:
What you will need:
Sweetgrass
Cedar
Tobacco
Matches
Shell
or bowl
Fan or Feather
1. The four sacred plants are sage, tobacco, cedar and sweetgrass.
2.
Mix together the plants you will be
using, place them in a bowl/shell and light them.
3. When burning, use a fan/feather to put out the flame. Keep fanning to keep it smouldering.
4.
Smudge any medicine tools you will be
using in the ceremony.
5.
Draw the smoke to your heart, then over
your head, down your arms, and down the front of your body then the
back of
your body toward the ground.
6.
Offer smoke to the four
directions. Which are north, south,
east and west.
7.
After you have smudged yourself and
offered the smudge, you can hold the bowl/shell while other people
present
smudge.
In ceremony, a
smouldering braid of sweetgrass is taken around the circle gathered. Sweetgrass represents Mother Earth's hair.
Each participant then cups the smoke in their hands and bathes
themselves with
it. The smoke from the sweetgrass
promotes positive energy and good thoughts.
Sweetgrass grows wild in many parts of North America. It has no mind altering nor addictive
qualities. It is not smoked nor
inhaled.
Tobacco is the first plant given by
the Creator. It is used for Prayers,
requests and thanksgiving It is held
ill the left hand (the hand being closest to the heart) and talked to. Thus its smoke becomes the bearer of our
Prayers1 to
the Creator. Afterwards it is offered to the fire or sprinkled on the ground, where
it will not be tread Upon. In seeking
the advice of an Elder or Teacher, one holds a pouch of tobacco in the
left
hand while speaking The Elder or
Teacher will accept the Pouch of tobacco if she/he feels they can help
you.
Sage is a silver looking leaf. It has a powerful smell. This plant can be used to Purify your body, surrounding5 and keep you in good health.Cedar gives off a sweet smell. You use this to Purify your body from disease and to Protect you from evil.