As the gardening season came to a close, I found myself with an abundance of herbs that I was determined to preserve before the first frost. In my ongoing effort to minimize waste, I’m exploring various ways to make the most of my resources. This led me to delve into the Indigenous practice of smudging, with the hope of creating smudge sticks to effectively use the surplus of sage, cedar, rosemary, lavender, and marigold I had.

Adopting a practice from outside of one's culture requires learning and honoring the historical, cultural, and spiritual significance of the tradition. I came to better understand how the practice of smudging is sacred to the Indigenous community as I read into it more. As a sign of respect I'm calling my creations Herbal Cleansing Bundles to avoid co-opting "smudge sticks," and in addition to spending time researching and understanding the origins and significance of this Indigenous practice, I put together informational cards to educate those I gifted them to.

I gifted the Herbal Cleansing Bundles to loved ones around the holidays, accompanied by the informational cards offering guidance on how to honor the ritual with reverence and intention. It was essential to me that each recipient understood the significance of this practice, rooted in Indigenous culture, and approached it with mindfulness and respect. Additionally, I paired each bundle with a matchbox featuring one of 50 unique mini collages I made specifically for inspiring creativity and intention setting.

Each collage was digitally created with the challenge of using only three visuals per design, none of which could depict people. These matchboxes are more than just useful tools; they're vessels for setting intentions, igniting sparks of hope and positivity with every match struck. My hope is that my loved ones will set an intention with each match they light, fostering mindfulness and reflection.

Through sustainable crafts and thoughtful research, I hope to inspire others to explore the wealth of possibilities that exist when we honor both the resources of the earth and the wisdom of ancient traditions, bringing creativity and mindfulness into every action of our daily lives.