There are specific topics that are so important that I hesitate to write them because I know I won't do them justice. This blog post is one. I edited and edited this post, and I'm still not sure it truly conveys everything I'm trying to say. It's long, but more is still needed. I am not perfect, but by facing my shortcomings, I hope to grow. Just as shadow work delves into the hidden parts of our psyche, decolonization of our craft delves into the unjust sections of today's modern witchcraft that many don't even realize are there. I know that I am a little late to this topic, but it's better late than never. I wish anyone who reads this blog post understands what I am trying to say, and it helps them to reevaluate their own practices.
My First Case of Appropriation
When I was eight, my mother and I visited a local flea market in rural Alabama—row upon row of goodies seemed to spread out before my eyes. One stall sold candy apples, another sold dollhouse furniture, and another sold tapestries that could cover a whole house (according to my young brain). This was also the year of the beanie baby craze, and everywhere I looked, there was a new toy to discover. As we passed by a particular stall, my eyes locked onto something unusual, something beautiful hanging high above my head. Bubble gum pink and covered in feathers and rhinestones, this new object put me into a trance. I'd never seen anything like it.
Seeing where my attention was glued, the shopkeeper walked over to my mother and explained what it was. "That's a dreamcatcher," she said. "If you hang it above your bed, the bad dreams get stuck in the web, and only the good dreams can get through." I was intrigued. This was the first time I had encountered anything mystical in my short lifespan. Children often feel powerless, so I was so excited that something I did could control my world, even the slightest bit. My mother bought four dreamcatchers from the woman, and we went home to place them above everyone's bed. Looking back now, this was when I shifted toward the occult. Words cannot express the amount of joy the dreamcatcher gave me. I had control over my dreams now. No more nightmares because I had this beautiful feathery item above my bed.
However, with age comes wisdom gained from new knowledge. I now understand that dreamcatchers are an Indigenous American tradition. The woman who sold us the dreamcatchers was not of native descent and didn't even tell us the whole story behind the dreamcatcher. What she was doing was appropriation. She took something from another culture and made money off it with little to no regard for its meaning. While I'm not making excuses for my mother and me, this was before the internet, and we honestly had no clue. We took this salesperson at face value and didn't attempt to look into it further. I cringe a little when I admit that I once had a dreamcatcher. But, as I said, with age comes wisdom.
The Turning Point
I recently began following Elhoim Leafer (@elhoimleafer) on Instagram. His account is full of fantastic books and information about BIPOC. I love seeing the unique side of witchcraft from different viewpoints. One of his key talking points is decolonizing witchcraft. I'm ashamed to admit that I was confused when I first heard this term. How is witchcraft colonized? Isn't it the release from the patriarchial religions? That was my entire reason for converting from Christianity to witchcraft. I was tired of being taught to be ashamed of myself simply because I was born with a vagina, being told that I was less than others, and being persecuted for not obeying men faithfully. However, after researching the topic further, I realized that's not the entirety of the issue. Also, I came face to face with the truth: I am part of the problem. While I am ashamed of the things I have done and contributed to, I am willing to share my blunders in hopes that others won't make the same mistakes. I give myself forgiveness because I am still learning but willing to admit when I am wrong.
When reading about these wonderful BIPOC authors, I made a startling discovery about myself that I'm not too proud of. Seeing some beautiful books about brujeria and hoodoo, I always wanted to read them but constantly told myself, "don't buy those books. You can't practice those because they are closed religions." So listen closely to what I just said and didn't say. Because I couldn't use them, I didn't support the authors. I never realized just how awful that was. That is a form of colonization. I didn't see the value in learning about something I could not profit from. I didn't want to know just for the sake of knowledge. This awareness made me step back and evaluate everything I have ever been taught about witchcraft.
How Did We Get Here?
Most modern-day witches (myself included) have built their practice around knowledge retrieved from the internet and books. Unfortunately, everything we know was taught by authors we've never even met and probably never looked into the backgrounds of. Fire Lyte wrote an astounding article about the whitewashing of pagan books that I highly recommend you read. He puts everything so eloquently that I won't even attempt to butcher it by paraphrasing. In essence, most books on the shelves are written by white authors; even books focused on closed religious practices. Yet, instead of publishing BIPOC authors, these publishing houses continuously publish white authors. Why? And how much was taught incorrectly with little regard to the actual culture it supposedly represents?
One of the first steps to decolonizing your craft is to evaluate what your ancestors honestly would have done and compare it to your current practice. My father's side of the family is Irish, with a little Scottish. My mother's side is Norwegian and English. I base my witchcraft around Celtic and Norse magics. Did my ancestors smudge? No, they smoke cleansed. Did my ancestors make mojo bags? No, they made crane bags. These terms may seem inconsequential, but they are not interchangeable. Looking through these new lenses, I realized a lot of common-knowledge magic is garbage from white authors. Sometimes I try to give them grace and say they didn't know any better. But based on timelines, sometimes you have to admit that they are appropriated.
Indigenous American Appropriation
Remember my story about dreamcatchers? One of the most widely appropriated cultures in the US is Native American. Not only was their land stolen, but so was their culture. The only parts of their history that the general public deems worthy are what can be bought. So look into your craft without the rosy glasses and see if you have appropriated any of it. It's okay to admit you have as long as you learn from it. Let's start with the big guns: the smudge issue. I have said it before, and I'll state it again: smudging is a Native American ceremony that uses white sage. If you aren't part of that religion and are not sanctified to do it, you can't. You can smoke cleanse, but not smudge. That's like buying a box of saltines and announcing that you're taking communion. It's a ceremony. And even more, it's a ceremony that the Indigenous community was persecuted for. They were not legally allowed to smudge until 1978. Starting as a witch, I bought a 'smudge kit' from Amazon, complete with an abalone shell and feather. I did not burn the white sage because it messed with my allergies, but I loved the palo santo. Now, I look back and realize that white sage didn't call me. I read it in a book and thought that was what I was supposed to do as a witch. With time comes more knowledge, and I currently prefer sound cleansing. There are so many non-sage ways to cleanse my home.
There was a time when the phrase 'spirit animal' was everywhere. Every day, I discovered a new funny meme about what spirit animal you were. (My favorite was the raccoon.) However, only recently was I made aware that this term is a form of appropriation from Native Americans. It is a bastardization of the word, and their spirit animals don't resemble what mass media has made them sound like. Instead, my ancestors believed in fylgjur, a spirit that would act as a spiritual guardian. I've also heard some use the term 'spirit guide' instead. As you decolonize your craft, this could be a fun learning experience. Look into your ancestry and see if they had a version and what it was called.
African Diaspora Tradition Appropriation
Another highly stolen culture is that of African diaspora traditions. Hoodoo, Santaria, and Voudou are so mysterious to an outsider; the candles, the chanting, the offerings. I'm mystified each time I view a hoodoo altar. There's so much magic infused in every piece that it just looks powerful. However, that's precisely why it's often portrayed negatively in our pop culture; white colonists don't understand the religion, but it visually appears scary. I have never delved deep into the history or differences in African traditions, so I can't tell you what any of it means or the differences between groups. However, I can admit things that I know are taken from voudou. It's common in the witchcraft community to discuss topics such as voodoo dolls and mojo bags, but we never discuss where those ideas came from or their cultural significance.
The history of these traditions is steeped in the African slave trade. When colonizers brought enslaved people to America, they were forced to reject their religion and convert to Christianity. However, the African people were strong and resilient. They wove Christianity with their own faith to protect themselves and keep their cultural history alive. Florida Water was a standard cologne during these times, and enslaved people began utilizing it in their practice. It would never rouse any suspicions from the white people around them. Thus began the history of Florida water as a magical conjure resource for African diaspora craft. Florida water is one of those items that I have purchased because a book told me to. I don't use it because it never called to me, so into the bin it goes. Another item that is strictly from hoodoo is High John the Conqueror root. It was known as the 'breaker of chains' and was often used by enslaved people against their capturers. Why would I need to use it? I am not an enslaved person, nor has my family ever been.
Wiccan Whitewashing
Then there's the whitewashed idea that there is white and black magic, often portraying African traditions as black magic. Magic is neither good nor bad. Every bit of magic is valid and dictated by the witch's intentions. This has also impacted my life regarding the blonde Madonna and the dark-haired whore. If you watch popular media and old movies, you can almost tell immediately who the 'good girl is and who the 'bad girl is in movies simply by their hair color or clothing. The pure and innocent female is usually dressed in white, and the villain is dressed in black. As a brunette child, it often upset me that the pretty lead females were typically blonde. The same has been applied to magic. A "white witch" is good, whereas the dark magic conjurer is black. Wiccans created the three-fold law to make magic more palatable to the general public. They vilified many historical cultures by watering down magic and deeming anything outside that creed as black magic. However, the world has thousands of practices, and they are all valid. Hexing is vital to understand. Cursing is important. Just because a caster chooses not to cast these spells does not make them any less valid.
How can you decolonize your craft?
Educate yourself
Read books on other cultures and religions in the pagan community with the intention of learning, not using. Listen and subscribe to BIPOC podcasts and Youtube channels to support these amazing content creators. This is one topic that I am currently working hard at.
Read Critically
Review the authors of any books or blogs you read. Are they qualified to speak on this topic? What are their credentials? Until recently, I only read book reviews but never looked into the author. Now I see things in a different light, and I firmly believe it sheds new light on my reading choices.
Inspect your craft
Would your ancestors be doing this? When was this product or exercise created? Ask yourself questions such as: Why did I start doing this? Do I feel called to use this, or am I following someone else's advice?
Purchase Ethically
Be Mindful of where you purchase items. For example, are the herbs ethically sourced? Are they endangered? Where did the store acquire its crystals? While I would hope that all metaphysical business owners would be open and honest about their items, it is ultimately up to the buyer to ask the questions.
In Conclusion
I know that I may add more to this list in the future. Knowledge is, after all, constantly learning new things and reevaluating the past. I may pick up a practice only to put it down later after gaining new information. And that's okay! We are all human. We all make mistakes. The key is to have an open heart and an open mind. Be open to critique and learn from it. I hope we all can learn and grow together.
Sources and Additional Reading:
