The debate around white sage—whether it is a “closed practice” and who has the right to use it—has flared into a cultural bonfire in recent years. At the heart of this argument lies a complex mix of historical truth, cultural memory, spiritual tradition, modern spiritual marketing, and, frankly, a whole lot of misunderstanding and social posturing. Like many spiritual tools adopted into mainstream practice, white sage has become both revered and reviled, depending on who you ask.

Let’s be clear: the sacred deserves respect. But let’s also not confuse reverence with restriction. Much of the current firestorm about white sage being a “closed practice” stems less from grounded cultural research and more from viral outrage and borrowed indignation. And, as often happens in the digital age, repetition creates mythology.

The Roots: What Is “Closed Practice” Anyway?

A closed practice, in spiritual terms, refers to a cultural or religious tradition that restricts the sharing of its rituals, tools, or teachings to initiates—those who are born into, trained within, or formally welcomed by the tradition. Some Indigenous ceremonies are indeed closed, protected by elders and tribal law. But the casual act of burning dried plant matter for spiritual cleansing? That practice—smoke cleansing—is global.

People across time and continents have used smoke as a spiritual purifier. Scots sain with juniper or rosemary. Eastern Orthodox priests swing censers of frankincense. Hoodoo workers use sulfur, pine, or camphor. Appalachian grannies burned newspaper or pine needles to “clear the house.” The idea that sacred smoke belongs to only one group is not supported by history.

The Plant in Question: White Sage

White sage (Salvia apiana) is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it grows wild in dry, rocky soil. Some Indigenous nations of the Southwest do consider white sage sacred and have specific ceremonial uses for it. That is not in dispute. What’s been blurred is the leap from “this is sacred to me” to “no one else can use this plant without stealing from me.”

It’s a leap built on a misunderstanding of how spiritual practices and natural resources function. A plant, by nature, is not a belief system. It is not “copyrighted,” spiritually speaking. And it certainly wasn’t placed on this earth by the Creator to be used by only one ethnic group. To believe so would suggest a kind of spiritual nationalism that collapses under its own contradiction.

So, are non-Indigenous people “appropriating” when they use white sage? Not necessarily. The problem comes not from the use of the plant, but from caricatured performances of Indigenous culture—dressing in headdresses, chanting made-up words, mimicking sacred rites without context or consent. That’s not using a plant. That’s mockery. And it should be called out.

Manufactured Outrage and the Social Media Spell

Let’s talk plainly. The loudest voices declaring white sage to be a closed practice are often not Indigenous at all. They’re frequently white spiritual influencers or self-appointed gatekeepers looking for a cause. Social media is a spell all its own—it casts confusion, conjures conflict, and rewards the loudest, not the wisest.

It’s entirely possible for someone to hold a sincere desire to respect Indigenous people while also being misled by shallow online content. Many of the “white sage is closed” claims begin not from tribal declarations, but from viral posts with no citations. We must be careful not to mistake repeated misinformation for truth.

If someone began saying lavender is a closed practice of the French and English, and kept repeating it long enough, we’d have a trending TikTok hashtag by next year. The real danger lies in mistaking trendy guilt for informed respect.

So… Can You Use White Sage?

Yes—if you are doing so with sincerity, spiritual focus, and an informed heart. Light a bundle, wave the smoke, say a prayer. That is your right as a spiritual being. What matters is how you use it—not whether you bought it from Whole Foods or wild-harvested it yourself.

But here’s the rub: if you’re working with sacred herbs, know their story. Know where they come from. Know their traditional uses and honor them accordingly. Don’t wear feathers and call it a ceremony unless you’ve been taught by the people whose ceremony it is.

Using white sage in your own private spiritual work—without pretending to be Native, or selling it as a shamanic service—is not theft. It’s reverent practice. And that’s what spiritual life should be—lived, not performed.

What we practice in our own homes, our own altars, and our own hearts is nobody’s business—unless we turn it into a costume or a cash grab.

That Native response is a medicine story all its own—and it deserves to be heard, shared, and deeply respected.

What that person is saying cuts right through the noise and lands squarely in the heart of true spiritual responsibility. There’s power in that voice because it’s not posturing—it’s rooted in wisdom, generosity, and lived experience.

Let’s unpack a few lines from it, because every sentence carries a lesson:

“So Creator gave us dominion over a plant? That doesn’t sound right.”

No, it doesn’t. That idea—that a plant can be owned spiritually—goes against the very core of most Indigenous teachings, as well as the teachings of many earth-based paths. In many traditions, plants are our relatives, not our property. They’re gifts, not trophies. They speak, if we listen, and they help, if we ask with respect. The moment we claim ownership over the sacred, we’ve already stepped away from the sacred.

“This is gatekeeping and it’s not the right way in any culture.”

Truth. Gatekeeping is rooted in fear and trauma—and often in ego. But real medicine isn’t afraid to be shared. What’s sacred should be protected, yes, but protection doesn’t always mean prohibition. Sometimes, protection means education, conversation, and community. Gatekeeping is not the same thing as boundary-setting, and confusing the two leads to more harm than healing.

“Smudging is balancing energy… and if any people needed balance it’s our Settler cousins (no offense).”

Now that’s compassion. That’s grace. That’s a call to accountability without shame. And frankly, it echoes the words of elders in many Native and African diaspora traditions: “If you know how to help, you help.” You don’t check skin tone before extending a healing hand. Not if your spirit’s in the right place.

“What they do with it we don’t have any control over… It doesn’t make it less powerful for us.”

Power that is real can’t be stolen. That’s the deep magic. Yes, cultural commodification is a problem—especially when people sell sage bundles on Etsy for $35 and call themselves “shamans.” But the sacred isn’t diluted by imitation. It’s strengthened by those who keep working with it in truth and humility.

“That logic doesn’t have any medicine in it.”

That line right there? That’s the bottom line.

If your logic, your activism, your spirituality, your TikTok take—if it doesn’t hold any medicine in it… then what are you offering?

Medicine is about healing. About connection. About doing what you can with what you have, and leaving things better than you found them. It is never about withholding help or turning tradition into a weapon to shame others.

In the spirit of right relationship, this is what can be honored:

• Respecting sacred ceremonies and not mimicking or filming them.
• Acknowledging the real history of exploitation and colonization.
• Learning from those who still carry traditional knowledge, when it is offered.
• Understanding that sharing medicine doesn’t weaken it—it fulfills its purpose.

So yes—let’s keep the sacred sacred. But let’s not confuse protecting culture with withholding compassion. That Native speaker reminded us that true medicine is always meant to be shared. And when done with love and reverence, passing on the flame does not dim your own—it spreads the light.

So, burn rosemary, burn pine, burn white sage if it calls to you. Just don’t burn down the bridge between cultures with ignorance or ego. Respect is not restriction. It is relationship. And that’s where all true magic begins.

This is for grabbing the attention of someone who just doesn’t seem to notice you. Tapping into the energy of how opposites attract, it is intended to make them notice your good qualities that they are not seeing. You’ll need a pink taper or offertory candle and a smaller yellow candle. Carve your name, dob, etc., into the pink candle and their name into the yellow candle. Light yellow and drip all over the pink candle.

Get a large fire-safe bowl and a smaller fire- safe bowl that will fit inside the larger one. The pink candle goes in the smaller vessel. In the larger bowl, place nine ice cubes and the rose petals. Burn candle halfway down. Next night, pour off melted ice cubes and save the water. Repeat the spell with nine new ice cubes and more rose petals. Allow the candle to burn the rest of the way down. Take the melted ice water from both days and add it to your bathwater.

– from my book: Casting Love Spells: Rituals of Love, Passion, and Attraction

During my spiritual path I have dealt with my own inflated ego from time to time, and luckily have loving people around me who have made me aware of it and that I needed to take it down a notch (or two.) Ego is part of being human. The Universe often steps in and knocks that crown off your head by presenting you with setbacks until you recognize it, demonstrate humility, and work to get yourself back on track. For those in the healing and magical arts, ego can be especially detrimental because it makes you forget why you have been placed in this position of power in the first place — to be in service to others. So, what are some of the signs that ego is taking over your practice?

• Jealousy over another’s success. Do you feel that someone else doing well in their practice is a reflection on yours?
• Smack-talking other practitioners. While what you’re saying may very well be true (because we all know wackos and incompetents in every field), does your negative talk about them help to advance you in your eyes?
• Are you a certificate hussy? Do you throw around your certifications by asking others in your field “are you certified?”, “where were you certified?” or the cringe-worthy “But I AM certified,” – usually thrown into those conversations when you wonder why the other guy got the gig that you didn’t.
• Do you compare yourself to others in the Spiritual community? Do you imply (or say outright) that you are more gifted than others, therefor deserve special attention or more respect?
• Do you forget the people that helped to get you where you are or dismiss their contributions?
• Are you more concerned about promotion than actually being present for the client in need?

Jealousy holds you back from excelling because you are not focused on your own task at hand – to constantly improve and evolve. We must all use our own talents to reach the level we want to achieve. And, perhaps, the other practitioner actually IS more talented at something you are not from web design, to public speaking, to dealing with clients on a very personal level. Recognizing your weakness and tackling it will serve you much better in the big picture.

Smack-Talking can damage your own reputation because it can be uncomfortable or negative for another to hear. It makes you the villain. Does this mean you shouldn’t warn clients away from unethical practitioners or scam artists? Certainly not. But choose your words wisely and come from a place of concern in those situations. Just like jealousy, bad-mouthing others is taking up valuable time that could be spent improving your own practice. Also, it brings down your vibration to a negative place — which actually drives away potential clients.

Certificates in the magical and healing community are pieces of paper showing that you passed a course laid out by another person or institution. First of all, Bravo for a job well done! But, I can tell you that there will be plenty of people out there who will be more gifted than you who have had no certification at all. Their gift may be natural, or perhaps they are better at retaining knowledge than you, or maybe they ….. etc. etc. Today we live in an instant gratification world, and the certification process in the healing arts can reflect this, often forcing teachers to take students to the next level faster than they would have in the past. When I was in my 30’s, certifications in the healing arts were usually spread out at least a year apart, giving the student time to practice their skills fully before moving on to the next level. A certificate does not make you more psychic. A certificate does not make you a better healer. The only things that can truly give you mastery is by doing the work, practicing, and dedicating yourself as a constantly-learning apprentice to your chosen art.

Comparing yourself to others will never serve you — on any level. In case you hadn’t noticed, as humans, each and every one of us is completely different. Some may take the comparison route at different angles. Talking down other practitioners is one (see smack-talking above.) Others may think they deserve the best time-slots for services in the local metaphysical store, or should be considered first “above the competition.” Or perhaps they only compare themselves to others on an internal level, which is akin to issues of self-esteem. On comparing yourself to others — just don’t do it. Embrace your unique gifts and work on the ones that need improvement.

Remember those who helped you along the way because our teachers and mentors help mold part of who we are. They taught us things we didn’t know before. Sometimes, they showed by example a better way to conduct ourselves in our chosen field. Denying their contributions can be a way of putting yourself above them. The student does not become a master in every case. We should honor our mentors instead of focusing on trying to replace them. Putting in the hard work to become their equal will be much more rewarding and make you a better practitioner in the long run.

Promotion over compassion– doesn’t sound good in black and white, does it? Sometimes the runaway ego makes us want to push to the front of the line. Do you spend too much time talking about yourself vs. listening to the client that came to you for help? After all, that is why we are here in this field – to fully listen to and assist others in need. During a session, the most promotion anyone should probably ever do is to hand them a business card at the end of the meeting in case they need you in the future. Or, have you ever been guilty of promoting only yourself in a collective setting where there are other practitioners alongside you? This comes down to simple manners. Let’s say you are one of several tarot readers in a shop. Someone asks for a reading (not from a specific person), but you aren’t on the schedule until the weekend. Telling them to come back then when your colleague is in the next room taking appointments at that moment? Not only is that bad form, but it’s also ego talking. It is that need to push to the front of the line. What should you do? Let them know about your colleagues, and then give them your card and tell them that you’re also available this coming weekend. Share the love. Because, I can promise you this — when your fellow practitioners witness you leaving them out in public, it is almost guaranteed that they won’t be recommending you in private. 

The very act of writing this blog post has brought some of my own ego issues to the foreground for me, reminding me again to work on humility. It’s a constant struggle for us human beings. If any of this sounds familiar, ask yourself why you are having a problem with the ego. Does it come from fear? From self-confidence issues? Admitting it is the hardest part. Once you get past that and consciously choose to work on the problem, you will find yourself walking on the path that leads to the best possible version of yourself. And when you get there, be aware that there is always more work to do — every day.

Papa Gee (Greg)