Sage Bundles

White Sage: Sacred Plant, Sacred Responsibility

White sage (Salvia apiana) is far more than a trendy “smudging” stick. It is a sacred plant with deep cultural, spiritual, and medicinal roots—most notably within Indigenous communities of the southwestern United States, including the Chumash, Cahuilla, Tongva, and other Native nations. These communities have long used white sage in ceremony for purification, protection, and to connect with the spiritual realm.

But in recent years, white sage has become highly commercialized—sold in bulk, burned out of context, and marketed as a cure-all spiritual accessory. That’s not just problematic—it’s cultural appropriation.

🪶 What Is Cultural Appropriation When It Comes to Sage?

Cultural appropriation happens when a practice, symbol, or item is taken from a culture—often one that has been historically marginalized—without understanding, respect, or permission. In the case of white sage, many people are using it without any awareness of its sacredness, the ongoing struggles of Indigenous communities, or the laws protecting the plant itself.

For many Native people, watching sacred medicine be overharvested and sold in mass-produced bundles feels like erasure.

This doesn’t mean you can’t work with white sage—but it does mean you need to do so with reverence, awareness, and a serious commitment to ethical sourcing and education.

🌿 How to Work with White Sage Respectfully

✅ Know where your sage comes from.
At Tangled Roots Herbal, we are deeply committed to offering only white sage that is harvested legally, sustainably, and ethically. Our supplier works directly with the California Fish & Wildlife Department to ensure all sage is grown in cultivated environments—not taken from the wild—and that harvesting practices protect both the plant and the ecosystems it grows in. No poaching. No exploitation. Just mindful, respectful harvesting rooted in sustainability.

✅ Educate yourself.
Take time to learn how white sage has been used traditionally—and how your practice might be different. You don’t need to replicate Indigenous ceremonies (and honestly, you shouldn’t), but you can work with the plant in a personal, intentional way that honors its spirit.

✅ Use it with purpose.
Don’t just wave smoke around and call it good. Use white sage when you are truly clearing space, preparing for ritual, or moving through personal transformation. Make it meaningful—not mindless.

✅ Consider alternatives, too.
There are many powerful herbs for energetic cleansing—like rosemary, mugwort, cedar, lavender, or our own handcrafted cleansing sprays and herbal blends. These may be more aligned with your ancestral traditions or your local ecosystem.

TL;DR: Burn Responsibly. Think Respectfully.

White sage is a teacher, not a trend. If you’re going to work with it, do so from a place of reverence and responsibility—not aesthetic.

We’re always open to conversation, education, and reflection around how to do better—as herbalists, as spiritual folks, and as humans.