Context matters when it comes to telling appreciation and appropriation apart. You bring it home and fill it with candles, but one day a friend notices it and seems very confused. Cultural appropriation leads to a narrow look at other cultures and often exploitation of those cultures. Plus, you take the time to learn the significance behind the item and how it should or shouldn’t be used. Here’s the problem: Wearing another culture’s traditional jewelry or clothing may get you some admiration or positive attention.But when someone from that culture wears the same thing, they might receive more negative attention than positive. If you practice yoga, you should know it’s a Hindu spiritual practice and consider doing some further exploration. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. This appropriation ignores the fact that white settlers forced many Native Americans to give up their culture, and they criticized as “heathen” and “savage” the sacred traditions that are now misrepresented for profit. If you do purchase art, clothing, or other items, you buy directly from creators. A mala is simply a string of beads that are used in a meditation practice. Cultural appreciation also involves fair compensation. ". When studying other cultures, take the time to learn how to correctly pronounce names of people and places. Mala is Sanskrit for "garland," and my mala is a bracelet of beads. You may feel irritable most of the day or have frequent…. For more information and tips like this to incorporate into your own yoga practice, visit, You can also follow me on Instagram for daily inquiry, provocation, inspiration and tips, "Let's work together to realize yoga as unity and make yoga fully inclusive and diverse. You can also follow me on Instagram for daily inquiry, provocation, inspiration and tips instagram.com/susannabarkataki, "Let's work together to realize yoga as unity and make yoga fully inclusive and diverse." Like we mentioned before, mālā beads’ significance lies in the person using these precious stones, and, therefore, outside interpretation may not always be that they are to be mindful. Western culture is notorious for appropriating the yoga practice in the forms of “Om” t-shirts and other products that are worn with no respect to the practice, but instead for aesthetic purposes. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. Layer multiple bracelets on your wrist and set specific intentions for each mala. When it comes to avoiding complications from shaving, shaving correctly is more important than how often you shave. There are two types of mala beads that can be worn on the wrist. But simply rocking them for fashion without having any intention behind them dishonors their sacred origin. By being intentional they can really hone in during their meditation on different energies. ... please do be aware of the issue of cultural appropriation. You may not realize, for example, that certain mantras have spiritual meaning, and mala beads are tools to help you focus your attention during meditation — not jewelry or decorations. Choose books, music, art, and food that originate from and accurately represent specific cultures, instead of “culturally inspired” experiences. If you’ve learned that wearing another culture’s traditional clothing in daily life is problematic, you might wonder why. Western culture is notorious for appropriating the yoga practice in the forms of “Om” t-shirts and other products that are worn with no respect to the practice, but instead for aesthetic purposes. Mantra is an integral yoga practice given to us in the Yoga Sutras as a tool to support our minds. When in doubt, it’s best to steer clear of any cultural elements you haven’t been explicitly invited to share. It’s a little easier with friends and family. The reason why white people wearing dreadlocks is not cultural appropriation is due to the fact that dreadlocks have been around for thousands of years in many different societies all over the world including European countries. Learn the basics of how to read it and make the most…, Autocannibalism is a mental health condition characterized by the practice of eating parts of oneself, such as skin, nails, hair, and scabs. This belittles the significance behind cultural items or practices. After all, it’s freely available for purchase, and people who live in other countries regularly wear Western clothes. Could you wear them then? Because of this, the user of these beads is usually very intentional with what beads they choose. Worst case, their clothing could make them a target for hate crimes. You, in turn, get the opportunity to learn more about another culture and share yours as well. What steps can you take to appreciate rather than appropriate? In general, you’re probably appreciating a culture if you: Imagine that during a trip to China, you learn a delicious recipe from your hosts. In the progression of your yoga practice, you may find that you encounter a plethora of tools in this rich tradition. In contrast, appreciation involves a desire for knowledge and deeper understanding of a culture. Many American sports teams use totem poles, headdresses, “native dances,” and “war cries” that mock Indigenous practices. Other markers of appropriation include presenting elements of a culture in ways that: Buying mass-produced dream catchers, moccasins, headdresses, or other “Native American–inspired” items from tourist shops doesn’t teach you about their significance. Here’s what you need to know. Here are a few additional resources on cultural appropriation: If you aspire to appreciate instead of appropriate, you’re already on the right track. Can crystals and stones really help your anxiety? Somehow one thing led to another and we began discussing what was and what was not cultural appropriation in Witchcraft. It presents a false perspective that all Native Americans are the same. You can wear one, two, three, as many as you like. At one point in this discussion I brought up Mala beads. However, whether or not they can be used as a tool to remind others to be mindful… not always. The difference between appropriation and appreciation can get a little complicated. Pent-up anger getting the best of you? You might disagree, but do some research of your own before making excuses or insisting on your right to use the item, wear the clothing, or say the word.