White Sage - Cultural Appropriation?

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After having a discussion with my housemates about all kinds of cultural appropriation, white sage and it’s scarcity was mentioned. I went about looking for articles relating to this topic and was unhappily surprised to find it’s a real issue.

I have tried to be careful about sourcing my herbs, altar tools, et al, and it’s been really tough to find ethical sources/vendors. (There’s another topic/thread about the ethics around buying one’s tools at big box stores, but that’s a subject for another day.)

So, how do we all feel about this? Is it ok to use white sage because we’re wiccan or witches? Or, is it not ok because of the issues noted above and in the cited articles below?

Would love to know your thoughts.

The Politics of Smudging, Ethos

Saging the World, California Native Plant Society

White Sage, California Native Plant Society (PDF)

:hyacinth: :herb:

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Unfortunately I’ve been aware of the over-harvesting problem for a long time… This is one of the reasons why I stopped using white sage years ago.

The problem is, I’ve yet to discover another plant with the level of cleansing power that sage does. If anyone does have an equally powerful alternative they recommend, let me know.

I have found very good results from using cedar, but I still don’t think it’s on the same level as sage. At least, that’s not what I feel after I do a cedar-cleanse. Cedar cleansing I know is much more culturally appropriate for people in a Nordic practice. As far as other practices go, I can’t say.

On that issue though…

Cultural appropriation is a little of a hot-button topic in the pagan world. On one side, some argue that no practice should ever be closed, and on the other, some argue we should never deviate from our ancestral bloodline in choosing our practice.

If I were being honest, my current practice isn’t exactly “culturally appropriate” for someone with my blood. But if you go and interview actual people in Southeast Asia - they are usually thrilled to hear of anyone interested in their traditions.

So it depends who you ask. It depends on the tradition. It depends on how commercialized things become.

I think in some cases preserving the integrity of certain closed practices is important, but I see it on a case-by-case basis. I don’t think it applies to everyone.

My issue with the sage though is the way it’s harvested and how it hurts the biodiversity. Unless there’s a new way white sage is being cultivated I’m not aware of.

[Final Edit: And this isn’t me downplaying the cultural issue of using white sage. I think the issue of Native American cultures being commodified is a real problem.

I’m also very careful of where I buy my Indian [actual Indian - not Native American] and Southeast Asian materials from. Commercialization is a problem in some areas there as well. Commercialization comes for everyone. :confused: ]

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Appreciate the thoughtful weigh-in, @WrenTalbot. I, too, vacillate about ethnic/indigenous practices and how I might incorporate them into my own rituals without causing offense on this plane or another. I also shun white sage, for the most part, because of the way it’s harvested.

Several alternatives I’ve employed are rosemary, lavender, juniper, and as you mentioned, cedar. Rosemary seems to have the closest approximation to sage’s effects, IMHO.

While my practices are eclectic, I periodically review them as I find myself feeling actual pain when I discover that one of my rituals has even portions stolen from the First People. It is a work in progress as always.

Again, I am grateful for your feedback.

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Sure thing! As you can see, I spend a lot of time thinking about this stuff too, lol.

I used rosemary a lot in my old practice, that’s also a very good choice for the northern traditions. I’ve shifted over to using sandalwood, juniper and cedar now, and using sound.

I continue to get hung up on the strength of these other herbs, but I agree that rosemary does come very close. :thinking: I guess there’s also salt and vinegar but I know they can damage some surfaces if used too often.

On occasion I’ve thought about getting sage as an emergency option, but like you said, finding an ethical source is hard! I have a local metaphysical shop that sells it, but I don’t know where they source it from…

I get the struggle. I think it helps to just be mindful of where you’re getting your information from. A quick google search will likely give you the most mainstream explanations - but if you dig more into the history of your preferred tradition for your info, you’ll have a much better time figuring out what was actually used in that particular tradition.

Having a friend or two from a native tradition helps too. They’ll likely give you a quicker answer on what’s acceptable or not. I’ve spent some time talking to Thais, Sri-Lankans, Indians, etc. on some of my choices and they’ve been very helpful to say the least!

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On occasion I’ve thought about getting sage as an emergency option, but like you said, finding an ethical source is hard! I have a local metaphysical shop that sells it, but I don’t know where they source it from…

I’ve taken to growing culinary sage to use in my kitchen and have occasionally burned a small bunch of dried leaves–that seems to be ok per my conscience. :upside_down_face: You could always ask your apothecary where they source their sage. Just saying.

In any event, it’s always good to research one’s practice(s) to make sure they align with core intentions. You are correct about the 'net being a less than complete repository of esoteric and ritual knowledge but it’s a helpful place to start.

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Absolutely! I think buying it would be my only option. Growing sage in an apartment that only gets a few hours of eastern exposure a day may be a bit of a challenge lol. (And I don’t have the space for a growing table either.)

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white sage is rare here and overcommercialized as some sort of “cleansing and healing must haves” (along with Palo Santo and Cedar), i’m upset about this.

I use Chinese mugwort for cleansing, and am now researching the properties of calamus and some kind of Tibetian cypress, they are all used for cleansing and protecting but in different regions of China.

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oh but idk if these plants are common in Western countries​:thinking::thinking::thinking:

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There’s western varieties of Mugwort and Cypress for sure. Mugwort has hallucinogenic properties though so I always recommend it with some caution. (Not sure where the Chinese variant ranks on the hallucinogenic scale though, is it safer?)

I wonder if I can find Tibetan cypress from my sources. :thinking:

I’ve not noticed cedar being commercialized in the US, so that’s interesting that you’re noticing that in China. Whenever I’ve used cedar I’ve just repurposed holiday garlands and/or fallen twigs from my local forest. I’ve actually never found cedar sticks for smudging in the store!

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the Chinese one is safer, and is widely used as food and medicine here.

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@Sedim_Haba

Hmmm… I get the point of this video and accept that usage of words and images can be interpreted as forms of admiration. I wholeheartedly agree with the notion of outrage-mania as a disease perpetrated by the media in all it’s forms.

However, what wasn’t addressed was how First Peoples feel about others appropriating their ritual tools and ceremonies. The following links explore these and other topics which address “appropriation.”

I could include more citations but there seems to be a dearth of material actually written by a First Nations’ source. Please note that I am simply providing a “yin” to your “yang” and thus giving both sides of this prickly issue a fair shake.

There is magic in the making, mending, and growing. :herb:

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Indeed, I remember back in my childhood when my dad and his friends would take us boys into the forest.

Sleep under the stars, learn the lore of nature and the plants and animals in the environment.

What’s there to ‘appropriate’ there? Admiration of wisdom and a willingness to learn the forest craft

should be encouraged, not shamed. Yes, attitude is everything. I remember being raised in the 60’s

when the cowboy movie and John Wayne were popular. How the native was depicted, as a savage.

That’s the bad appropriation, done not from emulation but mockery. Direct taking of rituals is also

bad IF the mindset and meaning is lost and becomes mere parroting. Does that all make sense?

My autistic brain knows the difference but putting it into words not so easy.

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It seems we are of the same generation, @Sedim_Haba. And you are correct. There is nothing wrong with, and absolutely every right with appreciating nature, both wild and domesticated. Honestly, there’s a little wild even in the tamest of gardens. And I think you found just the right words to express your thoughts.

I guess I am looking to avoid stepping into a liminal space that may result in ancestral offense, despite the best of my intentions. @WrenTalbot’s concern about ethical sourcing of materiel echoes my own feelings about using sage, etc. That apprehension also speaks to learning about and respecting our environment.:joy:

I am not drawn to the rituals of the First Nations but I am cognizant that aspects of modern Druidic, Wiccan, and Pagan ceremonies and spells seem to have been derived from their traditions. The lack of written history about the aforementioned practices hinders insight. I don’t read Ogham script… Yet. :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

So… There’s my dilemma and I think I will just keep holding my respect for First Nations rituals as a guide post for my own rituals and continue to listen to wisdom as it comes.

With gratitude,

~ Lisa

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