Smudging

src: smileherb.com

Smudging is a ceremony performed by some Natives in America, involving the burning of a sacred potion, in some cases for spiritual cleansing or blessing. While the special things of the ceremonies, and the herbs used can vary greatly between tribes and nations, many use wise forms (eg, ordinary wise or white sages) and local cedar trees to their territory. Not all Native American cultures and First Nations are burning herbs for the calling ceremony what they do, "smudging." When using aroma and scented smoke (like incense) in religious and spiritual rituals is a common element for many different cultures around the world, the details and spiritual meanings are usually unique to a particular culture in question.

Video Smudging

Native American tradition

In some First Nations and Native American ceremonies, certain herbal plants have traditionally been used to purify or bless people and places. For example, some cultures use smoke from red cedar as part of purification and healing ceremonies, and sometimes stains in hospitals to "cleanse and repel evil influences." However, the same herb that is burned by one culture may be a taboo to be burned in the other, or they can be used for completely different purposes. When specific herbs are burned ceremonially, this may or may not be called "smudging," depending on the culture. Traditionally, when collecting herbs for ceremonial use, care is taken to determine the time of day, month, or year when herbs should be collected; for example, at dawn or at night, at certain phases of the month, or according to the annual cycle. Gertrude Allen, a Lumbee, reported that his father, a healing expert with plants, stated that the wisdom varied in potential at different times throughout the year.

Controversy

Some of the terminologies used among non-Indigenous people, such as the English term "sticks stick" are commonly used among those who imitate what they believe to be a native American sacred ceremony. However, the herb used in commercial "smudge sticks" or "wise bundles", and or rituals, performed with them by non-Natives, is rarely the actual material or ceremony used by Native Americans. The use of these objects has also been adopted in several forms into a number of modern belief systems, including various New Age forms and the eclectic Neopagan spirituality. This has been protested by Native activists as a form of cultural abuse.

Smudging "kits" are often sold commercially, although there is a traditional ban on the sale of spiritual drugs such as white sages. This may include a collection of single ingredients or a combination of several different ingredients; often these herbs are not found incorporated in traditional usage, and their use is not universal for all, or even most, native cultures. In some native American cultures the burning of these herbs is forbidden. Other commercial items may contain spices that are not native to North America, or non-native to which they are used, and toxic substances when burned.

Native American students in college dorms sometimes face harassment and are forbidden to burn crops for ceremonial reasons due to university policies prohibiting the burning of candles or incense in college dormitories. This has raised issues surrounding Native American religious freedom.

Maps Smudging

See also

• Rite
• Moxibustion
• Plastic shaman

src: mediad.publicbroadcasting.net

References

src: soulreflectionshealing.com

External links

• Elder angry department store Alberta sells sweetgrass - Video
• Stokes, DaShanne. 2001. "Sage, Sweetgrass, and First Amendment." The Chronicle of Higher Education , May 18, p. B16.

Source of the article : Wikipedia