This is sort of a part 2 of the decolonization. As we learn origins to different things, what can we use instead?
First a little list exactly what may be the cause it is cultural appropriation. The term itself is referring to the use of objects or elements of a non dominant culture in a way that;
-Disrespect their original meaning
-Fails to give credit to their source
-Reinforce stereotypes
-Contributes to oppression
-Profit at locals' expense
*Does not mean you can't appropriate open cultures. It's fully possible and done a lot
Chakras: Chakras originates from hinduism, and no, it's not as you see mainstream all over the internet. In hinduism, there is somewhere over 100 chakras in and around our body, and the chakras don't necessarily have a rainbow from bottom and up either. We mostly know the 7 chakras from bottom of our upper body, and to top of our head. In the 1970s, an author named Christopher Hills wrote a book where he mentioned the chakras. He connected them to a rainbow color spectrum and connecting chakras to personality. This isn't the original intention of chakras at all, which makes this cultural appropriation.
Solution: Some say that you can use the western made 7 chakra system, but don't call it chakras. Instead, call them energy points and only work with the western made system. Others think you shouldn't work with this at all because of how the system was made. There is other ways to work with physical health and well being, which is what most of us are known with chakras will help with.
Palo santo: This plant is native to south america, in Peru and Ecuador to name two of the countries. The scientific name is Bursera Graveolens if you want to read about the tree itself. This tree has been used by the indigenous people where it grows for centuries for clearing negative energy, and medical purposes like treating pain and stress. The wood, resin and oil can be used as things like incense and aromatherapy. Some say that the tree is endangered, some say it isn't. According to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) it's listed as least concern. Meaning it's not endangered, but still few enough to be looked after and easy to over-harvest. The name Palo Santo means "holy wood" or "wood of the saints" and is sacred for the indigenous people that use it. Also, it is actually illegal to cut down Palo Santo. The only way to harvest it is to use a tree that has fallen over, and have permission of the government to do so. Most of the Palo Santo sticks you can buy, has not been sourced this way, and even cut down before the resin had time to form and the tree get its fragrance it's so known for. To fix this issue, they fake the scent by mixing chemicals to mimic the tree's natural aroma.
Solution: There has been numerous ways to clear energies in every folk belief, and open cultures. The use of rosemary, lavender and juniper is common in new age spirituality to clear energies, and not closed to one specific practice. You don't even need to burn anything to clear energies, there are many ways open for everyone that you can find by doing research.
White sage and smudging: This is a plant native to southwestern California and northern Baja California, and is so used by Native American tribes around there. Although white sage isn't listed on IUCN redlist, conservationists are still concerned about the plants survival in the future. The Native Americans have used it in ritual and ceremonial manner. Many cultures called this "Sacred Sage" for their use, which has for a long time been getting rid of unwanted persisting energies, to ask the spirits for blessings, prosperity, protection and more. In many native cultures, a plant are more than just a living thing, that they have a soul, a spirit. As white we market white sage because it is "just a plant" and some people still deny science on plants lives, such as communication between them etc. White sage is also mainly used in smudging, which isn't just the same as cleansing like you might have heard. It is a hole ritualthat belongs to the Native Americans. This is another example of cultural appropriation where the original concept and meaning gets changed and disrespected. Also the overharvesting will end up as profit on the locals' expense, if white sage do go instinct, they will lose an important piece of their practice.
Solution: Cleanse in other ways that are cleansing and use cleansing herbs like mentioned for the Palo Santo. Also, don't get smudge sticks or make them, however, herb bundles are fine. As for the sage there is hundreds of kinds of sage that can be used, you don't need the white one. Common sage or garden sage works perfectly fine and may be easier to get as plant or dried herb. As a plant it gets beauticul purple leaves.
Dream catchers: Yet another piece of Native American culture which is widely used over the world today. It is said it all originates from the Ojibwe tribe, but that other tribes have began using dream catchers later. In the Ojibwe tribe this is used as a talisman to protect sleepers, especially children from getting nightmares, bad dreams and evil spirits. According to multiple articles the history is an Ojibwe legend that at the origin of the world there was a mystic woman commonly known as "the spider woman" today that provided spiritual protection for the tribe. Especially through newborn, baby and young schild stage. As the tribe grew and expanded, it became difficult for the spider woman to protect everyone. This is when she got this idea of making dream catchers. Grandmothers and mothers will follow this example and create dremcatchers to protect their children and families. Today, most of the dream catchers you see isn't made even close to what they should be, not following the tradition at all. These are then sold with feathers, beads and beautiful patterns in many colors. Again, this isn't what dream catchers are supposed to be, and it is again cultural appropriation.
Solution: For good sleep, there are plenty of spells, sachets etc, as well as you can make your own talismans as long as it's not a dream catcher. The amount of other possibilities is endless.
Makeup lines over the nose and down the chin: Lines over the nose is found both in Native American and Inuits culture. The stripe down the chin is from inuits. It may exist in more cultures as well that I haven't seen information about. These are very important symbol for the tribes and cultures. Many of the fantasy makeup looks you can search up on the internet have these lines. Using it without acknowledging the meaning behind these lines, and how the people of these cultures feel about us using them is just wrong. They are not a part of norse either. Please don't make norse makeup looks with lines over the nose and down the chin anymore. So many indigenous people have told us to stop, so many that have told us to not take their culture into their makeup, and I think it's overdue time to listen to them.
Solution: Find makeup looks without lines. It's possible and they can still look fantastic. You don't need them. If you use makeup looks with lines make sure you research about them. Look up "Line down the chin meaning", or wherever you might paint it.
Honey jar: No, this isn't about using honey in your practice, which it is mistaken for. The problem is the honey jar spell. What you find when you search for honey jar recipes are said to be from Hoodoo practice. Other cultures have used honey in spell jars as well, the challinging thing is how the whole spell is instructed and prepared. There is a honey love spell from the hispanic culture,including making a cross with honey on your tongue, which is a closed practice as well. Again, this is not the use of honey in witchcraft as that has been around in multiple places in the world for centuries, it is about very certain spells.
This is not a complete list, and I might be missing a few points so please do your own research as well. Just because there is quite some things that are closed, doesn't mean you don't have a lot available to you. Just make sure to research well, oftest a great help is to find the origin. Read about your folk beliefs, there are a whole lot of interesting things in folklore.
