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Sephora’s “Starter Witch Kit” and Spiritual Theft

12:46 PM mssoellegant 1 Comments


POTTERHEADS! Can you remember when that fateful day finally came and we said goodbye to the wizarding world as we knew it? I couldn't believe the end of Harry Potter had finally come. It was a bittersweet day. Yet off in the horizon a glimmer of hope shone! It was the magic that was FBAWTFT! When I went surfing the internet for more info to satisfy my wizardly craving I came across a blog called Native Appropriations by Dr. Adrienne Keene. Native Appropriations is a forum for discussing representations of Native peoples, including stereotypes, cultural appropriation, news, activism, and more as stated by Dr. Keene herself. She wrote an amazing piece titled Magic in North America. At first it almost felt like an attack on the franchise I have come to know and love, yet the more you read the more you understand how detrimental non native's portrayl of natives or native cultural experiences and values can be. Ever since then, I love reading Dr. Keene's blog, it gives me new insights I might not have thought of before. She also wrote an amazing piece on Wakanda should you want to dive right into that.

If not be sure to check out her latest on Sephora's Witch Kit. Representatives for the cosmetics giant confirmed a report in the Glossy that the trendy perfume brand Pinrose will launch a “Starter Witch Kit” in stores and online on Oct. 9, in plenty of time for Halloween.

She opens with "I start most mornings by smudging [for non-Natives: info here]*. Smudging is grounding to me. It’s centering. It’s personal. So when I see things like Sephora selling a $42 'Starter Witch Kit' from the brand Pinrose that includes a bundle of white sage, I have…thoughts."

If you happen to check out Dr. Keene's blog, let me know what you think!

1 comment:

  1. I thought it was very interesting that many bloggers decided to write about how "Sephora And Pinrose pull the Starter Witch Kit after backlash from actual witches". Seriously... but no mention of native outrage... Ok.

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