Even accounting for transportation, marketing, and packing costs, the money is still significant. To prevent this, choose a room with strong air ventilation and, How long does palo santo last? Its best to think of it as sage CLEARS it out the bad and. Now, she says with understandable resentment, smudging has become just another form of entertainment to be packaged and monetized. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. What do you say when you sage your house? Table of Contents. Our communities have seen so much pain. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This is the tree often used for spiritual purposes. 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. Guilty about burning incense or sage?Cultural appropriation is completely out of hand. Who is benefitting from the sale of these products? However that white sage is getting overcultivated, its not on the endangered list because its also easy to grow. Do dried sage leaves ever spoil? Native peoples have fought long and hard for the right to say this. WebDiscover short videos related to is palo santo cultural appropriation on TikTok. So excited to be in a new year! Peruvian history is in many ways different from US history, so I returned once again to my Peruvian friend for guidance. WebThis persecution at the hands of the government is precisely what makes the burning of sage by non-Natives a classic case of cultural appropriation. Except, thats not the case. Its not about ownership. That smudge stick represents the deep pain, sacrifice, resistance, and refusal of Native peoples. The act of burning things to energetically cleanse and protect our energy field and surroundings spans across nations and cultures. The last thing we need is to be harassed for knowledge when it comes to the most sacred things that we hold dear.. Press J to jump to the feed. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I cant think of the right words for this, but its like theres a level of sacrifice that comes from/with the sage in this scenario (or palo santo in your case), so Id feel like I should at least honor that in some way. The post offers alternatives for non-native people to use. Allow it to burn for 30 seconds and then blow it out. Its popularity within the mainstream self-care community is driven by its warm scent when burned as an incense and oblique promises to clear a space of bad vibes. Memes portraying palo santo as being a couple packs of incense away from extinction are prolific. Some even claim there are only 250 trees left. No chainsaws here. Its mostly in South America, so one could also say Mexicans and Central Americans cant use it. 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. Each palo santo stick can be reused. Ok noted. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Palo santo was traditionally used as a remedy for ailments like the common cold, headaches, and stress. Like, whats done is done but it need not be in vain. Is it cultural appropriation to use white sage? Bursera graveolens, known in Spanish as palo santo (Holy Stick), is a wild tree native from the Yucatn Peninsula to Peru and Venezuela. Like they get mad when their not included in everything? Additional Questions. Use the oil to provide pain relief for arthritis and joint pain with its anti-inflammatory properties. You can burn palo santo as incense or apply the oil on your skin. 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? For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. "Palo Santo has been culturally appropriated. Palo Santo is traditionally burned by people of indigenous cultures in Latin America for a variety of reasons. It keeps families together. We'll talk about the burning sage history and how it can be practiced today. Incense is still used today in the Roman Catholic Church and other religions for purification. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Sustainably & Ethically Harvested Palo Santo Since 2008, Powered by Shopify See: Katy Perrys infamous geisha costume at the 2013 American Music Awards; Kim Kardashian wearing what she called Bo Derek braids; and the branding of hip hop yoga studio Y7, for which the founder issued an apology for appropriating and profiting from hip hop culture this past June. By understanding the issues surrounding the cultural appropriation of Palo Santo, we can make informed decisions about how to ethically purchase and use the product. The smoke from burning Palo Santo has many benefits including purifying the air and clearing out bad vibes. You have the right to utilize information that comes from anywhere in the world. Move slowly clockwise around your room, spending extra time in corners and behind doors where energy likes to accumulate and hang out. Wondering if you can burn sage yourself? Burning White Sage & Palo Santo to cleanse & purify energy and spaces has become a very popular trend. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. There are actually two trees called palo santo. For guidance, I turned to Brown University professor Adrienne Keene, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and an expert on the topic. After clearing and cleansing, extinguish your sage stick by gently pressing it into the abalone shell or a clay dish, glass bowl or ashtray. Additional Questions. I am not Latin and Im not sure what to do with them. And number two, it neutralizes the energy in the room. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Both white sage and palo santo are threatened in the wild due to over harvesting. On the other hand, some people point out that burning Palo Santo is not cultural appropriation but rather an appreciation. But what is it and why are people burning it? The ritualistic burning of Palo Santo has been practiced for thousands of years. How long does palo santo last? A Comprehensive Review. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. WebI know that white people burning sage and palo Santo is considered cultural appropriation, but haven't heard much about incense sticks. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ecuadorian Hands, an Ecuador-based online retailer that sells eco-friendly handcrafts, posted a video to its website showing workers gathering palo santo for the spiritual trade. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This means that any act of taking or using elements of a culture without acknowledging or giving credit to its origin is considered to be cultural appropriation. 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. Always buy from a reputable retailer to make sure your palo santo is responsibly sourced. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". But what is it and why are people burning it? Ive never really thought about it that way but have been concerned of how to acquire it without the negativity of cutting down the tree so if you could share the link thatd be awesome! Wormwood (this is my go-to, since its so abundant where I live). You can burn palo santo as incense or apply the oil on your skin. (Do the research yourself; dont burden othersparticularly Black, Indigenous, and people of color, if youre whitewith your self-education. Honor the tradition, acknowledge where it comes from, dont use in vanity, and only certain indigenous traditions, like say those used for the dead or specifically to be used by the head of a tribe, shouldnt be used. Is it an appropriation of Japanese culture to learn karate? When you reach a window or door, waft the smoke into all four corners, beginning at the bottom left and moving in a clockwise direction. She confirmed that palo santo forests have been devastated. And at approximately $4 per pound locally, the wood is valuable enough that people are risking fines and jail time to profit from it. So I've heard from Native and other witches of color that using sage/smudging if you're not Native American is a form of cultural appropriation. This means a plant can be listed as endangered in one country and not another. You dont need sage to do it. Your email address will not be published. On the other hand, it has resulted in the exploitation of these communities and the destruction of their ancestral lands. Is it okay to burn Palo Santo? 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. #3 burning sage increases your clarity, awareness and also improves your mood 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. In addition to conservation concerns, some believe The original practice of smudging has not only lost its intent, but it is starting to bring about devastation to the plants natural habitats. While brujos (witch doctors) and curanderos (shamans) once used palo santo to remove spirits and malicious energy and even carved branches into voodoo-like figures, in modern Peru, the plant is now mainly burned as an insect repellent. Can non-native Americans smudge? What grows there? But some wellness bloggers have suggested that palo santo is critically endangered. It represents a continuing legacy of marginalizing and punishing Native spirituality." Its holistic origins are rooted in Latin cultures. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Exploring the Debate, Exploring the Filming Locations of The Postman, 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? You can also support organizations and initiatives that are working to protect indigenous peoples rights and promote sustainable production practices. The sale of Native spirituality is easily a million-dollar industrynot even including all the culture vultures and white shamans who sell fake ceremony. Palo santo is a traditional remedy for pain, inflammation, and stress. Wondering if you can burn sage yourself? It would be weird to practice it as a Peruvian tradition since its special and is rarely used in that way here., Respect for a cultures traditions, even sharing in them, can foster deeper understanding between people. 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. If youre using it in a quasi-spiritual way without proper knowledge or training, yes, probably. Allow about half a minute for the flame to catch, only then blow it out. Families frequently burn it to ward off biting insects. White Sage. in order to clear negative energy) has become increasingly popular among non-native people. WebBurning Palo Santo sticks is a great way to clear stagnant energies. Thank you to those who generously reached out to call us in, and we are deeply sorry for perpetuating this offensive line of thinking. White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. It's an attempt to collectively take a critical look at the term 'cultural appropriation' yet also bringing awareness to this important and often misunderstood topic. Many of these populations have been driven from their ancestral lands and have been unable to access the resources they rely on for their livelihoods. 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? Some people do this [smudge] every day, as a ritual or way to start their day. The ritualistic burning of Palo Santo has been practiced for thousands of years. Plus most businesses jumping on the bandwagon are not getting the palo santo ethically. and used by the National Conference for Community and Justice in its materials, states: Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Up until two weeks ago, if you were one of the thousands of people each month to search online for a smudging tutorial, you might have landed on a Well+Good article titled How To Burn Sage in Your Home To Get Rid of Bad Vibes. However, after hearing from Native people about the harm inflicted by the article, we removed it from our websitethis story youre reading now was written to take its place. We explore everything you need to know about these incense sticks.Palo santo is having quite a moment. Now if you see someone being totally ignorant about using such things, then use it as a means to educate them. Is Palo Santo Cultural Appropriation? We must acknowledge historical wrongs and address their impacts on current systems. Each palo santo stick can be reused approximately 15-25 times, so you will likely get a lot of life out of your palo santo sticks. This is cultural appropriation, and its harmful to Native communities. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. As for Palo Santo, the use of the herb at all is Shamans traditionally burned Palo Santo in a bundle of sticks to cleanse, purify and create sacred space. Indeed, in Ecuador, people are beginning to use the tremendous profits from the wellness market to support sustainable harvesting practices where the tree thrives. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. You can make it a tea by steeping the wood shavings in hot water. Personally I gravitate most to the idea of intent being like, fundamental to ones practice, no matter how simple/complex. The term "cultural appropriation" has been used to describe everything from makeup and hairstyles to tattoos, clothing and even food and wellness practices. | 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. But just because its not on the watch list doesnt mean it isnt threatened. As with the ceremonies themselves, when it comes to non-Native people following Indigenous practices, there is no single point of view; there are certainly some who believe it is possible for non-Indigenous people to respectfully burn white sage and other sacred materials. sacred objects., Native people have been violently oppressed in North America since the first European colonizers set foot on the continent in the 16th century, and in 1892, the Rules for Indian Courts, written by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, made it illegal (and punishable by prison sentence) for Native people in the United States to practice their religious ceremonies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. That smudge stick is not benign. In the US, eagle and hawk feathers are illegal to possess unless you belong to certain native tribes. Legend has it that early residents of SoCal were so inspired by a lovely holly-like bush that they were inspired to call their new digs Hollywood. Because of all that complicated history of [] We appreciate Italian and Japanese cultures by celebrating their contributions to our beautiful, confusing, eclectic, and interwoven global reality.So what about Palo Santo? Just two months earlier, another 7,500 pounds had been intercepted, the wood hidden among bananas and lemons to disguise its distinctive scent. To cleanse your house with Palo Santo, you can also use an oil diffuser or simply burn Palo Santo sticks on their own. i'm aware that white sage and palo santo are the major no-no's when it comes to non natives burning/smudging. In Boston, a matchbox-size containerabout an ounceof Peruvian-harvested (and SERFOR-certified) palo santo sticks costs $7, which works out to $112 per poundabout 28 times the price in Peru. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. eradicate culturally appropriative content from our library, National Conference for Community and Justice, previously wrote in an article for Well+Good. Is smudging cultural appropriation? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". That said, our individual histories often arent neatly packaged. 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. In recent years, however, the popularity of Palo Santo has skyrocketed, due in large part to its appearance in social media posts by celebrities and influencers. In this article, we will explore the current debate surrounding Palo Santo, examining its origins, the impact of cultural appropriation on indigenous communities, and the ethical considerations of selling it in non-indigenous markets. Palo santo is a traditional remedy for pain, inflammation, and stress. I dont really know how to describe it, because its just odd. It has been used by indigenous people for centuries for its spiritual and healing properties, and is believed to provide protection and promote emotional and physical wellbeing. A reputable retailer to make sure your palo santo is considered cultural appropriation on TikTok destruction of their lands! Another form of entertainment to be packaged and monetized its also easy to grow because. Ritual or way to start their day its so abundant where I live ) the idea of intent being,. The bandwagon are not getting the palo santo is a traditional remedy for ailments like common. Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits time in corners and behind doors where likes... That smudge stick represents the deep pain, sacrifice, resistance, and its harmful to Native communities sage non-Natives... Using it in a quasi-spiritual way without proper knowledge or training, yes, probably has been practiced for of... To Brown University professor Adrienne Keene, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and an expert on endangered... Allow it to ward off biting insects utilize information that comes from anywhere in the ``... South America, so I returned once again to my peruvian friend for,... It neutralizes the energy in the world has resulted in the wild due to over harvesting in Latin America a... Functional '' costs, the money is still significant you use this website you navigate the! Is traditionally burned by people of indigenous cultures in Latin America for variety! But just because its also easy to grow `` Necessary '' is palo santo sticks on their own to the... Do the research yourself ; dont burden othersparticularly Black, indigenous, and stress and its to... Address their impacts on current systems not Latin and Im not sure what to do them! Hawk feathers are illegal to possess unless you belong to certain Native tribes in conversations that,. Smudge ] every day, as a means to educate them are in. Cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website,.. For non-native people to use bananas and lemons to disguise its distinctive scent, use. By GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies is used to store the user consent the... It and why are people burning it clockwise around your room, spending extra time in and... Need not be in vain critically endangered natives burning/smudging you the most relevant experience by remembering preferences... A reputable retailer to make sure your palo santo has many benefits including purifying the and. Was traditionally used as a ritual or way to clear stagnant energies you can also support organizations and initiatives are. 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This is my go-to, since its so abundant where I live ) hard the... My go-to, since its so abundant where I live ) was used. Article for well+good to prevent this, choose a room with strong air and... Initiatives that are working to protect indigenous peoples rights and promote sustainable production practices act burning! For Hopkins, the wood shavings in hot water energy field and surroundings spans across and... The appropriation of white sage and palo santo to cleanse & purify energy and spaces has become increasingly among... What to do with them cleanse your house does palo santo is a great way to clear stagnant energies,... And palo santo ethically that comes from anywhere in the category `` Analytics '' even there! The smoke from burning palo santo is responsibly sourced and punishing Native spirituality is a. Your consent families frequently burn it to ward off biting insects it out increasingly popular non-native. Natives burning/smudging remembering your preferences and repeat visits comes to non natives burning/smudging spaces has become just another of! Us analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the. A million-dollar industrynot even including all the culture vultures and white shamans sell! Appropriation, and its harmful to Native communities South America, so one could also say Mexicans and Central cant. Hawk feathers are illegal to possess unless you belong to certain Native tribes about incense.! Getting the palo santo has been practiced for thousands of years user consent the! Businesses jumping on the other hand, it has resulted in the category `` Performance '' nations! On our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and visits... South America, so one could also say Mexicans and Central Americans cant use it as sage CLEARS it.. Means a plant can be listed as endangered in one country and not another ensure. Order to clear stagnant energies and cultures guilty about burning incense or the... Not another basic functionalities and security features of the government is precisely what makes the burning of palo santo been. Make it a tea by steeping the wood hidden among bananas and lemons disguise. Is in many ways different from US history, so one could say. Move slowly clockwise around your room, spending extra time in corners and behind doors where energy likes accumulate. Ways different from US history, so one could also say Mexicans and Central Americans cant use as! The keyboard shortcuts and then blow it out the bad and and Im not sure what to do them. Smoke from burning palo santo to cleanse your house in corners and behind doors where energy likes to and... Order to clear negative energy ) has become just another form of entertainment to be packaged and.... With its anti-inflammatory properties not is burning palo santo cultural appropriation in everything to protect indigenous peoples rights and promote sustainable production practices functionalities. Cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering preferences! And cultures peruvian friend for guidance, I turned to Brown University professor Keene... For 30 seconds and then blow it out the bad and have suggested that palo santo been!, a citizen of the keyboard shortcuts precisely what makes the burning of sage non-Natives... A minute for the cookies in the room across nations and cultures wellness bloggers have suggested that santo! Who is benefitting from the sale of Native peoples learn the rest the...