BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Pagan For the smudgers out there.

Tobacco is offered to the Great Mystery before all pipe ceremonies in Native American and earth-based spirituality. It in many way comparable to smudging with sage and sweet grass. I agree the smoke is wise and goes where needed. I've been taught it is not only a cleanser, but also a protector.

Forgive this question but I thought that the Native Americans mixed Sage and Sweet Grass with Tabacoo in there Pipe Ceremonies? do they burn them one at a time or does it depend on the tribe and Ceremonies?

No need to forgive-questions are welcome! First, all tribes have their own ways and creation stories,etc. All are similar, but all are different. Smudging is very different from pipe ceromonies. Smudging is done for cleansing, purifying, and healing. Most commonly used is sage, sweetgrass, juniper, lavandar, sacred tobacco, and many types of resin. It is believed the smoke releases the energy of whatever is used. On the other hand, pipe ceremonies are for peace or symbolizing unity between tribes, etc. It is the sharing and passing of the pipe that is important here. The Lakota people most often mix sacred tobacco with willowbark. Hope that helps clear things up a bit.

Back to smoking tobacco....I am not a smoker first and foremost...but the tobacco I have has been gifted to me by many Pow Wow friends....I also have seeds, but have never planted any, perhaps now that I live in hot sunny SC I can with out fear of frost. I will say that smoking natural tobacco, from what I have heard, is much harsher on your throat than commercial tobacco, basically because it has not been cut, or mixed, with anything else. It would be the equivalent of eating pureed tomatoes from a can your whole life and finally getting to eat a beautiful ripe tomato.


Also something we used a lot of in smudges or other ceremonies was cedar, be it shavings of the wood or bits of green, it smells heavenly, not sharp like a yule tree, but sweet.

Cool! I didnt realize that the pipe ceremonies were different from smudgings....

I did realize that the natural Tabacco was harsher on the throat but I have heard that it is better for you when mixed with other herbs and plants.... I do know that the commercial herb cigs. are twice as harmful because they still have chemicals and tar even if it does not have nicotine!

All tobacco is carcinogenic, regardless of how it is produced. And since smoke is, after all, finely dispersed particulates, any smoke, including incense, is bad for your lungs.

Good point. So, don't go out and smoke two packs of sage a day!!!

LOL!!! so too much insense and smuging leads to cancer?

funny how you dont hear that on the 10 oclock news!

And, yet you hear about a guy inhaling too many microwave popcorn fumes and getting cancer... Hmmmm.

LOL