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Sacred Tobacco |
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Native cultures tell us that herbs are the Mother's children as well and that they are a gift to us and a way to reach the gods. The use of tobacco is sacred in many cultures and some even say that the effects of cancer and other related diseases are coming from the misuse of this sacred herb. In my family, tobacco forms a large part of worship to the Orishas. While it is not exhaled in order to smoke, it is exhaled and blown over the Orisha when thanking, invoking or honoring the deity. We can use this sacred herb without having to smoke the actual tobacco. Needed:
Unwrap your cigar and take off the little band. Cleanse by passing it through a good cleansing incense like sage or sandalwood, or even myrrh. Hold the cigar in your hands and write your desire or key word on the cigar. Now, crumple a few bits of the cigar into a flame resisitant container or your censer, add the mugwort and light this mixture. Place the rest of the unlit cigar on your altar. Smudge your altar with this combination. *you do not want a lot of tobacco with the mugwort* Concentrate and focus on your desire. Allow at least one lunar cycle to pass. Take the cigar and bury it or discard it in running water...some traditions will urinate over the cigar in order to render it "harmless". However, this is optional. Copyright B. FairRaven 2002 |