The Four Sacred Medicines
Sweetgrass (the North) is used by almost all Aboriginal peoples in North America for ritual cleansing. When Sweetgrass is walked on, it bends but does not break It has been associated with virtue: an injustice can be returned by a kindness, by bending, not breaking. Sweetgrass can be found braided and hung in people’s homes, mainly over doorways for protection from the negative, perhaps tied with a ribbon in one of the colours of the medicine wheel. The threefold braid represents body, mind and spirit.
Tobacco (the East) FOR PRAYERAND GIVING THANKS is held as a scared plant by most First Nations peoples. Tobacco connects us to the spirit world; it absorbs prayers and carries them to the spirit world. If a request is accompanied by an offer of tobacco that is accepted, the promise must be honoured. Tobacco can also be used to thank the Creator for his gifts: you can lay your tobacco on the ground or at the foot of a tree in your asking and prayer, Traditional tobacco is generally not smoked, except on special ceremonial occasions. Many First Nation people will make a tobacco tie, in offering their tobacco to an elder when requesting or asking for their guidance or will keep their tobacco tie as a symbol for strength in times as needed.
Cedar (the South) FOR PROTECTION is used for purification and (taken as a tea) to attract positive energy, feelings, emotions and for balance. Its vitamin C content helped prevent scurvy when fruits and vegetables were unavailable during the winter months. When woman collect cedar, they wear a skirt and lay their tobacco when picking cedar. Cedar is used by some tribes to line the floor of the sweatlodge, used in making their fasting lodges, arbours at pow wows etc. Cedar is placed in the sacred fire at a traditional women's full moon ceremony, and also hung over the doorways for protection.
Sage (the West) THE WOMEN'S MEDICINE , conferring strength, wisdom, and clarity of purpose. It is a powerful purifying medicine that drives away negative energies. Sage can be found braided and hung in people’s homes, perhaps tied with a ribbon in one of the colours of the medicine wheel. The threefold braid represents body, mind and spirit. Woman on their moontime are very powerful and are considered a ceremony in themselves, they refrain from holding or using any sacred items as they are not in need as they are powerful on their time. Although, they are permitted to still smudge with Sage, and refrain from holding the traditional feather.
Sweetgrass (the North) is used by almost all Aboriginal peoples in North America for ritual cleansing. When Sweetgrass is walked on, it bends but does not break It has been associated with virtue: an injustice can be returned by a kindness, by bending, not breaking. Sweetgrass can be found braided and hung in people’s homes, mainly over doorways for protection from the negative, perhaps tied with a ribbon in one of the colours of the medicine wheel. The threefold braid represents body, mind and spirit.
Tobacco (the East) FOR PRAYERAND GIVING THANKS is held as a scared plant by most First Nations peoples. Tobacco connects us to the spirit world; it absorbs prayers and carries them to the spirit world. If a request is accompanied by an offer of tobacco that is accepted, the promise must be honoured. Tobacco can also be used to thank the Creator for his gifts: you can lay your tobacco on the ground or at the foot of a tree in your asking and prayer, Traditional tobacco is generally not smoked, except on special ceremonial occasions. Many First Nation people will make a tobacco tie, in offering their tobacco to an elder when requesting or asking for their guidance or will keep their tobacco tie as a symbol for strength in times as needed.
Cedar (the South) FOR PROTECTION is used for purification and (taken as a tea) to attract positive energy, feelings, emotions and for balance. Its vitamin C content helped prevent scurvy when fruits and vegetables were unavailable during the winter months. When woman collect cedar, they wear a skirt and lay their tobacco when picking cedar. Cedar is used by some tribes to line the floor of the sweatlodge, used in making their fasting lodges, arbours at pow wows etc. Cedar is placed in the sacred fire at a traditional women's full moon ceremony, and also hung over the doorways for protection.
Sage (the West) THE WOMEN'S MEDICINE , conferring strength, wisdom, and clarity of purpose. It is a powerful purifying medicine that drives away negative energies. Sage can be found braided and hung in people’s homes, perhaps tied with a ribbon in one of the colours of the medicine wheel. The threefold braid represents body, mind and spirit. Woman on their moontime are very powerful and are considered a ceremony in themselves, they refrain from holding or using any sacred items as they are not in need as they are powerful on their time. Although, they are permitted to still smudge with Sage, and refrain from holding the traditional feather.