Unlocking the Sacred Secrets: Native Culture and the Power of Intention in our Candles and Soaps

Shé:kon! (Hello!) 

Did you know, you may have a lot more in common with native culture than you’d think? Do you listen to your intuition, love animals, respect your elders, want to protect the earth, or even simply believe in “positive vibes” - then you already understand some of what makes native culture special. Whenever something goes wrong for a friend or family, do you find yourself wishing them well, sending love, or good intentions? Natives do this on a much larger scale. We put good intentions and connections into much of what we do - from plants we harvest for food, the people in our lives, or even the things we make - we thank the creator and we put that thankful energy, and good intentions, into what is around us.

When making my line of candles and soaps I made sure to do so only when in an uplifted mood since intentions when creating something can also be transferred to the user. Each scent was also specifically chosen and sourced to ensure that the use would be pure. Each one is made with ethically sourced cedar, lavender, or sweetgrass pieces and sage, tobacco, and sweetgrass oils to give you a truly unique emotional, spiritual, and scent experience. 

Sweetgrass in Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (mohawk culture) is a sacred plant. It is used for weaving baskets but more importantly, it is braided and burned to promote open-heartedness and harmony. It is used similarly to sage, but since it’s a grass rather than a shrub, it is more abundant. It promotes healing, peace, and connection. Many natives even leave sweetgrass as an offering at graves to show respect. I have added small pieces to my candles - and if they do burn while lighting, know this was intentional.

Like sweetgrass, Cedar plays an important role in native culture and is one of the 4 sacred herbs. It is considered the tree of life and has been used to help with illness and purify homes. It too is also used with smudging. Mohawks also plant this with the placenta after a child is born. 

If you are non-native, you may be taken aback when you see that I have a soap/dandle that includes tobacco. Tobacco doesn’t have the best reputation,  but I have chosen to include it in my Cedar Tobacco candles and soaps anyway. It is also one of the four sacred medicines. It has a connection to the spirit world. If you are feeling disconnected, this will bring you right back to harmony. Dried tobacco is often left at sacred places or as an offering. 

Sage! This is the big one. Most people know sage as the one you burn to smudge and to cleanse but did you know those are two very different things? Smudging and smoke cleansing are two very similar rituals but they not only involve different species of sage but also their intentions are quite different. Smudging is strictly indigenous and it uses the 4 sacred plants (cedar, white sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco). It starts with sustainable harvesting, returning ashes to the earth, and giving what we take back. It is about connection, cleansing negative energies and thoughts, healing, and centering our space.  Smoke cleansing can be done by anyone, it doesn’t require any of the sacred plants though many people use other forms of sage around the world. It is used to simply cleanse a space and restore balance.  

Now since sage is sacred and I wasn’t able to source it sustainably or ethically online. White sage, traditionally should be picked by oneself, or gifted, I have opted to include Clary sage oil in my sage candle. You are still able to get all the benefits of spacial cleansing. I have chosen to mix this with lavender pieces and lavender oil for a calming effect. This plant was brought to the Americas by Europeans but many tribes adapted it and used lavender to reduce pain and sleep.

If you’d like to know more about native culture, history, and even plants follow me on TikTok - @Recycldstardust

Nái:wen,

-Nikki