Cedar, rosemary, lavender and cinnamon are some other great alternatives! Write an article and join a growing community of more than 160,300 academics and researchers from 4,571 institutions. The general act of smoke cleansing, however, is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture in the way that smudging is. Google white sage, the primary ingredient in the mainstream smudging custom, and dozens of choices for sage sticks and bundles appear. As contemporary Pagans often piece together different elements to create their spirituality, for many it seemed natural to include Native American practices. However, much of the public remains confused about what the term actually means. This entailed walking around the circle carrying a ritual knife known as an athame while chanting an incantation that marked the area as a safe place that only the spirits called would enter. Meanwhile smudging with palo santo and white sage is a sacred ritual for many native North American tribes, who only pass down the practice to members of their community. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The smoke is then waved over the area you want to cleanse. Just don't pretend to do a sacred smudge ritual of something. For many contemporary Pagans, Native American spirituality was a practice they wanted to emulate because of its connection to the land, to a spirit world, and because it predates Christianity and is native to the region. :) 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. i'm aware that white sage and palo santo are the major no-no's when it comes to non natives burning/smudging. sage smart oven pro recipes; is lady helen wogan still alive; pros and cons of reading mastery; is big city funding group legit; eddie foo doctor bristol; can encore guests use the wynn pool? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Purification can be done in several ways. These tribes have historically used blue sage for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. Why are your so afraid of possibly offending? Sage, sacred to Native Americans, is being used in purification rituals, raising issues of cultural appropriation. "Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission. 1 Cultural appropriation, defined Culture refers to the traditions, customs, beliefs, and practices of any given ethnic, racial, or religious group. so is blue sage okay to buy and use ? In conclusion, it is important to understand the complexities of the debate surrounding the cultural appropriation of blue sage and to be mindful of the impact it has had on indigenous communities. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. Instead, advocates say non-Native people can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways that are culturally and ecologically sensitive. ._2Gt13AX94UlLxkluAMsZqP{background-position:50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:contain;position:relative;display:inline-block} 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 white sage. The celebration of nature takes several forms, the most common being a series of rituals that commemorate the changing seasons. The cleansing and purification of the place and the participants are meant to protect them by keeping out unsavory spirits. The phrase originated in the . One of the ways it can become more serious is through the presence of what we term 'amplifiers'. 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. Cultural appropriation leads to a narrow look at other cultures and often exploitation of those cultures. Sage, Salvia officinalis, is one of the most interesting, storied plants in human history. Building on von Redecker's point about the abstract . Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. Participants believed they were honoring the first people on the continent by incorporating elements of their spiritual practice. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. 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. 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. Possibly more importantly, rituals are meant to open up the individual to the spiritual or other world. Sage is not the only sacred medicine used for smudging. Because there is no dedicated sanctified place, cleansing and protection become particularly important within Paganism. 'Dressing in traditional clothes that do not belong to one's own culture or . Poll: Support for abortion rights is strong, even among most religious groups . If you have any insights or knowledge you think would be valuable, feel free to share them with me. At Pagan ceremonies that I attended as a researcher, those leading the ritual would cut a sacred circle. More mainstream religions have buildings, such as churches or synagogues, where they maintain sanctuaries for religious purposes only. It is important to remember that blue sage has a long history of use among certain tribes and should be respected as such. Smudging sage was part of those banned religious practices. It also includes the unauthorized use of parts of their culture (their dress, dance, etc.) ._3bX7W3J0lU78fp7cayvNxx{max-width:208px;text-align:center} 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. A study conducted by Indigenous Peoples Journal found that the appropriation of blue sage has led to an increase in the commercialization of the plant, which has resulted in higher prices and decreased access for indigenous people. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? White sage and cultural appropriation Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Within these religions nature is viewed as sacred, to be celebrated and protected. One way to do this is to purchase blue sage from indigenous vendors whenever possible. It is a way to keep danger at bay as well as provide a way to separate the sacred from the mundane. I dont understand why people think cultural appropiateion is bad, its just one culture enjoying a product from another, if anything by me enjoying asian/indian incense i am stimulating their economy. The use of sage was not the only cultural artifact that these Native American spokespeople objected to being used by nonnatives. But unless you are a descendant of Indigenous North American people, it likely wasn't white sage that they were burning, according to Keene. ._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} Traditional dress and eagles feathers were two other examples of commonly appropriated items. There are other ways to purify your space. Its exploitative and amounts to silencing Native voices and erasing our cultural heritage, Hopkins says. Different Native communities use different medicines for smudging depending on where they are from, and not every culture uses white sage or smudges. ._2ik4YxCeEmPotQkDrf9tT5{width:100%}._1DR1r7cWVoK2RVj_pKKyPF,._2ik4YxCeEmPotQkDrf9tT5{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}._1DR1r7cWVoK2RVj_pKKyPF{-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;max-width:100%}._1CVe5UNoFFPNZQdcj1E7qb{-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:4px}._2UOVKq8AASb4UjcU1wrCil{height:28px;width:28px;margin-top:6px}.FB0XngPKpgt3Ui354TbYQ{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:start;align-items:flex-start;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;margin-left:8px;min-width:0}._3tIyrJzJQoNhuwDSYG5PGy{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%}.TIveY2GD5UQpMI7hBO69I{font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:16px;color:var(--newRedditTheme-titleText);white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}.e9ybGKB-qvCqbOOAHfFpF{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;max-width:100%;margin-top:2px}.y3jF8D--GYQUXbjpSOL5.y3jF8D--GYQUXbjpSOL5{font-weight:400;box-sizing:border-box}._28u73JpPTG4y_Vu5Qute7n{margin-left:4px} identity. It represents a continuing legacy of marginalizing and punishing Native spirituality. In this article, we will explore the history of blue sage, examine how it has been appropriated, investigate the impact of its cultural appropriation, analyze the debate surrounding its use, explain the benefits of adopting it respectfully, identify alternatives to using blue sage without cultural appropriation, and investigate how to balance . Geez. Pagan rituals take place outdoors, when possible, or sometimes in peoples homes or in occult bookstores. Instead, white performers who borrowed heavily . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress In her groundbreaking book Purity and Danger, anthropologist Mary Douglas illustrates how purity and its maintenance are central to religion. Sign up here. Palo Santo has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) list, because though the tree is not yet nearing extinction, its recent overharvesting can put it on that path. theres a difference between cultural exchange and appropriation. ._3K2ydhts9_ES4s9UpcXqBi{display:block;padding:0 16px;width:100%} It's a controversial topic, one that activists and celebrities like Adrienne Keene and Jesse Williams have helped bring into the national spotlight. Exclude from home page BNG staff 'No Celebrities Except Jesus': How Asbury Protected the Revival. ._3oeM4kc-2-4z-A0RTQLg0I{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between} Another is to research the traditional uses of blue sage and incorporate them into your own practices. . 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 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. Blue sage is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It is a way to keep danger at bay as well as provide a way to separate the sacred from the mundane. It may even be personally fulfilling to find out if and what your ancestors burned for cleansing. Its exploitative and amounts to silencing Native voices and erasing our cultural heritage, says. And services on this website even among most religious groups is blue sage has a history. Sticks and bundles appear to Native Americans, is one of the place and the participants are to. 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