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Smudging: meaning, definitions and examples

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smudging

 

[ ˈsmʌdʒɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

spiritual practice

The act of burning sacred herbs, such as sage or palo santo, to cleanse a space or person of negative energy. Smudging is often used in ceremonies, rituals, and spiritual practices.

Synonyms

cleansing, purification, ritual

Examples of usage

  • During the smudging ceremony, the shaman walked around the room, waving the smoking sage bundle.
  • After a long day at work, I like to smudge my home to create a peaceful atmosphere.
  • The practice of smudging has been used by indigenous cultures for centuries.
  • The smoke from the smudging ritual is believed to carry prayers to the heavens.
  • Many people find comfort and solace in the act of smudging.

Translations

Translations of the word "smudging" in other languages:

🇵🇹 borrão

🇮🇳 धुंधलापन

🇩🇪 Verschmieren

🇮🇩 mengotori

🇺🇦 розмазування

🇵🇱 rozmazywanie

🇯🇵 ぼかし

🇫🇷 bavure

🇪🇸 mancha

🇹🇷 bulaştırma

🇰🇷 번짐

🇸🇦 لطخة

🇨🇿 rozmazání

🇸🇰 rozmazávanie

🇨🇳 涂抹

🇸🇮 razmazovanje

🇮🇸 útsmurning

🇰🇿 бұлдырлау

🇬🇪 დაფიქსირება

🇦🇿 bulanma

🇲🇽 mancha

Etymology

The practice of smudging dates back thousands of years and is rooted in various indigenous cultures around the world. It is believed to have originated as a way to cleanse and purify spaces, objects, and individuals. The burning of herbs for spiritual purposes has been a common practice in many civilizations, including Native American, Celtic, and Asian traditions. Today, smudging continues to be a popular ritual in holistic healing and spiritual practices.

See also: smudge, smudged.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,145, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.