One
must always remember, talking only about Eastern Native American Tribes, that
Smudging is a prayer to Creator for a Blessing for or about something!
While
speaking with your Creator, please do so with your brain as well as your heart?
All
other tribes no matter their state, country or those new ‘Nation Indians’ might
have the same or a different ceremony.
First let's find out if the circle is for a Paw~ paus or a powwow?
If it
is for a Paw~paus the smudging is with tobacco (Herbs), Kinnick~ Kinnick.
If the
circle is for a powwow other than a ‘Sacred Eastern Woodland American Native
Gathering’ one can use the herbs from the Plains Indians known as Sweet grass
and/or Sage or Kinnick~ Kinnick!
If the
smudging is by anyone other than a Native American such as a Shaman, European,
Witch, Warlock, then one would guess that they can even use ‘Cigarettes’ if
they wish because it is not a Sacred Circle!
Only
Creator can bless only Creator can judge, I only wish to try to set the records
straight if I may.
One
must keep in mind if you are about to be smudged by a Native American,
is it
by an American native elder or Veteran if so in which part of Indian Country or
Native American Country are you about to be smudged?
Please
keep in mind the fact is that indigenes people had to use herbs from their own
particular area while performing each particular form of ceremony!
Is
this smudging being done for a sweat lodge, circle, home or just friendship?
Is
this smudging being done by a keeper of the circle, a shaman, witch, warlock,
or someone out of this country like the lj Celtic lands Scottish, Irish, Welch
and so on?
Why
Should One Smudge?
After
almost a life time of being involved with everything and anything to do with
Paw-paus, Pow-wows and Gatherings, except vending, with my own people, it has
been a great pleasure to spend the last several years with a friend going
throughout Native American and Indian country joining in on other nations
Pow-wows and Gatherings.
I am
retired and a Vietnam Veteran with a POW/MIA friend, a Chiricahuas
Apache,
I go into their Circle for Grand Entry to pray for my Apache friend Timmy, and
to enjoy dancing and friendship.
I see
people coming into a Powwow grounds with dark hearts.
Some
are fighting with each other;
Others
are yelling at their children or using bad language.
Some
are dressed not becoming someone who is about to go into a Chachu, our church.
They
come from their cars and walk right into that Circle as if everything was fine.
“If
there is a Supreme Being” one would wonder why all people would not wish to
cleanse themselves before going into that presence.
If one
goes into a Circle with a bad heart, one could pollute those around them.”
I do
not wish any of their bad vibrations.
This
is just one of the many reasons for writing this chapter.
The
ways to smudge or clean your mind and area around you are many; it mostly
depends on which area of Native American Country or Indian Country you are
from?
I do
not believe it to be all that important as to a correct way to smudge as it is
to make sure your heart and mind are in the right place so that you feel the
need to smudge.
If a
person is involved in an honest Native American smudging ceremony, that person
should act and feel differently than before the ceremony.
An
American native should never allow smudging while people are taking recordings
or pictures
~~N E V
E R~~ s
Smudging
is a ceremony between you, the one smudging and Creator.
In
other words a prayer to and blessing from Creator.
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