Habitat
Desert, Mountain, Sagebrush SteppePlant Uses
ceremonial smudge to purify, seeds can provide spiritual protectionVideo Presenter
Arnold CliffordCeremonial Juniper
Ceremonially, several juniper species are used to purify and protect. Rocky Mountain juniper (j. scopulorum) is the preferred species to smudge people before ceremonies or handling sacred objects. The smoke from a smoldering branch is wafted or rubbed all over the body to purify and protect a person from unseen negative energies or entities. A twig or branch is often placed above a door or window to keep away bad spirits.
A spiritual leader will often stand on a mat of creeping juniper while performing ceremonies, such as the Crow pipe ceremony, as a protective layer between his feet and the ground.
There are many relatives of these junipers throughout the world. It is interesting that wherever they occur, indigenous people use them in a similar way. In Asia, Europe, or Africa, as in the Americas, they are considered sacred, associated with purification, protection and longevity.