|
|
|
Smudging is a ritual burning of sacred herbs such as Sage (for purity of
spirit), Sweetgrass (for healing ceremonies), and Cedar (for dispelling negativity).
Bundles of these sacred plants are tied together
forming smudge sticks or braided together and then dried. Traditionally a
council, central, or cooking fire was used to light the end of a smudge stick or
a braid.
Today a candle is often used instead; and, then the herbs are put in an
abalone shell or a ceramic bowl. Generally, the smoke is first offered to the
Four Powers, then to Mother Earth and Father Sky, and then a smudging prayer is
recited.
The Four Powers are four
equally important ways of perceiving things in life and of pursuing knowledge.
These are the four cardinal points of the circle, each of which represent
different power essences of nature, seasonal rhythms, and stages of life.
These four directions are
North (Wisdom, White, Buffalo, Maturity, Strength and Stamina); East (Peace,
Gold, Eagle, Elder, Clarity and Illumination; South (Expansion, Green, Mouse,
Infancy, Wholesomeness and Expectation); and West (Nourishment, Black, Bear,
Youth, Introspection and Authenticity). Afterwards, the hand or a feather is used to direct a few curls of smoke, imbued with the fragrance and spiritual energy of the sacred herbs, to the people, places, or objects that need cleansing... Continue on Go back
|
|
|
Explore 
Visit 
Native American Sacred Hoop Visionquest 
