Diverse in their appearance and benefits, crystals are believed to have metaphysical properties that can help enhance or alleviate certain ailments. Originally crystals were used as ancient forms of medicine, with philosophies borrowed from the East. As centuries have passed, crystals have stayed. If you’re curious about their properties and benefits, read more about them below.
Amethyst
Beyond its beautiful purple color, Amethyst is considered to be one of the most powerful and protective gemstones. Depicted by its range of violet hues, this quartz crystal is often used in jewelry and for healing purposes. Found in places such as Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Africa, Canada, Russia, America and Europe, this stone has a rich history of astonishing civilizations with its stunning, saturated beauty, and for its ability to stimulate the mind and emotions. The metaphysical properties include calmness, balance, and peace. Many also use this as a meditative and calming stone.
Blue Aventurine
Characterized by its vibrant mica inclusions, this quartz variety is full of minerals that give off its shimmering effect. Blue Aventurine not only has a stunning blue appearance, it has a lot of wonderful healing benefits. Combining the elements of wind and water, Blue Aventurine is a gemstone that balances the heart and mind. It is said that this is a stone of self-discipline and inner strength because it embodies a strong energy which resonates within both the throat and third eye chakra. It’s metaphysical properties are considered to strengthen your communication abilities and may help you to speak out when required.
Red Jasper
Red Jasper is a very enduring stone, in fact, so much so that you can find it in any corner of the planet resting in the rich pockets and folds of Earth. Jasper also comes in shades of green, yellow, black, orange, blue, and brown. Red Jasper has a deep red coloring ranging from bright red to brownish red. It’s a stone that brings balance, stamina, courage, and the inner strength of a warrior. It’s lush, it's deep, and it's utterly nurturing for the soul.
Clear Quartz
Transparent with intention, Clear Quartz is considered to be one of the most versatile, and powerful crystals available due to its colorless and opaque crystalline form. It is said that this crystal can help stimulate the immune system, reinstates bodily balance and restores and amplifies energy systems. Clear Quartz harmonizes and balances and is said to augment energy by absorbing, amplifying, retrieving, transmitting and channelling universal energy. Referred to as a protective crystal, it’s also said that Clear Quartz purifies on all levels; spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical.
Green Aventurine
Typically depicted by its green hue and shimmery effect, this crystal has a deep connection with Earth and the heart chakra. Green Aventurine is sometimes referred to as the stone of opportunity and crystal of growth, especially in manifesting prosperity and wealth. It’s said that Green Aventurine can help to release old patterns and so new growth can take place. This crystal can bring optimism, which may allow one to move forward with confidence and to embrace change.
Rose Quartz
Pink and translucent, Rose Quartz is a mineral class of quartz crystal that is best associated with love and compassion. More than just a love stone, Rose Quartz is strongly attached to both the heart and throat chakra, which is said to aid in clear communication and help to develop deeper bonds. This crystal is also believed to promote feelings of self-love, and may be amplified when used during meditation.
Tiger’s Eye
A stone traditionally used in history as a way of protection, Tiger’s Eye is said to have the power to focus the mind, while harnessing inner strength and courage. This iron-striped shade of reddish brown metamorphic rock is considered to be very grounding because of its healing connection to the root, solar plexus, and sacral chakras. Tiger’s Eye also works to unravel limiting beliefs and balance out opposing energy.
Yellow Aventurine
Abundant in India, China, and Brazil, Yellow Aventurine is a unique crystal that is said to represent self-reflection, optimism, and creativity. Associated with the solar plexus chakra, and characterized by its yellow hue, this gemstone works with its golden light to enhance compassion and understanding. Yellow Aventurine is also known to be helpful for decision making and promoting self expression.
What is Blue Agate?
Coming from the quartz family, Agate is known as a variation of the chalcedony gemstone. Did you know that gemstones in the Agate family are some of the most beautiful healing crystals? Agate was originally discovered sometime between 400 and 300 B.C. and it gets its name from the Achates River in present-day Sicily because of its rich colors.
What are the healing properties of Blue Agate?
Blue Agate is known as being a cooling and calming stone because it promotes a sense of peace and tranquility. Due to Blue Agate being connected to the throat Chakra, it can assist with verbal expression of thoughts and feelings. For those who struggle with decision making or who tend to sit on the fence, Agate can also encourage you to tap into your own deep well of intuition, to connect with your sense of knowledge, and to look inwards for the answers rather than to external forces.
Uses
You can simply wear the bracelet as a fashion accessory, however, many choose to wear the bracelet because of its healing properties and the positive benefits it may provide.
P.S. We recommend taking the bracelet off if you're getting into any water just to preserve the elastic. A little bit of exposure to water is fine but prolonged exposure to water will affect the quality over time.
About the keychain
The figure on all of our keychains is called Kokopelli. He is an ancient and sacred symbol to the Natives of the Southwestern US (mainly) and often pictured playing the flute, hunched over and with a Mohawk and sometimes carrying a bag on his back or dancing. Kokopelli has a rich history in folklore and is often described as a symbol of good luck, a jokester or a magician.
The shape of our keychain represents an arrowhead. These tools were widely used all throughout human civilization by hunter-gatherers from all over the world and made from various forms of rock or stone (most notably Flint) though sometimes bone, wood or metal. Human's very distant ancestors first sharpened stones into projectile points hundreds of thousands of years ago. Over a very long period of time, they finally created the bow and arrow, which we are all familiar with today.
More about Kokopelli and his history
He is a magical character, considered to be an ancient God of Fertility (plants, animals and people), whose petroglyphs were first carved around 3,000 years ago. In his legend, Kokopelli the flute player was the symbol of happiness and joy. His beautiful flute playing would bring warmth and make seeds grow and heal wounds. There are many stories about Kokopelli, traveling to a village playing his music, carrying seeds and the next morning all of the crops were plentiful and women were pregnant. He is thought to be responsible for the end of winter and the coming of the spring.
Our personal family history regarding Kokopelli (by Christine)
"I personally know of encounters with Kokopelli in our current world. Three infertile women, living unconnected lives, came to be in the presence of Kokopelli on various objects. Soon after pregnancies occurred. In hard financial times Kokopelli appeared on a necklace. It was worn and soon after miraculous events happened, a new direction in life and sudden success. His image reminds us to slow down, be hopeful, be grateful, look forward and love ourselves and others and find the joy in living for it is there in all of us.
Whether you believe in Kokopelli or not is up to you. But I believe there is something magical and spiritual about the little guy. I think he truly does bring happiness and plenty, even if it is only a smile to someone's face and the good feeling of just being alive."
Are they real stones? How can you tell?
You might be wondering if the stones we use with our bracelets are real. YES! 100% natural stones dug up out of the ground and shaped, polished and hand made into bracelets.
Feel free to cut the stones in half to see for yourself! 😂 We're only kidding! But here are some different ways to tell if a stone is fake or not!
1. Check the color of the stretchy string of the bracelet. Dyed material will leave color residue on the string and fake beads will be a different color inside of the hole of the bead.
2. Check the hole that is drilled in the bead. Glass beads will have a white powdery look on the inside or around the rim of the hole and stone beads may have some imperfections or chips around the rim of the hole.
3. You can tell the difference between glass and stone beads by checking to see if the beads are perfectly round or if they have a little character and slightly imperfect shape or maybe some dimples. Though this isn't always a surefire test.
4. Look for perfectly uniform swirls, shapes, grains or lines. Glass beads will be nearly perfect / identical throughout whereas stones will each have their own unique characteristics that are not symmetrical or uniform.
5. Lastly, Google search images of the natural stone you are checking. You can find exactly what types of stones we use on our bracelets and see if the natural stone images match up with what your bead looks like.
What are the stones on the bracelet?
Amethyst (Purple)
Sodalite (Dark Blue)
Blue Imperial Jasper (Light Blue)
Green Imperial Jasper (Green)
Tigers Eye (Brown)
Citrine (Yellow)
Red Agate (Red)
The black stones are lava rock that are made into beads 🌋. The paw charm was added because we loved the look of it and we love our animals, something told us that it was the right fit for our bracelet so we went with it 🐾. The charm is made out of zinc 😀.
Uses
Many people wear the bracelet every day as a fashion accessory, others use essential oils on the bracelet and wear it because it actually feels good. If you are new to using essential oils, we suggest getting a variety set by searching on Amazon and they're usually around $10 for 8-12 different bottles and a little bit can go a long way! Lavender and tea tree are definitely two that we recommend a lot 👍
(Also, we recommend to take the bracelet off if you're getting into any water just to preserve the zinc charm and elastic. A little bit of exposure to water is fine but prolonged exposure to water will affect the quality over time.)
Meanings
Amethyst, a beautiful young woman, was traveling to worship at the shrine of the Greek Goddess Diana when she happened upon an angry Greek God Bacchus. Bacchus had vowed to unleash tigers unto the first person to cross his path in an attempt to satisfy his anger. Diana saved Amethyst by turning her into a beautiful crystal. A remorseful Bacchus poured the juice of his grapes over the crystal as an offering, which gives Amethyst a beautiful violet hue.
Amethyst is mainly a protective stone but offers many different healing properties depending on its use and placement. This element is believed to provide confidence, enhance creativity and purify any negative energy. This will allow you to remain clear minded and centered which gives way to wisdom, understanding and spiritual direction. Ideal for Intuition, Protection, Insight, Creativity & Easing Emotions
Sodalite is a stone that will improve analysis, balance, calmness & focus. When things get rough, this stone helps to give insight & perspective for your journey in life. Sodalite will help to naturally express your thoughts, beliefs & your personal truths.
Imperial Jasper is calming to the spirit and aid in physical recovery, likely due to its slow and consistent frequency / vibration. Jasper was used to bring rain during periods of drought and offer protection from drowning or violent storms. Traced to all ancient people and cultures, this stone soothes, strengthens and protects your body and spirit.
Tigers Eye is one of the most ancient & powerful talisman in the world with a rich mythological history. Tiger’s Eye will give you strength, courage, clarity, determination & willpower. Excellent for bringing good luck, emotional stability & powerful insight. Beautiful shades of brown and changes color depending on the angle of the light hitting it.
Citrine "the merchants stone" and a stone for manifestation and success! This yellow stone carries warm energy that brings vitality, aids in financial success, creativity, imagination and genuine happiness. True Citrine is completely natural in color and does not carry or hold on to negative energy, therefor it does not require any cleansing at all.
Red Agate, like Jasper, has a slower and lower intensity frequency / vibration and for this reason is excellent for balancing energy. There are tons of different types of Agates and are found all over the world, dating back to the stone age. Agate helps you slow down and stabilize emotions or energy.
]]>We are very proud to work with a supplier who takes great care in the collection of Palo Santo. The trade of Palo Santo is highly regulated in South America and it is illegal to cut down trees for consumer use. Therefore all of the Palo Santo we get comes from naturally fallen trees and limbs that are collected by the surrounding communities. There are several systems of checks and balances to make sure that the rules and law are followed when it comes to making Palo Santo products.
SERFOR is one of the first in the line of defense of the forest. It is a program of the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture and their job is to strengthen forest management in a productive and sustainable manner in the Peruvian Amazon. Permits issued by SERFOR are required to collect and export Palo Santo to the USA and other countries. You can see 1 of our vendors permits here and treatment documentation as well (with private information blocked out).
The United States Department of Agriculture works alongside US Customs & Border Protection to ensure that all documentation is up to date and all permits are on hand as required to import Palo Santo and wood products into the US. Several permits are required and verified with several internal departments of each program. You can see 1 of our several permits here (with private information blocked out).
There are communities that live around the forests where Palo Santo trees grow in Piura, Peru, and they are responsible for collecting the Palo Santo wood. They never cut down trees because it's illegal but interestingly enough, also because there would be no special scent! Palo Santo trees have to lay in the sun and dry for a period of time to accumulate the scent that they have from their natural oils and resin. The communities describe their "harvesting" or "collecting" as if they were walking through the forest and cleaning it up - picking up branches and dead trees.
New Palo Santo trees are planted around the forest and the communities are working hard to get these areas classified as a protected forest to prevent damage and logging. New trees are planted every single year to make sure the Palo Santo species sticks around for a very long time. In fact, planting new saplings is actually a requirement of the Palo Santo producers given to them by their government.
Not only are we doing everything we can to work with the proper vendors who care about the environment and this sacred plant, but this Palo Santo trade actually supports and feeds the local communities in Peru - they depend on it as a primary source of their small local economy. So now you know where our Palo Santo actually comes from!
]]>JL Local proudly sources our white sage directly from its natural habitat, in the mountain regions around California. The plants grow on hundreds of acres of private property where many different plants grow and wild animals roam. The land is quite beautiful, with quartz and even gold still scattered in the grounds.
The plants that grow here are perfectly natural and have always grown here. Various flowers and other sage plants all seemingly grow together around the same areas.
These plants are not over harvested (when too much is taken from a plant, crop or species it can damage that species and make it difficult to recover). The owners and workers are highly knowledgeable about the various plants that grow here and are extremely careful not to harm the plants when they are picking.
The pickers are extremely careful not to take too much from any plant, only the top flower from the stalk. This way the plant does not stress, it gives the lower flowers time to grow out and this also helps with spreading seeds in the area where more sage will grow (see picture below!).
The ground was littered with tiny new white sage plants! This is absolutely wonderful - picking our white sage and other sage plants literally spreads more seeds and produces more sage plants. This is absolutely the definition of sustainable harvesting. The ground is perfectly natural and the absolute best location for these types of plants to grow naturally. Lots of sun, excellent draining soil and not too much rain.
We could not be more pleased with the family who owns and manages this land. Sincere, generous, kind and caring don't even begin to describe the people here. There are well over 100 local families who are supported by this single family's business and we can not speak highly enough of them and what they do.
These plants are very sacred to many people. We believe that giving these plants to all people helps improve well being and it does not harm nature in the process, in fact it helps!
]]>Most sage or herbs come bundled, sometimes too tight and sometimes too loose. Try burning your bundle as it is and if it is wrapped too tightly then you may need to untie the bundle a little bit and pull it apart a little. Pulling the bundle apart a little bit will allow it to kind of breathe better - fire needs air to breathe otherwise it will not burn.
(You can also pull off small sections of the bundle and burn them individually. Imagine burning a small stock of sage or loose leaves, it's basically the same idea.)
(Another way to burn your smudges is to gather small pieces and put them into an Abalone shell or heat resistant burner pot, and use a torch lighter or long lighter to light the small pieces. That way nothing goes to waste and a lot of time people comment about "crumbs" - this is the best solution for that issue if you happen to have it!)
Hold your bundle horizontally or at an angle so the flame will naturally travel up/alongside/inside the bundle just a little bit. You want that flame to hit the same area for a period of time to get it going. You shouldn't need to hold the flame to the bundle for too long before the flame/embers starts to grow. Realistically I think you need to hold the flame to the sage bundle (in 1 spot not moving it all over) for about 15-25 seconds. I think in our instructions we say around 30 seconds and that's just a safe estimation - it shouldn't really take longer than that to produce a nice ember.
To keep your bundle smoldering, gently blow on the embers in short 1 second intervals. Be careful you don't accidentally blow any embers or ash off of your bundle. You can knock off any ash into an abalone shell (preferred/traditionally used for this) or smudging bowl of some other kind.
Never start smudging with a full flame, only begin once you blow the flame out and the bundle is smoldering. Most smudges will stop smoldering after a couple of minutes. You may need to relight the bundle frequently but that is just a natural characteristic of smudges and it gets easier with experience.
Once you're finished burning your sage you can just let it burn out or rub out the embers in your abalone shell or smudging bowl. Never pour water on your sage unless it is an emergency.
For Palo Santo:
Not all Palo is created equally and by that we mean that some Palo Santo takes longer to burn, will smolder more or less and can be more or less fragrant. At JL Local, we hand sort all of our Palo Santo so that no lesser fragrant sticks are ever sent out to customers. However, it may take more or less time to get your Palo Santo stick burning well which is mainly affected by the density of the stick and how much natural resin is in the stick.
Hold your stick horizontally or at an angle so the flame will naturally travel up and along the side of the stick. You may need to hold your flame to the stick for about 30 seconds. Gently blow on the flame to see if you have any embers produced yet, and keep gently blowing in short 1 second intervals until you see embers. Blow out the flame and let the stick smolder. Once your stick is smoldering with a nice ember, gently blow on the ember in short 1 second bursts occasionally to prolong the ember.
Once you are finished, you can let the stick smolder and burn out which should only take a minute or two. Otherwise, you can rub out the ember in your abalone shell or smudging bowl. You will have to relight Palo Santo frequently as it is just the nature of this kind of product. Never pour water on your Palo Santo unless it is an emergency.
We highly recommend you open a window at least an inch or two before you smudge your home. This will prevent the smoke from building up too much in the area.
Safety Disclaimer: JL Local is not responsible for any damage to any persons or property as a result of purchasing any JL Local products or using any JL Local products or following the directions of use of any JL Local products or website content. Use at your own risk, be cautious of your surroundings and do not leave anything burning unsupervised, out of sight or in a windy/breezy area.
]]>White sage (Salvia apiana) has been used by Native people for hundreds, even thousands of years.
(Find out exactly where our Sage comes from here)
It's a perennial plant with grayish leaves which are dried and use for a multitude of things with many benefits. White sage can grow up to 7 or 8 feet tall and several feet wide. It loves lots of sun and soil that allows water to flow easily and not pool. In fact, too much rain is harmful to the plant. This sacred plant is native to the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico.
Burning white sage has been known to reduce sinus inflammation, aerial bacteria, improve quality of sleep and improve cognitive function! Making white sage into a salve has been used to heal wounds - not to mention the spiritual and mental healing that burning white sage offers.
Most notably, white sage is used for mental and spiritual healing, protection and connection. Smudging with white sage can improve your overall mood, expel negativity, ease your emotions and purify your surroundings. Read more about smudging in our short article here.
]]>We strongly urge everyone to recycle anything and everything you possibly can! Most US cities have a mandatory local recycling pick up along with the normal trash pick up.
But some or all plastic bags are not permitted in local municipal recycling waste bins because in order to recycle plastic, all the different grades of plastic have to be sorted. It requires a lot of work so the solution is to pre-sort plastic before it gets to the recycling facility.
You likely won't have to go very far to recycle your plastic bags and we encourage you to find your nearest recycling location specifically for your plastic bags!
Usually, stores like Kroger, Walmart & Giant Eagle will have bins near the entrance of the store for plastic bags to be recycled.
Please use this website and search your zip code for the nearest drop off location
https://bagandfilmrecycling.org/
What type of plastic bags can be recycled?
Please recycle only clean, dry plastic bags and film. Remove receipts or any other items from bags.
These items are typically accepted at drop off locations:
• Retail, carryout, produce, newspaper, bread, and dry cleaning bags (clean, dry and free of receipts and clothes hangers)
• Zip-top food storage bags (clean and dry) (**ALL JL Local Product Bags)
• Plastic shipping envelopes (remove labels), bubble wrap and air pillows (deflate)
• Product wrap on cases of water/soda bottles, paper towels, napkins, disposable cups, bathroom tissue, diapers, and female sanitary products
• Furniture and electronic wrap
• Plastic cereal box liners (but if it tears like paper, do not include)
• Any film packaging or bag that has the How2Recycle Label (see image below)
Not all items are accepted at all drop-off locations. Check with your local drop-off to see what is accepted.
DO NOT include:
• Degradable/compostable bags or film packaging
• Pre-washed salad mix bags
• Frozen food bags
• Candy bar wrappers
• Chip bags
• Six-pack rings
What happens to plastic when it is recycled?
Like all plastics collected for recycling, plastic film can be recycled into many useful products. Plastic film can be used to make composite lumber for making decks, benches, and playground sets. Plastic film can also be reprocessed into small pellets, which can be made into new bags, pallets, containers, crates, and pipe.
Thank you for recycling!!!
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Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) "Holy Wood" is a sacred tree native to Central American countries like Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Yucatan Peninsula and other countries in these regions. The tree is closely related to frankincense and myrrh which have also, throughout history, been used with perfume, incense and medicine.
(Find out exactly where our Palo Santo comes from here)
Widely used in folk medicine for stomach ache, relieving symptoms of common colds, stress, headaches, anxiety and inflammation, Palo Santo is also used for smudging. Shaman believe that burning Palo Santo allowed them entrance into a place that inspired creativity, brought protection, love and goodness. It is used against bad energy, to fight for you and bring you good luck - true to its name.
Palo Santo is heavily regulated in South America and all of our Palo Santo is naturally harvested from a community in Northern Peru that replants thousands of saplings of Palo Santo each year. It is also illegal to cut Palo Santo trees down so all of the trees that are collected have naturally fallen and have been laying in the sun for years.
The highest concentration of natural oils in Palo Santo is found in the darker pieces of wood with beautiful, deep earthy brown and orange grain whereas the pale "blanco" pieces have much less natural oils. The higher the concentration of natural oils, the more beautiful and noticeable the smell will be - often described as mixture of mint, lemon and pine.
]]>What do you use? Smudges/smudge sticks are usually a bundle of leaves and stems of a naturally aromatic plant that has some medical/mental health benefits and/or some historical spiritual significance. White Sage, a perennial herb native to South Western North America, is a sacred plant that is excellent for smudging, and traditionally most common. Palo Santo, a tree native to Central America, is also a powerful spiritual tool used for smudging. There are other many beautiful herbs and plants that work well for smudging, all of which have both some medical/mental health benefits or historical significance. Cedar, Sweetgrass, Yerba Santa & Blue Sage to name just a few.
Consider getting a natural Abalone shell to house your smudging tools before, during and after each use. Abalone was used by Native people for bartering, food and bowls. Abalone is very popular today and commonly sold in cans, the shell is the bi-product used for jewelry, art, decor and of course smudging. All Abalone have natural holes in the side of the shell due to the natural form of this sea creature. But don't worry, as long as you are a little careful, the ash shouldn't spill or fall out of the shell. There is also a rough patch in the center of nearly all Abalone species, this is a natural creation as well and perfectly normal.
One last item worth mentioning is the turkey feather. A feather (traditionally an Eagle/Turkey feather) is used to gently fan the smudging smoke - which is optional and personal preference.
When should you do it? Smudging should be done at any time you feel is appropriate and as little or often as you want. You can smudge any kind of space like your home, office, car or even a person (just be really careful, obviously). We personally burn a little sage or palo santo just about everyday, maybe 1/4 of a bundle/stick or less and it's mainly to enjoy the scent and calmness. For most people, you'll want to cleanse your home or space at least once very thoroughly, maybe using 1/4-1/2 of a bundle or stick. Then after that it's up to you to decide when the next smudging should be, or burn a little bit somewhat often and enjoy! When you are not using your bundle or stick, let it rest in your abalone shell until you use it again. Do not leave your smudges in an area that is very humid.
How do you smudge your home? First, we like to suggest cracking a window a little bit or at least being very cautious that the smoke doesn't build up too much - just something to keep an eye on. You may set off a smoke detector if you let the smoke build up too much.
Ignite your smudge stick until there is a strong ember burning. Blow on your smudge stick occasionally to keep the embers going, relight them as needed. It can be very difficult to get your smudge stick burning well, some are harder than others and this is perfectly natural and normal. Hold the smudge at an angle so the flame covers the entire end of the stick or bundle and hold the flame for around 20-30 seconds. DO NOT begin the process with a smudge stick that has a full flame - you should only have a smoldering ember in order to begin the process.
You can place the smudge stick in an abalone shell while it is smoldering, just be careful because the shell will get hot. You can also just hold the smudge stick in your hand, just remember to be cautious of your surroundings.
Over the entire space, start in the East, then move South, West and North. Start in a corner furthest away from the door or exit. Move around the room eventually making your way to the exit. Go high, low and side to side.
Use this process throughout your home or space. The smoke will cleanse and protect. Make sure you get your entire space covered, be careful not to burn anything or anyone and always crack a window so the smoke does not build up too much. Safety first!
You may recite this JL Local blessing if you like - it is optional but many people do. It is based on traditional ceremony and the meanings may be slightly different to different types of cultures.
The Sacred Sage Burns As I Walk With Creator
To Cleanse This Space And Protect My Home
To Heal, Bring Strength And Bring Peace
I Honor The Cycle Of Life And The Four Directions
From The New Beginning In the East, Birth
The Warmth And Light Of The South, Growth
Closing The Day, Bringing Change In the West, Maturity
The North Gives Wisdom And Guidance, Transition
To Heal And Strengthen, The Sacred Sage Burns
How do I smudge myself or someone else? Use the same concept as smudging your home just apply the four directions to the person. Let your smudge smoke naturally flow and fan the smoke as needed.
What is the meaning or reasoning behind these methods? Smudging is traditionally performed a certain way in honor of the four directions and Creator.
The four directions (North, South, East & West) have significant meaning to Native people. When you are Smudging you are pushing out negativity and bringing in positivity and ancient tradition honors the important things in life like health, nature, stages of life, seasons of the year, the earth, the universe, animals, plants – everything around us that makes it all possible.
The four directions:
East – Light and the start of a new day, new beginnings and the opportunity to grow and become wise.
South – Growth, our Earth and the warmth of summer.
West – Maturity, the direction of the setting sun. Symbolic of the changing of the seasons and the end of our day.
North – Wisdom & Guidance, the trials and journey we endure in life.
Safety Disclaimer: JL Local is not responsible for any damage to any persons or property as a result of purchasing any JL Local products or using any JL Local products or following the directions of use of any JL Local products or website content. Use at your own risk, be cautious of your surroundings and do not leave anything burning unsupervised, out of sight or in a windy/breezy area.
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