Closed Practices & What are They?

What a lot of people don’t know when starting their spiritual journey, is that there are a lot of closed practices and how important it is to understand and respect these closed practices. 

Closed practices are cultural traditions, beliefs, religions that are ONLY for people of that said culture or religion (well known ones are Hoodoo/Voodoo). If you are not apart or have been accepted into said culture or religion, by an elder or person of power, you can not partake in any kind of activities or use tools that are sacred to them. That would be inappropriate and considered cultural appropriation. 

Some examples would be using the word “smudging” and using white sage to cleanse out a space. Another fact that is not shared much is that, White Sage is a herb that removes not only negative energies but positive ones too. This sacred herb is used to refresh all energies. White Sage is a sacred herb to indigenous peoples all over the world and when the white man liked their very connected ways, he took that herb and passed it onto his colonizers and they profited off white sage telling its story of properties but not sharing its original roots to the indigenous peoples. Which in the end made the indigenous people lose their sage, due to over consumption and it became an endangered herb. The indigenous peoples didn't have access to it anymore or very very little access if any, because all the white people were buying it fast and wiping out the herb almost completely. 

Palo Santo is also in the same boat as white sage. But Palo Santo originates from South American countries rather than white sage which originates from North American countries. 

Now that we know a little more about closed practices, let's get into how you can respect them.

1.  Find out whose land you are on. Who was here before you? What are the native plants to your area? Do your research on where you live.

2. Leave offerings for the land spirits and for the people who were here first. 

3. Learn about the cultures, beliefs, traditions, religions that are of the peoples of your area. You are paying your respects to them by educating yourself on their ways of life, they appreciate that, but do not abuse this. Just because you are educating yourself that doesn't mean you can take part in the things you are learning (unless of course it's open or you were invited to by the elders or people of power).

This is something I really wish was talked about more, especially when I first began my journey. No one talked about closed practices, I think  because it was becoming more of an aesthetic than an actual practice and no one really did the research, just thought the tools were pretty and pleasing to look at. 

If you take anything from this, please do your research before you move forward with anything. Especially with your spiritual journey, along the way of the spiritual upraise peoples sacred traditions and ways of life have been taken and inappropriately used for profit :( Don't be that person, DO THE RESEARCH PLEASE!!!!!