Our community is a global tapestry, woven from threads of countless cultures and histories. We are drawn to the deep, universal human impulse to mark our skin and test our spirits. In this exploration, it is natural to look to the powerful traditions of others – the intricate beauty of a Maori Ta Moko, the sacred geometry of a Sak Yant, the profound symbolism of Native American jewelry.
This leads us to a difficult and essential conversation. When does appreciation cross the line into appropriation? Is it okay to get a tattoo from a culture that isn’t yours? To wear the sacred jewelry of another people? To participate in their rituals?
There are no simple yes or no answers. There is only the path of respect, and that path requires us to ask harder questions of ourselves.
The Difference Between a Guest and a Thief
Think of it this way: Appreciation is being invited into someone’s home. You are a guest. You listen to their stories, you learn the meaning behind their family heirlooms, you respect the rules of their house, and you leave them feeling grateful for what they have shared.
Appropriation is breaking into that same house while the owners are away because you like the look of their furniture. You take their heirlooms out of context, display them in your own home stripped of their stories, and tell everyone you’re honoring them. You have taken, not received.
The difference is not in the object or the art form. The difference is in permission, understanding, and respect.
The Language Written on the Skin
Let’s take the example of traditional Polynesian or Hawaiian tattoos. These are not merely beautiful patterns. They are a language. They are genealogical records, stories of lineage, markers of social status, and a sacred connection to the gods. To wear these specific, ancestral patterns without the heritage they represent is like tearing a page from someone else’s family Bible and wearing it as a fashion accessory.
It does more than just render the symbol meaningless for the wearer; it actively disrespects and dilutes the profound meaning it holds for the people of that culture. It turns their sacred language into a decorative aesthetic. The question is not, “Can I get this tattoo?” The question should be, “Do I have the right to speak this language?” For most of us, the honest answer is no.
Open Paths and Closed Gates
Not all traditions are the same. Some spiritual paths are open, shared willingly with sincere seekers from any background. Many forms of yoga or general meditation practices have spread this way. However, many other traditions, particularly those from indigenous cultures that have faced colonization and oppression, are “closed.” Their rituals and symbols are sacred, kept for initiated members of their community as a vital way of preserving their identity.
Participating in a closed ritual without invitation is not an act of spiritual exploration. It is an act of trespass. As the writer and activist Lyla June Johnston, who is of Diné (Navajo) and Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) lineages, often speaks about, the key is consent. She says, “The opposite of appropriation is sovereignty… the ability for a people to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.” If the people of that culture are not actively inviting you in, then the gate is closed. To force it open is an act of colonization, not spiritual unity.
The Way of Respect
So how do we navigate this complex world as people who are genuinely drawn to the beauty and power we see in other cultures? We do it with humility and hard work.
- Listen First: Before you act, listen. Seek out and amplify the voices of people from that culture. What are their artists, elders, and activists saying about their own traditions? They are the authorities.
- Support, Don’t Steal: If you love Native American jewelry, buy it directly from Native artists and jewelers. If you are moved by the power of a cultural art form, support the people who are its rightful keepers. Your money and support should go to the source community.
- Seek Inspiration, Not Imitation: Be inspired by the spirit of a tradition – its reverence for nature, its use of geometry, its connection to the body – and use that inspiration to create your own personal symbols. Create a rite that is authentic to your life and your journey.
Our own spiritual paths are not made more valid by taking pieces from someone else’s. They are made valid by the sincere, honest, and respectful work we do on ourselves. The goal is not to collect the sacred relics of the world, but to build a sacred space within.
