Day: November 16, 2021

Sage smudge sticks are very easy to use. Light one end of the stick, let it burn for 10 minutes, and then blow out the flame. Smudging your house with sage is an ancient tradition that has been passed down through generations just like the feng shui tradition.

It’s a Native American tradition used to purify, cleanse and bless any space, including homes, offices, and cars. This process can be done weekly, but if you feel like there is negative energy lingering in your home, it should be done more frequently.

By burning sage regularly, you will remove all negativity from your life, giving you peace of mind. You can learn how to perform a smudging ceremony by following this simple guide.

What You’ll Need

If you’re new to smudging ceremonies, there are certain things you’ll need to complete the ritual. These include a white candle, incense, and a bundle of dried sage. Native Americans traditionally use an abalone shell as a holder for the smoldering herb, so you can use anything you have at home, such as an unused ashtray or a small bowl.

You can also find a sage kit online or in your local metaphysical shop if you’re getting started. If you’re sensitive to sage smoke, don’t fret, there’re plenty of options. You can use a coffee grinder to grind the dried sage or buy smudge sticks instead of loose sage. You can also dry orange peels if you’re in feng shui. You’ll also need a sage, a vessel for burning sage, a fire source, and a fanning tool.

How to Perform a Smudging Ceremony

Have an Exit strategy

Once you have gathered your supplies, gather your family and friends so everyone is present for the ritual. Banish negativity by playing soft music or singing songs that bring you to a sacred place. If you play music, make sure it’s soft and not something that might entice unwanted guests.

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Allow everyone to gather in a circle in your designated ceremony area. The circle will keep the energy contained when smudging is performed and protect both the space and your soul from any negativity coming in or going out while you smudge your home.

Make sure you have the window and door opened before lighting up the sage. The smudge stick should be lit in a fireproof container, such as a lighter or a match, and then walked around each wall of your home clockwise. Allow the smoke to flow into every room, including closets, bathrooms, and even under your doorways. Keep going around the house with it until no more smoke is rising from it.

Use Sage if You’re Not Following any Tradition

A number of Native American tribes and other cultures have their smudging ceremonies. And each one of the tribes has its tradition concerning the type of herbs they burn. The number of times it should be done and how much time should pass between one smudging ceremony and the next.

Sage is the most common choice, especially white sage although other forms of sage can be used as well. There are other types of smudging ceremonies, but this is the most common one. You should keep in mind that if you’re not following any specific tradition, then it’s best to stick with the white sage.

Set Your Intention and Say a Mantra

Said, you want to ask for protection. You can repeat a sacred word or phrase that has meaning to you. It could be the name of your spirit guide or God, or it may simply be an affirmation that reflects what you’re trying to protect yourself from.

Before lighting the sage, make sure you take some moment to determine what exactly you want to purify your home from. The more specific you are, the better your smudging rituals will be. After that, decide on a mantra or prayer you will say during your smudging.

Light the Sage and Start Smudging

To fire up your sage, hold a lighter under it for about five seconds or so, making sure to run the flame over every part of the bundle except for where you’re holding it. You can also use matches, but I find the lighter is much easier. After about 30 seconds or so, excess ash will start to fall away, and your bundle of sage will be a beautiful shade of green.

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Once it’s completely ashen, take your smudge stick by the end you lit with and wave it gently back and forth over every surface in your home. If there are particular areas that scare you or emit negative energy, go ahead and concentrate your smudging there for a couple of minutes. Once you’re done with the house, be sure to wave it over yourself as well.

Know When to Smudge

When do you want to smudge? You can smudge after you’ve completed building your own home and now moving in. Or you can do it when staying in a hotel room. This will help you feel like you’re more at home. Smudging before guests arrive is another way to ensure that you protect your space and set the mood for company.

When someone in your family gets sick, it’s time to smudge. Sometimes illness can be passed on energetically. You can also smudge when you sense anger, tension, or discord among family members.

Consider Additional Rules Out of Respect

If you smudge a hotel room or a house that someone else owns, always ask permission. Unless you’re an invited guest in the home, be sure to ask before smudging. Different traditions also have different ways of preparing their participants.

Many elders might not have these strict rules but consider following them. For example, do not drink alcohol or take any drug 24 hours before or after smudging. Do not have sexual relations before or afterward, either. Also, make sure all participants are wearing clean clothes and that their hair is clean and combed out before starting the ceremony.

Failure to consider these traditions can weaken your spiritual being. Pregnant and menstruating women are also asked to leave during the ceremony. Smudging may look easy, but it requires practice and knowledge in order to successfully repeat that positive energy in your home. Remember, if you find you are having negative thoughts while smudging, stop and try again another day.

Pray Before You Begin Smudging Your House

Be sure that you are in the right mindset before you begin your smudging. Your mind should be pure and clean. Don’t carry anger or hurt into the ritual. Remember, this is about getting rid of bad energy and attracting good energy into your home, so do not bring any negative vibes to it. You can pray, meditate or remind yourself that you have a clear mind and heart before you even begin.

You can pray for your world’s creator, the spirits, or anything you feel comfortable with. You can also talk about your gratitude towards plants and God’s creation if you don’t want to pray. You can continue praying throughout the ceremony in silence or loud since the smoke will carry your prayers.

Place Your Dried Herbs in a Container or Bundle them Together

For the best results, follow the steps in order. You do not have to pray when you light or smudge your herbs, but this is when you should remember to love and be grateful towards your home and everyone who lives there.

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So, place your smudge stick or bundle of herbs in a natural container such as an abalone shell, wooden bowl, or clay dish. If you would like to add words to your prayer, place them underneath the arrangement of herbs. You can either lean a sign against it or tape it to the bottom of your container.

Burn Your Herbs to Produce Smoke, Not Fire

When you are ready, light your herbs on fire. If you used a bundle of dried flowers and leaves, it might take a little while for them to catch fire. Don’t panic! Just put them into the shell or dish, still lit side up, and let them smolder.

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You can leave them to burn on their own for a little while, then blow them off so the herbs can only produce smoke. If the smoke starts running out during the ceremony, feel free to relight them and put them back in the bowl.

Purify Each Participant by Fanning the Smoke Over Their Body

Take a deep breath, and start fanning the smoke in a clockwise direction over your body. You can either hold the shell up in one hand and fan with your other or tilt the shell to let the ashes drop out and use a feather or a cleansing plant like sage to move it around your body.

Make sure everyone in your room is purified by moving around slowly to get the smoke everywhere, especially taking care of sweeping it over each participant’s face. Many people like starting with the head and heart then moving the smoke downwards on their arms and legs. You may use any method that you want.

Waft the Smoke in Every Corner and Outside of Your Home

Begin by putting the shell down and fanning or blowing to spread the ashes. Then, pick up the shell again (be careful not to burn yourself!). Walk around your home in a clockwise direction, taking care to get to every corner. Gently waft the smoke into open windows.

Use feathers to push the smoke outside as you pass through an open window or door. This will ensure you get rid of negative energies in your home. You may walk clockwise or counterclockwise as you wish. As in most smudging ceremonies, different cultures and individuals follow different practices.

Close the Ceremony

When you arrive back at your door front, chant your final mantra or prayer. Visualize how your entire home is filled with warmth, light, happiness, and blessings. Then speak your intention for one last time before closing the ceremony. Do not smudge your pets because certain sage varieties are toxic to dogs and cats if you have pets in your house.

Let Your Ashes Cool Before Returning them to the Earth

It’s best not to return the ashes from your smudging ceremony back into nature until they have cooled off. You can keep them in a special container for a few days if you wish, but it is important that they don’t get mixed up with sand, soil, or garbage while still hot.

FAQs on How to Smudge Your house

How often should you smudge?

Some people smudge their homes daily, but it’s best to do so at least twice a year. Once before the New Year and once again around Beltane or Lammas is an excellent time. You can, of course, smudge your house as often as you like; don’t go overboard. Remember that your intention should always be clear when smudging. You can smudge when you feel weighed down by stress or worry.

What do you say when smudging your house?

What to say when smudging depends on several occasions. For example, if you’re smudging because you moved into a new house, ensure you cleanse your family. You can say words such as “fresh start,” “protection,” or “happy.” If you’re smudging because your family feels exhausted, you can say words such as “cleanse” and “clear.”

How do you cleanse your home?

There are many ways to cleanse your home. One common way is to use white sage, sweetgrass, cedar, or any other natural herb. You can buy bundles of these herbs at your nearest local metaphysical shop.

Final Thought on How to Smudge Your House

As you can see, smudging rituals are a beautiful technique to clear your space and welcome positive energy into your house. Also, treat this ritual with respect as it’s a sacred religious practice in some Native American tribes. If you’re not familiar with the ritual and the plant, it’s best to ask someone who practices this religion.

 

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Washing silk pillowcases is not as easy as you might think. Not only do they require special care, but also dry cleaning can be expensive and time-consuming. Luckily, there are some

simple steps to follow for washing a silk pillowcase at home. Follow these instructions to keep your silk pillows in tip-top shape and avoid the risk of ruining them with improper care. Here we go!

What You’ll Need

Mesh laundry bagWasher or sinkIronDrying rackDistilled white vinegarGentle detergentCold water

Washing a Silk Pillowcase by Your Hand

There’s always a way to hand washing your silk products. However, it will take time to do, and the results may not be as satisfactory as you would like. It’s best to ask a silk product professional for guidance if hand washing is your preferred method, although we encourage you to try it on your own first before taking such a big step. Here are some things to remember:

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Read the Label on Your Pillowcase to Check How it Should be Washed

Most silk products will come with care instructions that you should always keep in mind. The care label is always on the inside corner of the pillowcase. It would recommend hand washing your pillowcase. If there’s no care label attached to the pillowcase, then get it dry cleaned to be on the safe side.

Fill Your Basin with Cool Water and Detergent

Fill a basin with lukewarm water and add a little bit of gentle detergent. You can learn how to make homemade laundry detergent for this purpose. Mix the detergent well with your

hands before soaking it in the pillowcase. Use your fingers to rub the laundry detergent around all parts of the silk material, making sure it’s properly cleaned. Make sure you don’t use hot water, as this can cause the silk to shrink.

dd Some Drops of Detergent

If you want to make sure the pillowcase is clean, then add a few drops of detergent. Make sure it’s not too much, as this will cause the silk to become dry and rubbery because of leftover residue. 

Put in your hand and gently knead that into the silk pillowcase. Unlike how you do laundry or washing your silk in the machine washing, ensure you use less detergent. Excess detergent, even if it’s a gentle detergent, can break down your natural fiber.

Soak Your Pillowcase in the Basin Sink or Bucket for 5 Minutes

Just like the washing cycle, leave your pillowcase to soak for 5 minutes. This will allow the detergent to soften up dirt or oil that has settled into the material over time, causing it to look dirty and dull. 

Soak it in a bucket of lukewarm and laundry soap, then set the timer for 5 minutes. Don’t soak it for longer than 5 minutes, as this can damage your silk pillowcase. Swirl the silk gently while soaking but do not scrub or wring as this can damage silk fibers.

Drain Water and Laundry Soap from the Bucket or Basin Sink

Remove the silk from the water and laundry soap. Quickly remove any excess water by squeezing it with your hands. Make sure you do not wring the silk pillowcase as this can cause damage to its fibers.

Refill Your Bucket with Cool Water, White Vinegar, and Fabric Softener

After removing the excess water, refill your bucket with 3/4 white vinegar and 1/4 cup of fabric softener. Stir well to mix the contents. Make sure the fabric softener is safe for the silk before adding it to the mix. The white vinegar will remove excess soap and alkalinity while the fabric softener adds softness and shine to your pillow.

Rinse Your Pillowcase in Cold Water

Once you’ve properly washed and cleaned your pillowcase, finish off with cold rinse water. Do not soak your silk pillowcase in cold water, as this may result in shrinkage. Washing it in cold water will help you clear out all the soap and water, hence keeping your pillowcase clean.

Lay Your Pillowcase Flat on a Fresh Towel to Let it Dry

Once you’ve rinsed your silk pillowcase, lay it flat on a clean towel to dry. Use a fresh towel or rag as this will serve as your drying cloth. After laying the silk pillowcase flat on the new dried cloth, let it air dry before putting it back in place. Never hang your silk fibers in a clothesline to dry, and always dry them out of direct sunlight. Exposing your pillowcase to direct sunlight may cause the colors of your silk pillowcase to fade and deteriorate quickly.

How to Wash Silk in the Washing Machine

Washing your silk bedding in the washing machine is quite possible, but you must follow a specific washing procedure to preserve its silk fibers. Also, ensure you know the washing machine brands to avoid with your silk materials so you don’t end up incurring losses. 

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Check the Care Label

The label attached on the inside corner of your pillowcase should tell you whether it’s appropriate to machine wash your silk pillowcase. If it’s not, check the label attached to your silk bedding for washing instructions.

Wash Your Silk Separately from Other Fabrics

Avoid mixing your silk cloth with heavy fabrics, such as jeans or towels, because its fibers are much weaker. Remember to wash it separately from other delicate clothes. Make sure you wash your silk items alone because their fibers are very weak and could tangle with other fabrics.

Fill the Washing Machine with Suitable Temperature Water

Fill the washing machine with tepid water. The maximum water temperature that is safe for silk in a washing machine is around 40 degrees Celsius or 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you choose the most gentle cycle that the washing machine offers. If you choose a hotter cycle, you risk damaging your silk or causing it to shrink.

Put Your Pillowcase into a Mesh Laundry Bag

Pour the correct amount of silk-specific detergent into the washing machine, making sure you choose a gentle or delicate cycle. Close the mesh bag and put it inside the washer with your pillowcase. The laundry bag will help your silk stay separated from the other fabrics being washed, preventing it from developing pulls or tangling with other items such as the washing machine drums.

Use Mild Detergent

The silk-specific detergent you chose needs to mix with the water before it can spread out and get on your pillowcase. Avoid using harsh detergents such as bleach to protect your delicate fabric from getting damaged.

Put bleach in your washing machine by accident, and you risk ruining the color of your silk or dulling its sheen. If you need to bleach your clothes,  pre-soak the silk in a mixture of water and bleach before washing it to protect the fabric. You can skip the fabric softener and instead use white vinegar to give your pillowcase a fresh scent.

Use the Delicate Cycle

Add a mild laundry detergent and start up your washing machine using the most delicate setting the delicate cycle. If you have a front loader, lower its water level and increase the agitation speed to protect your silk from getting torn or wrinkled. Use cold water to prevent color bleeding and set the spin speed to its lowest level.

Let it Soak with Your Detergent

Unlike other fabrics, silk doesn’t let go of dirt and dust so easily. So to release as much grime as you can, let the pillowcase soak for about 15 minutes with lukewarm water before putting it in the washer. Put a few squirts of your mild detergent and white vinegar into the basin to soften up stains.

Leave the Pillowcase Resting Flat on a Clean Towel to Dry

Remove silk pillowcases from the washer and lay them flat on a clean towel. Leave it there to dry for another half-day before putting it away in your linen closet. Do not dry your silk fabric in direct sunlight, as this can cause yellowing and damage the silk fibers.

FAQs on How to Clean a Silk Pillowcase

How often should you wash a silk pillowcase?

Silk fabrics should be cleaned after every two weeks to maintain their freshness. Don’t skimp on this step if you want to keep your silk pillowcase looking well for a long time.

What detergent is safe for washing silk?

Powdered detergents are ideal for washing silk in the laundry. Since powdered detergents are more diluted compared to liquid ones, you can be sure that it’s gentle enough not to irritate the fabric.

Final Thought on How to Wash Your Silk Pillowcases

If you’re conscious about the appearance of your silk fabric, then it’s best to wash and dry them after every two weeks. You can also clean stains in your silk pillowcase by using cool water and spot stain removers.

Remember not to rub the fabric harshly when washing silk because it may cause damage to the material. With all these tips, you’ll have a clean pillowcase that will not only beautify your night but will serve you for a long time. Feel free to pin and share this article.

 

 

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