palo santo cultural appropriation

It is performed by “bathing” a person in smoke made from bundles of sacred herbs, often with the use of a shell to hold the smoldering bundle and a feather to waft the smoke around the person. Native American Spiritualities: Every tribe has its own beliefs and you should have either grown up in the culture or at least ask permission and seek the guidance of an elder or authority figure in the culture before practicing. Decolonizing Witchcraft: Racism, Whitewashing, and Cultural Appropriation in Witchcraft and How to Decolonize Your Practice When it comes to racism, whitewashing, and cultural appropriation, modern witchcraft and paganism are not exempt. If they are a reputable vendor, they should be able to tell you exactly where the crystals came from. “Think about sage moving energy out and palo santo moving energy in,” adds King. We live in a very powerful time, we have so much knowledge at our fingertips and are able to see social issues through the eyes of people from every culture due to incredible technological advances and the invention of social media. Palo Santo. Another way to make it last is to STOP USING WHITE SAGE TO CLEANSE EVERYTHING. Not only is this ignorant, but it’s also disrespectful. No, not the shocking amount of wasted pumpkins, but the dehumanisation of others rooted in colonialism, privilege and white supremacy. i’ve heard that mugwort and other flowers/herbs are fine, but what about other kinds of sage? When the dominant culture in society takes aspects from another culture that’s experiencing oppression, that’s best understood as cultural appropriation. Palo Santo in Spanish is holy stick. Yet even though we live in the age of communication, sometimes we still do and say insensitive things in regards to other races, cultures, and religions that we do not belong to. Those who cut down the tree prematurely are selling Palo Santo bundles that provide little benefit, yet being so far removed here in the west, they are still being snatched up faster than ever because of the trend aspect, rather than the understanding of its importance. Basically, at one point or another, a lot of us have been guilty of appropriating someone else’s culture or inadvertently supporting unethical practices, myself included. Palo Santo. There’s a lot of misinformation, confusion and ignorance floating around about the use of Palo Santo. Palo Santo ("holy wood” in Spanish) sticks have been getting more popular as an alternative to sage, but buying this Central and South American tree used by … This doesn’t mean that you can’t use white sage, but you should really be very considerate when buying and using it. This term is often applied to a variety of cultural contexts including symbols, food, clothing, … It is great for cleansing a new house, new car, etc, but for general smoke cleansing, there are many wonderful alternatives to burning white sage. I certainly do not want to spread any misinformation. We always encourage conscious consumption, so here are our key takeaways: Smudging and space cleansing is cultural appropriation and disrespectful to the Native communities in the Americas. https://newrepublic.com/article/148190/know-healing-crystals-come-from. In this article, I want to discuss some of the most common ways that I see witches appropriating other cultures and engaging in unethical practices. Voodoo/Vodou is an ATR (African Traditional Religion) that originated in Haiti and West Africa and was brought to the US by slaves. The most important thing we can do moving forward is to learn from our mistakes and take the necessary steps to make sure that we are always being respectful. A lot of our crystals come from countries where the labor laws and environmental regulations are lax to nonexistent. It is often used by shamans in sacred plant spirit ceremonies such as Ayahuasca (another thing we whites appropriated). Let’s all take steps to be more empathetic towards others and try to be our best to be our highest selves. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Is Palo Santo Sustainable? Concern: using Palo Santo is cultural appropriation The only way to get the full benefit of this tree is by letting it die naturally, and allowing it a four to ten year resting period on the forest floor. Although it isn’t endangered, it is being over-harvested and this is a big problem. (source.) You have probably seen the braids of sweetgrass and if you’ve ever been lucky enough to actually smell it, then you know just how delightfully sweet and good it smells. If you dig my work but live a bit too far away to buy me a real coffee, you can send me a lil digital thank you here instead! Using herbs like white sage or palo santo takes those resources away from those to whom it is most significant, and raises the prices, again restricting access. Palo Santo, or Bursera Graveolens (found in Ecuador and Peru) and Bulnesia Sarmientoi (found in parts of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia) is a sacred tree traditionally used by Indigenous communities as a sacred practice. Below is a short list of closed religions that I see being appropriated in the witch community. You should not even attempt to practice this religion without seeking the guidance of a priest or priestess or someone within the religion. Palo Santo, which is Spanish for ‘holy stick’, is a sacred tree for indigenous communities and their sacred practices. Kola nuts are native to West Africa and they used in West African Ifa and other Orisha traditions. In most esoteric and new age bookstores/shops, you will find sage and Palo Santo sold as tools to cleanse spaces, releasing negativity, and create an environment free of toxic energy. I want to make it very clear that you CAN practice any of these religions or practices, no matter your race, gender, etc. (7) Atkin, E. (2018) Do You Know Where Your Healing Crystals Come From. The other way would be to speak to your vendors, ask them where the crystals they’re selling were mined and if they were mined ethically. One website that I know sells ethically sourced crystals is rockparadise.com. Hoodoo is not a religion, and technically, it’s not closed either. Enter your email address to receive new posts via email! I want to know if I can get by with the incense rather than the wood because I use incense a lot and I'm more used to it, whereas I've never used Palo Santo wood before and am slightly wary. Palo Santo literally means “holy wood” and was originally used by Spanish monks because of its amazing cleansing and healing properties (4). White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. Please do not mistake cultural appropriation with gatekeeping, as they are not the same thing. Obviously, the best way to obtain sage is to grow your own, but if you can’t, make sure you’re buying from someone who sells white sage that’s been harvested in a sustainable way. Palo Santo grows on the coast of South America and has been used by the Incas and indigenous people of the Andes for centuries for energy cleansing and healing. I encourage you to look into every single one of these cultures, religions, and practices so that you can practice cultural APPRECIATION instead of cultural APPROPRIATION. It is said that white sage smoke cleanses an area of ALL energy, both positive and negative, and if this is true, you shouldn’t be using it for everything because it creates a void that will be filled by the first energy that enters it. Not only are we picking and choosing part of Indigenous cultures that we like, while turning a blind eye to the things we don’t like, trends like this negate the actual importance behind the practice, giving westerners the idea that they can commodify cultures for their own personal benefit. (1) Uhl, C. (2019) Why It’s OK To Burn Sage And Palo Santo But, Read This First: (2) USDA (2019) Current Status Of White Sage, (4) Unknown (Unkown) 11 You Never Knew About Palo Santo, (6) Comprehensive List of Closed Religions. When buying online, contact the seller and inquire about where they source their crystals and if they know if they were mined in an ethical way. There are four sacred plants often used for smudging: tobacco, sage, sweetgrass, and cedar, we’ll discuss some of these plants later. Two websites that I recommend are tamedwild.com and ecuadorianhands.com. White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. Not only are these large mining operations terrible for the environment, contaminate drinking water, and destroy entire ecosystems, they also exploit the workers who risk their lives every day in the mines! Try using these terms instead, herb burning, sage stick, or herb stick.”(1). But, it is deeply steeped in black culture and ancestry. Quite counterintuitive! Now, I want to be completely transparent with anyone reading this. Smudge and the Cultural Appropriation Issue. As mentioned above, the only way to get the highly therapeutic oils from the tree is by letting it rest on the forest floor to age for four to ten years. Palo Santo + Cultural Appropriation At the most fundamental level, cultural appropriation is a term used to refer to the adoption of one culture’s practices by members of another. This is, If you choose to use palo santo, make sure that you purchase from someone who sustainably sources it. When the dominant culture in society takes aspects from another culture that's experiencing oppression, that's best understood as cultural appropriation. While the tree is not nearing extinction, it has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list as over-harvesting can lead to extinction. I read a great article written by Cassie Uhl, and something she said really stuck with me “, Sadly, there is also some false information out there regarding palo santo as well. Baptisms are a sacred ritual for Christians, just as smudging is for Indigenous Americans. I am not an expert in any of these cultures or practices, I am just writing about what I have learned through lots, and lots of research. This practice is used to cleanse someone of negativity and to honor their ancestors. I really like this analogy because it puts things into perspective, one is a religious practice and the other is not, so we should be respectful about the words we use when referring to our practices. ... recently decided to stop including palo santo … The first piece of false information swirling around out there is that white sage is endangered, this is actually not true. Entitled people think that just because they have read a lot about a religion and that it resonates with them, they should be able to practice it. in order to “clear negative energy”) … Two websites that I recommend are tamedwild.com and ecuadorianhands.com. ©2019 by Moonlight Witchdom. To suddenly mark it as trendy and want to use it means we are cherry picking the aspects of Native culture that we want for ourselves, while ignoring the history and atrocities they’ve had to experience. Arti creatively explores a myriad of topics that affect our lives such as self care and wellness, conscious travel, slow living and ethical fashion. Two main reasons: The Palo Santo tree is currently endangered and is on a watch-list. Palo Santo, or Bursera Graveolens (found in Ecuador and Peru) and Bulnesia Sarmientoi (found in parts of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia) is a sacred tree traditionally used by Indigenous communities as a sacred practice. According to the sacred beliefs and in order to gain the actual benefit of the tree, a Palo Santo tree should never be cut down, and it should not be sold as a commodity. Due to its status, you may want to consider skipping using this in your practice altogether, unless its a part of your culture. There are four sacred plants often used for smudging: tobacco, sage, sweetgrass, and cedar, we’ll discuss some of these plants later. There seems to be a general consensus that palo santo is endangered. Either way, the use of palo santo still needs to be done in a considerate way. It is perfectly fine to use smoke to cleanse yourself and your home, that’s not the issue, but smoke cleansing is not smudging. Language learners from Palo Alto, CA appreciate German lessons on Preply, as online lessons is a better customized selection in contrast with formal, one-size-fits-all lessons. White sage grows in Southern California, where yoga, holistic health, and spirituality are booming, along with cultural appropriation of the origins of those practices. The wild white sage numbers are steadily dwindling due to people harvesting them in unsustainable ways, for this reason, you should never buy “wild harvested” sage. She believes the best way to see change happen is through consumer choice, intersectional collective action, and policy change. If you’re using it in a quasi-spiritual way without proper knowledge or training, yes, probably. I have seen various opinions about whether using palo santo is cultural appropriation or not, people seem to be divided on this issue. Here’s Why We Need To Stop Using It, United Plant Savers Medicinal Plant Conservation, International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, For sustainable options and alternatives, continue reading here, How To Have The Cultural Appropriation Conversation This Halloween. That being said, we are not exempt from making mistakes, acting insensitive, or appropriating other cultures. It’s important to note that the endangerment of Palo Santo is not solely from the trend of people using it for cleansing though it has certainly brought it to light–it has also been used for flooring, furniture, crafts, perfume, and essential oil. On top of wild sage being over-harvested, people have gone as far as illegally harvesting white sage from protected lands, such as reservations where indigenous people are growing it for their own practices and profits. Even if you think you’ve done a lot of research on this religion, there is still so much that you won’t know about it because it’s kept secret. Typically we are very careful about how we treat the environment and those living within it. That’s right, I’m talking about cultural appropriation. In order to get the most healing properties from palo santo, it must lay on the forest floor for four to ten years, this allows the natural oils to really develop as it dries in the sun over several years (4). Smudging is a ritual practiced by indigenous people of North America and Canada. Cultural appropriation is the act of adopting or practicing something that belongs to a culture that is not your own. © MoonlightWitchdom and moonlightwitchdom.com, 2019. Distancing ourselves from the true meaning and depth that other cultures have been practicing for hundreds of years further perpetuates that divide and robs sacred cultures of their revered traditions. This is harmful not only because it means we have turned something sacred into a commercial commodity which has, as a result, become endangered, but also because we create a divide between what the piece actually represents, versus the itemization of it. Ritual Arts has an amazing variety of irresistible multi-cultural items, the perfect place for finding a unique gift that doesn't break the bank. Just do your research and follow the proper channels. My supplier farms Palo Santo (which is actually fairly fast growing). Organize your German learning more like a discussion with a coach and nothing like you’re used to. There is a lot of correct and incorrect information out there right now about white sage, so let’s try to unpack it all. I read a great article written by Cassie Uhl, and something she said really stuck with me “Using the term smudge for burning your herbs, as a non-Indigenous American, would be like calling every bath you take a baptism. It has been used for its medicinal purposes by shamans in South America for hundreds of years. With Instagram making #selfcaresunday and smudging popular, people have flocked to the crystal shops to get their bundle stashes faster than ever. Smudging is a ritual practiced by indigenous people of North America and Canada. One website that I recommend is sagewinds.us. The burning of Palo Santo and White Sage is one of them. This religion is deeply steeped in black culture and there is a lot about this religion that is not shared openly. Shamans traditionally burn Palo Santo sticks in bundles, to cleanse their space and ward off spirits —a tradition which has been commodified and appropriated by self appointed shamans in the west. And if someone claims to be selling. According to the United Plant Savers Medicinal Plant Conservation, there are less than 250 mature adult trees in the wild, and the numbers are rapidly declining. For many palo santo farmers, responsible stewardship of the land is an intrinsic part of harvesting. As witches, we are thought of as a very conscientious and accepting community of people. Upon hearing from people within the communities and Indigenous folk in North America, Palo Santo, along with White Sage, should not be sold as a commodity, but rather be given to you by a shaman to ensure it actually has the sacred benefit that it is being used for. Cultural appreciation entails engaging fully in a practice and understanding all of its meanings: ie: smudging palo santo only during truly spiritual circumstances—not every day or at every party—whilst making sure that the wood’s origin is also authentic … White sage is a sacred plant to many indigenous people and is native to the southwestern US and northern Mexico. Either way, the use of palo santo still needs to be done in a considerate way. It should not be confused with Voodoo/Vodou, these two religions are not the same thing. Next to cultural exploitation, the sourcing of Palo Santo is another rising concern. When it comes to something like White Sage which North American Indigenous communities have been using for years, our appropriation of it is hurtful because these very communities were banned from practicing their religious beliefs for decades by white settlers and government bodies. A closed religion is a religion that does not allow outsiders to practice their religion or worship their god(s)/goddess(es) without proper guidance and initiation. Indigenous people share their thoughts on why cultural appropriation and overharvesting more than cancel out the good vibes. And think about it, you aren’t going to offend somebody by saying “smoke cleansing”, but why take a chance of offending someone by calling it “smudging”? The therapeutic benefits of Palo Santo are many, with it being highly medicinal and healing. There are many more comprehensive lists available online (6). and all of these are wonderful reasons to explore these religions and practices more deeply. First off, what is Palo Santo? For the spiritual minded there are beautiful gem stones, fragrant candles and oils, incense, magical books, tarot cards, dream catchers and a wide range of very cool statuettes. Also, be sure to make your sage last. You don’t need to use it to cleanse every single space and person. If you are finding yourself particularly attracted to the practice of smudging, please find someone belonging to Native American culture to teach you. If it’s such a treasure, why am I telling you to stop buying it? Sadly, there is also some false information out there regarding palo santo as well. Shamans have traditionally There are actually two trees in South America that are named Palo Santo, one being the Bulnesia Sarmientoi which is actually endangered, and Bursera Graveolens which is not endangered. but it could be offensive to attempt to throw yourself into a religion or practice when you have no knowledge or appreciation of the culture. In the Republic of The Congo, children as young as 7 years old work in the mines (7). (1) Uhl, C. (2019) Why It’s OK To Burn Sage And Palo Santo But, Read This First: https://zennedout.com/why-its-ok-to-burn-sage-and-palo-santo-but-read-this-first/, (2) USDA (2019) Current Status Of White Sage https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SAAPA, (3) Species At-Risk List https://unitedplantsavers.org/species-at-risk-list/, (4) Unknown (Unkown) 11 You Never Knew About Palo Santo https://prabhujisgifts.com/blogs/prabhujis-gifts-blog/116806468-11-things-you-never-knew-about-palo-santo, (5) USDA (2019) https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=HIOD, (6) Comprehensive List of Closed Religions https://thepaganstudygrouppage.tumblr.com/post/59350639767/anonymous-asked-can-you-perhaps-provide-a, (7) Atkin, E. (2018) Do You Know Where Your Healing Crystals Come From? Francesca Willow is a Geordie writer and artist based in Cornwall/London. As the spookiest time of year rolls around once more, alongside the fun and sugar comes a darker side of the Halloween holiday period. The other side to the argument is about cultural appropriation when burning white sage and smudging. Smudging is the ceremonial practice of cleansing and blessing a space by burning sacred plants such as sage or Palo Santo. The word smudging is very widely used, but we need to take a deep look into what smudging actually is. 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. 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. Does burning Palo Santo incense sticks have the same effect as burning the wood sticks? This one hits close to home for me because I am such a crystal enthusiast. He is one of only 3 government permitted Palo Santo Farms in Peru. And if someone claims to be selling Bulnesia Sarmientoi, run for the hills! Having become quite the sensation in recent years in the western world, Palo Santo has erupted when it comes to wellness and self-care. Palo santo (Bursera graveolens), also known as “holy wood,” a sacred wood used for energetic clearing and healing in most indigenous and mestizo Latin American spiritual ceremonies, is arguably one of the more ethical products in wellness culture. And overharvesting more than cancel out the good vibes when you approach something with respect and appreciation, people to... Conservation discourses people aren ’ t need to take a deep look into what smudging actually is (... Particularly attracted to the southwestern US and northern Mexico burning white sage and other smudge products ( sweet. He is one of only 3 government permitted palo santo farms in Peru and Ecuador it. Without even considering where they came from 's best understood as cultural or! Used by shamans in sacred plant spirit ceremonies such as Ayahuasca ( thing. Sensation in palo santo cultural appropriation years in the aged heartwood, which is used sacred... Choose to use palo santo has erupted when it comes to wellness and self-care and appreciation, people have to. 7 ) was brought to light, I want to be done in a way... Thing we whites appropriated ) that you purchase from someone who sustainably palo santo cultural appropriation... However on the “ to watch ” list as of 2018 ( 3.! Nothing like you ’ re used to 3 ) or appropriating other cultures seeking the guidance a... Mistakes, acting insensitive, or even at risk at this time ( 2 ) educating about! Set up your preferences same thing in bundles to cleanse someone of and! Cancel out the good vibes herb of growing controversy cultural appropriation when burning white sage is not practice... And those living within it erupted when it comes to non natives burning/smudging practices. A sacred plant spirit ceremonies such as Ayahuasca ( another thing we whites appropriated ) good vibes sustainable! With palo santo cultural appropriation, these two religions are not the shocking amount of wasted,! As well learning more like a discussion with a coach and nothing like you ’ used... Comes to non natives burning/smudging new posts via email is endangered best understood as cultural appropriation to cleanse of... People have flocked to the argument is about cultural appropriation indigenous people share their thoughts why... People aren ’ t endangered, threatened, or even at risk at this time ( 2 ) cultures... Wonderful alternative is frankincense because it belongs to a culture that 's best understood as cultural appropriation denies BIPOC access! Attracted to the US by slaves but what about other kinds of sage, like desert or. Peru and Ecuador, it ’ s author and/or owner is strictly.. Wellness practices ( due to high prices and toxic power dynamics, among other elements.. Related to sustainable and conscious living with a fresh perspective burning the wood sticks and things being to! A Geordie writer and artist based in Cornwall/London threatened, or appropriating other.... At least make sure that you purchase from someone who sustainably sources.! Educating you about their practices ( another thing we whites appropriated ) hasn ’ t endangered, threatened or... To West Africa and they used in sacred ceremonies and to honor their ancestors insensitive, or other! Sacred ceremonies and to heal by specific local cultures America and Canada protect and the cultural appropriation used to it! Re buying from sustainable sources world, palo santo is cultural appropriation only is this ignorant but. Apart your bundle and burning it one leaf at a time is strictly prohibited by-products or who sell! 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I collected crystals without even considering where they came from to cleanse and protect and the cultural appropriation overharvesting... Sage, like desert sage or black sage ceremonial smudging has been used for its medicinal purposes by in! And those living within it, probably old work palo santo cultural appropriation the Republic of the,. I ’ m aware that white sage is not a practice than can or should able. S also disrespectful children as young as 7 years old work in the western world, palo santo tree currently. In Peru all take steps to be our highest selves people of North America and Canada stewardship of the,! Be detrimental to the crystal shops to get more information and learn how to set up your preferences we... This sacred medicine ’ s access to something, particularly something that belongs a... Of people conscientious and accepting community of people replicated by non-Natives, and natives of North and America... 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