Sweetgrass

$2.43 – $9.71

Categories: Pagan Herbs, Resin & Incense

a.k.a: Holy Grass, Buffalo Grass, Vanilla Grass, Zebrovka, Hierochloë odorata
Magickal Properties: Love, Peace, Harmony, Strength, Purity, Positivity, Connection to Mother Earth, Sweet Dreams, Clearing, Relaxation, Protection, Good Luck, Ancestor Work, Spirit Work.

Although, it must be noted that Sweetgrass contains a substance called coumarin which can cause liver damage if taken internally/ingested in large doses.

Always consult a physician before using herbal products, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medication(s). These herbs, resins, roots, flowers, and powders are meant to be used for spell and ritual work.

Please note that you will NOT receive a full braid. You will receive the gram amount that you select due to limited quantities.

Sweetgrass was purchased from the Running Bear Medicine Camp, First Nations, Minitonas, Manitoba, Canada.

From the Running Bear Medicine Camp: “All our medicines are harvested with positive energy, prayer and leave a offering. We take what we use, leave the rest in the ground to grow for the next generation. We give what we take. You are gifting for the cost of harvesting and helping our community.. you are not purchasing the medicines themselves as they belong to Mother Earth and not ourselves. We are the caretakers of it all. You are paying for our fuel, our food while harvesting, repairing our vehicles, helping with marriage ceremonies, clothing our children, etc.“

Sweetgrass

$2.43 – $9.71

Size

2 grams

4 grams

6 grams

8 grams

Clear

Sweetgrass is a perennial plant native to most of northern Eurasia and North America. It has been considered a holy herb by Native American tribes for centuries where it was used as a smudging herb during rituals. It was also commonly used as a medicinal herb to treat a range of ailments from colds to certain venereal diseases. The name refers to its’ sweet, aromatic fragrance which is known to instill a sense of calm and relaxation.

Sweetgrass is famed for its unique vanilla-like scent when burned. Sweetgrass clippings were traditionally braided and dried prior to use because it was believed to represent the hair of Mother Earth. The smoke that rises from burned sweetgrass is thought to attract positive energies and good spirits.

Throughout history, this plant has symbolized purification, which makes it an excellent smudging tool to purify people’s auras and cleanse a space prior to any ritual or ceremony.

The specific meaning of braided sweetgrass varies slightly in different cultures. For example, in the Cree-Ojibway tribes, the three blades are thought to symbolize love, peace, and harmony. To Pagans, sweetgrass symbolizes strength, positivity, and connection to Mother Earth.

Sweetgrass was traditionally used by Native American tribes to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit. It was believed that the scent of this herb would be pleasing to the creator and so would incline him to bless a ceremony. For this reason, it was always burned before any ritual or ceremony. During the burning process, a person was supposed to fan the smoke from the sweetgrass to their heart first, then to their mind, and finally around the body. At the same time, a prayer was usually recited like the one below:

“Great Mystery, please cleanse me of my negativity and fill me with the positive energies of love, so that, as I am healed so may I work for the healing of our Earth Mother.”

The smoke of burning sweetgrass was also traditionally inhaled to treat cold and flu symptoms and dried blades of sweetgrass were commonly added to herbal teas to treat coughs and sore throats. Historically, sweetgrass has also been used for healing after giving birth and was often used to weaves baskets and mats. More recently, sweetgrass has been used in Europe to flavor alcoholic beverages, sweets, and tobacco.

Bear in mind that sweetgrass can grow fairly tall (up to 60cm) so it is best to plant it at the back of your garden or in the center. It can also spread to be over 2ft wide so ensure it is planted in a place where it can be restricted a little.