It’s become pretty common to hear someone suggest using the smoke from smoldering white sage to ‘smudge’ a person or space. To many Native Americans, this is a traditional sacred practice, one making use of the natural properties of the plant to clear away negativity and hallow an individual or space. There is presently no small amount of conflict over whether this is disrespectful to these cultural practices or an appropriation of their sacred traditions. But the use of hallowed smoke for cleansing and blessing is common to many cultures. The Catholic, Episcopal, and Greek and Russian Orthodox Christian churches have a long history of using the fragrant smoke of incense combining frankincense and myrrh in services, and incense in one form or another plays a significant role in the ceremonies and rituals of many faiths.
In the Northern Tradition, we term the process rēcaning. Pronounced like the modern word “reek,” the term rēcan means to fumigate, expose to smoke, cause to emit smoke, or burn as incense. This word originates from the Old English word rēocan, meaning to emit vapor, steam or smoke, which later evolved into the Middle English word reken, meaning to emit smoke. In its modern form, reek is now associated with unpleasant stenches. I recan with plants long sacred to the Northern Peoples: Grandmother Mugwort, Grandfather Juniper, and Lady Rosemary. Each of these plants has the capacity of clearing negative energy and hallowing or making sacred a space or event, and the nuances of each plant differ, just as those of sage, sweetgrass and cedar do.
For me, the use of an abalone shell for catching the ashes is associated with Native American practice; abalone are also overharvested. Instead, I use something associated with my own tradition to catch any embers or ashes that fall as I recan: the broad scapula or shoulder blade of an elk or caribou. Some of my colleagues use pottery or soapstone bowls in the same way.
Ultimately, what truly matters is awareness and respect – for the plants, for how we use them, and for other cultures sacred practices.