CEDAR— Evergreen Guardian · Keeper of Purification · Spirit of Protection | Plant Bible

A towering evergreen elder with a scent like ancient prayers — sharp, resin-rich, and soul-clearing. Cedar is the keeper of thresholds, a forest-born guardian that bridges the earthly and the divine. Burn, brew, or bathe in her presence, and she will lend you her grounded grace. 

Botanical name: Varies by species (Thuja spp., Cedrus spp., Juniperus spp.)
AKA: Tree of Life, Arborvitae, Forest Guardian
Planetary energy: Sun + Jupiter
Element: Earth + Fire
Energy: Purifying, protective, grounding, ancestral

HISTORY + FOLKLORE
▸ Sacred to Many Nations: Across Turtle Island, cedar is one of the Four Sacred Medicines, used for protection, prayer, and cleansing. Branches were laid beneath bedding to ward off negative spirits, and cedar smoke carried prayers to Creator.
▸ The Tree of Life: In Latin, arborvitae means “tree of life” — a nod to cedar’s evergreen nature and year-round vitality. Its wood was used for canoes, totems, and shelter, enduring for centuries without decay.
▸ Old World Reverence: Ancient Egyptians used cedar oil in embalming for its preservative and protective qualities. In the Levant, the famed Cedars of Lebanon were temples in themselves — forests that built palaces and ships, and sheltered holy men.

SKIN + BODY USES
(For external use only — some cedar species are toxic if taken internally.)
▸ Infused Oil: Cedar leaf oil (properly prepared) can be used in salves for sore muscles, stiff joints, and as a warming chest rub.
▸ Aromatic Steam: Steep fresh cedar in a pot of hot water, tent a towel over your head, and inhale to clear the lungs and spirit.
▸ Natural Hair Rinse: A cooled cedar infusion can be poured over hair to invigorate scalp and leave a fresh, forest scent.

SPIRITUAL + ENERGETIC USES

Grounding. Protective. Purifying. Cedar is the evergreen guardian — a forest sentinel that shields the spirit and steadies the soul. Burn her smoke to anchor yourself, to cleanse your space, and to invite only what belongs.

▸ Sacred Bathing: Add cedar needles to a hot bath or foot soak for grounding and energetic reset.
▸ Prayer Bundles: Weave cedar sprigs into bundles with other sacred plants (sage, sweetgrass, tobacco) for ritual use.
▸ Threshold Protection: Hang cedar over doorways or place small bundles near entrances to keep unwanted energies away.
▸ Smoke + Smudge: Burn fresh or dried cedar to cleanse spaces, invite good spirits, and banish the heavy, stagnant, or ill-willed. Best paired with open windows and an open heart. Rest a plank on a heat-safe dish, light the edge until it smoulders, and let the smoke roll through your space — clearing what’s heavy, inviting what’s good. Perfect for home altars, seasonal rituals, and threshold blessings. Shop our hand-cut reclaimed Western Red Cedar Smudge Planks → here.

SMUDGE + SMOKE RITUAL

You’ll need:
▸ A small bundle of fresh or dried cedar
▸ Fireproof bowl or abalone shell
▸ Matches or lighter
→ Explore our Ancient Western Red Cedar Planks
To use: Light the cedar until it catches, then gently blow out the flame so it smoulders. Let the smoke drift over your body, through your home, or around your altar. Move slowly, with intention, and let each curl of smoke carry away what no longer belongs. End by offering thanks to the tree and the land it stands on.
RITUAL TIP: Burn a cedar plank at the turning of seasons or before hosting guests to refresh your home’s energy. Keep one in your car, camper, or travel bag to bring the grounding scent of the forest wherever you go.
WYLDE NOTE: Cedar is potent — a little goes a long way. Always source respectfully, taking only fallen boughs or small cuttings from living trees. Honor her as the forest sentinel she is.