I have a genuine question that I'm hoping other witches, particularly witches of colour, and non-witches whose cultures my question relates to can give me advice on, and I would appreciate if it was done educationally and not in the form of an attack. My intention is not to argue for a right to do something, but rather to understand whether or not I already have it or can obtain it - and, if not, what alternatives might be available to me that won't be harmful to communities that aren't my own.
Let me begin by saying that I am a white woman. I have never, and would never, claim to be otherwise. I was raised Catholic, but I have always been drawn towards magic and spirituality. My personal practice is something of a blend of both. If it helps at all, my ancestry is largely European, primarily French and Irish, to the best of my knowledge, although a recent DNA test that my father did suggests there's more Scottish than we ever realised, as well.
Earlier today, I started preparing my tarot and oracle decks to be cleansed as two of them are new and two haven't been used in a while, and I was thinking about finally using the palo santo sticks I'd been given as a gift alongside a purchase I made recently.
But then I kept hesitating.
I'm very aware that the terminology and intention around using sage and palo santo is important. I will always using "cleansing" rather than claiming that what I use it for is "smudging", and I am very aware that they are not the same thing. But what I was hoping to garner some advice on is whether it's appropriate to use either of the aforementioned resources at all. I've found mixed advice thus far, and I'm sure that will be true in the responses to this, too, but the more content I can find, the better I can sort out what to think.
If it's not appropriate, I was hoping to get some suggestions on alternatives that are. Crystals are kind of my bread and butter, and I do use crystals sometimes for charging and cleansing things like my pendulum and my tarot and oracle decks, but I find it much, much easier to use smoke when I'm trying to clear the energy of, say, a room or my crystals themselves - thus far, I've mostly used incense for that, although one of the ones I use is a white sage incense. Is there a particular incense that is good for this without being appropriative, as I suspect white sage might be? Or, as a Catholic/Christian-rooted witch, do I only really have claim to Frankincense/Myrrh/Copal/Styrax/Benzoin? Do I even have claim to those? I know the history of my church is hardly a faultless one.
I've also seen lavender, cedar, rosemary, and even mint suggested as alternate herbs/woods to burn; does anyone have observations on how well they smoke without outright burning? The last thing I want to do is cause a fire. Is it overall acceptable to use sage or palo santo as long as you do so with pure intention/awareness/appreciation/etc. and avoid claiming that you're using it for something you're not (i.e. calling it smudging)? Is the use of cleansing sprays and incense acceptable even if burning actual sage or palo santo sticks is not?
I'm asking from a place of wanting to understand and know what is and isn't okay as I grow more into my practice. I don't want to begin with bad habits if I can root them out early. My goal in life is to do as little harm as is possible, whether directly or indirectly.
I will continue trying to do my own research on this subject and really attempting to parse out the conflicting answers, but I would appreciate whatever input others are willing to offer. That said, I am not looking for the kind of responses that tell me cultural appropriation is bullshit, I should just do what I want, etc. That is not up for debate, as far as I'm concerned. What I want to know is where the lines are so that I don't cross them, well-intentioned or otherwise.
Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to provide their input.
(I have a busy afternoon and evening ahead of me, so I may not respond to things immediately. Please don't take this to mean I've gotten upset or offended by a response that "didn't tell me what I wanted to hear" or something like that.)
