For centuries, humans have turned to nature for rituals that bring peace, clarity, and protection. One of the most recognised of these practices is smudging, the burning of sacred plants to cleanse a person, space, or object of negative or stagnant energy. While today it often appears in modern wellness routines, the roots of smudging are deeply spiritual, carried through generations with intention and reverence.

Smudging is most closely associated with Indigenous peoples of North America, who have used sacred plants such as sage, cedar, sweetgrass, and tobacco in ceremony for thousands of years. In many Native traditions, the smoke acts as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, carrying prayers upward and creating a purified space for healing, connection, and reflection.

Yet the use of smoke as a cleansing tool is far from limited to one region or culture. Across the world, civilisations have created their own rituals of purification. In Ancient Egypt, frankincense and myrrh were burned in temples as offerings to the gods. Indigenous Australian peoples have long used smoke from native plants in ceremony and healing. Throughout Asia, incense has played a central role in meditation and spiritual practice for millennia. In Europe, herbs such as rosemary and juniper were burned to protect homes and support wellbeing. These shared traditions show a common human understanding that smoke, when used with intention, holds the power to transform, cleanse, and connect us to something greater than ourselves.

At its heart, smudging is an act of intention. Lighting sage or palo santo, watching the smoke rise, and moving with awareness turns a simple moment into a sacred one. Traditionally, prayers or affirmations accompany the ritual, guiding the purpose behind the gesture and inviting healing, clarity, or release.

It is also important to recognise that smudging holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, especially for Native American and Indigenous communities. What many people call “smudging” today is inspired by these sacred practices, but in some tribes the term describes specific ceremonies performed by trained practitioners. As we welcome these rituals into our own lives, we honour their origins by practising with respect, gratitude, and an understanding of where they come from.

In a world that moves quickly, smudging offers a gentle pause, a moment to clear the energy around us and reconnect with ourselves. Whether you are cleansing your home, preparing for meditation, or simply seeking stillness at the end of a full day, the rising smoke can become a ritual of presence. More than a scent, it offers space for intention, reflection, and renewal.