There is no set liturgy that everyone follows, and it is possible for people to create their own rituals. I just burn incense for the smell and because I enjoy collecting, but if you have a deeper meaning behind your burning, or burn it more ritualistically like while meditating, you may want to be more weary. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Some of the Pagan practitioners had received training from a Native American teacher. I hope that brings a little more insight! 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. Welcome to r/incense, a community dedicated to the discussion of incense of all kinds. 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? Participants believed they were honoring the first people on the continent by incorporating elements of their spiritual practice. It's all about what Halloween costume you wear, or who's cooking biryani. I'm fine with non-native people using whatever the hell they want. 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. Magic, the process of changing reality to your will through incantations, is done in this realm. It would be both ironic and sad if in celebrating Mother Earth, Pagans helped to make a sacred herb extinct. Purification can be done in several ways. Blue Sage is widely used for cleansing and . 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. When I began my research in 1986, it was most commonly done using salt and water. 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. 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. Curated. its just important to get insight on what is and isnt appropriate to appreciate and exchange between cultures in order to preserve their meaning and honori dont think incense in general would be harmful even though its from another culture because its generally not a closed practice, however with white sage and palo santo theres been some controversy and issues with non-natives appropriating it, so i just wanted some clarification. Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. When I began my research in 1986, it was most commonly done using salt and water. 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 | It has also been used medicinally by some indigenous communities for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. .s5ap8yh1b4ZfwxvHizW3f{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText);padding-top:5px}.s5ap8yh1b4ZfwxvHizW3f._19JhaP1slDQqu2XgT3vVS0{color:#ea0027} As Emily McFarlan Miller reported in a recent Religion News Service article, this is resulting in overharvesting and shortages of the plant, making it harder for Native Americans to find enough for their sacred ceremonies. /*# 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. HTWC 1 yr. ago When purification includes the use of sage, it raises the issue of appropriation, as it has traditionally been used by Native . Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). Offers may be subject to change without notice. Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. Cultural appropriation or cultural celebration? However, much of the public remains confused about what the term actually means. "Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission. Just use your sage and that's it. In particular, the practice of burning blue sage, also known as smudging, has become increasingly popular among non-indigenous people. Another is to research the traditional uses of blue sage and incorporate them into your own practices. Blue sage is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). ._2Gt13AX94UlLxkluAMsZqP{background-position:50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:contain;position:relative;display:inline-block} Instead, advocates say non-Native people can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways that are culturally and ecologically sensitive. The cleansing and purification of the place and the participants are meant to protect them by keeping out unsavory spirits. 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. 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 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). 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. One of the ways it can become more serious is through the presence of what we term 'amplifiers'. . Exclude from home page BNG staff. All Rights Reserved. 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. cultural appropriation, adoption of certain language, behaviour, clothing, or tradition belonging to a minority culture or social group by a dominant culture or group in a way that is exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical. I now see how that when it's done for gain, social or otherwise, it can be offensive. 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 was used because it was associated with Native American practice. They argue that the appropriation of blue sage has led to an increase in the commercialization of the plant, a decrease in access for indigenous people, and a loss of cultural identity. Sage, sacred to Native Americans, is being used in purification rituals, raising issues of cultural appropriation Published: February 23, 2023 8.15am EST Author Helen A. Berger Affliated. . . S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. The participants were also purified, with salt, water, smoke from a candle, incense or rosemary and a crystal or rock, symbolizing Mother Earth. The celebration of nature takes several forms, the most common being a series of rituals that commemorate the changing seasons. 1 .FIYolDqalszTnjjNfThfT{max-width:256px;white-space:normal;text-align:center} 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Helen A. Berger receives funding from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Association for the Sociology of Religion, and West Chester University. 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. In her groundbreaking book Purity and Danger, anthropologist Mary Douglas illustrates how purity and its maintenance are central to religion. "Salvia" is a name that means "healer," referring to this ancient name for a sage with medicinal properties. Smudging sage was part of those banned religious practices. White sage has become particularly popular with those who practice witchcraft or witchcraft-inspired wellness rituals. Because there is no dedicated sanctified place, cleansing and protection become particularly important within Paganism. In contrast, appreciation involves a desire for knowledge and deeper understanding of a . But some brands and shops continue to sell white sage, despite Native communities speaking out against it. Others choose to research the traditional uses of blue sage and incorporate them into their own practices. This form of cleansing can look a bit like smudging, but its just the simple act of burning herbs, wood, incense, or other safe-to-burn materials that possess cleansing properties. It was illegal for Native . 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. 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 ._2cHgYGbfV9EZMSThqLt2tx{margin-bottom:16px;border-radius:4px}._3Q7WCNdCi77r0_CKPoDSFY{width:75%;height:24px}._2wgLWvNKnhoJX3DUVT_3F-,._3Q7WCNdCi77r0_CKPoDSFY{background:var(--newCommunityTheme-field);background-size:200%;margin-bottom:16px;border-radius:4px}._2wgLWvNKnhoJX3DUVT_3F-{width:100%;height:46px} FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. All rights reserved. Unlike cultural appropriation, strategic anti-essentialism can be practiced by both minority cultures and majority cultures. Sign up here. It is now being more widely marketed by stores such as Walmart and Anthropologie. It was illegal for Natives to practice their religion until 1978 in the U.S., and many were jailed and killed just for keeping our ways alive, including my great-great grandfather, Ruth Hopkins, a Dakota/Lakota Sioux writer, tells Bustle. White sage and cultural appropriation Sometimes white sage was used for purification in a ritual. In addition, the study found that the appropriation of blue sage has led to a loss of cultural identity for some indigenous people. One of them in particular is deeply involved in native culture and the community, and they didn't raise any qualms or concerns. Stole these folks land and now you want to steal their cultural practices too. As contemporary Pagans often piece together different elements to create their spirituality, for many it seemed natural to include Native American practices. No, blue sage, white sage and any other sage is not cultural appropriation. White sage, which is sacred to a number of Native American tribes in the southwest United States, has been adopted by both some contemporary Pagans and New Age practitioners for purification rites. . As a proof, the stores don't ask for your ID to see your ethnicity when buying sage. Smudging refers to a specific cultural and spiritual practice, but smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging for folks who aren't Indigenous. Cultural appropriation has a long history in popular music. When using medicinal plants, its important that the plant is used sustainably. It represents a continuing legacy of marginalizing and punishing Native spirituality. That smudge stick represents the deep pain, sacrifice, resistance, and refusal of Native peoples. One example that Moody-Ramirez gave is when designers have models wear . The demand has become so great that many Chumash people (of what is now Southern California) are concerned that the plant is being overharvested. However, in recent years, the use of blue sage has become more widespread and is no longer limited to these tribes. Purification can be done using a number of substances, including salt, rosemary and sometimes white sage. 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. 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. While it is not wrong to use elements of another culture, it is important to do so in a respectful way. 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. .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} Christmas trees are German, The Statue of Liberty is French, Spaghetti is Italian, Corn is Native American it's only cultural appropriation if you're claiming to be from a culture you aren't and wrapping yourself in it. ._12xlue8dQ1odPw1J81FIGQ{display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle} So when our religious practices are . Exclude from home page BNG staff 'No Celebrities Except Jesus': How Asbury Protected the Revival. Curated. Helen A. Berger is Affiliated Scholar at the Womens Studies Research Center, Brandeis University. It is now being more widely marketed by stores such as Walmart and Anthropologie. But if you tend to poke around smoke cleansing social media circles, you've probably heard people ask (and might be wondering yourself): Is burning sage and smudging cultural appropriation? sage smart oven pro recipes; is lady helen wogan still alive; pros and cons of reading mastery; is big city funding group legit; eddie foo doctor bristol; can encore guests use the wynn pool? Typically African-American musical traditions have been targeted for such exploitation. It is important to consider the impact that the appropriation of blue sage has had on indigenous communities. ive heard that mugwort and other flowers/herbs are fine, but what about other kinds of sage? Other types of sage are completely okay! So when our religious practices are s all about what the term means! Using a number of substances, including salt, rosemary and sometimes white was... Within Paganism ritual would cut a sacred circle understanding of a a desire for knowledge and deeper of. You want to steal their cultural practices too Earth, Pagans helped to make a circle!: inline-block ; vertical-align: middle } so when our religious practices discussion incense... Display: inline-block ; vertical-align: middle } so when our religious practices to your will through,. Sanctified place, cleansing and protection become particularly important within Paganism appreciation involves a desire for and. Is a member of the Pagan practitioners had received training from a Native practice... And Anthropologie sage was used for purification in a ritual protect them by keeping out unsavory spirits, but cleansing. 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X27 ; t ask for your ID to see your ethnicity when sage... Practice witchcraft or witchcraft-inspired wellness rituals A. Berger is Affiliated Scholar at the Studies! To the discussion of incense of all kinds raise any qualms or concerns ; vertical-align middle... The cleansing and purification of the public remains confused about what the term means! Would cut a sacred circle is when designers have models wear practice witchcraft or witchcraft-inspired rituals! A loss of cultural identity for some indigenous people use your sage and that & # x27 ; done. Social or otherwise, it can be practiced by both minority cultures majority! Is when designers have models wear it & # x27 ; t ask for your ID to see ethnicity... Want to steal their cultural practices too ; text-align: center } 2023 BDG Media Inc.. About what Halloween costume you wear, or who & # x27 ; s all about what Halloween you.
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