some of the things that i stop saying and buying that is “spiritual”.
and i urge you to take this stand too.
disclaimer: i am not an expert and/or the voices of indigenous people. i am sharing from my own reading and as much as i try to ensure the accuracy, i may still misinterpret some stuff. i suggest you google and do a fact check too.
- smudging
this is an indigenous practice. it is an important ceremonial ritual or prayer for many indigenous cultures. it is cultural appropriation when non-native people does it and infringes upon the cultural importance and authenticity of the rituals.
before 'smudging' was popularized or made 'normal' it was illegal for the indigenous. before 1978, it was illegal for natuves to practive their religion and many were jailed/killed for keeping their ways
"So when our religious practices are mocked through these products, or folks are commodifying and making money off our ceremonies, it’s not about who has the ‘right’ to buy or sell. It’s about power." – Dr. Adrienne Keene
what to say instead: smoke cleanse. cleansing. clearing.
- white sage and palo santo
the appropriation is made worse when the plant is not harvested correctly – which is often the case.
it is important that they are harvested sustainably eg. leaving the root and/or allowing the plant to continue to grow. palo santo is also only supposed to be sourced from dead trees/newly fallen trees. there are also some ceremony/prayers involved when harvesting. (this is part i am quite unsure cos i think i only read one source about it)
given the capitalism, it is also over harvested. and many are illegally sourced even though they are often advertised as “ethical”.
what to use instead: essential oils like frankincense, lavender, lime, myrrh, etc. or self made cleansing stick using more common herbs like rosemary. you can also use the common sage we use in kitchen.
so, you are convinced and will stop buying them. here’s what to do with the white sage and palo santo you have bought previously: have a mini ritual to give thanks and honor the origin before you use.
- crystals.
for this, it is capitalism/over harvesting of it.
crystals are amazing. they hold the natural energy and power of the earth we live in.
but too many people are now selling it. everyone is buying crystals. everyone is stocking their house up with pretty crystals. but what about the nature?
when demand are high.. there need to be supply. and the crystals need to be sourced and harvested. it is a lucrative business.. and that has led to illegal, abusive way of harvesting – both on the human harvesting, and the nature where the crystals are at.
what to do about it? STOP BUYING. already have a big collection at home? consider giving away or “rehoming” them to those who doesnt have them.
do you need alternatives for this? not necessary. crystals are good to have for most processes and not must have. so you can do without.
- woo woo & new age
just as the above all, ive used this.. and i even have a group call “woo & magical” which i recently revived and have not changed the name yet.
i used it because it sounded cute to me. but it isnt anymore after knowing how it came about.
“Woo-woo is first recorded in the 1980s, used to mock beliefs associated with the likes of New Age culture. The term may have originated as an imitation of the sound of the theremin in horror and sci-fi films and TV, or of the spooky noises associated with ghosts and the supernatural.”
this then leads to the term “new age” – which actually refers to very very old age practices.
basically the term woo woo was initially used to ridicule the traditional ways that are no longer the “norm” or medically endorsed. and the term “new age” is downplaying the long history of the practices where it first originated.
what to say instead: spiritual. traditional healing. ancestry practices. “something i dont know how to explain yet” “something science cannot explain yet”
personal conclusion:
smudging, white sage and palo santo
for smudging, it is as simple as stop smudging! but, we can still do smoke cleanse.. but we dont claim that we are smuding because we are not.
and instead of using white sage or palo santo.. there are many other herbs that we can use that is eco-friendly and ethical. (i have made my own cleansing sticks with herbs that are more widely available. will share more soon. or dm me.)
white sage, palo santo and crystals
yes, the shops can claim their supplies are ethically harvested and/or sourced.. but, how do we actually know? and just how much supplies can we take from mother earth if we are over buying? eg. stocking whole house up with crystals.
i still have white sage and palo santo left from my past purchase. i will not be buying anymore of it. i have been making my own cleasning stick and sprays and will use them moving forward.
for crystals, i have a handful and those are enough for my usage. if/when i need something i do not already have, i will exercise very mindful buying. but i doubt so since i believe most of us can make do without crystals.