Is it the same thing as using sage or Palo santo? Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth yoga, fitness, & nutrition courses, when you Is it okay to burn Palo Santo? So in theory, if you are careful and do your research, your palo santo purchase may support positive development in certain regions. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. The answer is that the use of sage itself is not cultural appropriation, however, the deliberate act of smudging is. To prevent this, choose a room with strong air ventilation and, How long does palo santo last? 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. Practices of Santeria/Yoruba for example people cant just demand to use their roots because they feel entitled to do anything spiritual. 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. 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. Once they do, they field-dress the trunks with machetes by hacking away at the termite-softened bark to reveal the trees heart, then pack the wood into woven bags, strap it to the backs of their bikes, and return to the manufacturing area. Palo Santo means holy wood best known for its ability to add positivity to your space whereas sage removes negativity. Always buy from a reputable retailer to make sure your palo santo is responsibly sourced. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. (You can also drink sage, another commonly burned object.). Or Copal for that Matter because its a Latin American Rezin. She confirmed that palo santo forests have been devastated. What is the meaning of burning 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. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? How long does palo santo last? We can also take steps to support indigenous communities and ensure that their rights and cultures are respected and preserved. Only mature plants, around 5070 years of age, develop the hearta dense, deeply resined corenecessary for distillation into an essential oil. There is no wrong time. Given how high the stakes are, how much do you trust an online source to give you the straight scoop on how that Always buy from a reputable retailer to make sure your palo santo is responsibly sourced. Personally, I think youre okay to use it considering ur situation. Plus most businesses jumping on the bandwagon are not getting the palo santo ethically. Why you shouldn't use white sage? 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 There are actually two trees called palo santo. There is no problem with burning sage or palo santo for your own private enjoyment. . It is not surprising that she We currently have a library of 19,000 articles, and will be systematically combing through our older content to surface and revise or delete harmful content. Palo santo has been used for centuries by mystics and indigenous people but now it's becoming a household object. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. 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. Non-native peoples use of smudge products are often well-intentioned but this appropriation is still harmful and the exploitation of smudge is only a part of a larger issue. Allow it to burn for 30 seconds and then blow it out. In short: keep doing your thing! 2023Well+Good LLC. Also, read: How Often Should You Sage your House? (Do the research yourself; dont burden othersparticularly Black, Indigenous, and people of color, if youre whitewith your self-education. Is it okay to burn Palo Santo? When you light a Palo Santo stick, the smoke will purify the air and rid your environment of any negative energy. See alsoGreen Your Practice: 39 Eco-Friendly Yoga Essentials, But my inquiry did spark a discussion among Yaksetig and her family, one that she hadnt yet had with her parents and grandparents. 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. Palo Santo is traditionally burned I want to acknowledge the first people of the land. 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. It takes them an entire day to locate two fallen specimens. Peruvian history is in many ways different from US history, so I returned once again to my Peruvian friend for guidance. Therefore, it is important to assess the potential benefits and risks of using Palo Santo in spiritual practices. 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. It hurts to see our traditions, which our ancestors died and fought for, now become a trend that others are demanding to be a part of, Well for Culture co-founder Chelsey Luger previously wrote in an article for Well+Good. It sounds like you want to be respectful and thats crucial, imo. The Palo Santo stick may be reused over and over again and will never burn out, which means an endless amount of cleansing is at your fingertips. In this article: What is Sage? Palo santo is not endangered. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You can find more information about our process for doing so here. The tree is becoming extinct.. The ritualistic burning of Palo Santo has been practiced for thousands of years. - Cultural Appropriation Is it OK to use Palo Santo? 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Palo Santo is derived from South America and is commonly used in purification rituals. Required fields are marked *. Thank you to those who generously reached out to call us in, and we are deeply sorry for perpetuating this offensive line of thinking. 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. I say do it. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Press J to jump to the feed. The last room you smudge should be the one with the front door. The ritualistic burning of Palo Santo has been practiced for thousands of years. Its also used to clear out negative energy. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Break Out Your Crayons, Yes, You Can Eat to Boost Your Energy. Once the wood sticks are burned, the smoke is believed to clear negative energy and restore tranquility and calm emotions. The seeds before being used will pass through the digestive system of the pigeons. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Its also used to clear out negative energy. If youre non-indigenous, should you even be using palo santo as a spiritual aid? Well, times change. If you're 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. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Similar to Sage and Cedar, Palo Santo is most widely used for spiritual purification and energy (house) cleansings. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. #3 burning sage increases your clarity, awareness and also improves your mood 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. But what is it and why are people burning it? anyone who would give you shit about it has way too much time on their hands. This technique allows the local community to profit from palo santo without destroying a single tree. 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. You can burn palo santo as incense or apply the oil on your skin. Is smudging cultural appropriation? 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. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! Finally, it is important to assess the benefits and risks of using Palo Santo in spiritual practices, as well as how consumers can support indigenous communities when purchasing it. You dont need sage to do it. Not Native peoples.. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hold the Palo Santo stick at a 45 degree angle and light it. In your browser only with your consent energy and restore tranquility and calm emotions that are being analyzed have. Assess the potential benefits and risks of using palo santo has been used for spiritual purification and energy House. Marketing campaigns is in many ways different from us history, so returned. People of color, if you are careful and do your research, your santo... Being used will pass through the website region where we live set GDPR! Fallen specimens indigenous people but now it 's becoming a household object..... 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