In Native American cultures, the abalone shell is used as a smudge bowl to burn sage in. They believed that the abalone and sage together will carry their messages up to heaven.
Holding an abalone shell during cleansing rituals lends to a feeling of purity. It brings with it a natural shielding that blesses the person holding it with tranquility. It invokes the spirit of the ocean and uses your highest chakras as a conduit to the divine realm.
This beautiful gift straight from Mother Earth’s ocean catches the hot cinders that fall away from your smudging stick and/or herbs after it has burnt. Abalone shells are a thick seashell which shimmers with the gorgeous iridescent colors of mother-of-pearl. They hold the energy of the ocean and bring a strong calming and healing energy, allowing you to remain connected to the sea.
Including abalone shells in your smudging rituals means you are incorporating all four of the earth’s elements: the shell represents water, the smoke represents air, the unlit herbs or sticks represent earth and once they’re lit they represent fire. By incorporating the elements into your smudging ritual, you are inviting Mother Earth to be the focus of your ceremony. It is here, in the space created by Her, that transformations and manifestations have room to occur.
