Sweet Sweetgrass

By: Amy C. Keiper, also known as the writer, LC Harrison

Love, kindness or peace, and honesty or harmony is one of the many meanings that the three strands in a braid of sweetgrass represent when being tied; other meanings include: positivity, strength and connection, as well as, mind, body and spirit. Sweetgrass is viewed as a sacred plant of Mother Earth, and like its name is sweet scented. Like sage, sweetgrass is utilized to purify spirit and for smudging. Smudging is the purification of a person or place from negativity by the smoke of a plant viewed as sacred. Sacred plants, which include: Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar, Tobacco, Basil, Mugwort, as well as wood from trees like Palo Santo and Agarwood, are used world-wide for smudging.

Historically, Sweetgrass has been used for its healing and calming properties, and to attract positive energy and good spirits. In Europe, Sweetgrass was often placed before church doors or strewn before them on Saint’s days for its sweet smell. The plant has been used to promote the attraction of positive energy in spirit work, to help create a positive and calm environment for a gathering or rite, and even has been utilized to calm dogs. Sweetgrass has been carried to aid in joint inflammation, and applied topically to prevent blood clots and also to assist with menstrual bleeding. Sweetgrass has also been carried as a connection to the the Earth, and tied into a circle to represent the medicine wheel. Healing wise, Sweetgrass has been burned to aid in respiratory issues for people and dogs, and to soothe anxiety issues. 

To best enjoy Sweetgrass, a braid may be used for smudging. It is important to remember that Sweetgrass is viewed as sacred, and traditionally should not be cut by metal. The end of the braid that has less green color to it is lit by a steady strong flame, such as that from a torch lighter, candle, or fire. Rotating the braid gently, when it is being lit, helps to light it. Blow on the lit end a bit, make sure the flame goes out to produce the smoke from the dried plant. When done smudging by wafting the smoke around the space or object being cleansed, snuff out the braid by stamping it against a fire safe container like a shell or a bowl of sand etc. Often, Sweetgrass may be followed by smudging with Sage at the end of a rite, gathering or meditation.

Anyone can benefit from the sweetness of sweetgrass from the calming and soothing qualities of its scent, the positive feeling sweetgrass may help promote, or from its long standing traditional healing properties that bring peace, harmony, and strength for the mind, body, and spirit.