The participants were also purified, with salt, water, smoke from a candle, incense or rosemary and a crystal or rock, symbolizing Mother Earth. As a sociologist of religion who has studied contemporary Paganism for more than 30 years, I am aware of how important both contact with the spirit world and purification are in this religion. Possibly more importantly, rituals are meant to open up the individual to the spiritual or other world. If someone is harvesting white sage and doesnt know how to properly do so, theyre preventing more plants from growing and thus endangering the plant species. While this may seem innocuous, it has raised concerns about cultural appropriation. What kind of sage is not cultural appropriation? At Pagan ceremonies that I attended as a researcher, those leading the ritual would cut a sacred circle. identity. One of the ways it can become more serious is through the presence of what we term 'amplifiers'. Cultural appropriation has a long history in popular music. What is blue sage for? Just don't pretend to do a sacred smudge ritual of something. As Emily McFarlan Miller reported in a recent Religion News Service article, this is resulting in overharvesting and shortages of the plant, making it harder for Native Americans to find enough for their sacred ceremonies. I'm fine with non-native people using whatever the hell they want. Many cultures have historical and spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing everything from herbs and woods to incense and roots. A perennial evergreen shrub of the mint family with soft, gray-green leaves, produces blue and purple flowers. Sage, Salvia officinalis, is one of the most interesting, storied plants in human history. I have only lavender incense, is that considered cultural appropriation? if youre indigenous or have knowledge on this please lmk!! When I began my research in 1986, it was most commonly done using salt and water. It has also been used medicinally by some indigenous communities for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. Traditional dress and eagles feathers were two other examples of commonly appropriated items. ago Spoken like a true colonising brute. Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. From a historical perspective, the term that is typically used to describe the adoption of certain . I dont want to accidentally do offend anyone and do something thats not my culture and I am not very educated in this subject , It is fine to buy and use, as long as if you arent trying to mimic others cultures while using it. Press J to jump to the feed. Palo Santo sticks have been getting more popular as an alternative to sage, but buying this Central and South American tree bark used by Amazonian tribes can also be harmful, in similar ways to white sage. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices Is this the society we re living in? It is a way to keep danger at bay as well as provide a way to separate the sacred from the mundane. As a note, if you're browsing your fave place to buy herbs and look at the options for smoke cleansing next to white sage, you might find Palo Santo ("holy wood in Spanish). Blue sage (Salvia clevelandii) is a perennial herb native to California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. It is important to consider the impact that the appropriation of blue sage has had on indigenous communities. But some brands and shops continue to sell white sage, despite Native communities speaking out against it. 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Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. Cultural appropriation is not a modern concept; it has existed as long as culture itself. I mean, if you're of white European descent, you have no reason to wear a headdress, smoke a peace pipe and do smudging ceremonies while claiming to be a shaman of the Navajo. 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Curated. There is no set liturgy that everyone follows, and it is possible for people to create their own rituals. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. Tell me HOW can you offend someone if you light blue sage and use it in your home. Why is burning sage cultural appropriation? Is Blue Sage Cultural Appropriation? Unlike cultural appropriation, strategic anti-essentialism can be practiced by both minority cultures and majority cultures. Yall are so sickening and you cant even see why. Wondering whether burning sage is cultural appropriation is a fair question long story short, burning sage is problematic for a few reasons, the biggest being cultural insensitivity and environmental unsustainability. This is as much a part of smudging (or saging) as burning the plant is, Hopkins says. When purification includes the use of sage, it raises the issue of appropriation, as it has traditionally been used by Native Americans in their rituals. Why is Good UI/UX Design Imperative for Business Success? Contemporary Paganism is a set of religions that base their practice on what is known about pre-Christian religions in Europe, mixed with literature, science fiction and personal inspiration. Pagans, to the contrary, have ritual areas that must be transformed from mundane to sacred use. When we pick sage, we always leave the root and say a prayer of thanks for our harvest. . Stole these folks land and now you want to steal their cultural practices too. They suggest that blue sage can be used in a way that honors its traditional roots while still allowing others to benefit from it. Those who had been using sage returned to using either salt and water or rosemary for purification. Really interested in some others viewpoints but a lot of the responses here dont really go into it! As Pike notes, in the early 1990s Native Americans from several tribes began to express their rage at what they saw as cultural strip mining, the stealing and watering down of their culture and their spirituality, which they described as an extension of colonization that had stripped them of their original lands. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Cultural appropriation is a hot-button issue in todays world, and one of the more recent topics to come under scrutiny is the use of blue sage. These plants and herbs can be used in the same way as blue sage and offer many of the same benefits. @keyframes ibDwUVR1CAykturOgqOS5{0%{transform:rotate(0deg)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}}._3LwT7hgGcSjmJ7ng7drAuq{--sizePx:0;font-size:4px;position:relative;text-indent:-9999em;border-radius:50%;border:4px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-bodyTextAlpha20);border-left-color:var(--newCommunityTheme-body);transform:translateZ(0);animation:ibDwUVR1CAykturOgqOS5 1.1s linear infinite}._3LwT7hgGcSjmJ7ng7drAuq,._3LwT7hgGcSjmJ7ng7drAuq:after{width:var(--sizePx);height:var(--sizePx)}._3LwT7hgGcSjmJ7ng7drAuq:after{border-radius:50%}._3LwT7hgGcSjmJ7ng7drAuq._2qr28EeyPvBWAsPKl-KuWN{margin:0 auto} Different Native communities use different medicines for smudging depending on where they are from, and not every culture uses white sage or smudges. i'm aware that white sage and palo santo are the major no-no's when it comes to non natives burning/smudging. its just important to get insight on what is and isnt appropriate to appreciate and exchange between cultures in order to preserve their meaning and honori dont think incense in general would be harmful even though its from another culture because its generally not a closed practice, however with white sage and palo santo theres been some controversy and issues with non-natives appropriating it, so i just wanted some clarification. It's all about what Halloween costume you wear, or who's cooking biryani. Sage, sacred to Native Americans, is being used in purification rituals, raising issues of cultural appropriation Published: February 23, 2023 8.15am EST Author Helen A. Berger Affliated. You can't. Its an important ceremonial purifying ritual or prayer created and practiced in many North American Indigenous cultures. It was used because it was associated with Native American practice. ._3oeM4kc-2-4z-A0RTQLg0I{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between} Just use your sage and that's it. On the other hand, opponents argue that blue sage should only be used by those who have traditionally used it and that any other use is disrespectful. At the same time, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of blue sage without disrespecting its cultural roots. They argue that by taking something that is sacred to them and using it for their own purposes, non-indigenous people are erasing their culture and traditions. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. As a proof, the stores don't ask for your ID to see your ethnicity when buying sage. The study also found that some tribal members feel disrespected by the use of blue sage by non-indigenous people, as they believe that it is taking away from the sacredness of the plant. It only becomes cultural appropriation when an element of culture is adopted from a marginalized group without respect for its cultural meaning or significance or with the purpose of exploiting the culture In contrast, appreciation involves a desire for knowledge and deeper understanding of a . When purification includes the use of sage, it raises the issue of appropriation, as it has traditionally been used by Native . Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). As Pagans pride themselves on being sensitive to practices of diverse cultures, most quickly gave up the use of sage; the use of other Native American artifacts in Pagan practices became less common as well. Those who had been using sage returned to using either salt and water or rosemary for purification. As I learned when I was doing my research, most Pagans believe entering this realm holds both great possibilities and dangers. White Sage is one, but there's others out there too. The use of sage by non-Native Americans is again becoming more prevalent. Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. As contemporary Pagans often piece together different elements to create their spirituality, for many it seemed natural to include Native American practices. Balancing respect for culture with enjoyment of blue sage is an important issue. and challenging what they describe as wanton cultural appropriation by non-Natives eager for a quick fix to the "dis-ease" associated . If burning incense, herbs, or wood is part of your self-love practice and inner wellness work, there are safe-burning alternatives to burning sage for smoke cleansing, including lavender, pine, thyme, and cloves, each of which has its own unique properties and is not environmentally endangered. Unless it's endangeredmaybei like castoreum. Still, what most people think of today as cultural appropriation is the opposite: a member of the dominant culture an insider taking from a culture that has historically been and is still . Because there is no dedicated sanctified place, cleansing and protection become particularly important within Paganism. Feel free to cleanse or purify or scent or whatever using anything you want. valter's osteria recipes; whiteland shirt andrew schulz; san bernardino superior court case search; private label pet products australia; sea palms . They then used salt and water to purify the circle. It is now being more widely marketed by stores such as Walmart and Anthropologie. Cultural appropriation is the adoption of certain elements from another culture without the consent of people who belong to that culture. :) the only reason white sage is so sacred to us (besides being a ceremonial tool) is because it only grows within the southwest of north America and the top of Central America, its going endangered as well and the govt refuses to add it to the endangered plants. "Salvia" is a name that means "healer," referring to this ancient name for a sage with medicinal properties. Smudging sage was part of those banned religious practices. Its about power.. It also includes the unauthorized use of parts of their culture (their dress, dance, etc.) Others choose to research the traditional uses of blue sage and incorporate them into their own practices. Building on von Redecker's point about the abstract . No, blue sage, white sage and any other sage is not cultural appropriation. Google white sage, the primary ingredient in the mainstream smudging custom, and dozens of choices for sage sticks and bundles appear. .Rd5g7JmL4Fdk-aZi1-U_V{transition:all .1s linear 0s}._2TMXtA984ePtHXMkOpHNQm{font-size:16px;font-weight:500;line-height:20px;margin-bottom:4px}.CneW1mCG4WJXxJbZl5tzH{border-top:1px solid var(--newRedditTheme-line);margin-top:16px;padding-top:16px}._11ARF4IQO4h3HeKPpPg0xb{transition:all .1s linear 0s;display:none;fill:var(--newCommunityTheme-button);height:16px;width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin-bottom:2px;margin-left:4px;cursor:pointer}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B:hover ._11ARF4IQO4h3HeKPpPg0xb{display:inline-block}._2IvhQwkgv_7K0Q3R0695Cs{border-radius:4px;border:1px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-line)}._2IvhQwkgv_7K0Q3R0695Cs:focus{outline:none}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B{transition:all .1s linear 0s;border-radius:4px;border:1px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-line)}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B:focus{outline:none}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B.IeceazVNz_gGZfKXub0ak,._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B:hover{border:1px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-button)}._35hmSCjPO8OEezK36eUXpk._35hmSCjPO8OEezK36eUXpk._35hmSCjPO8OEezK36eUXpk{margin-top:25px;left:-9px}._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP,._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP:focus-within,._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP:hover{transition:all .1s linear 0s;border:none;padding:8px 8px 0}._25yWxLGH4C6j26OKFx8kD5{display:inline}._2YsVWIEj0doZMxreeY6iDG{font-size:12px;font-weight:400;line-height:16px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText);display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;padding:4px 6px}._1hFCAcL4_gkyWN0KM96zgg{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-button);margin-right:8px;margin-left:auto;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-errorText)}._1hFCAcL4_gkyWN0KM96zgg,._1dF0IdghIrnqkJiUxfswxd{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;line-height:16px;cursor:pointer;-ms-flex-item-align:end;align-self:flex-end;-webkit-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none}._1dF0IdghIrnqkJiUxfswxd{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-button)}._3VGrhUu842I3acqBMCoSAq{font-weight:700;color:#ff4500;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:4px}._3VGrhUu842I3acqBMCoSAq,.edyFgPHILhf5OLH2vk-tk{font-size:12px;line-height:16px}.edyFgPHILhf5OLH2vk-tk{font-weight:400;-ms-flex-preferred-size:100%;flex-basis:100%;margin-bottom:4px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText)}._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX{margin-top:6px}._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._3MAHaXXXXi9Xrmc_oMPTdP{margin-top:4px} I noticed while doing my research in 1986 that white sage was sold at stores catering to the occult. . Blue sage is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). .LalRrQILNjt65y-p-QlWH{fill:var(--newRedditTheme-actionIcon);height:18px;width:18px}.LalRrQILNjt65y-p-QlWH rect{stroke:var(--newRedditTheme-metaText)}._3J2-xIxxxP9ISzeLWCOUVc{height:18px}.FyLpt0kIWG1bTDWZ8HIL1{margin-top:4px}._2ntJEAiwKXBGvxrJiqxx_2,._1SqBC7PQ5dMOdF0MhPIkA8{vertical-align:middle}._1SqBC7PQ5dMOdF0MhPIkA8{-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center} ._1aTW4bdYQHgSZJe7BF2-XV{display:-ms-grid;display:grid;-ms-grid-columns:auto auto 42px;grid-template-columns:auto auto 42px;column-gap:12px}._3b9utyKN3e_kzVZ5ngPqAu,._21RLQh5PvUhC6vOKoFeHUP{font-size:16px;font-weight:500;line-height:20px}._21RLQh5PvUhC6vOKoFeHUP:before{content:"";margin-right:4px;color:#46d160}._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK,._244EzVTQLL3kMNnB03VmxK{display:inline-block;word-break:break-word}._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK{font-weight:500}._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK,._244EzVTQLL3kMNnB03VmxK{font-size:12px;line-height:16px}._244EzVTQLL3kMNnB03VmxK{font-weight:400;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText)}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO{-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-top:13px;margin-bottom:2px}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO ._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK{font-size:12px;font-weight:400;line-height:16px;margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-actionIcon)}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO .je4sRPuSI6UPjZt_xGz8y{border-radius:4px;box-sizing:border-box;height:21px;width:21px}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO .je4sRPuSI6UPjZt_xGz8y:nth-child(2),._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO .je4sRPuSI6UPjZt_xGz8y:nth-child(3){margin-left:-9px} It has become common, for example, for younger Americans to cleanse their homes of bad spirits with white sage even if they do not identify as Pagans. Added to this, those who are new to Paganism are often unaware of the history of appropriation and are repeating the errors of an earlier generation of Pagans and using sage in their rituals. The use of sage was not the only cultural artifact that these Native American spokespeople objected to being used by nonnatives. 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 do so in a culturally conscious way. Cultural appropriation leads to a narrow look at other cultures and often exploitation of those cultures. Typically African-American musical traditions have been targeted for such exploitation. Some of these include white sage (Salvia apiana), cedar (Thuja plicata), sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). In the 21st century, cultural appropriationlike globalizationisn't just inevitable; it's potentially positive. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. But if you tend to poke around smoke cleansing social media circles, you've probably heard people ask (and might be wondering yourself): Is burning sage and smudging cultural appropriation? Terms & Conditions. As Emily McFarlan Miller reported in a recent Religion News Service article, this is resulting in overharvesting and shortages of the plant, making it harder for Native Americans to find enough for their sacred ceremonies. All rights reserved. Soflyy03 10 mo. It is important to note, however, that they should still be used in a respectful way and not taken out of their traditional contexts. Smudging refers to a specific cultural and spiritual practice, but smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging for folks who aren't Indigenous. When using medicinal plants, its important that the plant is used sustainably. Being intentional about how you implement this practice in your life and being mindful about its origins and significance is helpful for everyone. ._1sDtEhccxFpHDn2RUhxmSq{font-family:Noto Sans,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:400;line-height:18px;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-flow:row nowrap;flex-flow:row nowrap}._1d4NeAxWOiy0JPz7aXRI64{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText)}.icon._3tMM22A0evCEmrIk-8z4zO{margin:-2px 8px 0 0} @keyframes _1tIZttmhLdrIGrB-6VvZcT{0%{opacity:0}to{opacity:1}}._3uK2I0hi3JFTKnMUFHD2Pd,.HQ2VJViRjokXpRbJzPvvc{--infoTextTooltip-overflow-left:0px;font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:16px;padding:3px 9px;position:absolute;border-radius:4px;margin-top:-6px;background:#000;color:#fff;animation:_1tIZttmhLdrIGrB-6VvZcT .5s step-end;z-index:100;white-space:pre-wrap}._3uK2I0hi3JFTKnMUFHD2Pd:after,.HQ2VJViRjokXpRbJzPvvc:after{content:"";position:absolute;top:100%;left:calc(50% - 4px - var(--infoTextTooltip-overflow-left));width:0;height:0;border-top:3px solid #000;border-left:4px solid transparent;border-right:4px solid transparent}._3uK2I0hi3JFTKnMUFHD2Pd{margin-top:6px}._3uK2I0hi3JFTKnMUFHD2Pd:after{border-bottom:3px solid #000;border-top:none;bottom:100%;top:auto} , etc. ) that considered cultural appropriation is this article not meeting your expectations and roots same as... 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