Breathing New Life Into Old Walls: The Meaning of Smoking Ceremonies

We recently joined the St Kilda & Balaclava Kindergarten Fete to celebrate the opening of their newly refurbished 100-year-old building. The transformation is stunning, a space where laughter, learning, and community come together once more.

It was a privilege to open the celebration with a Smoking Ceremony and storytelling, creating a space of cleansing, welcome, and renewal.

For thousands of generations, Smoking Ceremonies have been performed by First Peoples across Australia. Each Nation holds its own methods and meanings, but at their heart, these ceremonies use native plants to cleanse the space, invite healing, and welcome people onto Country. The smoke is more than a symbol, it carries intention, purifying the mind, body, and spirit, connecting those present to the land and to each other.

Holding a Smoking Ceremony on land that was never ceded is deeply meaningful. It’s a way of acknowledging the continuing connection of First Peoples to Country, and of bringing respect, truth, and healing into shared spaces. For children, these moments are especially powerful. They teach the values of respect, empathy, and understanding, showing that Country is alive, and that culture continues to guide how we care for the places where we learn, play, and grow.

At Biik Bundjil, we offer Smoking Ceremonies for events, conferences, openings, and community gatherings. Each ceremony is tailored to the space and the moment, led with deep respect for Boonwurrung Country and the people who walk upon it.

If you’re planning an event or opening and want to begin it with meaning, reach out to us, and together, let’s create a moment of connection, healing, and respect.