Smudgesticks

[Josiah]

@@Why would you want to use something in Europe that comes from a Belief in North America??

I have always loved sage, as simple as that
Is it because you believe we are Spiritual and our Spiritness will help you in this matter??
You are wanting to do something that frankly many here would think twice about and seek advice from someone they TRUST and have actually met in person.
I would take great care in knowledge that I gained online from people I did not even know.
Where I live, there is nobody for the moment being I can meet and ask. This is as island in a very catolique country...

I understand that in Europe, Natives Americans are viewed as being highly spiritual.
Which I believe comes from the fact we are viewed as a primitive race that is just now coming out of the stone-age and only a few generations from that more pagan time.
Here you are realy offending me... (have you ever been in Europe?) To me Natives are the close=esd to what I call Spirit, exactly because . no matter what, you stay truth to yourself and to what you believe in...
Whereas the Europeans are Thousands of Generations from thatso, here you say , what I say...
You are not the first to come on here from Europe asking such questions about Spirituality by the [email protected]

Maybe its a good idea to put on this board: for USA citizens only?

Yes I have been to europe and other places in this world including Africa, Asia and other places
I was in the US Navy
We get around
lol


No we dont need to put USA only on PW.com we have many citizens from all over the World that come on and chat

This Site was set up for Powwows
What you are asking has nothing to do with Powwows so when you delve into these subjects your going to get reactions
Maybe not the reactions that you want or desire
But nonetheless there you are

Ok all emotions asideWhat you are asking for is easily done
Go on Native American Indian Craft Supplies- Indian Craft Supply- Buckskinner Supply yes I know it sounds crazy
Sage (4 oz pkg) | Botanicals & Herbs | Crazy Crow Trading Post
And purchase this

No need to grow it
Its actual sage and smells good too

[Joe's Dad]

You are right... I don't have a Native American background.
Not here and now.
But my willing of using sage is not to decorate the dining table...
but to give it the meaning it is meant for.
I am here to learn, as we all are in this world at this moment.
And if anyone wants to give me a rude answer than probabely he hasn't learned enough yet...

Love to u all .....

Hi everyone,

Here is the original poster…
After enjoying your conversations for about 2 pages, I would like to leave my comment.
To whom it may concern..

First:
I posted a question, with this question , by no mean, I wanted to offend anybody.
My question was a pure one, I’ll explain you later.
In the meanwhile that you were quarrelling between you, I met some great people on your board through some PM’s, who learned me about the smudgesticks. And, NO, they did not tell me about the serious smudgesticks. But they took the time to explain about it and make me understand that anyhow, these are sacred. And I got the possibility to explain them, why I wanted to make a smudgestick…
Because: as some of the people here felt over me in laughter and lost time to write loads of words about me, not even knowing me…. they did not even think of the only three letters they needed to know.. w-h-y.

But then, I prefer first of all to say thank you to those who did think about it at least…
told me about it and reached me options…
and to those who kindly understood that I had no knowledge about it, and to those who still
are nice to call me their sister. And to those who did understand indeed that I am not interested in any of those new age shops or even worse: touristic shops! Where I could find smudgesticks, who knows made where……by whom and without any other purpose than to be sold…

I’m happy to have found some beautiful people here with open minds and I’m sorry for the one’s who are not.
Because they are angry with the past? Or angry because they are still trying to deal with their white heritage?
I can’t help you.. nobody can except for yourselves…

I have been travelling now for over 32 years here in Europe, and have lived for longer times in different countries, learning the habits and credits of different kind of nations and people, and I am thankful for that..
Funny how one question only of a white woman on the other side of the ocean, can you make fill up 2 pages of quarrel…
Natives between each other. As Blacks would do, or Jews or Islamitics or Whites….
Anywhere over the world where a bunch of people think they are superior to others, instead of understanding that Spirit has put us all together on the same Earth…
Natives, Black, Jews, Islamitics, White, Yellow, whatever..
Everyone in his own place , keepers of the Truth…

And NO I am NOT an wannabe, or a culture vulture or call it what you want.
I could have told you: hey, went to a powwow, bought a jingle dress in a Chinese shop, changed my name into Pocahontas, am I one of yours now?
Believe me, I see a lot of wannebe’s here.. and I laugh about them.
I am who I am.
I can understand that your people has suffered, (the whole world knows about his…)
Over here people too have been murdered, slaughtered, raped, burned ect. ect , for their beliefs or just for being…
But my question was about smudgesticks, with all the respect that I have for you…and just because I have respect for you!
And the reason why was,
because I don’t believe in touristic shop…
because I wanted this to be a gift.
A gift for my daughter who has asked for my help.
She is moving into a new place and wants to clean it first
(she can do it with Ajax to, I know, very funny, ha ha ha)
In her earlier room, she had some bad experiences with negative energies of people passed over.. Now don’t come and tell me you don’t believe in that.
The story is longer than that, but here I end, because this is the heart of the question..
My question was about helping and about believing in Nature and all good that’s comes from it..

I know that you cannot see through me just over the internet, and I do understand that you feel misguided by fake’s and wannabe’s or whatever…
But there is a big difference between humour and taking the mickey out of someone, without even trying.
I decided not to go along, not with the mickey’s here or where ever…I have learned to much in my life to loose time on negative thinkers.
The only thing I can do for them is send them love through my prayers and hope they will see one day.

So, I’m happy to have found some great people here, that I can show my respect to, and will receive respect from them.
That is what it is all about…
And I hope for those who obviously not… you will find serenity

I will ask the webmaster, to close this item by the end of next week….so I can have some time to contact these people I have PMd to….

Have a nice weekend!
Mammaflora

Whattup Mammaflora!

I was the first one to reply, then sat back and watched the thread. I've been on here almost 5 years and seen all kinds come and go. I see you sat back and just read, too.

As you can see, I've highlighted some words up ^^^ there.

So here's the deal...unless you're a spaced out weirdo on drugs talking all kinds of off-the-wall 'naitve' stuff, Most NDNs won't say much...except to each other. That's not the NDN way.

So here's the directions to make a sage smudgestick...

You pull over on the side of the road, cut you off some branches off the sagebush, go home (or whereever you want), tie them up and let them dry. When you're ready to use them, you stick a Bic lighter to the end and...Walla...you got smoke!!!

So now the highlighted words...

So I went to this powwow and there was this white fully bearded dude with a stuffed bearhead on top of his head standing in front of a tipi. He was all 'NDN'd out'!! hahahaaa So I overhear his white wife talking to another white lady who was saying something about having personal issues. So the whitelady wife tells the other white lady that she should talk to her husband. So the issued out white lady walks up to the 'bearheaded white guy, who is standing, arms folded across his chest, in front of the tipi all 'NDN'd out'. So he says to the white lady, in his best John Wayne NDN voice..."How may I help you?" Talk about busting out laughing All NDN style'! So do you think he could have given her sage, NDN advise? Me...nah...I don't think so. I figured him out to be a wannabe NDN who lived white all his life, found out he had a Cherokee great-great gramma who had hid in them thar hills, and now wanted to 'reclaim' his heritage. You see these wannabes dressed up at a powwow in nothing but buckskin leather, fluffy feathers and $30.00 roaches. This is how they are 'honoring their ancestors. hahahahahaaa Sorry I got off topic. Or maybe I wasn't.

So back to your statement. I guess my question is...how can you 'give it the meaning it is meant for' if you're coming on here asking how to bundle it up? If this is not a question of how to use, but of how to tie it up, I've given it an answer. If you feel confident that you are capable of using herbs properly, then you don't need it tied up.

Get you an abolone shell, put your sage in there and light it with the Bic lighter. You gonna get the same smoke.


Now back to the wannabe's LOL Zeke...if you read this...don't get all bigheaded!

Here is where I agree with Zeke. If you want to honor your ancestors, MOVE FORWARD!!! As with education, careers, etc., powwows are the same way. You are not honoring your ancestors when you're wearing nothing but buckskin and Minnetonka mocs.

And PLEASE...don't fold your arms and say..."How may I help you?" HAHAHAHAA

[steelemagnolia63]

Once again here we are with another I respect you I really respect you!!! That always makes me think of Sally Field when she won that oscar " you like me you really like me" We feel your pain, we know how you have suffered..... I have always identified with Indians.... and all the other cliche things that they say thinking that this will win us over....

I keep thinking find a new hobby that doesn't involve us when the Europeans come on here looking for some deep spiritual meaning to what they are copying....

I have been asked enough questions that I could write a book and call it How do White Europens get to be an NDN.... I think that I could start the first chapter with how do I get a vision and move on to what do you really smoke in your pipe. And then the really stupid ones like....Do you live in a tipi? Do you have scalps? Do you have electricity? Everybody on here could send me their dumbest most insane questions and we could print them and sell it in Europe and make a buttload of money.... My answer is always "Sorry can't help you, what I learned from my elders is not for the general publics knowldege".... I think that I'll use that if I tell you I'll have to roast you alive over the flames of my fire"

One aforementioned lover of the freak shows that they have in Europe, wanted me to "adopt them into my tribe"... and you guys wonder why I get my AZZ up in the air over them...

Oh and have I ever been to Europe... Yep been there done that got a tee-shirt and the visas to prove it.... 6 years in Germany... there and to Italy, France, Spain, Switerzerland, England, The Netherlands to mention a few...the U.S. Army and their dependents get around to.....

I do really love that answer "no I'm not native american not here and now".... like ok when were you native american.. maybe your past life or maybe you are planning on being one soon or in next life..... LMAO!!!!!

[Mammaflora]

I have been asked enough questions that I could write a book and call it How does anyone get to be a “drito”.... I think that I could start the first chapter with how do I learn to juggle and move on to think is the real artists live and steel your job for a cheaper price, because I don’t feel like working the fields... And then the really stupid ones like....How can you live in a mobile home? Do you really steel children? Do you have electricity? May I see your toilet? Everybody could send me their dumbest most insane questions and I could print them and sell it all over the World and make a butt load of money.... My answer is always "Sorry can't help you, what I learned from my
Elders is not for the general publics knowledge".... I think that I'll use that if I tell you I'll have to steel your kids and have them begging for me…

[steelemagnolia63]

Go ahead steal my kids... and finish putting them through college... I got three of the 4 still in college and one of them on her way to being a doctor... I could use a break..... trust me they are expensive toys to keep.... LMAO!!!! and the oldest one that is out of school would just love for someone else to cover her expenses so that she could go back to school and get her masters in nursing... so do my husband and I a favor and grab them.. would you like their addresses... bring a big truck they got lots of stuff.....

[Josiah]

I have been asked enough questions that I could write a book and call it How does anyone get to be a “drito”.... I think that I could start the first chapter with how do I learn to juggle and move on to think is the real artists live and steel your job for a cheaper price, because I don’t feel like working the fields... And then the really stupid ones like....How can you live in a mobile home? Do you really steel children? Do you have electricity? May I see your toilet? Everybody could send me their dumbest most insane questions and I could print them and sell it all over the World and make a butt load of money.... My answer is always "Sorry can't help you, what I learned from my
Elders is not for the general publics knowledge".... I think that I'll use that if I tell you I'll have to steel your kids and have them begging for me…

Your mocking will endear you to our hearts much faster its such a trait that is sought out...

What you ask is simple
The information you seek is all over the web it is not secret information, I typed it in google and recieved 634,000 hits
Here are a few hits on the How to:
Smudge Stick MakingSmudge
How to Make a Smudge Stick | eHow.com
Jane Alexander - Smudging - Feature Article on Space Clearing READ THIS ONE
Make a Smudge Stick 1

Newagers have been taking out ceremonies for years and making it into something that anyone can use and displaying it on the web for all to use
They Mock us also and they are near and dear to our hearts

[steelemagnolia63]

Ok who here wants to learn to juggle???? Do you think that we could make a living doing it????

[Josiah]

Dang why ask us!
This woman has it written in step by step instructions straight from a NATIVE AMERICAN and reading over it I found that she must have been trained by a bonafide

Smudging
by Jane Alexander

Smudging is wonderful. Truly. Try it and you’ll become a convert, I’m almost willing to bet. I love it because it’s the simplest yet most incredibly effective form of space clearing available. It takes just five minutes to learn the basics and you’re off. Obviously the more you do it, the more sophisticated you become, but it really is entry-level metaphysics, esoteric practice condensed into a few fool-proof actions. Most importantly it really works.

My most powerful experience of smudging came when I visited shaman Leo Rutherford in London. I had moved out of the city quite a while before and had totally lost the "street savvy" sense you have when you live in a big city. Consequently I was feeling pretty nervous about stepping out into an unknown (and slightly rough) neighborhood on my own at night. Leo must have guessed my apprehension, because he said, "Hold on, Jane. Just need to give you a quick smudge before you go." I stood, in my coat and with bag in hand, in his hallway while he wafted smoke around me with a huge eagle’s feather. It felt like having an energy shower – tingles ran all over my body in waves. I breathed deeply and it was as if someone had fired up every one of my chakras. I gave Leo a hug and walked out, totally forgetting my fears. I walked through the dark streets feeling totally invincible. It was as if I had a cloak of power surrounding me.



If you’re not familiar with it, smudging is the common name given to the Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing, a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition. Smudging calls on the spirits of sacred plants to drive away negative energies and put you back into a state of balance. It is the psychic equivalent of washing your hands before eating - and used as an essential preliminary to almost all Native American ceremonies.

I use smudging to cleanse myself (particularly if I’ve had a lousy day or have had to deal with difficult or unpleasant people). I use it as a prelude to all kinds of spiritual and magical work (it’s like a kind of spiritual power shower). I use it to cleanse my home and office. I use it to mark the seasons and as part of other rituals. Basically I use it all over the place, at all kinds of time – it is totally adaptable and practical, a really user-friendly soulful tool.

But how does smudging work? The answer lies in the sub-atomic world of subtle or spiritual energy. Homes and bodies are not just made of purely physical matter; they also vibrate with subtle, invisible energy (you might know it as qi or chi, prana, quwa etc). Cleansing a space or our bodies with techniques such as smudging clears away all the emotional and psychic "garbage" that may have gathered over years or even hundreds of years. It’s like spiritual spring-cleaning.

These ideas are not new-fangled nor are they airy-fairy New Age waffle. Native American tradition dates back millennia and most traditional cultures, from the Zulus to the Maoris, from the Chinese to the Balinese, have age-old forms of cleansing and blessing ritual. Even the West retains relics of it, although we have long forgotten the true purpose behind many of our rituals and ceremonies. The incense wafting through a church or temple is cleansing the atmosphere just as surely as the medicine man’s bowl of sacred smoke, or smudge. The bells that ring out on Sunday morning were originally intended to purify the whole parish through sound and lead the community from everyday space into worship - just as the shaman’s drum can lead us on sacred journeys into the world of the spirits.

OK, I’ve gone on about how wonderful it is for long enough. Let’s get smudging. These exercises come from The Smudging and Blessings Book, a simple DIY guide to get you started.




BASIC SMUDGING FOR SELF-CLEARING

There are many ways to use smudging. I suggest this as a simple way to get started. As you become more proficient, you may well find you want to use different words or actions. That’s fine – just be guided by your intuition. But always treat smudge with great respect.

YOU WILL NEED: smudge stick, matches, a small ceramic or stone bowl, or a large shell (a saucer will do), a large feather.

INSTRUCTIONS

Light the end of your smudge stick and let it burn for a few minutes until the tip starts to smoulder. You may need to fan the flames for a while to get the smudge really smoking. Then extinguish the flame so the smudge stick smokes.
Call on the spirits of the smudge to cleanse and protect you, saying: "Sacred Sage, drive away all negativity from my heart; take away everything unworthy and impure."
First waft the smoke towards your heart. Hold the smudge stick away from you and use the feather to waft the smoke towards you. Then take the smudge smoke over your head, down your arms and down the front of your body. Imagine the smoke lifting away all the negative thoughts, emotions and energies that have attached themselves to you.
Breathe in the smudge, visualizing the smoke purifying your body from the inside. (Note: be careful if you suffer from asthma or respiratory difficulties. Experiment cautiously).
Now bring the smoke down the back of your body towards the ground. Visualise the last vestiges of negativity being taken back into the earth, away into the air.
Repeat your smudging once again, this time calling on the spirit of Sweetgrass in this way: "Sacred Sweetgrass, bring me the positive energy I need to do this work. Help me to come into balance. Purify my soul." As you smudge, imagine yourself being surrounded by gentle, loving energy. Breathe in positivity, courage and love.
NEW!



USING SMUDGING FOR SPACE CLEARING

Smudging not only cleanses people: it can also clear a room or area of any old or stagnant energy. All rooms need cleansing - just as much as they need physical cleaning. If your life feels stuck or things just aren’t going according to plan, you may just find that simple space clearing solves the problem. Clearing the space around you is also an important part of most rituals and ceremonies.

YOU WILL NEED: smudge stick, bowl or shell, feather, matches.

INSTRUCTIONS:

To cleanse the space in which you are working, light your smudge stick as described above (Self-clearing) and smudge yourself and anyone with you.
Walk around the room wafting smoke into each corner. Call on the spirit of Sage as in the Self-clearing to drive away all negativity from the room. Then repeat, asking the spirit of Sweetgrass to bring harmony and balance to the room.
Come to the centre of the room and stand quietly for a few moments. Turn to the East of the room and fan smudge out into that direction four times, saying: "Spirit of the East, Great Spirit of Air, cleanse and inspire this space."
Turn to the South and smudge four times, saying: "Spirit of the South, Great Spirit of Water, strengthen and bring peace to this space."
Now turn to the West and smudge four times, saying: "Spirit of the West, Great Spirit of Fire, energize and protect this space."
Turn to the North and smudge four times, saying: "Spirit of the North, Great Spirit of Earth, ground and cleanse this space."
Return to your original position and look upwards, sending smudge up to the ceiling four times. Say: "Great Father Sky, guard this space from above."
Now finally squat towards the floor and send smudge down to the floor four times, saying, "Great Mother Earth, nurture this space from below."
Put down your smudge stick and stand quietly with your eyes shut. Visualize the great spirits you have summoned standing guard around your room. You could imagine them as the great archangels or the four animal spirit keepers of Native American tradition (Buffalo - North; Eagle - East; Coyote - South and Grizzly Bear - West.) Visualize the loving energy of the Mother and Father Spirits above and below you. Give thanks to all of them.
Note: You should also smudge anything you will be using for your blessing - ie crystals, candles, flowers, stones etc.

NEW!



MAKING YOUR OWN SMUDGE STICKS

Although smudge sticks are now readily available from shops specializing in New Age and Native American artefacts, you can easily make your own. Making your own smudge allows you to make a deeper connection with the spirits of the sacred plants used in smudge - and so can make your rituals and ceremonies even more meaningful. I think it’s a great idea to use plants which are local, plants you know and with which you have a connection. I tend to use sage, lavender and rosemary a lot – as they are herbs which grow around my house and which have powerful cleansing properties as well. They also smell gorgeous.

YOU WILL NEED: A selection of your chosen herbs - see list below; colored cottons (embroidery threads work well); a little tobacco or cornmeal; candle and matches.

INSTRUCTIONS:

You really need to be able to pick your plants, or at least the mainstay of your smudge stick, fresh from the wild. It is unusual to find the length of herb needed from shops - and dried herbs will flare too easily. However you can combine fresh and dried herbs if necessary.
If you are picking your herbs from the wild (or your garden) ideally you should gather them as they come into bloom during a waxing moon. Approach the plant with respect and ask its spirit for its permission to be used in your smudge. When you feel it is right, cut the plant with a sharp knife (you will need pieces around eight to twelve inches long). Only take what you need and give a pinch of cornmeal or tobacco with your thanks.
Gather your materials together. Light the candle and quietly center yourself, asking the spirits of the plants you have gathered to help you make a powerful smudge stick.
Take a sturdy stick as a base. Arrange the other stems around it. If you are using a combination of fresh and dried herbs, keep the dried, more fragile herbs on the inside.
Take a piece of cotton or hide and tie it around the stick, starting at the bottom. If you want to add dried herbs which are powdered or crushed, you can add these on the inside of the smudge stick as you start to bind the bundle.
Tie your smudge stick quite firmly - the cotton should reach about half way up the length of the stick.
Now hang your smudge stick up by its bottom end (the tied end) somewhere warm and dry until the plants are almost dry - but not totally moisture-free.
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MAKING A SACRED SMUDGE BOWL

Native American shamans do not always use smudge sticks: equally common is a loose smudge mixture, which is placed in a bowl or shell and lit. This is easy to make and especially useful if you do not have access to fresh herbs. It also has the advantage that, as you become more experienced and intuitive, you can alter your mixture to fit each individual ritual.

YOU WILL NEED: your choice of dried herbs and resins; a shell or bowl; self-igniting charcoal blocks; candle and matches, feather, sea salt.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Sit down with all your ingredients. Light your candle and center yourself. Ask the spirits of the plants you are using to give you their help.
Take a bowl or large shell - it needs to be able to withstand the heat of the burning charcoal. Ensure it is clean and cleansed by washing it in water to which you have added a little sea salt.
A basic smudge mix would include a tablespoon of crumbled sage (either sagebrush or culinary sage) plus a teaspoon each of cedar bark and lavender. Mix the herbs together. See below for other ideas.
Place a charcoal block in your container and light it. Wait until the charcoal stops sparking and has turned white-grey.
Add a few pinches of your smudge mixture. It will readily smoke.
Use your smudge bowl in exactly the same way as you would your smudge stick - hold up the bowl and use a feather to direct smoke towards you, someone else or out into the area in which you are working.
You will need to add more smudge from time to time.
NEW!



HALLOWEEN RITUAL

As this is October, I thought it would be good to share a simple ritual for the festival of Halloween (October 31) – this celebration is so often misunderstood and mistrusted, it’s nice to have a chance to redress the balance. Basically it is the ancient pagan festival of the Dead and the Unknown. It’s a time to confront our fears, face our demons (figuratively speaking!) and prepare for the dark cycle of the year. So, it’s not surprising that it includes ghoulish and ghostly figures, witches and warlocks (our perennial childhood fears) – but it is most certainly not about black magic! In Native American tradition it is The Frost Time, a time to clear away the old and unnecessary. This quiet ceremony provides a balance to all the wild Trick or Treating!

YOU WILL NEED: Smudge stick, bowl or shell, matches, feather; candle; paper and pen.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Light your candle - let this be the only light in the room.
Smudge yourself and any others present.
Sit quietly and think back over the last year. What mistakes did you make? What do you regret? Write down your thoughts.
Now take another piece of paper and think about the year ahead. What are your fears? Now think of life in general: what makes you frightened and scared? Write down all your fears.
Now call on Bear who can bestow strength and courage; and Buffalo who teaches acceptance of things we can’t change and letting go of things we don’t need. Ask these two great teachers to help you release your fears and accept those which cannot go away. If you work with angels or other spirit guardians, it’s fine to substitute these – or simply pray to your God.
Feel the gentle strength and love of these spirit guardians around you. Offer some smudge to them in thanks.
Now carefully commit your papers to the flames. Watch them go up in smoke and imagine your fears disappearing with them.
It is traditional to leave your candle burning all night to guide the souls of the dead. But make sure it is safely in a bowl of water or sand and out of reach of children and animals.

END THOUGHTS

I hope this introduction to smudging helps you. Do take the time to just try this wonderful ritual. If nothing else, I think taking five minutes out of a hectic day to center oneself, breathe and just be, has to be therapeutic. If you want to find out more, I’d suggest you delve further into The Smudge Pack. My book The Illustrated Spirit of the Home gives instructions on basic space clearing (and smudging). I outline a shamanic weekend, using smudge, in The Weekend Healer. Denise Linn’s book, Space Clearing, is totally wonderful and highly recommended too.

Read more of Jane Alexander’s work on her website: Jane Alexander - Web site entrance

Copyright © 2002 Jane Alexander. All Rights Reserved.










Jane Alexander is a UK-based writer on natural health, holistic living and contemporary spirituality. She has written sixteen books on holistic (and soulful) living, including the bestselling Spirit of the Home (Thorsons), The Energy Secret (Element) and The Five Minute Healer (Simon & Schuster). Her website, Jane Alexander - Web site entrance is full of tips for living soulfully.

[steelemagnolia63]

I guess that pretty much takes care of this wannabe's question....get your shells, sage and feathers and you too can sumdge away your troubles.... someone call 911 I am laughing so hard that I can't breathe......

not only does it tell you how to make em but it tells you how to use then too....

I have never heard of a halloween smudging what tribe does that??

PSSSTTTT how many tribes do you think that they combined to get this from????

[SuzzeQ4]

holay! What a lady....apparently I have been smudging the wrong way this whole time, not knowing that I should be calling out and using special charcole...damn us NDN's got a lot to learn eh?...
I didn't know weather I was reading about smudging or science, metaphisics whatever....that was a good laugh thanks Josiah. Also it is eye opening.

[Mammaflora]

Ok who here wants to learn to juggle???? Do you think that we could make a living doing it????

I can....

@Josiah: thanks......

[RDNKJ]

I never let off my steam that is my problem... I was raised in the south where from birth we are taught to be nice and polite to our elders, stangers, and pretty much everyone that a southern lady encounters.

Or a southern Gentleman. I have a friend who's from up north, and he blew a gasket with me one day. I forget what the conversation was about but I said something to him and I got a tirade about: G-d d-t! Why can't you people (southerners) ever just say what you mean?! You all are so passive-aggressive! Just get to the point and say what you want!

My attitude was how come you people (northerners) are always so f----g rude about every little thing? Can't you ever be nice?

But of course, being a southern boy, I am way too polite to ever actually say such a thing.

[RDNKJ]

TK, I have to meet my great aunt and my grandmother at the country club for brunch anytime I am at home and that means complete with the silk dress, the pearls, matching shoes and purse, and if those two old dear belles still had their way gloves and a hat.... they are appalled that I didn't join the DAR, the Juniour league, a couple of southern blue blood clubs and all that other hoopla that my white hertiage would gain me admission to.

You have a far more "illustrious" bloodline that I do, but still.....I always loved brunch at "the Club." Not all that big on Mimosas, I'll take my champagne straight.

I don't think I could ever bring myself to actually belong to a club, but I'd never turn down brunch at one!

[RDNKJ]

I have been asked enough questions that I could write a book and call it How does anyone get to be a “drito”..

What is a "drito?"

[Joe's Dad]

What is a "drito?"

Dude! You can find anything on the internet!!!

Urban Dictionary: drito