1st Sacred Medicine teaching of CEDAR shared by Snowbird Black Feather

"Some things used to not be public knowledge, but the times and the people in these times need help and we are finding that people outside of our traditions need our 'medicine teachings.'  Snowbird Black Feather, and I met online (these are strange things to admit) and shared a lot of stories, and insights over the past few years.  One of the many discussions about Native spirituality inspired her and she put together simple medicine teachings together for the people who needed to know these things.  There are four medicines in our traditions.  Snowbird made it simple, and I am going to share each of the four, in her words and mine in a simple fashion."  -Dawn Wolf

Cedar (Keezhik)

Keezhik represents the Southern direction and the soul. The leaves are cleaned from the stems and separated into small pieces, which are used in many ways. When burned, Keezhik acts as a purifier, cleansing the area in which it is burned and emitting a pleasant scent. True cedar is burnt while praying to the Great Mystery in meditation, and also to bless a house before moving in. Cedar was offered to the fire to smudge the lodge and people. It is also used to waft the smoke to ward away sickness. In traditional medicine, a compound decoction of twigs was made into an herbal steam for rheumatism. It works both as a purifier and as a way to attract GOOD energy in your direction. Elders say put some in you shoes and only goodness will come your way. Many traditional women keep some cedar in their left pocket. When you breathe in the smell of cedar you decide that you're going to have courage and stamina and that you're going to survive. You think of what the herb means, why it was given to us.

The four sacred plants are gift of the Four Manido (Spirits of the Four Directions). To those who live in the traditional way, there are four plants which are especially revered and used in daily living. The creator taught us to use the natural herbs of sage, sweetgrass, tobacco, and cedar smoke as a physical reminder to them of this omnipotent presence. It is the sacred way.

I believe this is a traditional teaching from the Ojibwe people.