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.
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