|
IN THIS ISSUE...
1. Is palo santo endangered? |
palo santo is a sacred wood, but also a natural resource. Its use has exploded in recent decades, to the point of raising serious ecological concerns. Behind every small stick burned for purification, there is a tree, a forest, an ecosystem. Respecting the spirit of palo santo is not just about using it well. It is also about ensuring it comes from a responsible source.
You cannot work with a purifying energy if the object you use carries a footprint of destruction.
1. Is palo santo endangered?
We need to distinguish two main species: Bursera graveolens (used for fumigation) and Bulnesia sarmientoi (used for perfumery and furniture). It is the latter that is classified as an endangered species, mainly due to massive deforestation.
Bursera graveolens, the one you find in most fumigation sticks, is not yet endangered, but it grows slowly and its habitat is fragile. It cannot be cultivated industrially without losing its properties. The wood used must fall naturally and rest for several years before being harvested.
When demand exceeds this natural cycle, some sellers cut down living trees, burn forests, or harvest wood that is too young. This is no longer a sacred act. It is extraction.
2. How to choose an ethical palo santo?
You can turn to producers who respect the tree’s natural cycle, who only harvest fallen wood, on community-managed lands. Some projects work with local communities, forest guardians, or families living near growth areas.
Good news: at Aeternum, we only sell palo santo that has fallen naturally!
You choose a palo santo from transparent, traceable trade, even artisanal. You avoid very cheap products, sold in bulk, without origin indication, or repackaged without respect for the product.
You can also choose to reduce your consumption: a single stick can last a very long time. You don’t burn it without reason. You use it with care. You treat it as a ritual companion, not a disposable object.
Choosing an ethical palo santo is a coherent gesture. You purify with wood that has kept its memory, its strength, and its respect.
Join the Aeternum community on our Facebook group: advice, tips, rituals, knowledge, products in a friendly atmosphere!
I'm going!