Sacred Plants

Sacred Plants

Sweet grass

Positive energy, good thought, honor purification. This is one of the four sacred medicines (sage, tobacco, sweet grass, and cedar). Sweet grass represents Mother Earth's hair. In ceremony, a smoldering braid of sweet grass is taken around the circle gathered. Each participant then cups the smoke in their hands and bathes themselves in it. The smoke from the sweet grass promotes positive energy and good thoughts, so that the group's purpose remains clear. Sweet grass is a particular type of grass that grows wild in North America. It has no mind altering qualities. It is not smoked or inhaled.

Red Cedar

Cedar is burned while praying. The prayers rise on the cedar smoke to the Creator. Cedar is also spread, along with sage, along the floor of the sweat lodges of some tribes. Cedar branches are brushed in the air to cleanse a home during the House Blessing Ceremony of many Northwestern Indian ceremonies. In the Pacific Northwest, the people burn cedar for purification in much way as sage. It drives out negative energy, and brings in good influences. The spirit of cedar is considered very ancient and wise, by Pacific Northwest tribes. Old, downed cedar trees are always honored with offerings and prayers.

Sage

Sage is used to cleanse objects, places and people. Traditional elders say that before a person performs ceremony or is healed, they need to be cleansed of any bad feelings or negative thought. The cleansing can be done with sage, sweet grass or cedar. The smudging helps the healing come about in a very clear way, without ant negative energy regarding the healer or the patient. The elders also say that one should enter into a ceremony with a good heart. The proper way to dispose of sage is to throw it eastward rather than burn it or throw it down.

Tobacco

Ceremonially, tobacco is smoked as a means of communication with the spirit. The spirit world is asked for assistance and wisdom. The earthly substance, Nicotiani, is ignited, then transfigured into vapors and thus given in an honorable way to the astral lands of the spirits. It is said that the ancestors remember the pleasure of smoking the leaves and the dried blossoms. So, they return to partake in the essence of the tobacco.

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