Smudging, With Thanks.
Today is Thanksgiving in the USA. Abound with controversy, the legend of this day tells that Native Americans and European pilgrims came together in 1621 to share a feast and celebrate the Europeans first successful harvest. The Wampanoag Indians taught the pilgrims how to plant corn and had it not been for them, the pilgrims would likely have all perished in their first year. Americans honour this day by eating, a lot. In recent years, there has been a push by historians and society alike to focus more on Indigenous Americans and honour their contributions to the founding of the ‘New World’ instead. So today in respect to the Wampanoag and Indigenous Americans in general let us take a look at a controversy of the 21st century: the practice of smudging.
Smudging is an ancient spiritual ritual. Though not practised by every community, it is well established as a Native American cultural practice. Most often associated with sage, smudging rituals can be performed with a variety of different sacred plants and herbs. Additionally, the rituals are performed for a number of reasons. Sometimes used for spiritual blessing or cleansing, the purposes and substances burned vary depending on tribe or nation. Though most commonly, smudging is practised to purify or cleanse the soul of negative thoughts of a person or place.
The four elements are represented when performing a smudge; the container, the plant, the fire and the smoke, each has its own place and purpose in the ritual. The container is traditionally a shell used to represent water. The four main plants burned are cedar, sage, sweetgrass and tobacco, these represent the ‘gifts from mother earth’. Fire is produced when lighting the plants. Finally, smoke from earthen plants represents the new air created in the ritual. Traditionally, the leaves would be lit with a wooden match or open flame to try and keep the process as natural as possible. The smoke is gently wafted over the person either by hand or feather. The person being smudged breathes in deep as the smoke is surrounding them to take the healing properties into themselves. The ashes are then disposed of in bare soil outside in order to bury the negative thoughts and feelings that have been absorbed by them.
If you’ve suddenly started seeing smudging all over Instagram, you might be wondering why wafting sage could be controversial. In fact, even the word smudging and how appropriate the use of the term is by non-Indigenous elders is contentious. If you are a non-Indigenous American yourself be aware that your participation in this ritual should be referred to as a smoke cleanse, and not a smudge. It is important to be aware of the heritage of this practice before considering taking part yourself. In a story that is becoming rather tired to be honest, European expansion of the western US came to ruin the party. Native healing and spiritual practices/rituals were not just shunned but made illegal. The ‘Rules for Indian Courts’ published in 1892 state that any Indian engaging in the practices of a medicine-man would be guilty of keeping the Indians of a reservation from ‘adopting and following civilised habits and pursuits’. Punishments included fines, prison and in some cases even asylum stays. You might think ‘well that was in the 1800s surely that didn’t last long’. But in actual fact, it wasn’t until nearly the 1980s that these practices finally ended! Dakota/Lakota Sioux writer Ruth Hopkins tells Bustle, ‘It was illegal for Natives to practice their religion until 1978 (the American Indian Religious Freedom Act) in the U.S., and many were jailed and killed just for keeping our ways alive’. So for many indigenous people, it must be pretty difficult to see companies like Sephora and Urban Outfitters making and pushing something like a ‘starter witch’ or ‘home smudge’ kit to make a quick profit on a ‘trend’.
It is still being debated just how much of a cultural appropriation performing a smoke cleanse is, but before performing one yourself, just make sure you’re doing it with intention and purpose; think of those who have come before you with the utmost respect.
It is difficult to support Native American merchants from abroad, but if you can, the Inspired Natives Project, Sakari Botanicals, and Herbal Lodge are good places to start. Alternatively, you could always grow and harvest your own sage if you have the space to do so. Additionally, other plants that are much closer to home can be easily sourced; Mugwort, Thyme, Dandelion, and Lavender make for good alternatives. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate and Happy Native American Heritage Day for tomorrow everyone.
Words: Holly Westwood