I participated in a smudge! This was very exciting for me, I have never participated in a smudge before. In fact, until yesterday I didn't even know
what a smudge was. In case any of you are like me and are also unaware
of what a smudge is, well, it is a ceremony intended to cleanse the
spirit and prepare one for contemplation and decision making. Or at
least that was the impression I received. I could be completely off
base here, and my apologies to anyone whose ceremony this is if I am.
This smudge in which I participated took place at a workshop hosted by
Ploughshares Calgary and Next Up Calgary intended to demonstrate how
change can happen through the power of community. Summer
Stonechild, and I am embarrassed to say I have forgotten which Nation
she is of, was kind enough to perform the smudge for us, and to invite
us all to take part. This is something I have experienced in all of the
aboriginal communities to which I have been exposed, an openess and
invitation to participate. I like this, this inclusiveness is not a
characteristic of all communities, but it does seem to be fairly
consistent across western Canadian Aboriginal communities. And I
certainly appreciate it, since here as a result I was able to
participate in a Smudge!
So, just briefly, the explanation we were given of the smudge is that as we go through life we experience events which we then carry around with us, like a child carries their books in a backpack. Occasionally we need to look through that backpack and decide which items we will continue to carry, and which we will leave behind, and the smudge helps in this. The smudge is important for preparing an individual to participate in discussion and/or decision making as it unclutters the spirit, thus allowing for improved listening, speaking, and decision making. The smudge in which we, the workshop participants, participated, was overseen by Summer. She started by unwrapping, carefully it seemed, a bowl shaped item and bringing out her Eagle Feather. She shared the history of her Eagle Feather and then explained the process of the smudge. She would be bringing around the bowl, in which there was something which was smoking. To participate in the smudge, we could wash our hands in the smoke, then use our hands to direct the smoke over our heads, so our thoughts were clean, towards our eyes, so our vision is pure, over our ears, over our mouths, and then over our hearts and down our front. After lighting the smudge pot and saying a brief prayer of thanks to the Creator, Summer proceeded around the room, allowing each person the opportunity to participate. The Eagle Feather was used to help waft the smoke from the bowl. It was a moving experience, and I thank Summer in particular and the aboriginal community in general for allowing people such as myself to participate. And please, if anyone who knows more of this is reading here and notices I have made some inaccuracies in my relating of this event, or have misunderstood anything, please feel welcome to make a comment and correct me.
So, just briefly, the explanation we were given of the smudge is that as we go through life we experience events which we then carry around with us, like a child carries their books in a backpack. Occasionally we need to look through that backpack and decide which items we will continue to carry, and which we will leave behind, and the smudge helps in this. The smudge is important for preparing an individual to participate in discussion and/or decision making as it unclutters the spirit, thus allowing for improved listening, speaking, and decision making. The smudge in which we, the workshop participants, participated, was overseen by Summer. She started by unwrapping, carefully it seemed, a bowl shaped item and bringing out her Eagle Feather. She shared the history of her Eagle Feather and then explained the process of the smudge. She would be bringing around the bowl, in which there was something which was smoking. To participate in the smudge, we could wash our hands in the smoke, then use our hands to direct the smoke over our heads, so our thoughts were clean, towards our eyes, so our vision is pure, over our ears, over our mouths, and then over our hearts and down our front. After lighting the smudge pot and saying a brief prayer of thanks to the Creator, Summer proceeded around the room, allowing each person the opportunity to participate. The Eagle Feather was used to help waft the smoke from the bowl. It was a moving experience, and I thank Summer in particular and the aboriginal community in general for allowing people such as myself to participate. And please, if anyone who knows more of this is reading here and notices I have made some inaccuracies in my relating of this event, or have misunderstood anything, please feel welcome to make a comment and correct me.
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