Smell the gentle aroma in the beauty of burning Sweetgrass!
We burn Sacred Herbs as a way to give back to the Creator for some of the energy that we are always receiving. Smudging is practised to cleanse our energy of unwanted forces, and shift it to a higher, more positive vibration. The four sacred herbs are Sweetgrass of the North, Tobacco of the East, Sage of the South and Cedar of the West. Sage and Cedar mostly cleanse while Tobacco and Sweetgrass raise energy.
Sweet grass is the sacred hair of Mother Earth; its sweet aroma reminds people of the gentleness, love and kindness she has for the people; this is why Indigenous people pick it and braid it in 3 strands representing love, kindness and honesty. Sweet grass is used for smudging and purification of the spirit; when Sweet grass is used in a healing or talking circle it has a calming effect. It is said that it attracts the good Spirit, so use it to call in the Spirit.
The sweetness of Sweetgrass calls in the positive energies. It is the mother of all plants. We burn it to connect with the great Mother. It is known as the sacred "hair of the mother". The strands of grass are braided, weaving us together with our beloved mother. Its sweet aroma reminds people of the gentle love she has for them.
Sweetgrass carries the deep wisdom of the earth. We burn it towards ourselves or to an area. Its sweet smoke calls the good spirits to the place, to ourselves or to a ceremony being performed. Its botanical name is Hierochloe odorata that grows as a perennial, near wet areas such as ponds or marshes. It grows long, and reed-like, so easily braided.
It takes 21 stands of grass woven together to make a braid. It is braided together with 3 sets of 7 strands. The first set of 7 represents the generations behind us., our parents and grandparents.
The second set of 7 represents the 7 Sacred Teachings that we embrace for ourselves in the present. The 7 Sacred Teachings are that of Love, Respect, Honesty, Courage, Wisdom, Truth and Humility.
The third set of 7 represents our children, grandchildren and those children yet to be born in generations to come. We are all weaved together as one earth family united with the beauty of Mother Earth. We give thanks for her gifts.
Our Ancestors burned it as a way to keep the generations connected and braided together. It is to remind us how we are not alone. We are weaved beautifully together from the past and future with our ancestors and descendants.
The indigenous earth-walkers of our Ancestors paid a great price to try to keep these teachings for us. They taught about the preservation of the earth. We now burn our sacred herbs to heal ourselves and to heal Mother Earth. Daily we make these offerings as an expressed commitment to seek to protect her. We speak up and take action wherever we can during this great environmental movement. We owe it to ourselves and to the next 7 generations.
Sweetgrass reminds us of the beauty and sweetness of life. When burned, it warms our hearts and lifts our spirits, so that we can continue to walk on the red road of beauty. When used in a healing circle, Sweetgrass has a calming effect. When used for smudging, it often represents the teaching of kindness.
When you need some kindness, remember to burn some Sweetgrass!
Blessings & Good Medicine - Grandmother Wind Daughter
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