Smudging and abalone shell
Abalone is a mollusc with a pearly shell inside.
The abalone shell is a very popular element due to the mother-of-pearl inside the shell.
Smudging
What is the purpose of smudging? The smoke created by burning sacred herbs is thought to purify the body and soul, and bring clarity to the mind. In this way, smudging is also used to cleanse places said to hold negative energy.
First Nation People used the abalone shell for smudging during a purification session. They burn sage, juniper, sweetgrass and cedar as incense to purify the air in a person, place or object.
Traditionally, Amerindian burned incense in a shell with the help of a feather. The shell contains holes that favor ventilation inside the shell. It is also an object that is very resistant to heat.
During a fumigation, we have the presence of the 4 elements of nature during this practice. The element of fire is represented by the match that ignites the incense. The smoke that emanates from the burning of incense is the representation of the element of air. The soil is present thanks to sage, sweetgrass, juniper and cedar, all of which come from the soil. Water is represented by the abalone shell which is the container in which we will place the incense to burn.
