Known as the first plant to grow on mother earth, sweet-grass is symbolic in the tribal spirituality of Indian Nations in North America. The smoke from the burning of the sweet-grass is used to smudge, so that your heart and mind will come together in a positive and united way. It is said that the smoke of the sweet-grass will keep evil away from your home and will keep one safe on their journey.

I personally will offer tobacco to the Creator and smudge with sweet-grass when I begin a journey in my car. I ask for safe travels and that the Creator will watch over me while I am away from my loved ones.

Sweet-grass looks like a long green grass that on one side is shiny. The roots are purple in color with some black. It is best to pick the sweet-grass about 4 inches from the root and, therefore, it will grow again for years to come.

Once picked, and depending on what you wish the sweet-grass to be used for, there are two methods of preparation. The first one is that should you wish to use the sweet-grass for smudging, then you will not have to clean it but only cut the ends off and then braid it together. should you wish to use it for making crafts then it must be cleaned. In the middle of the sweet-grass there is a piece of the soft stem that needs to be taken out. Removing this piece will allow the sweet-grass to keep its colour of beautiful green that the Mother Earth has given the plant.

When you take something from the Mother Earth, one always offers a gift of thanks, and this gift is usually tobacco. This is accompanied with a say mii-gweetch (thank you ) for the sharing of the earth.

Till next time, safe travels and take care of you.
Baa maa pii (see you later)

Ethel