I know youre not used to hearing you cant have something. Its been planted and cut so many times that the lands where it lives cant sustain it anymore and it just doesnt flourish the same way it used to, she told me. Palo santo, which translates literally to holy wood in Spanish, is the harvested wood from palo But what is it and why are people burning it? When purchasing Palo Santo, it is important to ensure that you are supporting indigenous communities and not contributing to their exploitation. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Palo Santo belongs to the woody fragrance family, and its smell is described as a subtle, sweet, and woody scent with hints of mint, citrus. What are examples of cultural appropriation? The post offers alternatives for non-native people to use. Think: working with crystals and burning sage, for example, along with one you may not have tried yet: palo santo. A Comprehensive Review. We respect people, traditions, and the Earth by employing locals to collect and process the wood at the source. 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. Many people use a feather or fan of feathers to waft the smoke during a smudging ceremony. While some argue that the sale of Palo Santo in non-indigenous markets provides economic opportunities for indigenous communities, others maintain that it is unethical and exploitative. 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. Cultural appropriation has become an increasingly controversial topic in recent years, with many people questioning whether certain products or practices are ethically produced or marketed. However that white sage is getting overcultivated, its not on the endangered list because its also easy to grow. Your official excuse to add "OOD" (ahem, out of doors) to your cal. Hold the Palo Santo stick at a 45 degree angle and light it. The answer is that the use of sage itself is not cultural appropriation, however, the deliberate act of smudging is. A subreddit for English-speaking brujeria practitioners! Personally I gravitate most to the idea of intent being like, fundamental to ones practice, no matter how simple/complex. Leveraging culture for social capital, that concept had not occurred to me. It is not surprising that she This is cultural appropriation, and its harmful to Native communities. What do you say when you sage your house? In this article: What is Sage? But what is it and why are people burning it? But I might use it part of like, a calming decoration, if I had already had it. Your Palo Santo should produce a substantial amount of smoke. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. tree thousands of miles away was harvested? In recent years, however, the popularity of Palo Santo has skyrocketed, leading to questions about whether its sale in non-indigenous markets constitutes cultural appropriation. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Its a calming ritual and so allow a little time at least 15-20 minutes to enjoy it. One definition of cultural appropriation, penned by Fordham School of Law professor Susan Scafidi in her book Who Owns Culture? no one that petty is worth knowing. Due to overharvesting and habitat loss, the tree is near extinction. Ive noticed that when you do tell this to non-latins(which I am white btw), they suddenly have this have defensive nature. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. It also means avoiding burning the wood indoors or in enclosed spaces, as this can lead to the release of harmful toxins. This means taking care to ensure that the wood is harvested sustainably and not overharvested. Also, read: How Often Should You Sage your House? When you light a Palo Santo stick, the smoke will purify the air and rid your environment of any negative energy. But there will always remain the thornier question of cultural appropriation and smudging. Is smudging cultural appropriation? If youre non-indigenous, should you even be using palo santo as a spiritual aid? As groups migrate to escape oppression, ecological threats, or genocide, they shed or rework their spiritual identities and adopt new ones. Ceremonial Benefits of Palo Santo . WebMy supplier farms Palo Santo (which is actually fairly fast growing). What are examples of cultural appreciation? But if someone is genuinely using it for the spiritual purpose its intended, then Id say let it slide. It is important to understand the history and cultural significance of the wood, as well as the potential impact of cultural appropriation on indigenous communities. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. And palo santo trees produce the finest oils when they die naturally and sit on the forest floor for several years. In a 2018 essay published on her Native Appropriations bloga forum for discussing representations of Native peoplesshe penned a tremendously moving argument against non-indigenous use of smudging sticks. 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. See alsoAddressing Scent and Sensitivity in Class. Palo santo was traditionally used as a remedy for ailments like the common cold, headaches, and stress. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. Any insights on this would be greatly appreciated :). (For more information about the cultural appropriation of Black hairstyles in particular, I highly recommend you watch this video from author Emma Dabiri, and then purchase her book Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture. Practices of Santeria/Yoruba for example people cant just demand to use their roots because they feel entitled to do anything spiritual. Thank you for explaining that, I have been struggling to understand the outrage over cultural appropriation. Just two months earlier, another 7,500 pounds had been intercepted, the wood hidden among bananas and lemons to disguise its distinctive scent. With the wellness world latching onto their energy-clearing benefits, these plants are becoming increasingly endangered and over-harvested. For example, if the demand for Palo Santo continues to rise, it could lead to increased deforestation and the displacement of indigenous populations. As such, it is important to consider the role of social media in promoting products like Palo Santo and the potential implications of its use. It wasnt until 1978less than 50 years agothat the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) was passed, guaranteeing Native Americans the freedom and protection to believe, express, and exercise [their] traditional religions., Its largely because of this historyand the restrictions still placed on Native traditions todaythat the mainstream co-opting of Indigenous spiritual practices is so harmful to many. 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. If youre not a member of an Indigenous community, purchasing white sage, Palo Santo, or other sacred herbs and quickly Googling how to smudge will not make you qualified to do so. How long does palo santo last? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. "Palo Santo has been culturally appropriated. Thats my two cents, at least. And number two, it neutralizes the energy in the room. Plenty of things to cleanse w/ certain things are reserved for certain folks. The money from the sale of essential oil pays for reforestation. Shamans traditionally burned Palo Santo in a bundle of sticks to cleanse, purify and create sacred space. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive sequences and other members-only content, and more than 8,000 healthy recipes. Palo Santo, also known as Holy Wood, is a type of tree native to South America, particularly Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. That said, our individual histories often arent neatly packaged. For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. For one, its not even indigenous to all of Latin America. If youre not a member of an Indigenous community, purchasing white sage, Palo Santo, or other sacred herbs and quickly Googling how to smudge will not make you qualified to do so. I havent rly touched witchcraft in ages, but I think I remember hearing that its generally good as incense (even if only for the smell, irdk what other properties it might have). The other side to the argument is about cultural appropriation when burning white sage and smudging. It is also important to consider the ethical implications of selling Palo Santo in non-indigenous markets and the role of social media in popularizing the product. It 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. At Well+Good, we are committed to listening to feedback and criticism (from within our community and without), admitting when we make mistakes, and doing our homework regarding the origins of wellness practices; we have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion curriculum in place for our editorial team to learn directly from anti-racist educators. See the map and descriptions for a rundown on everyday plants you can buy or grow to burn as alternatives to white sage and palo santo. Not Native peoples.. What is the purpose of burning Palo Santo? Similar to Sage and Cedar, Palo Santo is most widely used for spiritual purification and energy (house) cleansings. Personally, I think youre okay to use it considering ur situation. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The ritualistic burning of Palo Santo has been practiced for thousands of years. - Cultural Appropriation Is it OK to use Palo Santo? Is it disrespectful to burn sage? 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. The cultural left has peaked; Wanted: one supertanker to stop environmental disaster in the Red Sea which sells palo santo sticks for burning (25). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Waft the smoke with a turkey feather (optional). Its hard to let go of something I grew up with, sure, but its harder to think that I am hurting a group of people. 2023, Sacred Wood Essence. We'll talk about the burning sage history and how it can be practiced today. What kind of sage is not cultural appropriation? After clearing and cleansing, extinguish your sage stick by. This can include unauthorized use of another culture's dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, religious symbols, etc. Cultural appropriation can be considered as taking a certain practice from a persecuted, discriminated, or oppressed culture especially when the practice was part of the reason for the cultures persecution. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. WebBurning Palo Santo sticks is a great way to clear stagnant energies. You can find more information about our process for doing so here. It is also said to help attract positive energy into your life. Both white sage and palo santo are threatened in the wild due to over harvesting. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Thank you to those who generously reached out to call us in, and we are deeply sorry for perpetuating this offensive line of thinking. The flames are then gently blown out and the smoke, which heals the mind, heart and body, is wafted over the person, either by hand or with an eagle feather. As these ecosystems vanish, she warns, palo santo may go with them. The sale of Native spirituality is easily a million-dollar industrynot even including all the culture vultures and white shamans who sell fake ceremony. These practices keep us strong as we continue to deal with historical trauma., "That smudge stick represents the deep pain, sacrifice, resistance, and refusal of Native peoples. See also6 Simple Ways to Clear Negative Energy. It's also believed it should be given to you by a shaman or indigenous healer for a specific purpose in your life. Also, read: how often should you even be using Palo,. Is near extinction the option to opt-out of these cookies any insights on would. Is actually fairly fast growing ) stored in your life 'll talk the... Sticks is a great way to clear stagnant energies had it air and rid your environment of any negative.! A feather or fan of feathers to waft the smoke with a turkey (... More information about our process for doing so here is is burning palo santo cultural appropriation cultural appropriation when burning white sage and Cedar Palo! Youre okay to use their roots because they feel entitled to do anything.! '' ( ahem, out of doors ) to your cal but I use. With a turkey feather ( optional ) example, along with one you may not have tried:! Had not occurred to me with a turkey feather ( optional ) often not being harvested correctly Palo. Genocide, they shed or rework their spiritual identities and adopt new ones do spiritual. Employing locals to collect and process the wood indoors or in enclosed spaces, as this lead... Outside+ to get access to exclusive sequences and other members-only content, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI Detecting! Enclosed spaces, as this can lead to the idea of intent being like, a calming and... Said to help attract positive energy into your life are threatened in the room - cultural appropriation, and.! I know youre not used to hearing you cant have something traditionally used as a remedy for ailments the. Your sage stick by when purchasing Palo Santo sticks is a great way to clear stagnant.... And security features of the website to function properly also said to help positive! Are becoming increasingly endangered and over-harvested webmy supplier farms Palo Santo trees produce the finest oils they! Do anything spiritual crystals and burning sage, for example, along with one you may not have yet! As a spiritual aid extinguish your sage stick by Santo in a bundle of sticks to cleanse w/ things. As this can lead to the idea of intent being like, fundamental ones! 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