The Cultural Appropriation of Sage + Smudging
Do you love using Sage as much as I do? Then we should talk about smudging and the cultural appropriation of Native Americans (Indigenous People).
I think we can all agree that this year has started to shift some foundations to open us up to ways we’ve been blind towards others. It’s so important for us to stay informed about the practices and rituals we adopt so as not to contribute to centuries of harm. We need to learn the origins of what we do and make sure we’re practicing in a way that honors roots and avoids cultural appropriation. This, of course, also applies to burning sage.
Ahhh… do you love sage as much as I do? The way it smells, the calm energy shift in the air after its been burned… I’ve long been a fan.
I admit that it took me a while to really think about what it means to burn sage. It’s hugely popular in the (predominately white) yoga and spiritual communities. But do we know why we use it? Do we know what it means?
Because burning sage (smudging) is traditionally a Native American religious ceremony.
I am only a small part Native American—15% Indigenous to be exact (thanks, AncestryDNA), as part of being half-Mexican, and half-white. So I don’t speak on behalf of Indigenous People, but rather as a person of privilege about something that needs to change.
I felt very connected to this small part of my ancestry growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Native American culture is a prominent part of the state (where there are 23 tribes). Growing up in NM, I assumed sage was pretty common stuff. Sage, dream catchers, and Kachina dolls are literally sold in kiosks in our small airport. Our school field trips included visits to the surrounding reservations. Since my family didn’t travel much, it wasn’t until I was older and moved to CA that I really realized how rare it is for a region’s Native American culture to be celebrated, especially to the degree it is in NM.
Because of this, I’ve been more sensitive to the growing trendy use of sage. I’m a yoga teacher in Southern California—and I see it being used and sold everywhere. Like, I’m honestly very ashamed to admit I got this particular pretty sage stick from a vegan restaurant. It’s never sat right, but I didn’t look as closely as I/we should have.
Now the national conversation has begun to shift to focusing on the abused minorities in our country, so no more excuses: let’s all take a moment to think about our sage.
What exactly is smudging?
According to Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.:
“Smudging is traditionally a ceremony for purifying or cleansing the soul of negative thoughts of a person or place.”
It was illegal for Natives to practice their religion (including smudging) until 1978 in the U.S. It’s something they’ve had to fight for. They’re still currently battling to be allowed to perform smudging in hospitals.
Sage is not the only sacred medicine used for smudging. Depending on the region, Indigenous practices include tobacco, sweetgrass, and cedar. But sage is currently by far the most common in the wellness world.
My theory? White sage grows in Southern California, where yoga, holistic health, and spirituality are booming, along with cultural appropriation of the origins of those practices.
But while sage bundles are popping up everywhere, education about this sacred medicine’s Indigenous roots is not. As this article in the Huffington Post puts it: “there’s a problem when retail chains sell the idea behind smudging completely separate from the practice.” Businesses are profiting while we co-opt Native American culture.
Sage is being over-harvested and not sustainably grown.
Due to its current trendiness, white sage is being over-harvested along the Southern California coast, harming the land and making it harder to find, thus increasing its cost. It’s also not always harvested correctly, in a way that leaves the roots and allows the plant to regrow.
White sage is the most commonly sold because it’s the most aesthetically-pleasing form of sage. It’s what’s in these photos. Very soft and clean and Instagram-y. I’ve gotten most of the sticks I’ve used when visiting home in NM, and those not-white-sage bundles look much more like regular leaves. Not as pretty, not as popular.
So we’re destroying something of sacred importance for its beauty and making it less accessible for the Native American peoples, who were using it first. This is continuing systemic racism and oppression against Indigenous People. And we’ve already done enough.
There are two solutions: first—you CAN continue to use sage.
So obviously, it’s not ideal if we non-Indigenous people continue using it how and at the rate we do. We must respect it and what it symbolizes, and less is more. But if you want to continue burning sage, the good news is, you still can—
But there are a few things you need to do:
- Stop calling burning sage smudging. It’s kind of like if I, a non-Jewish person, bought myself a chic little menorah with some long pink glitter candles for it that I lit every night before dinner to set the vibe, a practice I call Hannukah.
Picking up what I’m putting down? You’re not smudging unless you’re smudging.
- Avoid white sage. I know it’s pretty—but give other varieties of sage some love!
- Make sure the sage you do buy was sustainably grown. This means it’s not wild and was grown specifically to be harvested, organically. It should also be harvested correctly for regrowth.
- Buy directly from Native American sources if you can! Travel to reservations. Learn more about the history and source of smudging. And here’s an Indigenous-owned store on Etsy that sells organic, reservation-grown sage sticks.
- Grow your own. The best way to keep your sage sustainable is to grow your own and make your own bundles. You’ll also gain a greater appreciation for the plant. Plus more plants = happier planet.
Or, you can try burning other smoke sources!
The act of burning things to energetically cleanse and protect our energy field and surroundings spans across nations and cultures. You don’t need sage to do it. So keep burning away! (Responsibly, of course.)
You can practice smoke cleansing with different kinds of wood and herbs. Some alternatives include cinnamon, juniper, lavender, pine, rosemary, and clove. Burning incense is also awesome.
A quick side note on Palo Santo, another popular source to burn: it’s also being over-harvested and near being endangered, so please avoid and do not buy! I have this one piece that was gifted to me that I don’t burn out of symbolic respect.
You can also try energy-clearing practices for your space that don’t require any burning, like Himalayan salt lamps, crystals, and diffusing essential oils!
Sage must be respected for the sacred plant it is.
It really is magical. (All plants are!) It can be used as a spice, as medicine, and even to connect to spirit.
The most important takeaway from this post is to respect sage and the original Native American practice of burning it to smudge. The first step is educating yourself—so thanks for taking the time to read this article! Now share it with your friends and community.
And can we all agree that sage should no longer be sold at the checkout counters of expensive (white) clothing boutiques?
(If you live in SoCal, you know)
Respecting sage and the practice of smudging means we are respecting Native Americans. It brings us one step closer to healing as a collective. One step closer to unity.