Smudging a Home

I have had an inquiry about the proper way to smudge a home and
protect it from negative forces. There are many ways to smudge and
many ways to protect the homes and hearth from negative forces. I
have in the past used sage as a smudge and started in the most
central part of the home and in a clockwise direction, smudged the
whole house. When I would come to a doorway or a window, I would
smudge that opening first in a crosswise direction from opposite
corners bottom to top, the same for all windows and doors to the
outside. Next There is several herbs you can hang in different
places to protect the rooms themselves, especially if you have a
visitor who brings negative feelings with them. One such herb is
rosemary. I make a rosemary and cedar wrap to hang above the do. I
also plant rosemary in pots to set around the house as protection.
Since it is spring, the use of tomato plants as a ward off is good
too. If you want to make your home a sacred place, it is necessary
to make an alter and have your medicine wheel involved. It does no
good to have an alter and no sign letting the spirits know who's it
is. My alters usually have some sort of natural focus to them and as
I have helped others, I instruct them to do the same. It doesn't
need to be a buffalo skull and an elaborate set-up around the skull.
A small circle set in sand with a candle or two, maybe a few stones
that mean something to you, add a feather or two and maybe collect a
small doll or a cross or even a statue of Peter of Aramathea, the
patron saint to the Meti's world over could be added or not to your
alter area. The idea is to make it YOURS and not something I tell
you to make or someone else says you must have. It is yours and will
develop someday into a gateway to your spirit guides. It can also be
a gateway to the spirit world for your quests or answers to your
problems. There is a value to having an alter in your home. Let
everyone know that it is a sacred site and not a place to play in or
put their toys, if there are kids about. There are other things to
use and to do. This is the first installment on that path. Peace and
good spirits to you and your families. TwoBears