Sweetgrass by Cliff Eaglefeathers and Pete Risingsun
Sweet Grass (in Cheyenne - Motse’eo; in Mohawk Óhonte Wenserákon) is a sacred plant to Native Americans and to many cultures. I can only speak of the Cheyenne Way of Life from the teachings of my elders. I am a fifth-generation descendant of Chief Iron Shirt, a member of the Chiefs Society and a lifetime ceremonial man. Chief Littlewolf showed favor to Iron Shirt for his brave warrior spirit and excellent skills in warfare at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. My great, great-grandfather, Chief Iron Shirt (DOB 7/1831, died 3/18/1929), at the age of 95, still rode his horse to the Busby Fair Rodeo.
Maheo’ called Sweet Medicine, a Cheyenne Prophet to the Sacred Mountain (Novavose) to fast. Maheo’ gifted to Sweet Medicine the Sacred Arrow Covenant for the Cheyenne (Tseteshestahese-Cheyenne speaking people). The sacred arrow ceremony is the highest ceremony of the Cheyenne people. When the new life season comes each year, an arrow ceremony is held, the first ceremony before all others, including the Sun Dance. The sacred arrows are four powerful arrows, two are for food (buffalo) and two are for protection from the enemy.
Maheo’ gave Sweet Medicine instruction for the sacred arrows:
You will place them in a medicine lodge and select one man to be the keeper.
You will use this sacred plant for a cleansing ceremony. You will know this sacred plant by the
Way it smells and it grows beside the water. You will burn 444 cuts of sweet grass braids.
I will be there with you to speak the Cheyenne language you must follow for this ceremony.
Sweet grass (Motse’eo) is a sacred plant, a gift from Maheo’ (God), our Creator of Life. Cheyenne believe life is a spiritual journey with the sacred spirit of Maheo. We also believe in an invisible spiritual power greater than our own spirit.
Sweet grass (Motse’eo) smells like its name, a natural sweet fragrance that invites your spirit into the Circle of Life of Maheo’. We smudge ourselves with the smoke from burning a Motse’eo braid to receive spiritual cleansing and healing from Maheo’. We smudge ourselves and pray for the blessings of Maheo’s gifts, that only he can bless us with. These gifts are a clear mind, and clean heart from which come patience, keen vision, acute hearing and thoughtful speech of wisdom. Maheo’ answers our prayers and blesses us with this Love, Joy and Peace, always.
Cheyenne Smudging
Sweet grass smudging is a spiritual cleansing of removing the negative spirits from our mind, body and spirit. The smoke carries our prayers to Maheo’. Pray with a sincere heart, open mind, meaningful thoughts and words of wisdom.
Sweet grass is also used to smudge the inside and outside of our home to remove any negative spirits. We light the braid outside the home, then we smudge ourselves and ask Maheo’ for His help in removing unwanted spirits in our home. Then we enter the home, letting g all entrances to and from the home open, this allows for any unwanted spirits to exit. Once we are inside the home we smudge every room directing the negative spirits to leave. Then we close all doors of the home as we exit. Then we walk around the outside of our home pausing to pray in all four directions, asking Maheo’ to rid our homes of any unwanted spirits and asking Maheo’ to protect and bless our family and home.
Sweet Grass is also used in our own individual prayer life. During prayer and smudging we are asking Maheo’ to align our spirit with His, so we can have a clear mind, clean heart, which brings keen vision and acute hearing which brings thoughtfulness of speech. One of my favorite places to smudge and pray is on a hilltop under the beautiful blue sky, overlooking the Tongue River Valley with the rising sun. Maheo’ and I connect as one, which brings peace to my spirit, by the releasing all the negative spirits within me.
Instructions:
Open hand, extend outward, palm facing upward, place braid in palm between thumb and fingers. The large end is on the thumb side of hand. Balance the braid so it remains in hand without grip. Grip only with thumb, you can lightly fan braid to help it burn, point downward and light small end.
Be patient with the braid to burn continuously with a visible stream of smoke, and hold the braid with both hands, left hand on the large end, right hand in the middle.
Pointing the braid upward in both hands make a complete circle with the braid only. The circle represents Maheo’s Circle of Life, he is the center of the circle. Make an upward offering to Maheo’ and make a downward offering to Mother Earth.
Smudge your heart first then your body, left leg up to your heart, left arm up to your heart, left shoulder to neck and over your head then back to starting point. Repeat on the right side.
Hold that smoking braid upward in front of yourself and begin praying, the smoke carries your prayer above to Maheo’.
When you have completed your prayer, extend the burning braid up to Maheo’. Thank Maheo’ for his companionship and the blessings you receive.
Caring for your Sweet Grass Braid. The sweet grass braid is your prayer partner, treat it with compassion. Place the braid in a safe place at home. Wrap the braid in a slightly damp cloth for one hour bi-weekly to provide moisture, which will keep your braid fresh. Do not place braid in the sun.
