The ancient dwellers of the Earth – Cedar

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Cedar (Cedrus libani, cedar of Lebanon, the Old World species; Thuja occidentalis, yellow cedar or arbor vitae, tree of life; Juniperus virginiana, red cedar; Cedrus atlantica, blue atlas cedar; Cedrus pps.; Cedrus deodara, Himalayan cedar; Cedrus brevifolia, cedar of Cyprus)

 by Morgana Moonfire

Also called: arbor vitae/the tree of life, Krono’s blood.

* True cedar is of the Thuja and Libocedrus genii. Some Junipers (Juniperus genus) are also called “cedar”, thus complicating things some. Some Juniper varieties are cleansing herbs, especially J. monosperma, or Desert White Cedar. But for smudging, the best is Western Red Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and California Incense Cedar (Libocedrus descurrens).

Associations: Mercury; Jupiter; the sun; the elements of earth, water and fire; the goddesses Arinna, Artemis, Baalat, Rhiannon and Venus; cedar represents the southern direction according to Native American tradition; symbolic meanings: consecration and longevity, healing, cleansing and protection.

• Elders say to put some in your shoes and only goodness will come your way.
• It is one of the four sacred Native American medicines. The leaves are cleaned from the stems and separated into small pieces, which are used in many ways. Although all cedars are honoured, for Anishinaabeg peoples the Red Cedar is especially sacred. Red cedar or Juniperus virginiana is known as Miskwawak and is one of the sacred trees. It did and does have medical uses, but the main thing to realize about it is that this tree is sacred. Red Cedar is very much alive spiritually. It has the power to help us by purifying our own spirits, ourselves and as a preparation for some ceremonies, like the Pipe ceremony. Everyone fans the smoke over their hair, face and heart; greets the spirit and thanks it. At the sweat lodge, a few bits of red cedar frond are dropped first on the hot rocks. Its fragrant smoke purifies the lodge even if there is not enough cedar around where you had to build it to line the floor around the hole with it, as you should if you can.
• Among Ojibwe, the name for cedars-in-general is giizhik or giizhag the plural, very similar to the word for moon/sky: giishik. The ordinary, common sort of juniper is called gagawan dagisid,”the deceptive one”. This tree is sometimes locally called white cedar, though other species are also known by that common name elsewhere. It was used for general utility purposes. There are several ways to tell the difference between Red Cedar and White Cedar (“the deceiver”). Red Cedar likes shallow, limy soil, tends to grow in high or at least rocky places. White Cedar likes swampy boggy soil or at least deep humus and lots of water. The trees’ foliages are different too. Red Cedar burns with the strong aromatic smell of ceremonial or private purifications. Red Cedar’s wood is beautiful and aromatic — used to line chests, drawers, and closets to perfume clothing and keep moths away. White cedar lacks those qualities, but its wood is rich in preservative oils. White cedarwood makes strong frames, sidings, shingles that weather to a beautiful pale-striped grey, and lasts a long time against harsh weather.
• People burn larger amounts of cedar, using branches or bowls, to smudge or purify places or to invite the spirits to help us there. Its fragrant, aromatic smoke helps to clean up thoughts and emotions of bad, hurtful, harmful things.
• Cedar is burnt while praying to the Great Spirit (Usen’, the Source — also known to Plains nations as Wakan Tanka) in meditation.
• In the tradition in the Northwest and Western Canada it is used to bless a house before moving in.
• Cedar is a druid sacred herb.
• Ancient Celts on the mainland used cedar oil to preserve the heads of enemies taken in battle.
• This was used by the Egyptians for magical cosmetics and perfumes, incense and to embalm mummies.
• It was also venerated by the Romans and the ancient Mesopotamians. In his Herbal, Dioscorides called cedar “the life of death”.

 

Parts used: twig and leaf

Magickal uses

v  Purification

• Cedar smoke purifies the home. Use it in smudge sticks, incense and sweat lodges.  
• The smoke of an herbal mixture of sage and cedar; sometimes blended with lavender, copal or sweetgrass; cleanses your room, altar, tools, magickal components and yourself of unwanted energies. It can be used in a ritual to cleanse anything and it helps prepare for ritual.

v  Protection, releasing, banishing, exorcism, hex-breaking

• Helps to repel bad dreams.
• Spiritual protection: Burn cedar incense before going to bed.
• Healing dreams: drink tea-potion made from catnip or mint, burn cedar as a magickal dream incense, or sleep with agrimony, catnip, mint, sandalwood or thyme under the pillow.

v  Invites positive energy, happiness, harmony, peace

v  Justice

v  Courage

v  Psychic abilities

• The scent is said to enhance psychic powers.

v  Luck, good fortune

• Good luck pillow: cedar, sage, violet, mint.
• Anoint a Seal of Long Life to protect you from misery & misfortune. (essential oil)

v  Money and riches

v  Health and healing

Medicinal uses

It is antiseptic, nourishing and aids regeneration.

v  Bronchial infections: colds, flu, bronchitis, coughs

v  Nervous tension and stress

• In times of crisis or stressful situations look to Cedarwood (Atlas Cedar – Cedrus atlantica) to give strength. It helps to steady the emotions while helping us hold firm against external forces.

v  Skin care, oily skin

• Cedrus atlantica combats acne, dandruff, dermatitis, eczema, greasy skin and fungal infections.

v  Urethritis

v  Effective insect repellent.

v  Cuts through mental blockages to deepen our connection to spirit. Excellent for deep relaxation, meditation and psychic work.

v  Yellow cedar is used internally and externally as an anti-fungal (the dry powder is excellent for Athlete’s foot).

v  Yellow cedar is used by herbalists to treat bloody cough and heart weakness. Simmer two teaspoons per cup for twenty minutes and take it cold in one-tablespoon doses, three to six times a day.

CAUTION:

* Do not use if pregnant.

* The wood of the Atlas Cedar subspecies is distilled to produce the essential oil.

Dry skin cleanser

4 ounces aloe vera gel

2 teaspoons almond oil

2 teaspoons glycerin

1 teaspoon grapefruit seed extract

16 drops sandalwood

8 drops rosemary

Mix all ingredients and store in the refrigerator.

Oily complexions respond best to basil, eucalyptus, cedar wood, cypress, lemon, sage, lemongrass, yarrow and ylang-ylang.

 

Aromatherapy

• Bronchitis, catarrh
• Acne, antiseborrhoeic
• Arthritis

è Diuretic, sedative

Smudging

• Leaves and inner bark: good cleanser when illness is around.
• Cedar is very strong and is considered powerful for removing negativity.
• When burned, cedar acts as a purifier (it has a long tradition as a purifying agent), cleansing the area in which it is burned and emitting a pleasant scent.
  • Cedar may also be used to smudge your crystals: Simply hold your crystal in the smoke of the incense or smudge stick and let the smoke carry away any unwanted energies. You only need to do this until your crystal feels cleansed.
  • To release emotions

 

Dragons

• Dragons: Fire, Volcanoes, Water, Seas, Light, Dark, Chaos, Wind, Storm, Desert.
• Type of ritual: purification, exorcism.
  • Cedar chips or shavings burned as part of your incense purifies the vibrations of your sacred area and house, driving out all negative entities.
  • Fresh cedar boughs are used as brooms for purification, exorcisms and to cleanse temples.

 

 

Sources:

Herbs and planets

Midsummer Herbal Lore by Sarolta G. DeFaltay

SMUDGING CEREMONY by Lloyd T. Rich [e-mail]

MSN MESSENGER: [e-mail]

Smudging: How to do it — how not to do it by Michelle Chihacou White Puma Klein-Hass

Smudging – What It Is And How to Do It by Annie B. Bond, executive producer of Healthy Living content on Care2.com

http://villageinternational.northernontario.org/StuffOfLife/CraftHa...

Symbolic Qualities of Flowers & Trees

4 sacred medicines

http://www.orgsites.com/fl/drumming/_pgg10.php3 

Herbs and Spirit Power by Gail Faith Edwards

Skye’s Realm 1999-2007

http://pages. prodigy.net/ groovyskye/ 2.html

Herbology – Bruce Burnett, Chartered Herbalist

Old English names for herbs

Smudging Herbs

Herbs and their Magickal Properties-Very Long & Detailed List

Bewitched | July 6, 2010 at 2:17 pm | Tags: herbs, magickal, properties, roots, wild | Categories: Herbs | URL: http://wp.me/pYkp9-4F 

Practical, Magical and Aromatherapy Uses Of Plants

Dancing with Dragons, pgs.238-256 by D.J. Conway

Sacred Herbs Of The Goddess

Dry skin cleanser recipe provided by Diane Kennedy Snyder of Diane’s Herbal Shop http://www.dianesherbalshop.com/

http://www.krystallove.com.au/dedicating-crystals/info_9.html

Magickal oil uses

Essential oil uses

The Goddess Rhiannon by Debbie Ritchi

Making and Using Dreampillows by Leslie Ravenwing

BellaOnline’s Wicca Editor

Magick of DREAMS

http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amethystbt/dreammagick.html

http://members.tripod.com/Magickal_Waters/dream_magick.htm

Herbal Dreamcraft

Garden Necromancy: Summoning Spirits

~Source Unknown~

Essential Oils for Facial Care

http://www.aromathyme.com/face.html

Third Eye Chakra Aromatherapy

” – http://energy-healing.suite101.com/article.cfm/third_eye_chakra_aromatherapy#ixzz09W9cdPEz

http://www.tarunaoils.com/articles/ aromatherapy-7-chakras.Asp

HERBAL REALM OF HEALING

JUNIPER –TRIBAL USES

http://www.kstrom.net/isk/food/juniptri.Html