed this, you can sign up to have these sent directly to your inbox or you may also like my blog post on working with the full moon energy... You can read more of my reviews on titles such as The Wild Elemental Oracle, The Soul's Twins and other informative pieces in my back catalogue. Until next time.. Love & Light Georgie
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