Palo Santo and Cultural Appropriation Grow Your Own Cleansing Herbs Since the time of the Incas, the fragrant palo santo tree has been harvested by shamans in Peru and Ecuador, who use its essential oils or smoke to cleanse away evil spirits before initiating ayahuasca rituals or to aid the dying on their journeys to the afterlife. Today, Native people are still fighting to be able to perform these ceremonies in hospitals. White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. It is in general used to describe Western appropriations of non‐Western or non‐white forms, and carries connotations of exploitation and dominance.” If burning incense, herbs, or wood is part of your self-love practice, there are safe-burning alternatives to sage for smoke cleansing, including lavender, pine, and cloves. This isn’t an opinion or debate, it’s fact. Palo Santo sticks have been getting more popular as an alternative to sage, but buying this Central and South American tree used by Amazonian tribes can also be harmful, in similar ways to sage. The power dynamic was the opposite way around. Palo Santo has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, because though the tree is not yet nearing extinction, its overharvesting can put it on that path. Instead, advocates say non-Native people can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways that are culturally and ecologically sensitive. All rights reserved. According to Huff Post “Stores like Sephora and Anthropologie, however, are not alone in commodifying Indigenous spirituality. BLACK PEOPLE HAD NO POWER OVER INDIANS. Smudging was part of those banned religious practices. Let’s be clear on that from the get-go. But you might want to hold off on buying the next available thing. BLACK PEOPLE HAD NO POWER OVER INDIANS. The practice has a long and rich history that extends way before white witchy practices brought it onto Instagram feeds near you. Because of all that history, when non-Native people burn white sage to "smudge" their homes or other spaces, it minimizes the cultural importance of this ritual. Cleansing using white sage is a Native American tradition, referred to as smudging, which is part of a closed practice. Thanks to the recent trendiness of smudging, white sage (which is used in these rituals) is in high demand. When the dominant culture in society takes aspects from another culture that's experiencing oppression, that's best understood as cultural appropriation. If you have used herbs to cleanse your space in the past and enjoy the ritual, you don't have to give it up in order to so in a culturally conscious way. thank you :-) Before smudging was popularized, it was illegal — at least, for Indigenous folks. Burning regular sage, Salvia officinalis, as a part of a ritual, to cleanse your space, your body, or your home, is perfectly fine. A closed practice means that only those from within the tradition or those invited by someone within the tradition should be practicing it. Consistent over-harvesting and theft of this herb will cause it … “It’s exploitative and amounts to silencing Native voices and erasing our cultural heritage,” Hopkins says. We were alerted by Monserrat Matehuala and Bam Mendiola about our irresponsible appropriation and usage of White Sage, and we quickly removed the post from our social media accounts. It should be noted, however, that clary sage, white sage and common sage are all different varieties of the sage plant. Neelou Malekpour, owner and co-founder of Smudged, challenges the … Something that has been discussed (link) and explained (link) and elaborated (link) over and over again. In other words, it’s important to leave the root, because that’s how the plant grows back. For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. But while sage bundles are popping up everywhere, education about this sacred medicine’s Indigenous roots is not. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that white sage has important medical benefits — it is used to cure colds and aid postpartum healing — and it’s a crucial part of the surrounding ecosystem. Smudging is an important ceremonial purifying ritual, illegal for Natives to practice their religion, white sage has important medical benefits, International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging, spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, safe-burning alternatives to sage for smoke cleansing, respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem, stop selling white sage without giving due to Native cultures. This article was originally published on July 19, 2019. Smudging, or saging, has become a trendy wellness practice that folks use to cleanse their living spaces. For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. Before smudging was popularized, it was illegal — at least, for Indigenous folks. Smudging was part of those banned religious practices. It's important, however, that in the process of cleansing, you're respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem. just curious about whether it's still deemed as cultural appropriation. Black people burning White Sage is "not nice" and "inconsiderate" but it's not Cultural Appropriation when Black people do it. This is actually quite problematic and “smudging” is considered cultural appropriation by many. Black people burning White Sage is "not nice" and "inconsiderate" but it's not Cultural Appropriation when Black people do it. The power dynamic was the opposite way around. But some brands continue to sell white sage, despite Native communities speaking out against it. If you're not Indigenous and therefore hesitating to strike a match to cleanse the bad vibes out of your apartment, here's what you need to know about burning sage. Being intentional about how you implement this practice in your life — and being mindful about its origins and significance — is helpful for everyone. ... And as far as burning White Sage, despite constant resistance from Indigenous people, sage sales continue in retail locations and online stores alike. Specifically, the ethics surrounding the plants we use in our rituals to cleanse and protect and the cultural appropriation of those rituals. Smudging is an important ceremonial purifying ritual in many North American Indigenous cultures. Witches, Pagans, and Cultural Appropriation. White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. This form of cleansing can look a bit like smudging, but it’s just the simple act of burning herbs, wood, incense, or other safe-to-burn materials that possess unique cleansing properties. When we pick sage, we always leave the root and say a prayer of thanks for our harvest. White sage, the plant in question, grows in California. Palo Santo sticks have been getting more popular as an alternative to sage, but buying this Central and South American tree used by Amazonian tribes can also be harmful, in similar ways to sage. If the Sage is an endangered species STOP burning it and leave it for the Indians. What has become more talked about however, is the ‘trendy’ aspect of buying the sacred White Sage (Salvia apiana) to ‘smudge’. 2021 Bustle Digital Group. White sage is commonly found in smudge sticks as this is an old Native American custom that has been adopted by western cultures. Being intentional about how you implement this practice in your life — and being mindful about its origins and significance — is helpful for everyone. If someone is harvesting white sage and doesn’t know to leave the root, they’re preventing more plants from growing. edited 06/27/2019 Vanessa had been selling Palo Santo (and White Sage) online, just like me. Breathe Deep: Let’s Talk About Sage. But if you tend to poke around smudging social media circles, you've probably heard people ask, "is sage burning cultural appropriation?" The smoke is then waved over the area you want to cleanse. Smudging, or saging, has become a trendy wellness practice that folks use to cleanse their living spaces. pls lmk! Some cultures may have spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, but the act of smoke cleansing is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture, the way smudging is. read that dragons blood sage is just white sage dyed with dragons blood resin. Sage Burning and Cultural Appropriation I’ve been reading a great deal about this topic and wanted to know your thoughts on whether burning white sage is a practice I should consider replacing with something else. “It was illegal for Natives to practice their religion until 1978 in the U.S., and many were jailed and killed just for keeping our ways alive, including my great-great grandfather,” Ruth Hopkins, a Dakota/Lakota Sioux writer, tells Bustle. If you're not Indigenous and therefore hesitating to strike a match to cleanse the bad vibes out of your apartment, here's what you need to know about burning sage. I’m poking fun at myself, “New-Agey” cultural appropriation, and discordant social interactions due to wildly divergent world beliefs. The demand has become so great that many Chumash people (of what is now Southern California) are concerned that the plant is being overharvested. Instead, advocates say non-Native people can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways that are culturally and ecologically sensitive. Some cultures may have spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, but the act of smoke cleansing is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture, the way smudging is. When we pick sage, we always leave the root and say a prayer of thanks for our harvest. It’s considered to be a plant of special concern by conservationists and illegal to take from public lands. The definition of cultural appropriation is, “A term used to describe the taking over of creative or artistic forms, themes, or practices by one cultural group from another. Take the White Sage Debacle for example: herbs have been used in many cultures for medicinal and magickal purposes- each with its … This is as much a part of smudging (or saging) as burning the plant is,” Hopkins says. so... technically i'd still be using white sage, right? ... As an Indigenous woman, it’s important for me to inform you that using the word ‘smudge’ contributes to cultural appropriation. Burning Sage May Not Be Cultural Appropriation — But It Isn’t Very Sensitive, Either. The plant itself is not endangered in the US-stamped-on-a-list kind of way, though many online are saying that, but what is endangered is Native peoples’ ability to access and use wild white sage in the ways that they and their ancestors have done for thousands of years. If the Sage is an endangered species STOP burning it and leave it for the Indians. Ceremonial smudging involves the burning of sacred medicines. If someone is harvesting white sage and doesn’t know to leave the root, they’re preventing more plants from growing. “When using medicinal plants, it’s important that the plant is used sustainably. The use of white sage for ceremonial cleansing and ritual, also called smudging, is a Native American practice. Recently, Sephora advertised a bohemian “witch kit” with white sage included. This article examines how white youths culturally appropriate hip-hop by adhering to the demands of color-blind ideology. But some brands continue to sell white sage, despite Native communities speaking out against it. This article was originally published on July 19, 2019. In other words, it’s important to leave the root, because that’s how the plant grows back. If burning incense, herbs, or wood is part of your self-love practice, there are safe-burning alternatives to sage for smoke cleansing, including lavender, pine, and cloves. Smudging refers to a specific healing cultural spiritual practice, but smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging for folks who aren't Native. That may include educating yourself and others about white sage, appropriation, and smoke cleansing; harvesting your own sage or other herbs sustainably; contacting brands to ask them to stop selling white sage without giving due to Native cultures; or using other plants entirely. This is as much a part of smudging (or saging) as burning the plant is,” Hopkins says. Smudging is an important ceremonial purifying ritual, illegal for Natives to practice their religion, white sage has important medical benefits, International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging, spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, safe-burning alternatives to sage for smoke cleansing, respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem, stop selling white sage without giving due to Native cultures. But you might want to hold off on buying the next available thing. That may include educating yourself and others about white sage, appropriation, and smoke cleansing; harvesting your own sage or other herbs sustainably; contacting brands to ask them to stop selling white sage without giving due to Native cultures; or using other plants entirely.