Cedar Magic: Purification, Grounding & Prosperity

Cedar is the herb of purification, grounding, and enduring prosperity. This sacred evergreen tree with its distinctive aromatic wood has been revered for thousands of years as a powerful ally for cleansing spaces, grounding energy, attracting lasting abundance, and connecting with ancient wisdom. From Native American ceremonies where cedar is one of the four sacred medicines, to ancient temples built from cedar wood, to modern witches who burn cedar for purification—this majestic tree has been honored across cultures as a bridge between earth and spirit.

What makes cedar so magically potent? Its deep roots that ground while its branches reach skyward, its evergreen nature that symbolizes eternal life and enduring prosperity, its powerful cleansing properties that purify without harshness, and its ancient energy that connects us to ancestral wisdom. Cedar doesn't just cleanse—it grounds you in the process. It doesn't just attract prosperity—it helps you build lasting abundance. It doesn't just purify—it protects what it has cleansed.

This comprehensive guide reveals everything you need to know about working with cedar in your magical practice, from its rich history and correspondences to practical spells for purification, grounding, prosperity, and spiritual connection. Whether you're seeking to cleanse your space, ground your energy, attract enduring wealth, or connect with ancient wisdom, cedar is a powerful ally ready to support your work.

Cedar: The Basics

Botanical name: Various species including Cedrus (true cedars), Thuja (arborvitae/white cedar), Juniperus (red cedar)
Common names: Cedar, White Cedar, Red Cedar, Cedar of Lebanon
Family: Pinaceae (true cedars) or Cupressaceae (arborvitae and juniper cedars)

Magical Correspondences

Primary magical uses: Purification, grounding, prosperity, protection, healing, longevity
Element: Earth
Planet: Jupiter (some sources say Sun)
Gender: Masculine
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Deities: Various earth and prosperity deities
Chakra: Root, Heart
Powers: Purification, grounding, prosperity, protection, healing, longevity, wisdom

Physical Description

Cedar trees are evergreens with scale-like or needle-like leaves, aromatic wood, and small woody cones. The wood is reddish or pale, highly aromatic, and naturally resistant to decay. Cedar can live for hundreds or thousands of years, symbolizing longevity and enduring strength.

The History and Lore of Cedar

Native American Traditions

Cedar is one of the four sacred medicines (along with tobacco, sage, and sweetgrass). It's used for:

• Purification and cleansing ceremonies
• Protection and blessing
• Grounding and centering
• Connecting with ancestors and spirits
• Healing rituals

Note: If you're not part of indigenous traditions, use cedar respectfully and don't appropriate specific ceremonial practices.

Ancient Middle East

Cedar of Lebanon was highly prized:

• Used to build Solomon's Temple
• Considered sacred and incorruptible
• Symbol of strength and eternity
• Used in purification rituals
• Burned as sacred incense

Ancient Egypt

Cedar was imported at great expense for:

• Building sacred boats and temples
• Embalming and preservation
• Purification rituals
• Protection magic

Celtic Traditions

Cedar (and similar evergreens) represented:

• Eternal life and immortality
• Protection and strength
• Connection to the otherworld
• Prosperity and abundance

Magical Properties and Uses

1. Purification and Cleansing

Cedar is a powerful purifier, cleansing spaces, objects, and energy fields.

How to use for purification:

• Burn cedar to cleanse spaces
• Add cedar to purification baths
• Use cedar in smoke cleansing
• Place cedar in rooms for ongoing purification
• Add cedar to floor washes
• Burn cedar before and after rituals
• Use cedar to cleanse tools and crystals

Cedar smoke cleansing: Light dried cedar (tips, chips, or bundle). Walk through your space clockwise, directing smoke into corners, doorways, and windows. Say: "Cedar sacred, cedar pure, cleanse this space and make it sure. All negativity now depart, fill this place with peaceful heart. This space is cleansed, this space is blessed, only positive energy may rest." Open windows to let negative energy escape.

2. Grounding and Centering

Cedar's deep roots make it perfect for grounding scattered energy.

How to use for grounding:

• Burn cedar when feeling ungrounded
• Hold cedar wood during meditation
• Add cedar to grounding baths
• Carry cedar for stability
• Place cedar at base of spine or feet
• Anoint root chakra with cedar oil
• Stand near cedar trees for grounding

Grounding ritual: Sit comfortably. Hold piece of cedar wood or burn cedar. Close your eyes and visualize roots growing from your body deep into the earth, like cedar's roots. Breathe deeply. Say: "Cedar ground me, cedar center, deep into the earth I enter. Rooted strong like cedar tree, grounded, stable, I am free. I am here, I am now, I am grounded, I know how." Feel yourself anchored and stable.

3. Prosperity and Abundance (Lasting)

Cedar attracts enduring prosperity and lasting abundance.

How to use for prosperity:

• Burn cedar to attract lasting wealth
• Add cedar to prosperity spells
• Place cedar in cash register or workspace
• Carry cedar for financial stability
• Add cedar to money jars
• Plant cedar for long-term prosperity
• Keep cedar in prosperity corner

Lasting prosperity spell: Place cedar chips in green bag with coins, basil, and citrine. Hold and visualize enduring abundance. Say: "Cedar strong, cedar true, bring me wealth that's lasting too. Not quick riches that fade away, but prosperity that's here to stay. Abundance grows like cedar tree, enduring wealth flows to me." Keep in prosperity corner or carry.

4. Protection (Strong and Enduring)

Cedar provides powerful, lasting protection.

How to use for protection:

• Burn cedar to create protective barrier
• Place cedar above doorways
• Add cedar to protection sachets
• Carry cedar for personal protection
• Plant cedar near home for protection
• Add cedar to protection baths
• Keep cedar in car for travel protection

5. Healing (Especially Respiratory)

Cedar supports healing, particularly respiratory and immune health.

How to use for healing:

• Burn cedar during healing rituals
• Add cedar to healing baths
• Inhale cedar steam for respiratory health
• Place cedar on healing altars
• Carry cedar for vitality

6. Longevity and Endurance

Cedar's long life symbolizes longevity and enduring strength.

How to use for longevity:

• Burn cedar for long life
• Carry cedar for endurance
• Add cedar to longevity spells
• Meditate with cedar on aging gracefully

7. Spiritual Connection and Wisdom

Cedar connects you to ancient wisdom and spiritual realms.

How to use for spiritual work:

• Burn cedar during meditation
• Use cedar in ancestor work
• Add cedar to spiritual baths
• Burn cedar to connect with ancient wisdom
• Use cedar in vision quests or deep spiritual work

How to Work with Cedar

Sourcing Cedar

Where to find:

• Metaphysical shops (cedar bundles, chips, tips)
• Online herb suppliers
• Craft stores (cedar chips for sachets)
• Hardware stores (cedar blocks, chips)
• Wildcrafting (with permission and respect)
• Cedar essential oil (widely available)

Ethical considerations:

• Don't harvest from sacred or protected areas
• Get permission before harvesting
• Never take more than you need
• Thank the tree
• Leave offerings
• Consider buying sustainably sourced cedar

Forms of Cedar for Magic

Cedar tips: Fresh or dried branch tips, good for burning

Cedar chips: Small wood pieces, good for sachets and burning

Cedar bundles: Tied branches for smoke cleansing

Cedar essential oil: Concentrated, use diluted

Cedar wood: Blocks or pieces for carrying or altar

Burning Cedar

Methods:

• Light cedar bundle like you would sage
• Burn cedar chips or tips on charcoal
• Use cedar incense
• Burn in fireproof dish

Safety:

• Ensure good ventilation
• Never leave burning cedar unattended
• Use fireproof container
• Keep away from flammable materials

Cedar Magical Recipes

Cedar Purification Bath

Ingredients:

• Handful of cedar tips or chips
• Rosemary (purification)
• Lavender (peace)
• Sea salt (1 cup)
• Clear quartz or selenite

Method: Steep cedar and herbs in hot water for 10 minutes. Strain and add to bath along with salt and crystal. Soak for 20+ minutes, visualizing all negativity washing away and grounding energy filling you.

Cedar Grounding Sachet

Ingredients:

• Cedar chips
• Patchouli (grounding)
• Vetiver (grounding) - optional
• Hematite or black tourmaline
• Brown or green cloth bag

Method: Mix cedar and herbs, add crystal. Place in bag. Tie with brown thread. Carry when feeling ungrounded or place under pillow for grounding sleep.

Cedar Prosperity Oil

Ingredients:

• Cedar chips (fill jar 1/3 full)
• Basil and cinnamon
• Olive or jojoba oil

Method: Fill jar with cedar and herbs, cover with oil. Place in sunny window for 4-6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and bottle. Use to anoint candles, money, or self for lasting prosperity.

See our Herbal Infused Oils Guide.

Cedar Spells and Rituals

Cedar Home Purification

1. Gather cedar bundle or chips, white candle, salt
2. Open all windows and doors
3. Light cedar and walk through home clockwise
4. Direct smoke into every corner, closet, doorway
5. Say in each room: "Cedar cleanse this space, purify and bless this place. All negativity must go, only peace and love may flow."
6. Return to center, light white candle
7. Say: "This home is cleansed, this home is blessed, only positive energy may rest."
8. Close windows after smoke clears
9. Repeat monthly or as needed

Cedar Grounding Meditation

1. Sit comfortably with piece of cedar wood
2. Burn cedar incense or hold cedar
3. Close eyes, breathe deeply
4. Visualize yourself as a cedar tree
5. Feel roots growing deep into earth
6. Feel branches reaching to sky
7. Say: "I am grounded like cedar tree, rooted deep and strong and free. Connected to earth below, connected to sky's flow. I am here, I am now, I am grounded, I know how."
8. Sit for 10-20 minutes
9. Practice when feeling scattered or ungrounded

Cedar Lasting Prosperity Ritual

1. On Thursday during waxing moon, create altar with green candle, cedar, coins, citrine
2. Arrange cedar in circle
3. Place candle in center with coins and citrine
4. Light candle and cedar
5. Say: "Cedar strong and cedar true, bring me wealth that's lasting too. Not fleeting riches that fade away, but prosperity that's here to stay. Abundance grows like cedar tree, enduring wealth flows to me. [State specific goal]. This or better now manifests for the highest good of all."
6. Let candle burn completely
7. Keep cedar and citrine in prosperity corner
8. Refresh cedar monthly

Combining Cedar with Other Herbs

For Purification: Cedar + Sage + Rosemary + Lavender

For Grounding: Cedar + Patchouli + Vetiver + Frankincense

For Prosperity: Cedar + Basil + Cinnamon + Bay Leaf

For Protection: Cedar + Rosemary + Juniper + Sage

For Healing: Cedar + Eucalyptus + Pine + Rosemary

Timing Your Cedar Magic

Best Days

• Thursday: Jupiter day—prosperity, expansion, abundance
• Saturday: Grounding, protection, banishing
• Sunday: Prosperity, success, vitality

Best Moon Phases

• Full Moon: Maximum purification and prosperity power
• Waning Moon: Banishing negativity, deep cleansing
• New Moon: New beginnings after cleansing

Safety and Precautions

Cedar is generally safe, but:

• Avoid during pregnancy (especially essential oil)
• Essential oil is very concentrated—always dilute
• Some people are sensitive to smoke
• Ensure good ventilation when burning
• Never leave burning cedar unattended
• External use only for magical purposes
• Very safe for smoke cleansing and carrying

Your Cedar Practice

Cedar is grounding, purifying, and enduring. Whether you burn it for cleansing, carry it for grounding, or use it in prosperity spells, you're working with an ancient ally that connects earth and spirit, cleanses while protecting, and attracts lasting abundance.

Start simple. Burn cedar to cleanse your space. Hold cedar when feeling ungrounded. Add cedar to your prosperity corner. Notice how this sacred tree supports, grounds, and blesses your practice.

Cedar cleanses. Cedar grounds. Cedar prospers. Cedar endures.

Welcome this ancient ally into your practice.

Continue Your Herbal Magic Journey

Explore more magical herbs:

• Magical Herbalism Complete Guide
• Herb Magic Correspondences
• Sage Magic
• Rosemary Magic
• Pine Magic: Cleansing, Prosperity & Rebirth (coming next!)

Cedar is waiting to ground and purify. The ancient tree is ready.