Cedar is a medicine of protection. Cedar is often used to cleanse a home or apartment when first moving in, inviting unwanted spirits to leave and protecting a person, place or object from unwanted influences.
Cedar Bundle
Always make sure bundle is out after use.
Never leave burning bundle unattended.
Put out on a fire resistant surface or with water.
Keep out of reach of children and pets.
If you have used herbs to cleanse your space in the past and enjoy the ritual, you don't have to give it up in order to do so in a culturally conscious way.
Smudging refers to a specific cultural and spiritual practice, but smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging for folks who aren't Indigenous.
This form of cleansing can look a bit like smudging, but it’s just the simple act of burning herbs, wood, incense, or other safe-to-burn materials that possess cleansing properties. The smoke is then waved over the area you want to cleanse.
Light the tip of your herbal bundle and allow the flame to burn for a few seconds, before gently blowing it out. Be careful of burning embers, and always burn over a fire resistant dish or shell. Once your bundle/palo santo is smoldering, allow the smoke to waft around you and your space.
