Sage and cedar 'Sage Spirit Sticks', California, United States, 1996
- Made:
- 1996 in Laguna Niguel
- maker:
- Matchless Gifts
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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Sage and cedar 'Sage Spirit Sticks', bound by red cotton yarn, in plastic packet with green paper label, burned for cleansing and sending out prayers as used by Native Americans in 'Smudging' ceremonies, distributed by Matchless Gifts, Laguna Niguel, CA, USA, 1996.
A large number of unconventional ‘healing’ methods appeared in the 1990s. ‘Sage Spirit Sticks’ are burned for cleansing and sending out prayers and are used by Native Americans in 'Smudging' ceremonies. Cedar and sage, the wood from which these sticks are made, are thought to be effective cleansers and are believed to promote self-healing. The sticks are distributed by Matchless Gifts, based in California, United States.
Details
- Category:
- Ethnography and Folk Medicine
- Object Number:
- 1999-385
- type:
- spirit sticks
- credit:
- Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine
