The herbs, flowers, trees and all powerful elements of the plant kingdom carry energy that can support us to materialize intentions. The smells, oils and chemical properties vibrate a particular energy that improves our mood and transforms our environment.
The intentional Axé herbal shower is a very important Umbanda Fundament to receive extra Axé and promote an energetic alignment. The divine Water element deeply holds and carries the herbal chemistry, printed with Axé, into the aura and skin of the child of faith.
The smudging works through the air element which moves energy in a beautiful dance and open space to renew our magnetic field and the space around us.
Both practices will intentionally magnetize, prepare, deep clean, and protect one’s energetic bodies. For this reason, they are an important instrument to prepare you before and after rituals.
People describe a great energetic relief after those intentional practices.
HERBAL SHOWER & SMUDGING
AXÉ HERBS, PLANTS, FLOWERS, and TREES
Some herbs carries the Axé energy of specific Orishas.
OSHALA HERBS
BASIL [recharge/spiritual],
ROSEMARY [recharge/spiritual],
BAY LEAF [victory/spiritual],
BOLDO PLANT [purification/spiritual],
SAGE [defense/spiritual],
WHITE FLOWERS [mediumship/spiritual];
CEDAR TREE [ancestral/spiritual].
OSHOSSI HERBS
LEMON GRASS [focus/mind],
TOBACCO [defense/spiritual],
FERNE [defense/spiritual],
CEDAR TREE [ancestral/spiritual].
YEMANJA HERBS
MALVE [relationship/emotional],
CAMOMILE [deep relaxation/emotional],
WHITE ROSES [self-esteem/defense],
WHITE FLOWERS [mediumship/spiritual],
SEAWEED [healing/spiritual].
OSHUN HERBS
LILLY [love/emotional],
CAMOMILE [deep relaxation/emotional],
CALENDULA [self care/emotional],
CINNAMON [relationship/emotional],
MELISSA [serenity/emotional],
YELLOW ROSES [self-esteem/defense],
YELLOW FLOWERS [healing/spiritual].
OSHUMARE HERBS
BAY LEAF [victory/spiritual],
BLACK BERRY [defense/spiritual],
PASSION FRUIT PLANT [relaxation/emotional],
VINES [fertility/spiritual],
SNAKE GRASS [mediumship/spiritual].
OGUN HERBS
BAY LEAF [victory/spiritual],
SANSEVIERIA [defense/spiritual],
TEA LEAF [mediumship/spiritual],
EUCALYPTUS TREE [mediumship/spiritual].
OYA HERBS
YELLOW SANSEVIERIA [defense],
BAMBOO [defense/mind],
MADRONE TREE [mediumship/spiritual],
MANGO TREE [mediumship/spiritual],
PEACH TREE [mediumship/spiritual].
SHANGO HERBS
SAN JONES WORT [strong calm down/mind],
STAR ANISE [mediumship/spiritual],
MINT [balance/mind],
ANATTO [defense],
STINGING NETTLE [defense].
OBALUAE HERBS
GINGER [healing/mind],
BOLDO [spiritual],
SAGE [mediumship/spiritual],
TOBACCO [defense/spiritual],
RUE [defense],
STINGING NETTLE [defense/spiritual],
CEDAR TREE [ancestral/spiritual],
OAK TREE [ancestral/spiritual].
NANAN HERBS
LAVENDER [harmony/emotional],
BASIL [recharge/spiritual],
ROSEMARY [recharge/spiritual],
SAGE [mediumship/spiritual],
CAMOMILE [deep relaxation/emotional],
MALVE [relationship/emotional],
RUE [defense],
SCOTCH BROOM [defense],
PURPLE FLOWERS [healing/spiritual].
ESHU HERBS
RUE [defense/spiritual],
BLACK BERRY [defense/spiritual],
DEVIL’S CLUB [defense/spiritual],
PEPERS [defense/spiritual],
RED BERRIES [Pomba-Gira/self-esteem/emotional],
CAMOMILE [Pomba-Gira/deep relaxation/emotional],
CALENDULA [Pomba-Gira/self care/emotional],
RED ROSES [self-esteem/defense],
CINNAMON [relationship/emotional].
RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend starting a practice of Axé herbal shower with the Oshala herbs basil. Also, you can combine rosemary and white flowers. The basil is a sacred plant for many cultures and has healing properties to work with subtle energies and magnetize the aura. The rosemary helps with spiritual recharge and the white flowers contain the peace of Oshala. Check above the different plants according to the Orishas.
INSTRUCTIONS
..Crunch fresh or dry leaves and let it sit in warm water for 5-minutes to 1-hour;
..Cover the herbal shower with a white cloth;
..If it is possible, you can sunbathe the herbal mix;
..You can filter the herbal shower as you wish;
..If you are using essential oil, add to the herbal mix just right before the herbal shower;
..Take a regular shower to clean your body;
..Pour the herbal shower on your head, chakras, and whole body;
..Let your skin dry naturally or use a special towel/robe exclusively for herbal showers;
..It is important to rest at least 5 minutes afterwards to let the Axé energy settle in;
..Disposal the leftover plants on earth.
OBSERVATIONS
..You just need a small amount of plant material to make your Axé herbal shower;
..Please be aware of allergic reaction on your skin from specific plants;
..Sometimes you can choose to take a bath stead a shower.
AXÉ HERBAL SHOWER
RECOMMENDATIONS
There are 2 main types of smudging: deep cleansing and harmonic fragrance. If the space needs balance, you would choose defense plants with stronger smells like rue, sage, pine or copal resin. If it is already harmonious, you will choose sweet fragrant herbs or flowers to keep the good vibes. Normally you would start with deep cleansing and bring harmonic fragrance later on. We recommend choosing the herbs listed above according to their indicated function.
INSTRUCTIONS
..Open a door or window anytime you smudge the space or a person;
..Set up the smudging outside;
..Enter the space starting in the right side;
..Smudge every single part walking in am anticlockwise circular;
..Keeping going in an anticlockwise spiral towards the center;
..Bring the energy out moving outside throughout the door you came in.
OBSERVATIONS
..Spend extra time smudging Altars;
..Smudge a person asking permission to enter in their field, hold positive thoughts and perform the smudging by bringing the energy up from the sky down to earth: front, back, left and right.