Reclaiming your Spiritual Ancestry

“It’s not the Claiming Moon, it’s the Buck Moon.” Comments like these often appear on my social media channels, but here’s the truth: I am not Native American, so why would I refer to the moon by their cultural name?

Since my spiritual quest began back in 1998, I have searched everywhere for ‘the path’. I have been a shaman’s apprentice, a holistic therapist, and have studied Buddhism, Taoism, Wicca, Voodoo, New Age, martial arts (Aikido), plant medicine, belly dancing—you name it, I have probably tried it!

Around 2019, while writing my first book, The Female Archangels, I became aware of cultural appropriation. For 30 years, I had identified as an eclectic witch, borrowing teachings and practices from various cultures. I was shocked and saddened when I learned that I was being disrespectful.

To avoid offending others and to truly understand myself, I embarked on a mission to decolonise my spiritual practice. This means avoiding the use of terms and practices, such as ‘smudging’, from other cultures.

Here is where it gets ironic. Just a year before this realisation, I received the wisdom teachings called The Nusta Karpay from the Andean Q’ero medicine women and men of Peru. These initiations helped me realise the importance of embracing the spirits of my own land where I was born. Looking back, it feels as though this was a beautiful parting gift—the last borrowed teaching that would pave the way for me to let go of what I had learned and what had been indoctrinated within me. This allowed me to begin to realign and reclaim the spiritual teachings indigenous to British people that had been stolen and silenced by Christianity.

I decided to have my DNA tested. I was certain I had some exotic Norse blood or something in me, but no—it came back that I was 100% British: mainly English and Irish, with a little Scottish and a little Welsh. Initially, I thought this was going to be quite boring, but as I began to dig, I realised there is an absolute treasure trove of myth, magic, and spirituality belonging to Britain.

Since my homecoming journey started, I’ve never looked back. I am so grateful for the blessings and teachings from all the wonderful cultures around the world, and I have the utmost respect for them. I don’t believe there is one true way. I think that all paths have their place, and I don’t place mine above anyone else’s. Embracing my true heritage just clicked for me. It felt like I had found what I had always been searching for.

How to Decolonise

My decolonisation mission is a big task, and I am under no illusion that I may unconsciously practise things that are culturally inappropriate. I am still learning. To combat this, I make sure I research well before I write blogs and host workshops. I no longer buy sage bundles or chant sacred Icaros that I probably shouldn’t have known in the first place.

No longer buying sage sticks is also good for the environment. I have read that Palo Santo and sage are now endangered due to consumerism. It’s much more eco-friendly and free to use herbs native to your homeland, such as mugwort, St John’s wort, or juniper (in the UK) for the purpose of cleansing your home or altar items. As well as smoke burning, the use of fire and the ringing of iron bells were used to cleanse away bad spirits and negativity by the Druids, Pagans, Cunning Folk, and more recently, Wiccans.

Most people have mixed heritage, so I would start with what you feel most drawn to. You could look at your family tree and research your ancestry or get a DNA test. When you know where you are from, you could research the history of that place. I have narrowed my family tree down on one side all the way to a specific village called Bostock (my birth name) in Cheshire. Quite the coincidence that the other White Witch of Cheshire, Bridget Bostock from the 1600s, shares my business and family name! I do hope it turns out we are related!

How Borrowing Spiritual Practices is Harmful

The easiest way to understand this is to think about how, years ago, Native Americans were harmed, killed, captured, and prevented from taking part in their sacred ceremonies. Fast forward to now, and it is seen as a kick in the teeth because we are now engaging in their culture when they were previously not allowed to.

I have used Native American practices and smudging as an example in this blog, but if you look online, you will find many Hindus upset at how yoga has been disrespected and dismantled to suit the narrative in the West. Their spiritual practice has become a fitness regime with jokes like ‘Namaslay’ and is not recognised for the deep and beautiful philosophy that it truly is.

The examples could go on and on, and where do we draw the line? I am not qualified to answer that. I just take responsibility for my own words and actions and keep on learning. Maybe one day we will figure out how learn from each other and revere diverse wisdom teachings, but first, we need to realise where they come from and allow the voices of those people to be heard the loudest.

If you have any comments or feedback on this topic I am happy to learn from you.

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Blessed be, Claire.