Who is benefitting from the sale of these products? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. History of Burning Sage Burning Sage and New This is cultural appropriation, and its harmful to Native communities. Open cabinets and closets and waft inside. Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. Your email address will not be published. For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. Not Native peoples.. It is also said to help attract positive energy into your life. 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 persons choice to adopt a particular style or practice. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/palo-santo-smudge-sticks/profile, https://ecuadorianhands.com/en/palo-santo-incense-powder-3470-7868900012126.html. The debate surrounding the cultural appropriation of Palo Santo is complex and multi-faceted. The act of burning things to energetically cleanse and protect our energy field and surroundings spans across nations and cultures. In a 2018 essay published on her Native Appropriations bloga forum for discussing representations of Native peoplesshe penned a tremendously moving argument against non-indigenous use of smudging sticks. Except, thats not the case. So if weve learned anything from sites like ancestry.com, its that culture and identity are much more fluid than we once thought. It is also important to consider the ethical implications of selling Palo Santo in non-indigenous markets and the role of social media in popularizing the product. Only 5 to 10 percent of dry tropical forests are still intact around the world, Susan Leopold, PhD, the executive director of United Plant told the New York Times. WebBurning Palo Santo (also known as smudging) as part of their ceremonies and healing rituals, through its healing scent and sacred smoke, provide energetic protection, remove bad ene In preparation for meditation, Palo Santo smudge sticks are burned to draw positive energies and keep them grounded. Because of all that complicated history of sage burning, when non-Native people use white sage to "smudge" their homes or other spaces, it infringes upon the Dragons Blood. To this end, in addition to the articles and books mentioned above, Rachel Rickettss Spiritual Activism courses provide a great primer on cultural appropriationand more books and courses are just a Google away. Burning Palo Santo and doing some cleaning! WebIts not cultural appropriation. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Aromatherapy uses botanicals to foster a sense of safety and protection. Required fields are marked *. I want to thank all of the land stewards and spirits of the land. Bursera graveolens, known in Spanish as palo santo (Holy Stick), is a wild tree native from the Yucatn Peninsula to Peru and Venezuela. That was only 42 years ago. Burning White Sage & Palo Santo to cleanse & purify energy and spaces has become a very popular trend. What do you say when you sage your house? Palo santo was traditionally used as a remedy for ailments like the common cold, headaches, and stress. Try These 3 Low-Impact Exercise Circuits, I Cant Journal, So I Tried This New Alternative Method. For a more intimate look at the situation, I reached out to my friend, Lima-based designer Fiorella Yaksetig. I would say appropriation is when it is co-opted by (mostly) white people and are using it in a way that is insulting or inappropriate. What grows there? Is it an appropriation of Japanese culture to learn karate? The thing that my Peruvian family used so discreetly here in the U.S. in order to not be ridiculed or ostracized is now a trend. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the first time released a review of bursera graveolenss conservation status and declared it of least concern.. See also5 Good Buys from Brands that Give Back. Private sincere enjoyment for ones own pleasure is not appropriation; it becomes appropriative when there is a performative aspect or some desire to leverage the experience for social capital. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. It keeps families together. But what is it and why are people burning it? Thats some bad juju, so I wanted to know: Are the rumors true? The IUCN has declared Palo Santo to be of least concern on a global scale; however, national governments also determine a plants regional conservation status. Non-native peoples use of smudge products are often well-intentioned but this appropriation is still harmful and the exploitation of smudge is only a part of a larger issue. Furthermore, there is the risk that the sale of Palo Santo in non-indigenous markets could lead to further exploitation of indigenous communities. Can we get the same spiritual effect from a questionably sourced box of sticks snagged on Amazon? See alsoAddressing Scent and Sensitivity in Class. Cultural appropriation has been taking place since the first group of humans encountered another group of humans. Its holistic origins are rooted in Latin cultures. You can buy palo santo smudge sticks from Etsy and follow along on YouTube as a woman in yoga wear teaches viewers how to cleanse a room without burning the place down. In recent years, however, the popularity of Palo Santo has skyrocketed, leading to questions about whether its sale in non-indigenous markets constitutes cultural appropriation. ), When Native people express to you that they are hurt by the exploitation of their spiritual practices, please believe them." We as POC cannot demand to be equal and integrate if we are also going to horde our culture to ourselves, we cant have it both ways. It does not store any personal data. For centuries, she writes, Natives were forced to practice their customssuch as burning white sagein secret, until the passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978. History of Burning Sage Burning Sage and New Turns out, Lorde is considering the environmental and cultural ramifications of these wellness trends. It sounds like you want to be respectful and thats crucial, imo. Like, whats done is done but it need not be in vain. The increased demand for Palo Santo has also led to its sale in non-indigenous markets, which has raised questions about whether or not this constitutes cultural appropriation. We'll talk about the burning sage history and how it can be practiced today. Its not cultural appropriation. in order to clear negative energy) has become increasingly popular among non-native people. While this is one of the many beautiful ways in which palo santo is used, it is not the only way. Always buy from a reputable retailer to make sure your palo santo is responsibly sourced. Once you have your intention in mind, All of my friends and I approach our smudging rituals slightly differently because like any self-care ritual, its personal. If something is calling to you or feels missing from your experience, feel free to adapt and adjust. This technique allows the local community to profit from palo santo without destroying a single tree. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. When burned for more than 20-30 minutes, the scent of palo santo can become strong or even overwhelming. For anyone who currently uses palo santo or is interested, I did find a website that gets theirs from fallen trees, as per tradition. Like they get mad when their not included in everything? You can also allow it to burn out on its own. WebWhich sage is cultural appropriation? Palo Santo is derived from South America and is commonly used in purification rituals. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. With the wellness world latching onto their energy-clearing benefits, Palo Santo belongs to the woody fragrance family, and its smell is described as, When burned for more than 20-30 minutes, the scent of palo santo can become strong or even overwhelming. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Sorry. Its best to think of it as sage CLEARS it out the bad and palo santo BRINGS back the good. It represents a continuing legacy of marginalizing and punishing Native spirituality. Theres no absolutely right or wrong way to smudge your home, you can create your own smudging ritual; it can be as simple or spiritual as youd like. Personally, I think youre okay to use it considering ur situation. Palo Santo is what I reach for daily as it simply encourages positive energy while purifying the air. We'll talk about the burning sage history and how it can be practiced today. We know that removing this particular article is just one step in the work that needs to be done to eradicate culturally appropriative content from our library, and we are committed to continuing our education on this topic and taking the necessary steps to ensure Well+Good is a safe space for all people, including members of Indigenous communities. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. I know youre not used to hearing you cant have something. Spanish-speaking practitioners also welcome! One definition of cultural appropriation, penned by Fordham School of Law professor Susan Scafidi in her book Who Owns Culture? Palo Santo Appropriation vs Appreciation When honoring and enjoying palo santo in the western world, are we participating in a well-intentioned but disrespectful case of cultural appropriation instead of the appreciation we intend? The seeds before being used will pass through the digestive system of the pigeons. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". But if we are talking about the Palo To hear their own voices on this matter, watch this video! And number two, it neutralizes the energy in the room. No, commercially packaged dried sage leaves do not spoil, but they will start to lose potency over time and not flavor food as intended the storage time shown is for best quality only. Its also believed that smoke (of any organic/natural kind) can reduce air pollutants up to 94%!!! Non-native peoples use of smudge products are often well-intentioned but, When you reach a window or door, waft the smoke into all four corners, beginning at the bottom left and moving in a, Some people do this [smudge] every day, as a ritual or way to start their day. If the sage bundle was packed too tight when made, then the oxygen cant get in properly and the sage wont stay lit. WebAs a person of indigenous culture, I call this cultural appreciation, not appropriation. The money from the sale of essential oil pays for reforestation. So Once they do, they field-dress the trunks with machetes by hacking away at the termite-softened bark to reveal the trees heart, then pack the wood into woven bags, strap it to the backs of their bikes, and return to the manufacturing area. What are your thoughts on this? Additional Questions. Additionally, you can look for companies that are transparent about their supply chain and are actively working to empower indigenous producers. 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