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. The sage plant is native to the Mediterranean region but has grown across the Americas for ages. Some of the Pagan practitioners had received training from a Native American teacher. It is important to note, however, that they should still be used in a respectful way and not taken out of their traditional contexts. If you have used herbs to cleanse your space in the past and enjoy the ritual, you don't have to give it up in order to do so in a culturally conscious way. It was used because it was associated with Native American practice. Some of the Pagan practitioners had received training from a Native American teacher. Pagans, to the contrary, have ritual areas that must be transformed from mundane to sacred use. For example, some people choose to purchase blue sage from indigenous vendors to support their communities. The cleansing and purification of the place and the participants are meant to protect them by keeping out unsavory spirits. 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. For those who wish to avoid culturally appropriating blue sage, there are several other plants and herbs with similar properties that can be used instead. Note that the issue is specifically White Sage. At Pagan ceremonies that I attended as a researcher, those leading the ritual would cut a sacred circle. This practice is often used for spiritual cleansing or protection against negative energy. But you may want to hold off on buying that, too. Stole these folks land and now you want to steal their cultural practices too. Cultural appropriation leads to a narrow look at other cultures and often exploitation of those cultures. Why is Good UI/UX Design Imperative for Business Success? The use of sage was not the only cultural artifact that these Native American spokespeople objected to being used by nonnatives. It is a way to keep danger at bay as well as provide a way to separate the sacred from the mundane. Because there is no dedicated sanctified place, cleansing and protection become particularly important within Paganism. . ._2ik4YxCeEmPotQkDrf9tT5{width:100%}._1DR1r7cWVoK2RVj_pKKyPF,._2ik4YxCeEmPotQkDrf9tT5{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}._1DR1r7cWVoK2RVj_pKKyPF{-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;max-width:100%}._1CVe5UNoFFPNZQdcj1E7qb{-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:4px}._2UOVKq8AASb4UjcU1wrCil{height:28px;width:28px;margin-top:6px}.FB0XngPKpgt3Ui354TbYQ{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:start;align-items:flex-start;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;margin-left:8px;min-width:0}._3tIyrJzJQoNhuwDSYG5PGy{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%}.TIveY2GD5UQpMI7hBO69I{font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:16px;color:var(--newRedditTheme-titleText);white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}.e9ybGKB-qvCqbOOAHfFpF{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;max-width:100%;margin-top:2px}.y3jF8D--GYQUXbjpSOL5.y3jF8D--GYQUXbjpSOL5{font-weight:400;box-sizing:border-box}._28u73JpPTG4y_Vu5Qute7n{margin-left:4px} Cultural appropriation often is viewed as a problem of . When purification includes the use of sage, it raises the issue of appropriation, as it has traditionally been used by Native Americans in their rituals. Although this account of cultural appropriation is normative, cultural appropriation is often wrong only in a trivial sense. 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. More mainstream religions have buildings, such as churches or synagogues, where they maintain sanctuaries for religious purposes only. The demand has become so great that many Chumash people (of what is now Southern California) are concerned that the plant is being overharvested. Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm. There is no set liturgy that everyone follows, and it is possible for people to create their own rituals. Other types of sage are completely okay! Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. Sage, sacred to Native Americans, is being used in purification rituals, raising issues of cultural appropriation. Adopting blue sage in respectful ways can also bring spiritual and physical benefits. White sage and cultural appropriation Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. Why does it matter what YOU'RE fine with? ive heard that mugwort and other flowers/herbs are fine, but what about other kinds of sage? A Comprehensive Review. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The phrase originated in the . These tribes have historically used blue sage for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. /*# 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. Blue Sage also known as "Grandmother Sage" is a purifying herb with broad medicinal and magical applications. Unlike cultural appropriation, strategic anti-essentialism can be practiced by both minority cultures and majority cultures. Traditional dress and eagles feathers were two other examples of commonly appropriated items. Feel free to cleanse or purify or scent or whatever using anything you want. 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. I dont want to accidentally do offend anyone and do something thats not my culture and I am not very educated in this subject , It is fine to buy and use, as long as if you arent trying to mimic others cultures while using it. .s5ap8yh1b4ZfwxvHizW3f{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText);padding-top:5px}.s5ap8yh1b4ZfwxvHizW3f._19JhaP1slDQqu2XgT3vVS0{color:#ea0027} Its exploitative and amounts to silencing Native voices and erasing our cultural heritage, Hopkins says. Instead, white performers who borrowed heavily . Being intentional about how you implement this practice in your life and being mindful about its origins and significance is helpful for everyone. Pagans, to the contrary, have ritual areas that must be transformed from mundane to sacred use. Participants believed they were honoring the first people on the continent by incorporating elements of their spiritual practice. That smudge stick represents the deep pain, sacrifice, resistance, and refusal of Native peoples. 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. Terms & Conditions. Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm. so are these other kinds of sages ok for non-native smudging/burning? Some of these include white sage (Salvia apiana), cedar (Thuja plicata), sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. I'm fine with non-native people using whatever the hell they want. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. 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. I now see how that when it's done for gain, social or otherwise, it can be offensive. The line between celebration and appropriation gets crossed when there is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices or ideas of one group by another, typically more dominant group. The past few years have certainly left many folks with the desire to rid their homes of negative energy. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. Cultural Appropriation Examples . It would be both ironic and sad if in celebrating Mother Earth, Pagans helped to make a sacred herb extinct. They argue that by taking something that is sacred to them and using it for their own purposes, non-indigenous people are erasing their culture and traditions. Is this the society we re living in? Really interested in some others viewpoints but a lot of the responses here dont really go into it! Cleansing is a way to provide a safe place to interact with the spirit world, which is always part of Pagan rituals. Many also view participating in closed practices as Cultural Appropriation too. One way to do this is to purchase blue sage from indigenous vendors whenever possible. . 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. In her groundbreaking book Purity and Danger, anthropologist Mary Douglas illustrates how purity and its maintenance are central to religion. As contemporary Pagans often piece together different elements to create their spirituality, for many it seemed natural to include Native American practices. Poll: Support for abortion rights is strong, even among most religious groups . It may even be personally fulfilling to find out if and what your ancestors burned for cleansing. (iStock by Getty Images) White Sage And Cultural Appropriation. A study conducted by Indigenous Peoples Journal found that the appropriation of blue sage has led to an increase in the commercialization of the plant, which has resulted in higher prices and decreased access for indigenous people. Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. And so often,. , have ritual areas that must be transformed from mundane is blue sage cultural appropriation sacred.! A sacred circle include Native American spokespeople objected to being used in rituals! Sacred from the mundane contemporary pagans often piece together different elements to create own. Helpful for everyone spiritual and physical benefits ceremonies that i attended as a researcher, leading. Was associated with Native American practice stole these folks land and now you want to steal their practices... 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