It has also been used medicinally by some indigenous communities for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. When I began my research in 1986, it was most commonly done using salt and water. Many also view participating in closed practices as Cultural Appropriation too. Offers may be subject to change without notice. So that raises another factor, I guess. i currently have some black, blue, red, and cedar sage that i kept from a gift set, but i had to get rid of the white sage and palo santo. it's cultural appropriation. Cleansing is a way to provide a safe place to interact with the spirit world, which is always part of Pagan rituals. In particular, the practice of burning blue sage, also known as smudging, has become increasingly popular among non-indigenous people. The Chumash people, for instance, who are native to central and southern coastal regions of California, use white sage in healing sessions to purify the central nervous system. connecting the participants to the spirits, resulting in the extinction of the animals, LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. Your email address will not be published. It's all about what Halloween costume you wear, or who's cooking biryani. identity. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. The CO-OP adopts the Colorado Outdoor Principles and acknowledges that outdoor recreation and conservation should reflect, respect, and value the demographic and cultural diversity of our state. It is important to remember that blue sage has a long history of use among certain tribes and should be respected as such. 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). ._3bX7W3J0lU78fp7cayvNxx{max-width:208px;text-align:center} Cultural appropriation leads to a narrow look at other cultures and often exploitation of those cultures. This practice is often used for spiritual cleansing or protection against negative energy. Instead, white performers who borrowed heavily . Its an important ceremonial purifying ritual or prayer created and practiced in many North American Indigenous cultures. It would be both ironic and sad if in celebrating Mother Earth, Pagans helped to make a sacred herb extinct. These tribes have historically used blue sage for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. .s5ap8yh1b4ZfwxvHizW3f{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText);padding-top:5px}.s5ap8yh1b4ZfwxvHizW3f._19JhaP1slDQqu2XgT3vVS0{color:#ea0027} 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. While it is not wrong to use elements of another culture, it is important to do so in a respectful way. Just don't pretend to do a sacred smudge ritual of something. There is no set liturgy that everyone follows, and it is possible for people to create their own rituals. Sage, sacred to Native Americans, is being used in purification rituals, raising issues of cultural appropriation. Brandeis University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. Smudging sage was part of those banned religious practices. Typically African-American musical traditions have been targeted for such exploitation. im aware that white sage and palo santo are the major no-nos when it comes to non natives burning/smudging. In her groundbreaking book Purity and Danger, anthropologist Mary Douglas illustrates how purity and its maintenance are central to religion. The general act of smoke cleansing, however, is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture in the way that smudging is. An imbalance of power between the appropriator and the appropriated is a critical condition of the concept. Google white sage, the primary ingredient in the mainstream smudging custom, and dozens of choices for sage sticks and bundles appear. Balancing respect for culture with enjoyment of blue sage is an important issue. Purification can be done in several ways. .FIYolDqalszTnjjNfThfT{max-width:256px;white-space:normal;text-align:center} ._3K2ydhts9_ES4s9UpcXqBi{display:block;padding:0 16px;width:100%} White sage and cultural appropriation Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. Culinary sage (the kind you use in butternut squash and roasted chicken dishes), also known as garden sage, originally comes from the shores of the northern Mediterranean region. 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 cultural importance and authenticity of the ritual and prayer simply, its cultural appropriation. 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. As religious studies scholar Sarah Pike found among contemporary Pagans, cultural borrowing from Native Americans was seen as connecting the participants to the spirits that lived in the land around them. ._3oeM4kc-2-4z-A0RTQLg0I{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between} ._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} Required fields are marked *. 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. Once a saver, always a saver: Warren Buffett says generational wealth isnt what it used to be in his annual letter Its bigger than the housing crisis: An influential economist just blamed NIMBYs for American decline, and Elon Musk CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. 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. Cultural appropriation is not a modern concept; it has existed as long as culture itself. At the same time, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of blue sage without disrespecting its cultural roots. i'm aware that white sage and palo santo are the major no-no's when it comes to non natives burning/smudging. Those who had been using sage returned to using either salt and water or rosemary for purification. Participants believed they were honoring the first people on the continent by incorporating elements of their spiritual practice. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Thanks to the recent trendiness of smudging, white sage is in high demand. All rights reserved. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Why is burning sage cultural appropriation? Studies have shown that burning blue sage can help to reduce anxiety and stress levels, improve sleep quality, and even boost immunity. Blue sage (Salvia clevelandii) is a perennial herb native to California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. No, blue sage, white sage and any other sage is not cultural appropriation. 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. On the other hand, opponents argue that blue sage should only be used by those who have traditionally used it and that any other use is disrespectful. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. It is used in many Native American ceremonies and has long been considered sacred by some tribes. Some people see it as disrespectful to the tribes that have historically used blue sage and argue that it should not be used by other cultures. 1 I appreciate the sensitivity but there are bigger fish to fry in a society that puts kids in cages because their parents are brown. 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. The celebration of nature takes several forms, the most common being a series of rituals that commemorate the changing seasons. Here's What Trainers Say, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Helen A. Berger receives funding from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Association for the Sociology of Religion, and West Chester University. It was used because it was associated with Native American practice. Cultural appropriation takes place when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way. Native Americans who normally pick the herb as they need it are complaining that they are unable to find enough for their spiritual needs. Stole these folks land and now you want to steal their cultural practices too. /*# sourceMappingURL=https://www.redditstatic.com/desktop2x/chunkCSS/IdCard.ea0ac1df4e6491a16d39_.css.map*/._2JU2WQDzn5pAlpxqChbxr7{height:16px;margin-right:8px;width:16px}._3E45je-29yDjfFqFcLCXyH{margin-top:16px}._13YtS_rCnVZG1ns2xaCalg{font-family:Noto Sans,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:400;line-height:18px;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}._1m5fPZN4q3vKVg9SgU43u2{margin-top:12px}._17A-IdW3j1_fI_pN-8tMV-{display:inline-block;margin-bottom:8px;margin-right:5px}._5MIPBF8A9vXwwXFumpGqY{border-radius:20px;font-size:12px;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:0;line-height:16px;padding:3px 10px;text-transform:none}._5MIPBF8A9vXwwXFumpGqY:focus{outline:unset} In fact, before smudging was popularized, it was illegal at least, for Indigenous folks and often violently suppressed. The use of sage was not the only cultural artifact that these Native American spokespeople objected to being used by nonnatives. It has become common, for example, for younger Americans to cleanse their homes of bad spirits with white sage even if they do not identify as Pagans. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. 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. 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 Pagans pride themselves on being sensitive to practices of diverse cultures, most quickly gave up the use of sage; the use of other Native American artifacts in Pagan practices became less common as well. Another is to research the traditional uses of blue sage and incorporate them into your own practices. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. As a proof, the stores don't ask for your ID to see your ethnicity when buying sage. However, in recent years, the use of blue sage has become more widespread and is no longer limited to these tribes. Poll: Support for abortion rights is strong, even among most religious groups . The phrase originated in the . Because there is no dedicated sanctified place, cleansing and protection become particularly important within Paganism. There is a lively debate surrounding the cultural appropriation of blue sage. 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. Its also a sacred herb to several Indigenous communities, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Navajo. It has become common, for example, for younger Americans to cleanse their homes of bad spirits with white sage even if they do not identify as Pagans. I have only lavender incense, is that considered cultural appropriation? Though not the only sage native to North America, white sage is by far the one most frequently used and sold by the wellness industry. Cultural appropriation includes using customs, attire, makeup, ideas, art, and language. 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. Why are your so afraid of possibly offending? This is as much a part of smudging (or saging) as burning the plant is, Hopkins says. It is important to consider the impact that the appropriation of blue sage has had on indigenous communities. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices The purpose of smudging, however, is ill-defined for most consumers. rosemary and sometimes white sage. Why does it matter what YOU'RE fine with? You can also use white sage as long as if you bought it for a native, or a native gave it to you. 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. For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. Some of the Pagan practitioners had received training from a Native American teacher. 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. Really interested in some others viewpoints but a lot of the responses here dont really go into it! Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). More mainstream religions have buildings, such as churches or synagogues, where they maintain sanctuaries for religious purposes only. Helen A. Berger is Affiliated Scholar at the Womens Studies Research Center, Brandeis University. .LalRrQILNjt65y-p-QlWH{fill:var(--newRedditTheme-actionIcon);height:18px;width:18px}.LalRrQILNjt65y-p-QlWH rect{stroke:var(--newRedditTheme-metaText)}._3J2-xIxxxP9ISzeLWCOUVc{height:18px}.FyLpt0kIWG1bTDWZ8HIL1{margin-top:4px}._2ntJEAiwKXBGvxrJiqxx_2,._1SqBC7PQ5dMOdF0MhPIkA8{vertical-align:middle}._1SqBC7PQ5dMOdF0MhPIkA8{-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center} Still, what most people think of today as cultural appropriation is the opposite: a member of the dominant culture an insider taking from a culture that has historically been and is still . At Pagan ceremonies that I attended as a researcher, those leading the ritual would cut a sacred circle. Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. It was used because it was associated with Native American practice. HTWC 1 yr. ago When we pick sage, we always leave the root and say a prayer of thanks for our harvest. so is blue sage okay to buy and use ? 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. i like this take a lot, and i was asking just for general use purposes and nothing spiritual/ritualistic, because that does cross a line. ._2a172ppKObqWfRHr8eWBKV{-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:8px}._39-woRduNuowN7G4JTW4I8{margin-top:12px}._136QdRzXkGKNtSQ-h1fUru{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin:8px 0;width:100%}.r51dfG6q3N-4exmkjHQg_{font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:12px;text-transform:uppercase;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}.r51dfG6q3N-4exmkjHQg_,._2BnLYNBALzjH6p_ollJ-RF{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}._2BnLYNBALzjH6p_ollJ-RF{margin-left:auto}._1-25VxiIsZFVU88qFh-T8p{padding:0}._2nxyf8XcTi2UZsUInEAcPs._2nxyf8XcTi2UZsUInEAcPs{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-widgetColors-sidebarWidgetTextColor)} Tell me HOW can you offend someone if you light blue sage and use it in your home. Others choose to research the traditional uses of blue sage and incorporate them into their own practices. 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. /*# sourceMappingURL=https://www.redditstatic.com/desktop2x/chunkCSS/TopicLinksContainer.3b33fc17a17cec1345d4_.css.map*/Been looking into this quite a lot recently but havent found too many answers on other types of sage. Is Blue Sage Cultural Appropriation? One of the ways it can become more serious is through the presence of what we term 'amplifiers'. Helen A. Berger, Affliated Scholar at the Women's Studies . 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. . Within these religions nature is viewed as sacred, to be celebrated and protected. 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. , you agree to our common being a series of rituals that commemorate the changing seasons a. No longer limited to these tribes created and practiced in many Native ceremonies! Be respected as such follow your favorite communities and start taking part in.. How Purity and Danger, anthropologist Mary Douglas illustrates how Purity and its maintenance are central to.! Issues of cultural appropriation is not cultural appropriation leads to a narrow look at other cultures often... Important to remember that blue sage can help to reduce anxiety and stress levels, improve quality. More mainstream religions have buildings, such as churches or synagogues, they. 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