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Oh Uh-Uh: What Spirit Animal Represents Cultural Appropriation?



I am just going to say it: your woo-woo self-care might be based on cultural appropriation.

That's right, you crystal toting crew. Instead of sticking to tarot cards and runes, it seems that the latest trend is now Indigeneity. And that sucks.

Nothing wrong with ethically collected rocks and crystals. The quick and honestly soul less commodification of smudging practices (cleansing by using smoke) and calling anything and everything your "spirit animals" are just the latest addition to this expanding list of culturally stolen practices from First Nation and Indigenous Peoples. 

In fact, the practice that has made the Palo Santo tree itself endangered. According to Well+Good, "After they die, a period of three to five years must pass by before its materials can be collected. The substance is then traditionally used ceremonially in prayer, shamanic ritual, and even healing. The harvesting practices in the tree’s native country aren’t entirely transparent; it’s difficult to know if every producer is doing their due diligence to wait for the palo santo to die naturally."

And as far as burning White Sage, despite constant resistance from Indigenous people, sage sales continue in retail locations and online stores alike. According to Huff Post "Stores like Sephora and Anthropologie, however, are not alone in commodifying Indigenous spirituality. Urban Outfitters (which shares a parent company with Anthropologie, URBN) sells a "White Sage Incense Stick" and "Incense + Crystal Kit." Free People (also owned by URBN) sells a "Ritual Kit," with white sage and feather. Amazon sells a three-pack of "White Sage Smudge Sticks" and describes it as a "sacred herb among indigenous North American people."


Indigenous people aren't saying that smudging, palo santo, and sage are forbidden. The resistance to these practices out of context emerges way it's being appropriated, and the protocols that are being disregarded. These practices are sacred to these Peoples, not to be the latest trend to share on your Instagram.

However, what is (or should be) forbidden is the practices of calling anything and everything your "Spirit Animal". 
Spirit Animals are respected among different cultures. The term is used to describe spirits of benevolent nature that usually help someone during a difficult time, often giving to the person strength, insight, or wisdom in a time that they needed it.

Therefore, coffee cannot be your spirit animal, Karen. Spirit Animals are not chosen, they do the choosing, and it is for a specific purpose.

Lizzo let the world (more specifically all of the White girls calling her their Spirit Animal) know this when she recently tweeted the following:
Rihanna herself was called out by a fan. Instagram user @hannie.oakley responded to Rihanna calling someone her Spirit Animal by saying, "Please stop using ‘spirit animal’ unless you belong to one of the indigenous groups to which this concept belongs." Rihanna wrote back to @hannie.oakley and said, "you’re so right! It won’t happen again." (A lesson in using your power and privilege.)


The emphasis on wellness and self-care practices is vital and important work I personally believe everyone should engage in. Everyone should have a wellness or spiritual practice that grounds them.

However, using the practices of other cultures, especially First Nation and Indigenous Peoples, as a trendy and faux deep alternative to face masks and bubble baths without the cultural knowledge and historic appreciation for these practices doesn't make you look any more spiritual. It makes you look like a colonizer.

Do us all a favor and stick to the bubble baths and crystals.
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