Cultural Respect

Learn from Living Keepers

Many practices on Rooted draw from cultural traditions with living practitioners. When exploring these practices, honor them by learning from the people who hold that knowledge.

Why This Matters

Practices like herbalism, ancestor veneration, energy work, and seasonal rituals exist in specific cultural contexts. When we learn these practices without acknowledging their origins or learning from living practitioners, we risk appropriation.

This page provides resources to learn directly from Indigenous herbalists, BIPOC spiritual practitioners, and teachers rooted in their own cultural traditions. These links are not affiliate links—we receive no income from them.

Indigenous Herbalism & Plant Knowledge

Indigenous peoples hold deep knowledge about the plants of their regions. If you're learning about plants sacred to Indigenous communities, learn from Indigenous herbalists.

United Plant Savers

Organization dedicated to preserving native medicinal plants. Includes resources on ethical wildcrafting and Indigenous plant sovereignty.

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Native American Herbalists Association

Directory of Indigenous herbalists and educators. Supports Indigenous-led plant medicine education and sovereignty.

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Ancestral Apothecary

Indigenous-led herbalism and plant medicine education honoring traditional ecological knowledge.

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Decolonial & BIPOC Spiritual Practitioners

Many spiritual practices have been commodified and whitewashed. Learn from practitioners rooted in their own cultural traditions.

Decolonizing Wellness

Resources and education on cultural appropriation in wellness spaces, led by BIPOC practitioners.

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The Nap Ministry

Rest as resistance, led by Tricia Hersey. Centers Black liberation and decolonial rest practices.

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Tradition-Specific Resources

If your heritage includes specific spiritual or cultural practices, learn from teachers within those traditions.

African Spirituality Resources

For those exploring African diaspora traditions (Hoodoo, Rootwork, Ifa, Vodou), seek out Black practitioners and elders. These traditions have specific protocols and lineages.

Note: We're working to curate specific resources here. If you have recommendations, please reach out.

Latinx & Indigenous American Traditions

Practices like Curanderismo, Día de Muertos, and Indigenous ceremonial traditions belong to specific cultures. Learn from Latinx and Indigenous practitioners.

Note: We're working to curate specific resources here. If you have recommendations, please reach out.

Asian Spiritual Traditions

Practices like Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Buddhist meditation, and ancestor veneration have specific cultural protocols. Seek out teachers from those traditions.

Note: We're working to curate specific resources here. If you have recommendations, please reach out.

Celtic & European Folk Traditions

If exploring Celtic seasonal practices or European folk magic, learn from practitioners rooted in those regions and traditions, not Neopagan reconstructions.

Note: We're working to curate specific resources here. If you have recommendations, please reach out.

BIPOC-Owned Tarot, Decks & Tools

Support BIPOC creators and artists when purchasing tarot decks, oracle cards, and spiritual tools.

The Hood Witch

Tarot, spiritual tools, and education rooted in African American traditions. Founded by Bri Luna.

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Little Red Tarot

Inclusive, queer-centered tarot shop featuring BIPOC deck creators and artists.

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How Rooted Practices Cultural Respect

  • We acknowledge cultural origins in practices and articles with metadata and notes.
  • We explicitly name closed practices (like white sage) and redirect to appropriate alternatives.
  • We differentiate between cross-cultural practices and tradition-specific protocols.
  • We encourage learning from living practitioners and provide resources to do so.
  • We don't claim expertise in traditions that aren't ours—we're students too.

Have resource recommendations? We're actively building this page and welcome suggestions for Indigenous educators, BIPOC practitioners, and tradition-specific teachers.

Reach out via the contact info on our About page.

Ready when you are

Reclaim curiosity at your own pace.