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. Cleansing is a way to provide a safe place to interact with the spirit world, which is always part of Pagan rituals. Cultural appropriation is defined as the act of taking or using elements of one culture by members of another culture without permission or acknowledgement of the source (Oxford Dictionary). You can also use white sage as long as if you bought it for a native, or a native gave it to you. 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. Why are your so afraid of possibly offending? Really interested in some others viewpoints but a lot of the responses here dont really go into it! And it doesnt specifically refer to the burning of white sage, either. ._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} Getty. . 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. They suggest that blue sage can be used in a way that honors its traditional roots while still allowing others to benefit from it. 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. There is no set liturgy that everyone follows, and it is possible for people to create their own rituals. ._3oeM4kc-2-4z-A0RTQLg0I{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between} In addition, the study found that the appropriation of blue sage has led to a loss of cultural identity for some indigenous people. Read the original article. ago Spoken like a true colonising brute. Historically, deciding exactly what culture is hasn't been easy. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. The demand has become so great that many Chumash people (of what is now Southern California) are concerned that the plant is being overharvested. When purification includes the use of sage, it raises the issue of appropriation, as it has traditionally been used by Native . How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News, How to Get a Planet Fitness Key Tag: A Step-by-Step Guide, Is Exoticca a Good Travel Company? As a proof, the stores don't ask for your ID to see your ethnicity when buying sage. Exploring the Debate and Impact, How to Peel an Orange the Old-Fashioned Way, How to Play Music on Jetson Hoverboard: A Step-by-Step Guide, Exploring Julia Stiles Career as a Dancer: From Beginner to Accomplished Performer, Can Artists Upload Directly to Spotify? Why are your so afraid of possibly offending? 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. It represents a continuing legacy of marginalizing and punishing Native spirituality, says Keene. There is no set liturgy that everyone follows, and it is possible for people to create their own rituals. 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. without permission. 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 Smudging, also known as saging, has become a trendy wellness practice that folks use to cleanse their spaces be it a bedroom, an entire home, or even a car. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. :) 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. Different Native communities use different medicines for smudging depending on where they are from, and not every culture uses white sage or smudges. Your email address will not be published. Native Americans who normally pick the herb as they need it are complaining that they are unable to find enough for their spiritual needs. I now see how that when it's done for gain, social or otherwise, it can be offensive. Smudging is distinctly Indigenous. Instead, white performers who borrowed heavily . The plant sage, or Salvia, grows all around the world in different colors and variants. Pagan rituals take place outdoors, when possible, or sometimes in peoples homes or in occult bookstores. The market has become larger as aspects of Pagan or New Age practices have seeped into more general practice and the number of Pagans has increased. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 160,300 academics and researchers from 4,571 institutions. @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} 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. 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. Purification can be done using a number of substances, including salt, rosemary and sometimes white sage. 'Dressing in traditional clothes that do not belong to one's own culture or . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress The species name "azurea" is Latin for "sky blue." Blue sage is a common name that refers to several different plant species. There is a lively debate surrounding the cultural appropriation of blue sage. Required fields are marked *. I appreciate the sensitivity but there are bigger fish to fry in a society that puts kids in cages because their parents are brown. Brandeis University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. It also includes the unauthorized use of parts of their culture (their dress, dance, etc.) New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. For example, frankincense and myrrh were burned in ancient Egypt for prayer, and rosemary was historically burned in hospitals in France in order to clear the air of infection. It is used in many Native American ceremonies and has long been considered sacred by some tribes. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It is important to remember that blue sage has a long history of use among certain tribes and should be respected as such. ._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} It's important that in the process of any cleansing you're respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem. It is important to note, however, that they should still be used in a respectful way and not taken out of their traditional contexts. They then used salt and water to purify the circle. 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. Participants believed they were honoring the first people on the continent by incorporating elements of their spiritual practice. Poll: Support for abortion rights is strong, even among most religious groups . im aware that white sage and palo santo are the major no-nos when it comes to non natives burning/smudging. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. That is where it crosses a line, but lose the claim and the rest of it is just honoring a tradition like a fan honors Star Wars by swinging a toy light saber. Possibly more importantly, rituals are meant to open up the individual to the spiritual or other world. 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. Your email address will not be published. so is blue sage okay to buy and use ? This is a complicated subject and my opinion is that I am a US citizen, born into a culture described as a "melting pot". Is this the society we re living in? Blue sage (Salvia clevelandii) is a perennial herb native to California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. The general act of smoke cleansing, however, is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture in the way that smudging is. Idk I may just not have a ton of experience in this subject, but all of the indigenous people in my life who have seen my incense collection haven't even mentioned anything about any of the scents. Today, Native people are still fighting to be able to perform these ceremonies in hospitals. Curated. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that white sage has important medical benefits it is used to cure colds and aid postpartum healing and its a crucial part of the surrounding ecosystem. Cultural appropriation leads to a narrow look at other cultures and often exploitation of those cultures. However, in recent years, the use of blue sage has become more widespread and is no longer limited to these tribes. Sign up here. 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. Blue Sage is widely used for cleansing and . 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. Native Americans who normally pick the herb as they need it are complaining that they are unable to find enough for their spiritual needs. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. When we pick sage, we always leave the root and say a prayer of thanks for our harvest. When I began my research in 1986, it was most commonly done using salt and water. Yall are so sickening and you cant even see why. Would love to hear if you found anything out. While this may seem innocuous, it has raised concerns about cultural appropriation. Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm. Building on von Redecker's point about the abstract . Do you have knowledge or insights to share? .ehsOqYO6dxn_Pf9Dzwu37{margin-top:0;overflow:visible}._2pFdCpgBihIaYh9DSMWBIu{height:24px}._2pFdCpgBihIaYh9DSMWBIu.uMPgOFYlCc5uvpa2Lbteu{border-radius:2px}._2pFdCpgBihIaYh9DSMWBIu.uMPgOFYlCc5uvpa2Lbteu:focus,._2pFdCpgBihIaYh9DSMWBIu.uMPgOFYlCc5uvpa2Lbteu:hover{background-color:var(--newRedditTheme-navIconFaded10);outline:none}._38GxRFSqSC-Z2VLi5Xzkjy{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-actionIcon)}._2DO72U0b_6CUw3msKGrnnT{border-top:none;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText);cursor:pointer;padding:8px 16px 8px 8px;text-transform:none}._2DO72U0b_6CUw3msKGrnnT:hover{background-color:#0079d3;border:none;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-body);fill:var(--newCommunityTheme-body)} When possible, or Salvia, grows all around the world in different colors variants. Ceremonies and has long been considered sacred by some tribes Redecker & # x27 t... Don & # x27 ; t been easy roots while still allowing others to benefit from.. 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