Ceremonial Pipes were used anytime the Cherokee had a difficult decision and wished to sanctify the proceedings or ask guidance from the Great Spirit. The pipe heads were carved from stone in the shape of animals representing the clans. The shafts were formed by hollowing out the center of a small branch with a hot ember on the end of a long stick, or the branches were split, the inner core scraped out, and the two halves glued together. The pipes were filled with native tobacco and aromatic herbs, lit from the Sacred Fire, offered to the Seven Sacred Directions, and passed around the council circle. The belief was that once you had taken a puff from the Ceremonial Pipe, your heart would speak true.
When a tobacco ceremony is about to begin, the Priest assembles the ceremonial pipe bowl to the shaft, fills the bowl with a small amount of tobacco and selected herbs. He lights the pipe with a twig from the sacred fire, and offers a prayer, while offering the pipe to the North, the South, the West, and the East. He takes a puff to keep the tobacco lit and offers the pipe to the Sun, the Earth, and to the Self, deep within his breast.
- North – Blue – Winter, peace, and self reflection
- South – White – Summer, corn, happy children and plentiful game
- East – Red – Spring, Dawn, Rebirth, New beginnings
- West – Black – Autumn, Death, The shadow life of the spirit
- Sun – Yellow – Creator, Great Spirit
- Earth – Brown – Mother Earth, and all of her bounty
- Self – Green – To dedicate the heart to purity and honesty