Tobacco and Healing

Tobacco and Healing

When I describe the smoking of tobacco in pipe ceremony as prayerful and healing, some people are surprised. Some people wonder: Can the words “tobacco” and “healing” be used in the same sentence?

White society often vilifies tobacco. For some of us, tobacco is at best an unpleasant habit and at worst a killer. Yes, at a certain level, that’s true. But everything exists at many levels.

At another level, tobacco is prayer. The physical matter that comes from tobacco plants is the physical manifestation of prayer. It is as if, when we pray, the thoughts, feelings, and intention of the prayers condense into the physical form of tobacco. What we hold in our heart takes concrete, physical form - as tobacco. When the tobacco burns, the smoke carries our prayers straight to Creator. And Creator always listens to our prayers.

What is it that cigarette smokers hold in their hearts as they smoke? Think about it. Often people smoke when they are angry, sad, afraid, frustrated, bored, or tense. So when a cigarette smoker lights up, he or she is sending angry, sad, fearful, frustrating, bored, or tense prayers straight to Creator. And of course, Creator answers such prayers with illness and death.

In pipe ceremony, however, we come together in community in a focused mindset of love and blessings. It is not necessarily a somber experience (quite the contrary, Indian ceremonies are typically both sacred and playful). But it is definitely an experience of collective positive energy. And when that focused, collective, positive energy is sent to Creator in the form of tobacco smoke, the results are powerful, transformative, and healing.

The medicine path is about being in good relationship with all things, including tobacco. If you have issues with the ceremonial use of tobacco, then you are being invited to come into a different relationship with tobacco. And if you come into a different relationship with tobacco you may well find yourself coming into different relationships throughout your life. That’s what I call healing!

-John Wohn

Pipe Ceremony

What is a Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge Pipe Ceremony?

What is a Pipe Ceremony? The Pipe Ceremony is one of the sacred ceremonies of the Blackfoot Indians honored by Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge. It's a grounding and powerful on-the-floor, on-the-earth prayer experience. In this public ceremony everyone is welcome to participate, no matter who you are or where you come from. It is our way of offering you the opportunity to participate in a distinctive and ancient experience of sacred encounter and unique prayer. At this time Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge offers Pipe Ceremony monthly in the Chicago, IL, and Raleigh-Durham, NC, areas. Check our calendar at http://www.bearspiritmedicnelodge.org/ for times and locations.

What Happens? When you arrive at the ceremony location you will be greeted and there will be some time to visit with the assembled participants. When it is time for the Pipe Ceremony to begin, it is Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge's custom to call everyone into a circle and start our gathering with a welcome and a very brief check-in. As you enter the ceremonial space you will smudge yourself or be smudged and take your place in the Pipe Ceremony circle. Smudging is having smoke of a sacred plant, usually Sage, fanned over you with a feather. Smudging is for the purpose of cleaning you up in order to enter the Pipe Ceremony.

The Ceremony begins upon entering the ritual space with smudging. This community ceremony may have a number of BSML pipe carriers offering their pipes. The leader of the ceremony will sit with other pipe carriers to her/his left. The rest of the participants will fill out the circle. There will be two times in which you have the opportunity to individually speak if you choose. You will get to handle and smoke the pipes if you choose. The pipes will contain tobacco, a sacred herb of the American Indian. The ceremony is an ancient and sacred ritual that can bring you into wonder and awe.

Who may attend? Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge Ceremonies are open to everyone. No reservations are required. Children under the age of thirteen (13) years of age must be accompanied by a supervisory parent or legal guardian. Youth between the ages of thirteen (13) years of age and eighteen (18) years of age may participate only if they present a signed and authorized Release of Liability form which can be found on our web site. Go to http://www.bearspiritmedicinelodge.org/, click on Important Documents, click on BSML Pipe Ceremony Release of Liability form in PDF. In every way possible we make the ceremony open to all people.

What should I bring? Wear comfortable, loose clothing for sitting on the floor. Bring a cushion, a blanket or a back-jack to sit on.

Do I need to prepare in advance? It is highly recommended that you spend some quiet time reflecting on the concerns you wish to pray for on all levels, the universe, the Earth, life, your community(s) and all your relations. Get as clear about your intentions as you can and bring them with on open heart to the ceremony.

What does it cost? Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge does not charge for ceremony. Ceremony is the essence of prayer and we do not charge for prayer. While a normal Pipe Ceremony has very little visible cost, we are required to have costly insurance. Other ceremonies, such as the sweatlodge ceremony, can cost us about $250 to produce. We have found that people often want to contribute to the cost of a Pipe Ceremony. They offer donations of $1 to $20 to support the continuance of these ceremonies. All donations are expended for ceremonial costs. You do not have to contribute to fully participate.

-Chuck Skelton