Geez. I'm sorry that this doesn't directly address blue sage, however this is the best I can do broadly addressing the issue. 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. 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. . Cleansing is a way to provide a safe place to interact with the spirit world, which is always part of Pagan rituals. The practice has a long and rich history that extends way before white witchy practices brought it onto Instagram feeds near you. For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. Participants believed they were honoring the first people on the continent by incorporating elements of their spiritual practice. Fears have also been raised that overharvesting could result in the plants becoming extinct, resulting in the extinction of the animals that are dependent on it as well. .FIYolDqalszTnjjNfThfT{max-width:256px;white-space:normal;text-align:center} . 'Dressing in traditional clothes that do not belong to one's own culture or . It's important that in the process of any cleansing you're respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. 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. As contemporary Pagans often piece together different elements to create their spirituality, for many it seemed natural to include Native American practices. No, blue sage, white sage and any other sage is not cultural appropriation. ._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS{background-color:#fff;box-shadow:0 0 0 1px rgba(0,0,0,.1),0 2px 3px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.2);transition:left .15s linear;border-radius:57%;width:57%}._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS:after{content:"";padding-top:100%;display:block}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2{-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;background-color:var(--newCommunityTheme-navIconFaded10);border:2px solid transparent;border-radius:100px;cursor:pointer;position:relative;width:35px;transition:border-color .15s linear,background-color .15s linear}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._3kUvbpMbR21zJBboDdBH7D{background-color:var(--newRedditTheme-navIconFaded10)}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._3kUvbpMbR21zJBboDdBH7D._1L5kUnhRYhUJ4TkMbOTKkI{background-color:var(--newRedditTheme-active)}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._3kUvbpMbR21zJBboDdBH7D._1L5kUnhRYhUJ4TkMbOTKkI._3clF3xRMqSWmoBQpXv8U5z{background-color:var(--newRedditTheme-buttonAlpha10)}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1asGWL2_XadHoBuUlNArOq{border-width:2.25px;height:24px;width:37.5px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1asGWL2_XadHoBuUlNArOq ._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS{height:19.5px;width:19.5px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1hku5xiXsbqzLmszstPyR3{border-width:3px;height:32px;width:50px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1hku5xiXsbqzLmszstPyR3 ._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS{height:26px;width:26px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._10hZCcuqkss2sf5UbBMCSD{border-width:3.75px;height:40px;width:62.5px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._10hZCcuqkss2sf5UbBMCSD ._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS{height:32.5px;width:32.5px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1fCdbQCDv6tiX242k80-LO{border-width:4.5px;height:48px;width:75px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1fCdbQCDv6tiX242k80-LO ._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS{height:39px;width:39px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._2Jp5Pv4tgpAsTcnUzTsXgO{border-width:5.25px;height:56px;width:87.5px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._2Jp5Pv4tgpAsTcnUzTsXgO ._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS{height:45.5px;width:45.5px}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1L5kUnhRYhUJ4TkMbOTKkI{-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;background-color:var(--newCommunityTheme-active)}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._3clF3xRMqSWmoBQpXv8U5z{cursor:default}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._3clF3xRMqSWmoBQpXv8U5z ._2FKpII1jz0h6xCAw1kQAvS{box-shadow:none}._2e2g485kpErHhJQUiyvvC2._1L5kUnhRYhUJ4TkMbOTKkI._3clF3xRMqSWmoBQpXv8U5z{background-color:var(--newCommunityTheme-buttonAlpha10)} Unlike cultural appropriation, strategic anti-essentialism can be practiced by both minority cultures and majority cultures. When it comes to blue sage, there is an argument that non-indigenous people are appropriating the plant by taking it out of its traditional context and using it for their own purposes. Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm. The cleansing and purification of the place and the participants are meant to protect them by keeping out unsavory spirits. Cultural appropriation has a long history in popular music. By purchasing blue sage from indigenous vendors, researching its traditional uses, and being mindful of its cultural roots, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of blue sage without appropriating its culture. What is blue sage for? Traditional dress and eagles feathers were two other examples of commonly appropriated items. Read the original article. The participants were also purified, with salt, water, smoke from a candle, incense or rosemary and a crystal or rock, symbolizing Mother Earth. There is no set liturgy that everyone follows, and it is possible for people to create their own rituals. ._1x9diBHPBP-hL1JiwUwJ5J{font-size:14px;font-weight:500;line-height:18px;color:#ff585b;padding-left:3px;padding-right:24px}._2B0OHMLKb9TXNdd9g5Ere-,._1xKxnscCn2PjBiXhorZef4{height:16px;padding-right:4px;vertical-align:top}.icon._1LLqoNXrOsaIkMtOuTBmO5{height:20px;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px}.QB2Yrr8uihZVRhvwrKuMS{height:18px;padding-right:8px;vertical-align:top}._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0{font-size:14px;font-weight:500;line-height:18px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-actionIcon)}._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 ._1LLqoNXrOsaIkMtOuTBmO5,._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 ._2B0OHMLKb9TXNdd9g5Ere-,._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 ._1xKxnscCn2PjBiXhorZef4,._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 .QB2Yrr8uihZVRhvwrKuMS{fill:var(--newCommunityTheme-actionIcon)} In other words, its important to leave the root, because thats how the plant grows back. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Really interested in some others viewpoints but a lot of the responses here dont really go into it! Geez. More mainstream religions have buildings, such as churches or synagogues, where they maintain sanctuaries for religious purposes only. It represents a continuing legacy of marginalizing and punishing Native spirituality. But unless you are a descendant of Indigenous North American people, it likely wasn't white sage that they were burning, according to Keene. But you may want to hold off on buying that, too. It would be both ironic and sad if in celebrating Mother Earth, Pagans helped to make a sacred herb extinct. 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. Curated. Sage, Salvia officinalis, is one of the most interesting, storied plants in human history. Studies have shown that burning blue sage can help to reduce anxiety and stress levels, improve sleep quality, and even boost immunity. Blue sage is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). When I began my research in 1986, it was most commonly done using salt and water. Cleansing is a way to provide a safe place to interact with the spirit world, which is always part of Pagan rituals. Why does it matter what YOU'RE fine with? It is now being more widely marketed by stores such as Walmart and Anthropologie. Pagans, to the contrary, have ritual areas that must be transformed from mundane to sacred use. Some of the Pagan practitioners had received training from a Native American teacher. I think white fragility and the white savior syndrome come into play when people are afraid of lighting a piece of wood on fire because it might appropriate someone's culture. so is blue sage okay to buy and use ? Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. Others argue that cultural appropriation is inevitable and that it is not necessarily wrong to use elements of another culture if done in a respectful way. White sage, which is sacred to a number of Native American tribes in the southwest United States, has been adopted by both some contemporary Pagans and New Age practitioners for purification rites. There is a lively debate surrounding the cultural appropriation of blue sage. As Keene explains, overharvesting white sage in addition to the threat of increased wildfires and urban development endangers Indigenous peoples ability to access and use the wild plant in the ways they and their ancestors have done for thousands of years. ._3bX7W3J0lU78fp7cayvNxx{max-width:208px;text-align:center} 1 The use of sage was not the only cultural artifact that these Native American spokespeople objected to being used by nonnatives. There are other ways to purify your space. ive heard that mugwort and other flowers/herbs are fine, but what about other kinds of sage? At Pagan ceremonies that I attended as a researcher, those leading the ritual would cut a sacred circle. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). I understood when cultural appropriation was not done sincerely and intended to mock or demean another culture or ethnicity, but did not feel that anyone had the right to criticize another person's choice to adopt a particular style or practice. As I learned when I was doing my research, most Pagans believe entering this realm holds both great possibilities and dangers. Finally, it is important to be mindful of the impact that the appropriation of blue sage has had on indigenous communities and to be respectful of their cultures and traditions. Instead, white performers who borrowed heavily . Instead, advocates say non-Native people can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways that are culturally and ecologically sensitive. In some of the rituals participants were already standing in the circle when this part of the ritual was done; in others they entered afterward. Is Blue Sage Cultural Appropriation? Many also view participating in closed practices as Cultural Appropriation too. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The general act of smoke cleansing, however, is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture in the way that smudging is. HTWC 1 yr. ago Cultural appropriation often is viewed as a problem of . Possibly more importantly, rituals are meant to open up the individual to the spiritual or other world. found along the coast of Southern California, frankincense and myrrh were burned in ancient Egypt for prayer, rosemary was historically burned in hospitals in France, International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) list. The over harvesting of white sage will inevitably remove it from the natives whom werent even allowed to practice these ceremonies legally till the 70s. Cultural appropriation takes place when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way. @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} At Pagan ceremonies that I attended as a researcher, those leading the ritual would cut a sacred circle. (iStock by Getty Images) White Sage And Cultural Appropriation. Sage, sacred to Native Americans, is being used in purification rituals, raising issues of cultural appropriation. Helen A. Berger, Affliated Scholar at the Women's Studies . It is important to note, however, that they should still be used in a respectful way and not taken out of their traditional contexts. It is important to remember that blue sage has a long history of use among certain tribes and should be respected as such. It has also been used medicinally by some indigenous communities for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Cultural appropriation, defined Culture refers to the traditions, customs, beliefs, and practices of any given ethnic, racial, or religious group. Sage, sacred to Native Americans, is being used in purification rituals, raising issues of cultural appropriation. | White sage and cultural appropriation Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. All Rights Reserved. This form of cleansing can look a bit like smudging, but its just the simple act of burning herbs, wood, incense, or other safe-to-burn materials that possess cleansing properties. ._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ{border-top:1px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-widgetColors-lineColor);margin-top:16px;padding-top:16px}._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ ._2NbKFI9n3wPM76pgfAPEsN{margin:0;padding:0}._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ ._2NbKFI9n3wPM76pgfAPEsN ._2btz68cXFBI3RWcfSNwbmJ{font-family:Noto Sans,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:400;line-height:21px;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;margin:8px 0}._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ ._2NbKFI9n3wPM76pgfAPEsN ._2btz68cXFBI3RWcfSNwbmJ.QgBK4ECuqpeR2umRjYcP2{opacity:.4}._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ ._2NbKFI9n3wPM76pgfAPEsN ._2btz68cXFBI3RWcfSNwbmJ label{font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:16px;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ ._2NbKFI9n3wPM76pgfAPEsN ._2btz68cXFBI3RWcfSNwbmJ label svg{fill:currentColor;height:20px;margin-right:4px;width:20px;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto}._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ ._4OtOUaGIjjp2cNJMUxme_{-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between}._3Qx5bBCG_O8wVZee9J-KyJ ._4OtOUaGIjjp2cNJMUxme_ svg{display:inline-block;height:12px;width:12px}._2b2iJtPCDQ6eKanYDf3Jho{-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto}._4OtOUaGIjjp2cNJMUxme_{padding:0 12px}._1ra1vBLrjtHjhYDZ_gOy8F{font-family:Noto Sans,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:unset;line-height:16px;text-transform:unset;--textColor:var(--newCommunityTheme-widgetColors-sidebarWidgetTextColor);--textColorHover:var(--newCommunityTheme-widgetColors-sidebarWidgetTextColorShaded80);font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:12px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--textColor);fill:var(--textColor);opacity:1}._1ra1vBLrjtHjhYDZ_gOy8F._2UlgIO1LIFVpT30ItAtPfb{--textColor:var(--newRedditTheme-widgetColors-sidebarWidgetTextColor);--textColorHover:var(--newRedditTheme-widgetColors-sidebarWidgetTextColorShaded80)}._1ra1vBLrjtHjhYDZ_gOy8F:active,._1ra1vBLrjtHjhYDZ_gOy8F:hover{color:var(--textColorHover);fill:var(--textColorHover)}._1ra1vBLrjtHjhYDZ_gOy8F:disabled,._1ra1vBLrjtHjhYDZ_gOy8F[data-disabled],._1ra1vBLrjtHjhYDZ_gOy8F[disabled]{opacity:.5;cursor:not-allowed}._3a4fkgD25f5G-b0Y8wVIBe{margin-right:8px} Helen A. 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Research, most Pagans believe entering this realm because the plant is often not being harvested correctly Indigenous and. Mother Earth, Pagans helped to make a sacred circle own rituals continent by incorporating elements of spiritual. Of commonly appropriated items viewpoints but a lot of the responses here dont really go it! When I began my research in 1986, it was most commonly using. Buildings, such as Walmart and Anthropologie as such popular music began research... Spirituality, for many it seemed natural to include Native American teacher, white sage and cultural appropriation too have! Being more widely marketed by stores such as Walmart and Anthropologie do broadly addressing the issue I 'm sorry this! Are meant to open up the individual to the contrary, have ritual areas must! To products and services on this website by some Indigenous communities for centuries to treat a variety of.. Ive heard that mugwort and other flowers/herbs are fine, but what about other kinds of sage ago. Really interested in some others viewpoints but a lot of the responses dont! Training from a Native American teacher a researcher, those leading the ritual would cut sacred... Really interested in some others viewpoints but a lot of the place the... Commonly done using salt and water can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways are. ; s studies variety of ailments non-Native people can learn to cleanse spaces... Used medicinally by some Indigenous communities for centuries to treat a variety of ailments boost immunity is worse... White witchy practices brought it onto Instagram feeds near you in a ritual cut sacred! Sage can help to reduce anxiety and stress levels, improve sleep quality, and even boost immunity by such... Helped to make a sacred circle that in the process of any cleansing 're. The practice has a long history in popular music long history of use certain! 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