Native Spirituality...

[CDNBear]

The Smudge.

This is something that I have not always done, or placed much significance in. But due to recent circumstances, it was tought to my youngest boy. Who has made it an almost daily ritual, and tought me more about it than I thought I already knew...

Smudge – Pkwenezige Pigitinigewin

The smudging ceremony is a purification ceremony. Any one of the four sacred medicines can be used. Sometimes all of the sacred medicines are used. The most common one is mshkwadewashk, otherwise known as sage in English. Some pipe carriers and elders recommend that when people refer to these medicines, it should be in Anishinaabemowin. These medicines are picked from Mother Earth just for the purpose of purification. The four sacred medicines are sema, kiishig, mshkwadewashk and wiingash.

The smudging ceremony can take place anytime, usually before a meeting or Grand Entry at Jiingtamok. Sometimes pipe carriers and elders recommend that this ceremony should be done if things get out of hand at the workplace or at home. The sacred medicine is lit, and some use matches instead of a lighter. Some actually use wood from a sacred fire. The smoke from the sacred medicine purifies the mind, body and spirit. The inside of rooms, especially motel rooms, should be smudged. Some people smudge when they hear bad news, such as a death or illness. Most people who smudge use a shell as a container, and usually eagle feathers are used to fan the medicines. If a person does not have eagle feathers, then other feathers are used, such as hawk feathers. The ashes that are left should not be thrown away, but scattered by the entrance at the door to symbolize that bad thoughts, words and feelings are not welcome inside.


The Four Sacred Medicines- Kchitwaa Mshkiki
Sema, Tobacco. Is used mainly for prayers and offerings of gifts. It is used as an offering in a sacred fire or as an offering in a prayer bundle. Its main use is for the pipe ceremony. It is a sacred medicine that was given to the first man, Nanabozo. He used it to speak to the Creator, and that tradition is still practiced today. Sema represents the eastern direction, the first part of the day, the first season (spring), the first stage of one’s life, the first aspect of life (the mind), the first clan (the eagle), and the Oriental race.


Kiishig, Cedar. Is another sacred medicine that has many uses. It can be used as a tea or used in a bath, especially with women who are with child, to nurture and purify their bodies. In the sweat lodge ceremony, kiishig is used to purify the area. Some Anishinaabek place kiishig in their shoes so that good things will greet them in their travels. The cedar tree has many medicinal qualities from the roots, bark, branches and sap. It is said that the cedar tree was the first tree to be created. Kiishig represents the southern direction, the middle part of the day, the second season (summer), the second stage of life (youth), the second aspect of life (the body), the second clan (the deer), and the Anishinaabe nation.


Mshkwadewashk, Sage. Is very common to the Anishinaabek. It has been said that it almost became extinct in this area at one time, but that because of the belief the Anishinaabek have in the power of sema, it is coming back. At times, the only place that it was found was in the western direction. Some place sage at doorways for protection from evil. It has been taught that a person should chew a few sage leaves before an important speech or presentation. Mshkwadewashk represents the western direction, the evening or setting sun, the third season (autumn), the adult stage of life, the third aspect of life (emotions), the buffalo clan, and the black race.


Wiingash, Sweetgrass. Was plentiful in Michigan and Ontario at one time. Due to over-building and farmlands, the natural areas where wiingash grew are diminishing. Wiingash is the first plant that our Creator created, and it represents the hair of Shkakaamik kwe (Mother Earth). It is a very powerful purifier. Some Anishinaabek wear wiingash in their hair to get rid of headaches or bad thoughts; others just lay it on their forehead. Wiingash represents the northern direction, the last part of the day (the night), the last season (winter), the last stage of life (the elder), the fourth aspect of life (the spirit), the bear clan, and the white race of man.

Anishinaabe ceremonies, smudging ceremony, four sacred medicines

 

[taxslave]

My wife usually does this a couple of times a year as well as using some sage in the sweat lodge. Hard to get sage on the island. We always ask anyone going to the interior to bring some back.

 

[lone wolf]

What happened to the "thumbs up" thingy? Oh well ... I'm writing in green....

 

[gerryh]

yup, for some reason there's no thumbs up option for the OP.

 

[Cliffy]

Most of my teachers were Cree so it is their traditions that I follow. I was taught that Sage was for neutralizing negative energy or bad spirits, sweetgrass was for surrounding oneself with positive energy, great for cleansing homes and other spaces. Usually we would smudge with sage before going in the sweat lodge and burn sweetgrass in the sweat lodge before people entered and then sprinkle a little sweetgrass on the rocks as they are brought in and placed in the pit. I've used both sage and sweetgrass in healing ceremony. In the pipe we used sweetgrass, inner bark of red willow and Kinikinik(?spelling). Never used cedar much. In Alberta they used juniper instead of cedar and some used birch bark but I forget what for.

After my heart attack, I lost a chunk of my memory. The first thing I did after I got out of the hospital was to ask my friend to fire up his sweat lodge for me because the doctors told me I wasn't allowed to go in sweats or saunas. They also told me I wouldn't live more than a month without triple bypass. Oh well, here I is 15 years later and no scars on my chest. I practiced what I could remember that my teacher taught me. I fully recovered withing three months without drugs or surgery.

After my run in with the logging truck, every day for a year I went in my sweat lodge. I wasn't supposed to survive that either and that was in 1980. I use a lot of wild crafted herbs that I picked to help me recover from that. I hope to be meeting up with one of my sweat lodge teachers at Lillooet in May. I met him there last year for the first time in twenty years.

 

[Corduroy]

What happened to the "thumbs up" thingy? Oh well ... I'm writing in green....

Look at your post, now look at this post, now your post, now back to me. I'm the post your post could look like. What's that? This post is now in that colour you like, look again..

This post is now diamonds!

 

[karrie]

What happened to the "thumbs up" thingy? Oh well ... I'm writing in green....

yup, for some reason there's no thumbs up option for the OP.

The OP is meant to get a 'rating', rather than a thumbs up. You'll find the option in the tabs along the top of the thread.

 

[YukonJack]

Define "Native".
Define "Spirituality".

Washing myself in sweet grass smoke and sweat in a tent?

 

[gerryh]

Define "Native".
Define "Spirituality".

Washing myself in sweet grass smoke and sweat in a tent?

fu ck off jackie.

 

[damngrumpy]

I don't know too much about this but it should be interesting down the road for me. I am going to a
funeral tomorrow where the clergy will consist of a Shaman, is that the word, it is a Native Service.
In addition we have a daughter that we adopted over forty years ago and she is Native (Cree). Her
kids are starting to learn about their heritage and I am thinking of tagging along to learn more for
myself. We can always learn more about others and even if we don't agree we have a better and
more rounded view of how others think and feel, it gives one a better understanding of life around
us.

 

[Cliffy]

Define "Native".
Define "Spirituality".

Washing myself in sweet grass smoke and sweat in a tent?

Native means indigenous peoples
Spirituality means the individual search for the truth without following some organizations dogma.
Smudging can be something akin to incense - Frankincense and Mir come to mind. The sweat lodge ceremony is the spiritual equivalent to worship of the Creator in a church. The difference is that there is no rigid adherence to dogmatic ritual, each practitioner is free to conduct the ceremony according to their own interpretation and understanding, tradition and the circumstances of the ceremony - different procedures for different purposes. I have been to hundreds of sweats and conducted a few and no two have ever been identical.

I don't know too much about this but it should be interesting down the road for me. I am going to a
funeral tomorrow where the clergy will consist of a Shaman, is that the word, it is a Native Service.
In addition we have a daughter that we adopted over forty years ago and she is Native (Cree). Her
kids are starting to learn about their heritage and I am thinking of tagging along to learn more for
myself. We can always learn more about others and even if we don't agree we have a better and
more rounded view of how others think and feel, it gives one a better understanding of life around
us.

The first funeral I attending in the indigenous tradition was conducted by the spiritual elder that became my teacher. The funeral was for the woman who introduced us. One thing he said really resonated with me. He said, don't cry for the departed. It makes them feel guilty for leaving and prevents some from continuing on their journey.

I have always felt that crying was a very selfish thing as it has little to do with the person who has passed on and everything with our own suffering at their loss. I really like the idea of celebrating their life. I think the Irish mastered that concept. When my mother's father died, there was all kinds of wailing and gnashing of teeth. When my father's father died, they stood around joking and other wise "Roasted" the old fart.

 

[CDNBear]

Wow!

I guess I had some penance to do, for my years of bashing Christians.

 

[Cliffy]

Wow!

I guess I had some penance to do, for my years of bashing Christians.

If you feel guilty about it, one good sweat should suffice.

 

[CDNBear]

If you feel guilty about it, one good sweat should suffice.

LOL, I've had many, since my last foul shot at Christians.

Karma has a way of evening things out.

I can and do accept that.

I'll light a Sage bundle, and wash away the feelings of ill will.

I'll be honest Cliffy, I wasn't always very spiritual. I used to see a lot of this as new age hippy sh!t. Even the vision I had as a child, in a sweat, didn't ring any bells until I was old enough to grasp the significance. But I honestly can't ignore the change in how I feel, or my disposition, when I smudge, and I came into doing this, as a skeptic.

 

[Cliffy]

LOL, I've had many, since my last foul shot at Christians.

Karma has a way of evening things out.

I can and do accept that.

I'll light a Sage bundle, and wash away the feelings of ill will.

I'll be honest Cliffy, I wasn't always very spiritual. I used to see a lot of this as new age hippy sh!t. Even the vision I had as a child, in a sweat, didn't ring any bells until I was old enough to grasp the significance. But I honestly can't ignore the change in how I feel, or my disposition, when I smudge, and I came into doing this, as a skeptic.

Perhaps if you are still feeling a little guilty or uncertain, it might be time for (revisiting) the vision quest. That would clear out any lingering cob webs in the old brain pan and heart.

 

[CDNBear]

Perhaps if you are still feeling a little guilty or uncertain, it might be time for (revisiting) the vision quest. That would clear out any lingering cob webs in the old brain pan and heart.

Perhaps. The boys are doing theirs at the end of the month. Perhaps, I'll wonder off into the bush for a few days fast and ponder, myself.

 

[Cliffy]

Perhaps. The boys are doing theirs at the end of the month. Perhaps, I'll wonder off into the bush for a few days fast and ponder, myself.

Don't forget to sweat first. May the Bear bless you with a vision.

 

[gerryh]

My wife usually does this a couple of times a year as well as using some sage in the sweat lodge. Hard to get sage on the island. We always ask anyone going to the interior to bring some back.

Most of my teachers were Cree so it is their traditions that I follow. I was taught that Sage was for neutralizing negative energy or bad spirits, sweetgrass was for surrounding oneself with positive energy, great for cleansing homes and other spaces. Usually we would smudge with sage before going in the sweat lodge and burn sweetgrass in the sweat lodge before people entered and then sprinkle a little sweetgrass on the rocks as they are brought in and placed in the pit. I've used both sage and sweetgrass in healing ceremony. In the pipe we used sweetgrass, inner bark of red willow and Kinikinik(?spelling). Never used cedar much. In Alberta they used juniper instead of cedar and some used birch bark but I forget what for.

After my heart attack, I lost a chunk of my memory. The first thing I did after I got out of the hospital was to ask my friend to fire up his sweat lodge for me because the doctors told me I wasn't allowed to go in sweats or saunas. They also told me I wouldn't live more than a month without triple bypass. Oh well, here I is 15 years later and no scars on my chest. I practiced what I could remember that my teacher taught me. I fully recovered withing three months without drugs or surgery.

After my run in with the logging truck, every day for a year I went in my sweat lodge. I wasn't supposed to survive that either and that was in 1980. I use a lot of wild crafted herbs that I picked to help me recover from that. I hope to be meeting up with one of my sweat lodge teachers at Lillooet in May. I met him there last year for the first time in twenty years.

Bear, you wanted to know what the PM was about.... here it is.

 

[YukonJack]

fu ck off jackie.

gerryh, you're such kind, wonderful and gentle person that a vulgar and insensitive person such as I should not be allowed to bask in your glorious presence.

I humbly apologize for living.

 

[Unforgiven]

gerryh, you're such kind, wonderful and gentle person that a vulgar and insensitive person such as I should not be allowed to bask in your glorious presence.

I humbly apologize for living.

Bout fricken time!