SACRED MEDICINES
and SMUDGING GUIDE
2
CONTENTS
Introduction..................................................page 3
Intro to Sacred Medicines...........................page 5
Tobacco.........................................................page 7
Sweetgrass....................................................page 8
Sage...............................................................page 10
Cedar/Cypress.............................................page 11
The Smudging Process................................page 13
3
INTRODUCTION
When it comes to understanding the worldview of Natural plants play a crucial role in indigenous
North America’s indigenous cultures, connecting spirituality. As the sacred medicines our mother
with all creation is foundational. has given us, they contain powerful gifts that can
connect our bodies, minds, and spirits.
The four sacred medicines—tobacco, sweetgrass,
sage, and cedar—are unique, extremely versatile
gifts that can be used to help overcome a number of
difficult situations we occasionally find ourselves in.
Among the most common uses of the four sacred
medicines is smudging. A form of purification that
cleanses your mind, body, and spirit, smudging cre-
ates a clear connection between the thoughts and
feelings that flow throughout your entire being,
and throughout the spirit world as well.
As with most indigenous cultural knowledge, there
are teachings surrounding the significance of the
smudging ceremony and when to perform it. Many
indigenous nations and tribes have various teach-
Native Spirituality stems from the belief that all ings about smudging that have been passed down
living things on earth have individual spirits, and through storytelling since the dawn of time.
that humans should respect and be grateful for
each one. Even though indigenous cultural beliefs can vary in
ways large and small, it’s important to respect the
Understanding our connection with our moth- beliefs of different nations and religions because
er (planet earth) and grandmother (the moon) all people walk the earth together and will share
keeps our spirits robust. Fostering our connec- the same future.
tions with all creation invigorates the spirit, and
can be embraced by all peoples around the globe.
4
“Smudging creates a clear
connection between the thoughts
and feelings that flow throughout
your entire being, and throughout
the spirit world as well.”
5
Introduction to
SACRED
MEDICINES
The primary sacred medicines of Anishinabek
people are tobacco, sweetgrass, sage, and
cedar.
Tobacco is most often used by Native Amer-
ican people as a prayer offering. Cedar,
sage, and sweetgrass are commonly used for
smudging and purification purposes.
People of many cultural backgrounds have
embraced smudging into their own lives. The
cleansing ceremony known as smudging in-
volves smoke rising and carrying prayers to
the Creator and lifting away negative ener-
gies and emotions.
The smoke created from burning cedar, sage
and sweetgrass is often used to purify areas,
individuals, healers, and ceremonial objects.
The smudging of traditional herbs is believed
to balance energies as they heal the mind,
body, and spirit.
6
“Smudging involves
smoke rising and
carrying prayers to
the Creator and lifting
away negative energies
and emotions.”
7
TOBACCO
Prior to contact with Europeans, tobacco
was used by Indigenous Peoples in North
and South American ceremonies.
Back then, the sacred use of tobacco was
presented at every stage of life: birthing
rituals, courtship, marriage, death and per-
sonal prayer. Sacred tobacco can include a
blend of a variety of plants, among them
kinnikinick and red osier dogwood bark.
The smoke from tobacco is believed to
be the most direct pathway to the spirit
world. It carries all thoughts, feelings and
Spreading tobacco on the ground as an offering to the
prayers from the holder to the Creator.
Earth, or on the water as acknowledgment for its cru-
cial role in life or to ask for safe passage, tobacco is also
HOW TO USE TOBACCO: frequently given as a gift before a request for guidance,
Tobacco can be tossed directly into a fire to knowledge sharing, etc.
deliver messages, but it is more common-
ly burned in a hand-made cigar or pipe. The The Anishnaabe People follow very sacred traditions. They
smoke from the pipe isn’t inhaled; it’s allowed believe that when anyone takes something from the Earth
to rise up to the Creator. (for example, when sweetgrass is picked) an explanation
to the spirit about why it is being chosen and how it will be
Tobacco is also offered by hunters using their used is required. The explanation is always accompanied by
left hands (the hand closest to the heart) to an offering of tobacco in return for the generosity shown
offer thanks to the Creator before and after by the earth and the plant, both of which have shared in
taking an animal’s spirit. the creation of the sacred medicine.
8
SWEETGRASS
Sweetgrass is most commonly used for smudg-
ing and purification purposes. Among indigenous
people, it is believed sweetgrass was the first plant
to grow on mother earth.
HARVESTING SWEETGRASS
The best time to harvest sweetgrass is from late
June to early July. The best way to harvest sweet-
grass is to cut the strands low to the ground to avoid
pulling the stems and to preserve the root system.
Taking more than needed is never acceptable, nor
is damaging the patch during harvest.
The next step is to dry the sweetgrass by placing
it in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours. When the
drying process is complete, sweetgrass can be used
for braiding, basket making and ceremonial uses.
To the Anishnaabe Nation, sweetgrass is believed
to be the sacred hair of Mother Earth. The Anish-
naabe Nation also believes that sweetgrass braiding
bolsters and represents the strength and prowess
of those who hunted. The fiber is frequently braid-
ed into three sections to represent body, mind
and spirit.
Sweetgrass is used in smudges, healing and talking
circles because of its professed ability to heal.
The smoke from sweetgrass is believed to purify
thoughts, one’s surroundings, and to eliminate
unhelpful thoughts.
9
“Taking more
than needed is
never acceptable,
nor is damaging
the patch during
harvest.”
10
SAGE
White Sage and Desert Sage: Different
All of the sacred medicines are extremely ver- & Distinct Uses
satile; they have been used in different ways by Employ the smoke from white sage (Artemesia
tribes and nations. Sage, the woman’s medi- califoncia) to purify mind, body and spirit and
cine, offers a calming effect. It can be used in to prepare sacred articles before using them in
medicine pouches. It can be spread across the prayers and ceremonies.
bottom of sweat lodges. It is also used for heal-
ing, to exile bad spirits/energies, to purify, and Burn white sage during meditation, when smudg-
to calm the spirit. ing, and/or when cleansing a spirit or a dwelling
place. Some tribes and nations believe white
sage keeps negative spirits from entering rooms
while sacred ceremonies are underway.
Eons before microbiology science made its en-
trance, First Peoples revered desert sage (Sal-
via apiana) for its medicinal attributes. And their
ancient belief in it has been validated by scien-
tific analysis of its properties. It contains natural
ingredients that protect cells from toxins and or-
ganisms that cause infections. A powerhouse of
protection, desert sage it is antifungal, antiseptic
and an astringent.
11
CEDAR/CYPRESS
What’s in a name?
What most of us call a cedar isn’t a true ce-
dar. Western Red Cedar (and Yellow Cedar)
actually belong to the Cypress family. Both
of these species are part and parcel of sacred
indigenous ceremonies in the Pacific North-
west, although yellow cedar is less common-
ly used than red. In the eastern provinces,
members of the Juniper family, with similar
characteristics, are used in native ceremonies.
Like sweetgrass, cedar smoke is burned during The red cedar has been referred to as the
prayers to carry them aloft to the Creator. “Tree of Life” because it helped sustain and
Some First Nations tribes burn cedar to expel refresh the mind, body and spirit. Every part
negative energies and to welcome positive of the red cedar was employed in sustaining
energies. And cedar boughs are commonly native lives and cultures. It was used to build
waved to decontaminate dwellings. baskets, canoes, capes, clothes, ceremonial
masks, cooking utensils, hats, longhouses,
Scientifically, yellow cedar bark contains an totem poles and ropes and in medicines and
anti-inflammatory agent. It has been used spiritual ceremonies.
for eons to dress wounds. Cedar has also been
employed by indigenous peoples in cleans- Some coastal First Nations firmly believe
ing river, lake and ocean baths. The process that whenever a cedar tree is harvested im-
involves plunging into cold water and using properly—without due respect and hom-
bundles of cedar and other medicinal plants age—the person who fells it is cursed by
to scrub the body. other cedars.
12
“The red cedar has
been referred to
as the ‘Tree of Life’
because it helped
sustain and refresh
the mind, body and
spirit.”
Culturally Modified Trees Prove Native Reverence for
All Creation
During post-European contact, thousands of Culturally
Modified Trees (CMT) in the Pacific Northwest, tragi-
cally, were callously logged and their historical tales lost
forever. But more recently, still-existing CMTs trees are
identified, tagged, preserved (even if they’re dead but
still standing) and protected during logging operations
to preserve them as cultural icons.
Cedar is a sacred healing medicine often incorporated
into teas or committed to sacred fires.
13
the SMUDGING
PROCESS
1.
Have all required ingredients before you begin.
• Abalone shell (or substitute with clay bowl)
• Matches
• Tobacco and your choice of medicine (sage, cedar,
sweetgrass)
• Eagle Feather (in lieu of an eagle feather, you can use
your hand)
2.
Start by lighting the medicine with a match and
placing it in the shell or bowl.
Don’t blow the resulting smoke. Use an eagle
feather (or your hand) to fan and spread it.
14
4.
After you’ve smudged yourself, spread the
medicine to the room or other people—start-
ing with your assistants if you have any—who
are participating in the smudging ceremony
by repeating smudging steps in #3.
3.
When the lit medicine has created enough
smoke to spread using the feather or your hand,
fan the smoke toward you to allow its medicine
to cleanse and purify everything it touches:
1. Head - Good Thoughts (Address your head first)
2. Eyes - Sight (address your eyes next to help create
clear, keen vision)
3. Mouth - Say Good Things (Address your mouth next
to create positive speech)
4. Heart – Emotions (Address your heart next to create
positive emotions, sacred insights and lovingkindness)
5. Body- Health & Wisdom (Address your body next to
create soundness of wisdom)
15
5.
Let the sacred medicine burn out on its
own without interference.
6.
Give thanks to the Creator for allowing you
to use the gifts of medicine to help heal your
(our) mind, body, and spirit.
16
For more information, visit:
• thesacredscience.com/the-art-
of-smudging
• senseofpurpose.org/resources/
topic/well-being/smudging/
• wikihow.com/Smudge-a-House
