So you think you have a ghost in your house, and your friend tells you, you need to smudge your home. What do you do next?

Most people would find their local metapsychical shop, buy a sage smudge stick, and head off to cleanse their home. Wait!

• Do you know what you're doing?
• Do you know why sage is used for smudging?
• Are you doing it right?
• Will it work?    

Native Americans have long used sage smudging. Sage is burned in smudging ceremonies to drive out bad spirits, feelings, or influences, as well as keeping bad spirits from entering the area where a ceremony takes place. However, just like emptying out a glass of water, you are left with and empty vessel.

Your home after smudging it is an empty vessel.You must refill it with positive energy!

Native Americans often use sage, sweet grass, cedar, tobacco, (considered the 4 scared herbs), and lavender.

• Sage: We use sage first in order to drive out bad influences and energies. This drives out negative energy while refreshing and cleansing your thoughts and purpose.
• Sweetgrass: Used for smudging and purification of the Spirit, sweetgrass brings good influences.
• Tobacco: The scent of tobacco is pleasant to the Creator. It is also said to bring your prayers to the creator.
• Lavender: Used to cleanse and bring peace and wisdom, lavender is also a great cure for insomnia.

Regardless of which herbs you use, smudging is a ceremony that must be done with care. You are entering into a relationship with the unseen powers of these plants, and with the spirits of the ceremony. As with all good relationships, there has to be respect and honor if the relationship is to work.So where does this all brings us?

If you don't know what you are doing, don't assume that burning these herbs will rid you of ghosts or bad energies. Although you may find some relief from your troubles, in the long run you may have only given yourself temporary relief.

In all matters of house cleansing, it is best to call in a trusted practitioner to perform the cleansing. But be aware that house cleanings do not always work the first time, and may take several ceremonies to finally rid you of negative energies.