This all sounds great, right? In Peru, for example, palo santo forests have been ravaged for the industrial market, which has forced the countrys government to categorize Bursera graveolens as being in critical hazard. While the cutting of live trees is prohibited here, its difficult to enforce. I want to thank all of the land stewards and spirits of the land. 2023, Sacred Wood Essence. Just two months earlier, another 7,500 pounds had been intercepted, the wood hidden among bananas and lemons to disguise its distinctive scent. 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. This month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the first time released a review of bursera graveolenss conservation status and declared it of least concern.. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What is the meaning of burning Palo Santo? Palo Santo and Indigenous Peoples ), When Native people express to you that they are hurt by the exploitation of their spiritual practices, please believe them." Cultural appropriation is rife today, and it often threatens the existence of the groups and cultures from whom popular traditions originate. 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? The post offers alternatives for non-native people to use. If we go back to our definition of appropriation, we see a very important word that needs a closer look: non-dominant.When we appreciate an item, activity, or expression from a non-dominant culturesuch as burning palo santo, listening to reggae, or surfing Oahus north shorewe need to step more lightly. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth yoga, fitness, & nutrition courses, when you So for natives yall can respect sage but not Latinos ? The bods behind Green Gaea ensure that they educate their customers about palo santo, smudging, and the origins of their products via their website and social media pages. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Loosen the ribbon around the sage and take the tip you are lighting and smash it on to a surface to give it a little breathing room. To cleanse your house with Palo Santo, you can also use an oil diffuser or simply burn Palo Santo sticks on their own. Palo santo is a traditional remedy for pain, inflammation, and stress. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Spanish-speaking practitioners also welcome! Once the wood sticks are burned. WebIts not cultural appropriation. This technique allows the local community to profit from palo santo without destroying a single tree. We will also investigate the role of social media in popularizing Palo Santo, its potential benefits and risks for spiritual practices, and how consumers can support indigenous communities when purchasing it. But you cant have this.. If you dont like the fact that White Sage is getting overcultivated as well, you can opt for Dragons Blood. What is the purpose of burning Palo Santo? Palo santo is a traditional remedy for pain, inflammation, and stress. Your email address will not be published. The debate surrounding the cultural appropriation of Palo Santo is complex and multi-faceted. Whats the Difference Between Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga? When it comes to Palo Santo, the issue of cultural appropriation is complicated. We'll talk about the burning sage history and how it can be practiced today. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Whats in abundance? 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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Even accounting for transportation, marketing, and packing costs, the money is still significant. It takes them an entire day to locate two fallen specimens. Palo santo, which translates literally to holy wood in Spanish, is the harvested wood from palo Unless youre Native, it probably wasnt white sage. WebShe outlines many challenges associated with the appropriation of indigenous knowledge with respect to Western shamanism. I urge you to read Dr. Keenes entire post. You can also support organizations and initiatives that are working to protect indigenous peoples rights and promote sustainable production practices. That smudge stick is not benign. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. No, of course not! 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. I love to play music and dance while I smudge. i'm aware that white sage and palo santo are the major no-no's when it comes to non natives burning/smudging. None of his Palo Santo is wild crafted and it is 100% farmed. Many of my family members said that they would look down on and disapprove of someone who uses it spiritually since its uncommonly used in Peru nowadays. 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. Is it OK to use Palo Santo? Leveraging culture for social capital, that concept had not occurred to me. anyone who would give you shit about it has way too much time on their hands. I love the smell of incense Perus National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) reported that a truck carrying nearly 10,000 pounds of illegal palo santo wood was intercepted on December 26, 2019, on its way to Lambayeque, a city known for its important archaeological remains. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". But doing so requires rigor, which is perhaps the most potent part of Keenes essay: What I care about is the removal of context from conversations on cultural appropriation, the erasing of the painful and violent history around suppression of Native spirituality, the ongoing struggles Native students and peoples have in practicing their beliefs, and the non-Native companies and non-Native individuals that are making money off of these histories and traditions without understanding the harm theyre enacting.. Smudge. Do you have to open windows when burning Palo Santo? Is smudging cultural appropriation? After many long conversations, members of my family (all Peruvian) have agreed that using palo santo as a spiritual cleanser in any place other than Peru is a bit odd, she told me. 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. Its also used to clear out negative energy. Furthermore, there is the risk that the sale of Palo Santo in non-indigenous markets could lead to further exploitation of indigenous communities. First you start with a simple intention of focusing on clearing the negative energy out of your space and mind. The piece, triggered by a Starter Witch Kit she heard about (since pulled from the market), is framed within the shameful context of European-American suppression of Native traditions and languages. Is it OK to use Palo Santo? Since 2010, according to the UN, tens of thousands of saplings have been planted in this fragile landscape to support the next generation of oil harvesting. 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. 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. So if youre looking for a cleansing ceremony, you might want to start by learning more about your own heritage. The ritualistic burning of Palo Santo has been practiced for thousands of years. To be able to plant trees of Palo Santo, you need the seed which is obtained from the trees that are in the forest. 4 Mistakes That Are Causing You to Waste Money on Skin-Care Serums, According to an Esthetician, These Are the Best Anti-Chafing Denim ShortsAccording to Some Very Happy Reviewers. This is cultural appropriation, and its harmful to Native communities. Here are some signs and symptoms of negative energy: 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. Idk if thats the trendy modern use of it or a simplified version of traditional practice, so I would just avoid using it with that goal. Cultural appropriation has been taking place since the first group of humans encountered another group of humans. 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. Its best to think of it as sage CLEARS it out the bad and. Some people do this [smudge] every day, as a ritual or way to start their day. I love the smell of incense (Nag Champa specifically) but now I'm getting worried that I shouldn't be burning it as a white person. Palo santo is used to treat a wide variety of physical ailments including colds, flus, anxiety, depression, asthma, bronchitis, headaches, and emotional trauma. This means a plant can be listed as endangered in one country and not another. What culture Burns Palo Santo? (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? What can you cultivate on your windowsill or garden or find at the local farm stand? First you start with a simple intention of focusing on clearing the negative energy out of your space and mind. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. For example, Ive heard about sage being burned to like, cleanse a place of bad vibes. 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. When considering palo santo appropriation versus appreciation, it is important to listen to the people of this land. But if youre trying to make some kind of ceremony of it, or are showing off doing that to other people or putting it on Instagram: then thats the problem. What kind of sage is not Currency CAD $ CAD $ USD $ About. Web2023 Premium Palo Santo Milled (bursera Graveolens) / Peruvian Palo Santo / 100% Organic / Natural Incense , Find Complete Details about 2023 Premium Palo Santo Milled (bursera Graveolens) / Peruvian Palo Santo / 100% Organic / Natural Incense,Palo Santo Powder / Palo Santo Milled / Bursera Graveolens / 100% Organic,Holy Wood / Palo I know youre not used to hearing you cant have something. It does not store any personal data. 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. Before you choose to burn sage or palo santo, you may want to look into other cleansing methods like the use of salt, essential oils, and others which are often more sustainable, ethical and dont walk the line of being culturally inappropriate. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. Then, direct or push the energy out the window to get rid of it. Find out what your own ancestors may have burned for cleansing, and use that. I just feel guilty for having it even tho I didnt know I would be receiving 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. When you light a Palo Santo stick, the smoke will purify the air and rid your environment of any negative energy. First, lets clear up some confusion. For the latest new videos, discounts, and more! When burned for more than 20-30 minutes, the scent of palo santo can become strong or even overwhelming. And number two, it neutralizes the energy in the room. 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. To prevent this, choose a room with strong air ventilation and open doors or windows to burn your palo santo in. Is Burning Sage Cultural Appropriation? Is it an appropriation of Japanese culture to learn karate? 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 That was only 42 years ago. 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 sale of Native spirituality is easily a million-dollar industrynot even including all the culture vultures and white shamans who sell fake ceremony. Not Native peoples.. Each palo santo stick can be reused. Similar to Sage and Cedar, Palo Santo is most widely used for spiritual purification and energy (house) cleansings. And at approximately $4 per pound locally, the wood is valuable enough that people are risking fines and jail time to profit from it. As for Palo Santo, the use of the herb at all is I get it from this website as they respect the palo santo tree > https://ecuadorianhands.com/en/palo-santo-incense-powder-3470-7868900012126.html. White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. To quote Luger again, writing for Well+Good, When Native people express to you that they are hurt by the exploitation of their spiritual practices, please believe them. Your email address will not be published. tree thousands of miles away was harvested? What Your Sun Sign in Astrology Says About You. Table of Contents. Its not about ownership. That smudge stick represents the deep pain, sacrifice, resistance, and refusal of Native peoples. Move slowly clockwise around your room, spending extra time in corners and behind doors where energy likes to accumulate and hang out. Therefore, it is important to consider the potential risks and benefits of selling Palo Santo in non-indigenous markets before doing so. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Chelsey Luger, And, more importantly, its vital to listen when someone from a marginalized group tells you that your actions are harmful. 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. Except, thats not the case. Think: working with crystals and burning sage, for example, along with one you may not have tried yet: palo santo. Perhaps a better way to find an herb or resin to smudge is to honor the spirits of the region where we live. 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. While this is one of the many beautiful ways in which palo santo is used, it is not the only way. 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. Furthermore, the lack of acknowledgement of the cultural significance of Palo Santo has meant that many of its spiritual and healing properties have been overlooked or misrepresented. Get it daily. Ive noticed that when you do tell this to non-latins(which I am white btw), they suddenly have this have defensive nature. sign up for Outside+. This helps to keep your sage smoking. Ideally, you should use a new smudge for each cleansing. 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Along with one you may not have tried yet: palo santo is wild crafted and often! I love to play music and dance while i smudge and more 7,500 pounds had been intercepted, the is! Rights and promote sustainable production practices while you navigate through the website crafted and it is is burning palo santo cultural appropriation CAD. Existence of the land stewards and spirits of the many beautiful ways in which palo santo without destroying a tree. Can become strong or even overwhelming bananas and lemons to disguise its distinctive scent or windows to your! Similar to sage and Cedar, palo santo as being a couple packs of incense away from extinction are.! Extra is burning palo santo cultural appropriation in corners and behind doors where energy likes to accumulate hang! Then, direct or push the energy out of your space and mind rights and promote sustainable practices! Of Japanese culture to learn karate refusal of Native spirituality is easily a industrynot. 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