ELNU Abenaki |
The Three Sacred Plants
By Roger Longtoe
There are many ideas and traditions on the uses of these
sacred plants being use today. But what I have written has
been taken from historical accounts and traditional stories
from the Northeast and they are basic and simple. The
three sacred plants most commonly used in the Northeast
were:
Tobacco (Nicotiana Rustica) was used as an offering to
the Creator or lessor Spirit Beings, when praying or asking
for their assistance or protection. This is done by burning
it on a fire, coals or smoking it in a pipe. The smoke will
rise into the air and carry your prayers into the Spirit
World, so they may be heard. Or one could spread the
tobacco into the wind or upon some waters like a lake,
river, ocean; so that it would make the Spirits happy by
showing respect toward them. Also, tobacco was smoked
when important words were to be spoken to the people.
Cedar, both Eastern red cedar (Juniperus Virginiana)
and Eastern white cedar (Thuja Occidentalis), were used
to drive away bad spirits, feelings or influences. This is
done by burning the leaf or green part and smudging a
person, place or thing with the smoke. Sage was not used
in the Northeast until probably the 19th or early 20th
century.
Sweetgrass is used to bring in good spirits, feelings and
influences. This is done by burning it and letting the
smoke spread around a person, place or thing.
These plants should not be mixed together or burnt at the
same time. Each has its time and place to be burned. I
have been told never to put any sacred thing in a plastic
bag. The spirit can not move around freely in plastic. A
leather, wool, bark or paper container should be used.
By Roger Longtoe
There are many ideas and traditions on the uses of these
sacred plants being use today. But what I have written has
been taken from historical accounts and traditional stories
from the Northeast and they are basic and simple. The
three sacred plants most commonly used in the Northeast
were:
Tobacco (Nicotiana Rustica) was used as an offering to
the Creator or lessor Spirit Beings, when praying or asking
for their assistance or protection. This is done by burning
it on a fire, coals or smoking it in a pipe. The smoke will
rise into the air and carry your prayers into the Spirit
World, so they may be heard. Or one could spread the
tobacco into the wind or upon some waters like a lake,
river, ocean; so that it would make the Spirits happy by
showing respect toward them. Also, tobacco was smoked
when important words were to be spoken to the people.
Cedar, both Eastern red cedar (Juniperus Virginiana)
and Eastern white cedar (Thuja Occidentalis), were used
to drive away bad spirits, feelings or influences. This is
done by burning the leaf or green part and smudging a
person, place or thing with the smoke. Sage was not used
in the Northeast until probably the 19th or early 20th
century.
Sweetgrass is used to bring in good spirits, feelings and
influences. This is done by burning it and letting the
smoke spread around a person, place or thing.
These plants should not be mixed together or burnt at the
same time. Each has its time and place to be burned. I
have been told never to put any sacred thing in a plastic
bag. The spirit can not move around freely in plastic. A
leather, wool, bark or paper container should be used.
| Making Cedar Smudge Sticks with the young ones |
| Norm & Patty M'Sadoques with his Native Tobacco Garden |
