{"id":102546,"date":"2020-10-31T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-31T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/"},"modified":"2020-10-31T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-10-31T14:00:00","slug":"how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/","title":{"rendered":"#How to be a witch without stealing other people&#8217;s cultures"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3689794417c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3689794417c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Be_careful_who_you_call_a_witch\" >Be careful who you call a witch\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Theres_a_difference_between_an_aesthetic_and_a_practice\" >There\u2019s a difference between an aesthetic and a practice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Is_that_ritual_really_for_you_to_practice\" >Is that ritual really for you to practice?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Know_where_the_products_you_buy_come_from_and_who_profits_from_them\" >Know where the products you buy come from and who profits from them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Ground_your_practice_in_your_own_ancestral_lineage_or_individual_practice\" >Ground your practice in your own ancestral lineage or individual practice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Heteronormative_patriarchal_witchcraft_is_also_Western_colonialism\" >Heteronormative patriarchal witchcraft is also Western colonialism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Use_your_craft_for_activism_around_dismantling_systems_of_oppression\" >Use your craft for activism around dismantling systems of oppression<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-be-a-witch-without-stealing-other-peoples-cultures\/#Follow_support_listen_honor_and_credit_witches_and_other_spiritual_practitioners_of_color\" >Follow, support, listen, honor, and credit witches and other spiritual practitioners of color<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#How to be a witch without stealing other people&#8217;s cultures<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-image\">\n<figure class=\"image\"><picture><source loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 280w,(max-width: 400px) 356w,(max-width: 700px) 638w,950w\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.webp%252F280x157__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.webp?signature=A66_h-I-S3rZ9LWvs0KFuxPslGk=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 280w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.webp%252F356x205__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.webp?signature=9MOfcT8mIrBVxAWG9alrQvfOjac=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 356w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.webp%252F638x368__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.webp?signature=hwCXBASEYk4vm6s60nRWUJH86kk=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 638w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.webp%252F950x534__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.webp?signature=Ivgj2GokQ6EiLZsQ9mA4jWw6OBg=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 950w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 280w,(max-width: 400px) 356w,(max-width: 700px) 638w,950w\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F280x157__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=HqCUiWShRlBy1zFz4dkLJ9Zzp8s=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 280w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F356x205__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=J0DdL6qb5o6TAv4NYcp6B0AzkjI=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 356w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F638x368__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=1Yr-SuZzmrnQoydprHfLcVfMWVU=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 638w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F950x534__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=KUjcKlLlbWSn2HlkVqQSTRZk-ig=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 950w\" type=\"image\/jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Witchtok and Instagram witches: Start taking notes.\" class=\"microcontent\" data-fragment=\"lead-image\" src=\"https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/lead-img-witchtok-problematic-witch-cultural-appropriation.jpg\" data-micro=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" naturalwidth=\"950\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 280w,(max-width: 400px) 356w,(max-width: 700px) 638w,950w\" src_type=\"jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F280x157__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=HqCUiWShRlBy1zFz4dkLJ9Zzp8s=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 280w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F356x205__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=J0DdL6qb5o6TAv4NYcp6B0AzkjI=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 356w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F638x368__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=1Yr-SuZzmrnQoydprHfLcVfMWVU=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 638w,https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/uploads%252Fcard%252Fimage%252F1561835%252Fda297da0-02d6-4490-be86-eea4c181fe86.jpg%252F950x534__filters%253Aquality%252880%2529.jpg?signature=KUjcKlLlbWSn2HlkVqQSTRZk-ig=&amp;source=https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com 950w\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"image-caption\">\nWitchtok and Instagram witches: Start taking notes.<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><div class=\"image-credit\">\nImage:  ian moore \/ mashable\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<section class=\"article-content blueprint\">Witchcraft isn\u2019t just for Halloween anymore \u2014 it\u2019s a lifestyle.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The recent rise of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nylon.com\/life\/witchtok-witches-of-tiktok\"><\/a> (a portmanteau of witch and TikTok) is the only latest manifestation of the internet coven\u2019s magical ascendence, ranging from your everyday  to the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/lifestyle\/a22886013\/witches-instagram-social-media-influencer\/\"><\/a> who dominate every <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> platform. The Witchtok hashtag currently garners a staggering 5.4 billion views, while #WitchesofInstagram boasts 5.6 million posts.<\/p>\n<p>As the Trump era turned witchery into a symbol of feminist resistance, the New Agey self-care crowd began intermingling with the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salon.com\/2016\/08\/23\/mysticore-is-the-new-norm-inside-the-trend-thats-casting-its-spell-over-the-culture\/\"><\/a> pop culture aesthetic to turn crystals, tarot, and astrology into a whole ass vibe.<\/p>\n<p>But below the surface of the internet witch trend is a complex history of disenfranchised spiritualities that were first colonized and demonized, and now <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ropriated and whitewashed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWitchTok is a double-edged sword,\u201d said <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/brooklynnmusic\/\"><\/a>, an Atlanta-based witch and \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/6nctiwEzpo2K9UJCpyXL21\"><\/a>\u201d who also runs an<a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.brooklynnmusic.com\/bebevaudouhome\"> <\/a>. \u201cI love that people are excited to get into it. But I just hope the foundation of why we practice what we practice isn\u2019t forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The allure of modern witchcraft lies in the promise that anyone can reclaim their power through a hodgepodge of spiritual mysticism. Yet that mysticism also often borrows from the specific spiritual practices of various oppressed peoples. In contrast to religion, witchcraft purposely avoids strict rules, with no definitive \u201cright\u201d or \u201cwrong\u201d ways to practice. At the same time that openness, along with its aesthetic online appeal, can cause real harm.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But there are ways to practice magic without perpetuating damage. Whether it\u2019s learning of witchcraft&#8217;s colonialist history, avoiding practices not meant for you, or creating your own rituals, many Latinx, Indigenous, and Black witches who practice their craft on the web have actionable advice for how we can all do better.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, no one group is a monolith, and individuals from disenfranchised communities have vastly different opinions on these issues. Anti-racist and anti-colonialist witchcraft takes daily <em>work<\/em>, whether you\u2019re a baby witch or been at it for many lifetimes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Be_careful_who_you_call_a_witch\"><\/span>Be careful who you call a witch\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While there are more ethical ways to practice modern witchcraft, you can never truly \u201cdecolonize\u201d it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Brought over to North and South America by European colonizers, the word was used to demonize the spiritual practices of Indigenous peoples and survivors of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt comes from Abrahamic religions, specifically Christianity, considering anything that was &#8216;other&#8217; than Christian witchcraft,\u201d said Brooklynn. In the case of slavery, \u201cwe came here with our own spiritual practices and modalities, we had rootwork and conjuring, and it was ripped away from us and considered demonic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Coven Convo: Ep. 1 - What is a witch? \ud83d\udd2e\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eX_FYHKMsXw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Not everyone who practices spiritualities commonly associated with the witch aesthetic identifies with the word, and labeling their sacred rituals or medicinal practices magic is not only offensive, but a tactic used to justify violence against Black and Indigenous people. There\u2019s also a difference between folk magic and formal religions that were born out of slavery and colonialism, like Santer\u00eda, Voodoo, and Candombl\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>Also, people around the world are still persecuted and killed over accusations of witchcraft to this day. In Nigeria, for example, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/whats-behind-children-being-cast-as-witches-in-nigeria-57021\"><\/a>\u201d are abandoned and ostracized by society. The Afro-Brazillian religion Candombl\u00e9 is no longer illegal, but still <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2015\/jun\/19\/candomble-brazil-rio-de-janeiro-evangelical\"><\/a> by an evangelical Christian movement that denounces their worship as demonic.<\/p>\n<p>Yet reclaiming the word \u201cwitch\u201d through the recent trend is also empowering to others, especially Black Americans who had their cultural identities and histories stolen by slavery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt can be a very unifying term,\u201d said Brooklynn. \u201cI think it\u2019s about uprooting a lot of the preconceived notions that are incorrect around it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Which is why identifying as a witch should always be an <em>intentional<\/em> self-declarative act.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeing a witch is a choice that you make to practice,\u201d said Juliet Diaz, a Witchtoker and descendent of a long line of Indigenous Caribbean brujas known as Taino, who also authored <em>Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within<\/em> and <em>Plant Witchery<\/em>. Reluctant to identify as a witch herself at first because of the stigmas, she came to accept it the more she understood her magic. \u201c[Being a] witch is something that\u2019s an innate gift to everyone on this Earth. \u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Theres_a_difference_between_an_aesthetic_and_a_practice\"><\/span>There\u2019s a difference between an aesthetic and a practice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Not everyone trading in the mystical social media trend is promoting spiritual growth. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/baby_recklesss\/\"><\/a>, an artist who practices a blend of witchcraft and Black ancestral rituals, noted that WitchTok can perpetuate misinformation and appropriation because of witchcraft\u2019s newfound cool factor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s either just for aesthetics or what\u2019s going to spread and become more viral,\u201d they said. TikTok\u2019s time limits only expose people to the basics, too, rather than the grounding principles and histories behind these practices.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you don&#8217;t know about where the customs you practice come from, figure that out because otherwise it becomes another form of colonization and theft,\u201d said <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/edgarfabianfrias\/?hl=en\"><\/a>, a Latinx artist with Wix\u00e1ritari Indigenous Mexican heritage who identifies with the non-binary brujx moniker.<\/p>\n<p>Brooklynn said that TikTok\u2019s algorithm and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/5863350\/tiktok-black-creators\/\"><\/a> tends to mostly spread whitewashed, heteronormative, elitist, consumerist, and visually appealing images of witchcraft. One trend, for example, is all about showing off your pretty (and expensive) crystal collection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo shade to Stevie Nicks \u2014 I love Stevie Nicks. But all I was seeing was these Stevie Nicks-looking women all over my witch hashtag feeds. And I wanted to see more people that looked like me,\u201d she said. It inspired her to be more public with her witchiness on Instagram and TikTok. \u201cWe exist. We&#8217;re just not seen as much.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_that_ritual_really_for_you_to_practice\"><\/span>Is that ritual really for you to practice?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Conscientious witchcraft walks a fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, too.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quotes\" data-fragment=\"all-i-was-seeing\" data-description=\"All I was seeing was these Stevie Nicks-looking women all over my witch hashtag feeds\" data-micro=\"1\"><p>All I was seeing was these Stevie Nicks-looking women all over my witch hashtag feeds<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>On one hand, Diaz pointed out that imposing any hierarchical structure on practicing witchcraft is a colonizing mindset in itself. Unlike many religions, formal power structures that gatekeep communication with the divine is antithetical to witchcraft. Magic, she believes, is everywhere and for everyone. Some practitioners may be more experienced and knowledgeable, but no witch has a monopoly on spiritual access.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, certain terms, rituals, and herbs prevalent in the online witch trend are appropriated from marginalized spiritualities that don\u2019t consider themselves magical at all. Although these spiritualities aren\u2019t necessarily tied to witchcraft, cherry picked elements are commodified and marketed as \u201cwitchy\u201d products because they \u201cseem\u201d mystical.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The chakra term, for example, is language specific to the South Asian religion of Hinduism. But Urban Outfitters now sells <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.urbanoutfitters.com\/shop\/new-moon-beginnings-chakra-spray-collection?color=000&amp;type=REGULAR&amp;size=ONE%20SIZE&amp;quantity=1\"><\/a> under a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a> aesthetic of mysticism. Meanwhile <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bustle.com\/p\/is-burning-sage-cultural-appropriation-heres-how-to-smoke-cleanse-in-sensitive-ways-18208360\"><\/a> with palo santo and white sage is a sacred ritual for many native North American tribes, who only pass down the practice to members of their community. It was illegal for Native tribes to practice smudging in the U.S. until 1978, but in 2018 Sephora sold a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/qz.com\/quartzy\/1372344\/sephoras-starter-witch-kit-by-pinrose-has-crystals-sage-and-tarot-cards\/\"><\/a> with white sage. Over-harvesting to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@geronimo.warrior\/video\/6872751712734612742\">meet demands of the trendiness<\/a> is making white sage <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en\/article\/m7jkma\/the-white-sage-black-market-v27n3\"><\/a>. Then there\u2019s the term \u201cgypsy,\u201d a straight up <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitchmedia.org\/article\/gypsy-slur-netlflix\"><\/a> used to persecute Romani people, but now used by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bandofgypsies.com\/\"><\/a> to market a bohemian look through fortune-telling and crystals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Aspiring witches must respect the boundaries of closed practices that explicitly state they can <em>only<\/em> be practiced by people who are descendants of a cultural heritage. Hoodoo, for example, originates from slavery and was created specifically for Black people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust because you\u2019re interested in something doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s for you, or that people are going to be open to helping you or teaching you, especially with some spiritual paths that have fought so hard to stay alive,\u201d Aurora Luna said. \u201cThere\u2019s a reason why they\u2019re protected\u2026 It\u2019s because it\u2019s sacred information.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Aurora Luna added that while the conversation around appropriation is more nuanced among disenfranchised people because many of their cultures \u201clegitimately intermingle,\u201d white people profiting off a culture that isn\u2019t theirs is simply cultural appropriation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There are lots of ways to practice witchcraft without using elements of closed practices. Tarot reading and other divination techniques, Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas said, are practiced around the world across many cultures.<\/p>\n<p>Diaz\u2019s books focus on using herbs since everyone is connected to plants. She noted that because people are so focused on the aesthetic of witchcraft, like astrology, crystals, and tarot reading, they lose sight of the practice\u2019s core values, which are about \u201ca connection to yourself and the Earth.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Know_where_the_products_you_buy_come_from_and_who_profits_from_them\"><\/span>Know where the products you buy come from and who profits from them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you <em>must<\/em> use elements of closed practices, at least buy from the disenfranchised communities they\u2019re meant for rather than large corporations. But there are plenty of alternatives to white sage, too. Brooklynn grows her cedar and rosemary in her own backyard to purify spaces.<\/p>\n<p>Both she and Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas also spoke to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/article\/148190\/know-healing-crystals-come-from\"><\/a>, with the rising popularity of jade leading to a myriad of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2014\/12\/02\/world\/searching-for-burmese-jade-and-finding-misery.html\"><\/a> that earned it a reputation as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/battling-for-blood-jade\/\"><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo many crystals and rocks surround you that aren\u2019t mined and exploited,\u201d said Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas. Crystals are meant for energy exchanges with nature anyway, so it\u2019s more about creating a relationship with the land around you and offering something back if you take from it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we learn to come at it not from a colonizing, capitalist mindset, but from a perspective of reverence for our planet and other people, then we\u2019re going back to the origins of these practices \u2014 which was not to consume but to connect,\u201d Brooklynn added.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ground_your_practice_in_your_own_ancestral_lineage_or_individual_practice\"><\/span>Ground your practice in your own ancestral lineage or individual practice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Connecting with your own history rather than stealing from other peoples\u2019 is not only more respectful, but also potentially very potent for your magical craft.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople of color are frustrated because there\u2019s lots of cool European traditions that are, if not alive and well, definitely researchable,\u201d said Aurora Luna. \u201cPeople get hostile because we had to fight to keep our tradition or got them through blood, sweat, and tears.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, rather than just jumping onto whatever\u2019s trendiest on WitchTok, take the time to commune with your own ancestors, who can help you discover which practices are right for you.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany of our ancestors, regardless of where they come from, have had earth-based practices with connections to the cycles, plants, land \u2014 but systems of colonization and capitalism dislocated or disconnected people from them,\u201d they said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heteronormative_patriarchal_witchcraft_is_also_Western_colonialism\"><\/span>Heteronormative patriarchal witchcraft is also Western colonialism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For a long time, Aurora Luna explained, the modern reclaiming of witchcraft was about women taking back Neo-pagan religions like Wicca from the men who made them. These feminist reclaimings often still grounded witchcraft in cis, heteronormative gender binaries though.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat gets lost is that the traditions blended into witchcraft were always very queer practices, because it&#8217;s based off of energy,\u201d said Aurora Luna. \u201cYou can&#8217;t put genitals on energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The lady witch archetype is empowering to some, but erases the queerness in many of the disenfranchised practices New Age witchcraft grounds itself in. Two spirit, for example, is <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2006\/10\/08\/fashion\/08SPIRIT.html?_r=0\"><\/a> to describe the social title given to members in the community who <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tribal-institute.org\/2014\/INCTwo-SpiritBooklet.pdf\"><\/a>. In Yoruban-based spiritualities spread across the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade diaspora, from Candomb\u00e9 in Brazil to Voodoo in New Orleans, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aaihs.org\/cosmological-queerness-across-the-yoruba-diaspora\/\"><\/a> like Eshu-Elegbara, Olokun, Abbata, and Inle are often depicted as gender-fluid, bending, intersex, homosexual, or androgynous. Forced assimilation to Christianity then transformed them into more strictly binary, heteronormative, cis deities.<\/p>\n<p>None of the above is synonymous with witchcraft, to be clear. But for those who do identify with the term, it\u2019s powerful to learn of the rich queer history in spiritualities from around the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of queer and trans people aren\u2019t raised knowing they have queer and trans ancestors,\u201d said Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas. \u201cIt\u2019s a big part of reclaiming, realizing these beautiful gender-expansive networks that have flowed beyond bodies and blood and shown up in so many different places.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas believes in both honoring cultures who originate traditions adopted by witchcraft, and also letting them progress. Specifically, they point to the creativity of queer witch reimaginings of Tarot cards, which conventionally use more patriarchal and hierarchical symbols.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_your_craft_for_activism_around_dismantling_systems_of_oppression\"><\/span>Use your craft for activism around dismantling systems of oppression<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Witchcraft has been used as an act of resistance throughout the Trump administration, from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/2017\/6\/20\/15830312\/magicresistance-restance-witches-magic-spell-to-bind-donald-trump-mememagic\"><\/a> outside Trump tower to  for Black Lives Matter protesters. For those who feel called to the witch activist path, Aurora Luna recommends starting <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Revolutionary-Witchcraft-Guide-Magical-Activism\/dp\/0762495731\"><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Yet others are a bit dubious about the phenomenon, with critics equating it to the occult version of sending \u201cthoughts and prayers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas doesn\u2019t believe spiritual and on-the-ground activism, \u201care mutually exclusive. They can very much align with one another.\u201d Many of the witches casting spells are also donating, protesting, giving away free readings. \u00a0\u201cBut going out to the streets can also be overwhelming and too intense for some. It\u2019s OK if a spell or a prayer is all a person can offer sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brooklynn definitely puts her money where her magic is.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter-wrapper sort-rerender\">\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Isn\u2019t it funny how white women stole my first post \u201cwitches against white supremacy\u201d turned it into their own  artwork and made buttons and bags? ?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 BRI LUNA (@YungKundalini) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YungKundalini\/status\/1267577450277376001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 1, 2020<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>At the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, she created an original art design<a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.brooklynnmusic.com\/bebevaudouhome\"><\/a>catchphrase (originated by online witch icon Bri Luna, aka The Hoodwitch). All of the shirt proceeds went to the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.buyfromablackwoman.org\/\"><\/a> organization.<\/p>\n<p>All too quickly, though, she and Bri Luna saw it stolen, sold by Etsy shop owners and even Amazon sellers, with no mention of whether proceeds would actually go towards benefiting Black lives. While this kind of theft is common online, it\u2019s particularly nasty within the context of witchcraft, appropriation, slavery, and systemic racism today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re not Black and you&#8217;re making majority of the profit off of something that&#8217;s aligned with [stopping] the murder of Black people, you should maybe reevaluate your ethics and morals.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Follow_support_listen_honor_and_credit_witches_and_other_spiritual_practitioners_of_color\"><\/span>Follow, support, listen, honor, and credit witches and other spiritual practitioners of color<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Both the past and present of witchcraft owes quite literally everything to the most oppressed groups in American history. If New Age witchcraft isn\u2019t grounded in finally starting to do better by them, then who is modern witchcraft actually for and what does it serve instead?<\/p>\n<p>Hint: The answer rhymes with shite wupremacy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you benefit from witches of color, send them some financial support, share their work on your platforms, create a relationship by honoring where you got that knowledge from,\u201d said Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas. \u201cSometimes online we can feel like we\u2019re casting our spells or sharing our words into the void. So it&#8217;s always wonderful to see some words of affirmation or receive donations or have people think of you for events.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quotes\" data-fragment=\"a-lot-of-us\" data-description='\u201cA lot of us are using the internet now to try to rebuild a lost sense of community, of being surrounded and supported for being who you are.\"' data-micro=\"1\"><p>\u201cA lot of us are using the internet now to try to rebuild a lost sense of community, of being surrounded and supported for being who you are.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The folks turning to modern witchcraft were often made to feel othered, ostracized, or excluded from more mainstream faiths. In fact, almost all our sources were raised in very Christian (even fundamentalist) households, only to then find a more accepting, diverse, empowering collective to call their own.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of us are using the internet now to try to rebuild a lost sense of community, of being surrounded and supported for being who you are,\u201d said Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas. \u201cSo use your magic work to give energy to the people bringing these communities together. Honor those witches of color, make sure they know they&#8217;re important, and that they&#8217;re doing okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-also\">\n<p class=\"see-also-link\">SEE ALSO: &#8216;The Craft: Legacy&#8217; is the sparkly savior your Halloween deserves<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>While open to all, earning your place in online witch communities takes work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo your own research. Stop asking people to do research for you. Find out if you\u2019re appropriating, because most likely you\u2019re appropriating,\u201d said Diaz.<\/p>\n<p>Accountability to others and the planet, whether you\u2019re also a member of an oppressed identity or not, is essential for practicing ethical witchcraft. Fabi\u00e1n Fr\u00edas recommends everyone check out the work<a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crystalsofaltamira.com\/\"> <\/a>, and her<a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1ec9wfRLlGFcu_qal_0Dq636Kxqo6kExG\"> <\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBe open to reflecting and asking what you can do differently,\u201d said Brooklyn. \u201cJust try to learn, it&#8217;s really not that hard.\u201d Helpfully, she\u2019s even already done a YouTube video explaining exactly how <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LsXSz0lXJcU\"><em><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Real Witch Reacts to Colleen Ballinger: &quot;Becoming a Witch For a Day&quot;\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LsXSz0lXJcU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>But if you do find yourself drawn to particular traditions that are not yours, Aurora Luna said, \u201cGo to somebody within that community whose shop you can buy from or who you can pay to have spiritual work done with. That kind of exchange has always existed and happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Brooklynn pointed out, social media algorithms can perpetuate the real world\u2019s same oppressive biases. Which is why, as with , it\u2019s up to those in privileged positions to bring awareness, understanding, and visibility to the folks of color they built their success on.<\/p>\n<p>Mastering the trendy modern witch aesthetic may get you bigger followings, but that rarely translates to mastery of the actual craft. Many of the most knowledgeable spiritual guides likely have lower follower counts, like her mentor <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCdnIjF79_hpxbgFdmxTUaZQ\"><\/a> a two-spirit practitioner with a family lineage in Hoodoo dating back 200 years. Meanwhile Aurora Luna recommended <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/ancestralherbiary.com\/\"><\/a> (also on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/blvck_herbalist\"><\/a>) as great practitioners, educators, and herbalists dedicated to caring for Black women through healing medicine practices from African lineages.<\/p>\n<p>A good, approachable place to start for white witches is the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSez2Kr_qYjK2_rlnGAVdxpMLv9FQTOfQPK824D29_bOJxHLsQ\/viewform?c=0&amp;w=1https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSez2Kr_qYjK2_rlnGAVdxpMLv9FQTOfQPK824D29_bOJxHLsQ\/viewform?c%3D0&amp;w=1\"><em><\/em><\/a> zine by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/anchor_and_star\/?hl=en\"><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For those looking to get in touch with Black ancestral practices (or respectfully learn about them), <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/41WWzNCSxNEx2dDzhH8QE9?si=BtqNEL-sQOaMDlT52Xis-A\"><em><\/em><\/a> is another great podcast. While hosted by Pam Grossman, who is of Jewish lineage, the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/witchwavepodcast.com\/\"><em><\/em><\/a> often interviews great guests of color (including <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/witchwavepodcast.com\/episodes\/2020\/6\/9\/54-brooklynn-sonic-spellcaster\"><\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/witchwavepodcast.com\/episodes\/2020\/4\/28\/51-edgar-fabin-fras-prismatic-witch\"><\/a>) about cultural appropriation, decolonization, and queerness in modern witchcraft.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a reason why they call witchery a craft. Truly powerful witches, both online and off, know that shaping their craft takes a willingness to learn.\u00a0<br \/>\n<script>      window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { window._msla=window.loadScriptAsync||function(src,id){if(document.getElementById(id))return;var js=document.createElement('script');js.id=id;js.src=src;document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0].parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);};});\nwindow.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { _msla(\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\",\"twitter_jssdk\");});<\/script><\/section>\n<p><span class=\"author_name\">By Jess Joho and Morgan Sung<\/span><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">General <\/a><\/span>category.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/article\/witchtok-problematic-witch-cultural-appropriation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#How to be a witch without stealing other people&#8217;s cultures&#8221; Witchtok and Instagram witches: Start taking notes. Image: ian moore \/ mashable Witchcraft isn\u2019t just for Halloween anymore \u2014 it\u2019s a lifestyle.\u00a0 The recent rise of (a portmanteau of witch and TikTok) is the only latest manifestation of the internet coven\u2019s magical ascendence, ranging from&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":102547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/mondrian.mashable.com\/2020%2F10%2F31%2Fdb%2Fb33f3937264941a89a2f3ecc6ce3e1e3.c1304.jpg%2F1200x630.jpg?signature=sYRDpIvjMAXQf5wIP1Z_FaDX6FQ=","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5088,158,47912,36988],"class_list":["post-102546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-activism","tag-culture","tag-tiktok","tag-witches"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}