Sweetgrass

Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata) is a very hardy perennial, able to grow in the Arctic Circle. The base of the leaf, just below the soil surface, is broad and white, without hairs; the underside of the leaf is shiny and glabrous. One of the Four Sacred Herbs of the Anishinabe Ojibway, Sweetgrass is revered by many Native American nations as sacred women’s medicine, a symbol of the feminine side of nature, of abundance, and as a vehicle for prayer and ceremony. Harvested with care and gratitude from pristine meadows and wetlands, sweetgrass is meticulously braided into long strands, each braid representing the interconnectedness of all living beings and the continuity of indigenous traditions. The sweet, aromatic smoke emitted when sweetgrass is burned is believed to carry prayers and intentions to the Creator, fostering a sense of harmony and balance with all of Creation. Sweetgrass is braided to resemble the “Hair of Mother Earth.”

Sweetgrass holds particular significance in purification rituals and ceremonies aimed at cleansing the body, mind, and spirit of negative energies and restoring harmony and balance within oneself and the community. Whether burned as smudge bundles, woven into intricate baskets, or incorporated into ceremonial garb, sweetgrass serves as a potent tool for spiritual renewal and transformation, inviting individuals to release what no longer serves them and embrace wholeness and well-being. Sweetgrass is revered for its healing properties and medicinal uses within indigenous herbal medicine systems. Infusions and decoctions made from sweetgrass are believed to possess therapeutic qualities, aiding in the treatment of various ailments, including headaches, colds, and digestive issues. It is dried and burned as incense or smoked in a ceremonial Kinnickinnik blend and is often steeped with Meadow Rue (Thalictrum occidentale) to make a pleasant healing tea.