I have been in 3 American Indian homes, and there is a certain smell, not from cooking, or smoking or spray, but a smell that is not common. I also have been in a Jewish household, where one person had a "SpiritCatcher" in his room, and that certain smell that Native American Indians have.
My question what is this smell, and what is the purpose of it?
Medicinal spiritual?
2006-10-15 13:14:11 · 10 answers · asked by DREENA 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Cedar, sage sweetgrass and tobacco are the 4 sacred smokes of the Native Americans. they are burned to cleanse the home of
negative energies. to carry prayers to give thinks and to pray with.
you probally smell the sage it is the most commonly used and does leave a pleasent smell behind. sweetgrass would be the next in the line of smells.
it can be both medicinal and spiritual. many believe that medicins starts with the spirit so they are entwined.
2006-10-15 14:52:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
according to the medicinal books on native americans, particularily you should have a tribe in mind? Are you talking about dreamcatchers? Sage is the answer for most. Eucalyptus is the other one, Aloe, JOJOBA, Garlic?
It depends on the territory as well, dry or humid climates change odors drastically. Why not ask those particular families what they use as spices that would be easier.
2006-10-15 14:41:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably sage or a combination of sage and sweet grass. we use it to smudge the home and help cleanse it of evil spirits. after my wife died we used sage and sweet grass so much that when we opened the door the smoke was so thick the neighbors thought the house was on fire but the procedure worked.
2006-10-16 03:00:21 · answer #3 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if you were on the Navajo rez, it was probably mutton!! Could have been sweetgrass or cedar too. Next time you're on the rez, go to the flea market - you'll find something like that there.
2006-10-16 17:29:08 · answer #4 · answered by Ron D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Burning cedar and sage cleanse the negative energy from the home.
2006-10-15 13:23:27 · answer #5 · answered by Wise Old Witch 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is a herb known as sage . It is used to clean the area of negitive energies and or spirits
2006-10-15 13:51:47 · answer #6 · answered by beaudrycharles@sbcglobal.net 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of Indians were they? Navajo, Blackfoot, what? The cultures can vary a lot from tribe to tribe, and it might be helpful if you know what specific type they were.
2006-10-15 14:34:39 · answer #7 · answered by KdS 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok for one it is called a dream catcher and what u r smelling is the soap they use and the the herbs they leave laying around for there bel- but not all of them are the same so it could be somthing els
2006-10-15 21:33:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
All homes have their unique odors, And most of those odor comes from cooking and people and types of animals that they may keep .................
And who knows maybe Indians eat kosher food as well...............
2006-10-15 13:26:40 · answer #9 · answered by kilroymaster 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You smell sage, they burn it to cleans their home.
2006-10-15 13:18:52 · answer #10 · answered by eyes_of_iceblue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋