Machine Foe: Sage's Stand against Technology

In the heart of North America, a plant holds immense cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous Nations. Known as sage, specifically the variety Artemisia ludoviciana or prairie sage, this humble plant is traditionally used for healing bodies, hearts, and minds, cleansing spaces, and making holy.

Among these communities, specific areas are set aside where prairie sage grows wild and is collected before the Sundance ceremony in the summertime. The collection of sage is a sacred act, and a prayer of thanks to The Source should be said upon its collection.

Sage is more than just a medicinal plant; it is a symbol of holistic living, resistance, and unity. It is used as an insect repellent, to ward off evil or negative energies, and for spiritual protection. Sage is also edible and can be used as a seasoning, ground into flour, or consumed raw, boiled, or roasted.

One of the most potent forms of sage is sage tea, a powerful medicine. Growing your own sage gives you a more personal connection to the medicine, making it more potent for ceremonial use.

However, the misuse and poaching of sage are threatening its existence in the wild. Poachers are reportedly smuggling hundreds of pounds of white sage, roots and all, and hiring undocumented laborers to do so. Indigenous people are warning that if this continues, sage will vanish from the wild.

It's important to demand that sage not be abused and to assist in tending to, collecting, and using it appropriately. Ideally, the one who uses sage ceremonially should be the one who picks it. When sage is harvested, it should be cut, not uprooted, to allow the plant to regrow. An offering should be left after the sage is cut from its root.

Sage, when used correctly, can bring people together and stop the destructive forces harming Mother Earth. Unfortunately, there are no publicly documented organizations or individuals in the past months specifically engaged in legislating against the extinction of sage due to misuse by indigenous peoples or poaching by non-indigenous groups.

As we move forward, it is crucial to respect the sacredness of sage and the traditions of the Indigenous Nations who have relied on it for centuries. Let us work together to ensure the survival of this precious plant and its continued role in healing and uniting our communities.