Latest news with #Cahuilla
Health Line
6 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
10 Benefits of Burning Sage, How to Get Started, and More
Burning sage — also known as cleansing — is an ancient spiritual ritual. Certain types of sage have antimicrobial properties and may provide additional benefits. Where did the practice originate? Distinct from cleansing, smudging has been well established as a Native American cultural or tribal practice, although not all groups practice it. We have the traditions of many Native American peoples, including the Lakota, Chumash, and Cahuilla, to thank for its use. Many other cultures around the world share similar rituals. Read on to learn more about the benefits of burning sage and how you can use it to improve your overall well-being. It may be purifying The most commonly used types of sage have antimicrobial properties, which means they may keep infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi at bay. White prairie sage (technically a mugwort species, Artemisia ludoviciana) is both antimicrobial and antibacterial. White sage (an actual sage, Salvia apiana) is also antimicrobial. And both have been shown to repel insects. It may help relieve the symptoms of some conditions It turns out that sage may help clear the air of lots more than bugs and bacteria. Though scientifically unproven, burning sage is thought to release negative ions, which are said to help neutralize positive ions. Common positive ions are allergens like: pet dander pollution dust mold If this is the case, burning sage may be a blessing for those with asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. However, inhaling the smoke during the cleansing process can aggravate any respiratory condition. Wait until the smoke clears before going into the room. It can be a spiritual tool Burning sage has long been used to connect to the spiritual realm or enhance intuition. In traditional cultures, burning sage is used by healers and laypeople to achieve a healing state or to solve or reflect upon spiritual dilemmas. This may also have some scientific basis. Certain types of sage, including salvia sages and white prairie sage, contain thujone. It may help dispel negative energy Burning sage may also be used as a ritual tool to rid yourself or your space of negativity. This includes past traumas, bad experiences, or negative energies from others. This may help you establish a positive environment for meditation or another ritual. Choosing to sit and let go of negative thoughts in a ritual like this sets your intention and dedication to self-improvement. Choosing to engage in ritual can be the beginning of your change in mindset. It can cleanse or empower specific objects Burning sage creates fragrant smoke, which is central to its benefits. You can use this incense to cleanse yourself or specific spaces. Or, according to some sources, you can cleanse specific objects. This can be useful with new purchases, gifts, or secondhand items. However, any item can be cleansed. If you have any concern with negative history or energy attached to a new or unfamiliar object, burning sage may help bring peace of mind and make the object more sacred to you. It may help improve your mood Tradition suggests that burning sage can literally lift one's spirits to banish negativity. Some research supports this. A 2014 study documented white prairie sage (also known as estafiate) as an important traditional remedy for treating anxiety, depression, and mood disorders in certain cultures. It may help soothe stress If burning sage can lift one's mood, it could also be a great ally against stress. A 2016 research project for the University of Mississippi established that white sage (Salvia apiana) is rich in compounds that activate certain receptors in the brain. These receptors are responsible for elevating mood levels, reducing stress, and even alleviating pain. It may improve the quality of your sleep Burning sage has been traditionally used to safeguard against negativity that could interfere with sleep. Some research suggests that sage contains compounds that could help ease insomnia. Classic garden sage (Salvia officinalis) is sometimes burned like white sage. It's also been used to improve sleep and soothe anxiety. It may help boost cognition In addition to dissipating negative energy, improving mood, and strengthening intuition, burning sage might improve your memory and focus. A 2016 review of studies noted that evidence for salvia's cognitive-enhancing benefits is promising, perhaps affecting dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However, most of these studies analyzed salvia being taken internally, not burned. More research is needed. It can create an uplifting fragrance For some, this may be the best of all benefits: Sage is a lovely incense with a divine aroma, pure and simple. It also works great as a chemical-free air freshener or odor controller. How to prepare for a cleanse Before burning sage, some recommend setting intentions if cleansing for spiritual, energetic, and negativity-clearing purposes. Remove animals or people from the room. It's also important to leave a window open before, during, and after cleansing. This allows smoke to escape. Some believe smoke also takes impurities and negative energy with it, so don't skip this step. How to cleanse your living space, an object, and more These steps apply whether you're cleansing yourself, your home, or an object. You can cleanse any of these as often as you'd like. Light the end of a sage bundle with a match. Blow it out quickly if it catches on fire. The tips of the leaves should smolder slowly, releasing thick smoke. With one hand, direct this smoke around your body and space while holding the bundle in the other. Allow the incense to linger on the areas of your body or surroundings you'd like to focus on. Using a fan or a feather can also help direct the smoke, though this is optional. Allow the ash to collect in a ceramic bowl or shell. Cleanse your home or living space In this instance, direct sage smoke over all surfaces and spaces in your home or living area. Be thorough. Some recommend working in a clockwise direction around your home, ending back where you started, especially for spiritual purposes. Others recommend counterclockwise. Do what feels best for your situation and follow your intuition. Cleanse an object Direct smoke around and over the object of your choice. This can be done to a new item, such as jewelry, furniture, or clothing, to protect or dispel it of negative energy. Items related to negative experiences or memories may also be cleansed. Some people burn sage over special objects to acknowledge the object with sacred meaning. Aromatherapy You can also light and burn sage to improve odor, fragrance, and mood. Simply waft sage smoke in and around your home. You can place the bundle in a fireproof bowl or burner and allow it to smoke for a while. What to do after a cleanse Make sure your sage bundle is completely extinguished. You can do this by dabbing the lit end into a small bowl of ash or sand. Avoid using water, since it may be challenging to reignite sage if it is extinguished by water. Check the end closely to make sure there are no more embers burning. Once it's completely put out, store it in a safe, dry place out of the sun. Are there any side effects or risks? When done correctly and respectfully, burning sage is completely safe, and the effects last after the smoke clears. Be careful with sage when it's lit. If you aren't careful, burns and even fire is possible. Have water nearby. Never leave burning sage unattended. Make sure to put your sage bundle out completely after every use. Setting off smoke alarms is common. Consider this if burning sage in a public building. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be more sensitive to the smoke and have adverse reactions. Always leave a window open while burning sage. Inhaling smoke can be hazardous to your health. The bottom line Burning sage has many benefits as a spiritual practice. Some research supports certain health benefits of sage, such as antimicrobial properties and enhanced alertness, but more research is needed. There is very little research on burning sage as a practice beyond the cultural practice of the ritual.
Gizmodo
12-06-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
California's Salton Sea Is Emitting Way More Toxic Gas Than We Thought
California's largest and most-polluted lake, the Salton Sea, is exuding hydrogen sulfide, a noxious gas, at rates that greatly exceed the state's air quality standards. Alarmingly, a new study finds that California's air quality monitoring systems may be severely underestimating how much toxic pollution is reaching people living near the lake. Hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs, is linked to a host of respiratory and neurological symptoms. The new study, published in the journal GeoHealth, highlights the risk the Salton Sea's emissions pose to nearby communities, many of which are predominantly Latino or Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian. 'The communities around the Salton Sea are on the front lines of a worsening environmental health crisis,' study co-author Mara Freilich, an assistant professor at Brown University, said in a statement. 'Our study shows that hydrogen-sulfide emissions are not only more intense than previous monitoring captured, but they are systematically underreported — especially when sensors are placed away from the lake or out of alignment with prevailing winds.' The Salton Sea is located roughly 160 miles (258 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, just east of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. It was initially formed by accident in 1905, when the Colorado River breached its irrigation canal. It has no natural inflows or outflows and is, by state law, primarily sustained by fertilizer-and-pesticide-laden agricultural runoff. The lake has since become nothing short of an environmental catastrophe. Climate change, drought, and reduced water inflows have pushed the Salton Sea's water levels lower and lower over the past two decades, increasing the lake's production of hydrogen sulfide and kicking up toxic dust. For the study, researchers from Brown University, UCLA, Loma Linda University, and UC Berkeley partnered with Alianza Coachella Valley, a local community organization, to examine the causes of hydrogen sulfide emissions from the lake. To measure emissions, the researchers used data captured by South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) monitors, installed by a local agency, at three locations and placed additional sensors within the lake. The study found that between 2013 and 2024, SCAQMD sensors at all three locations consistently exceeded California's air quality standards. The readings peaked in the summer months and in August for each year from 2013 to 2024, Torres Martinez, the site closest to the lake, had an average of more than 250 hours of readings that exceeded state standards. But even these frightening measurements were likely an underestimate, the authors wrote. An air quality sensor deployed in the lake's shallow waters detected substantially higher concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, particularly when wind was blowing over exposed sediment and shallow water. This suggests that there may be significant and overlooked sources of hydrogen sulfide blowing into nearby communities. 'Our results indicate that a significant portion of [hydrogen-sulfide] emissions remains unaccounted for, potentially being transported to communities without air monitoring stations,' the researchers wrote. Among the many communities on the Salton Sea, only three have air quality monitoring sites. The problem will likely get worse. Mitigation efforts for the Salton Sea have not kept up with receding water levels, the study authors wrote, leading to 'serious health impacts' in an area that already has high levels of asthma and other pulmonary ailments.
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why You Should Go To La Quinta, California
A bike ride through Old Town will take you to Civic Center Campus Park and to original adobe homes with beautiful courtyards. It might be trite to use the word 'literally,' but in this sense, it is accurate. Literally everyone I spoke to before traveling to La Quinta asked me why I would visit a chain of roadside hotels. La Quinta is, in fact, a beautiful Palm Springs-adjacent city in California named after the five-star resort and spa founded there, and it has no ties whatsoever to the chain. And what did I know about it? That the Golden Bachelor wedding was filmed there, and that it looked positively idyllic. Imagine my surprise, then, when I learned that the history of both the city and the resort is deep, beginning with the Cahuilla people, nurtured from a kernel of a developer's idea, then discovered by vacationing movie stars whose contracts forbade them from going farther than two hours from Los Angeles. It's where Ginger Rogers held her fourth wedding, where Frank Capra wrote It's a Wonderful Life, where Coachella and Stagecoach music festivalgoers frolic every April, and where golfers play some of the most beautiful courses in the world. As Coachella runs from April 11-20 and Stagecoach gears up for its April 25-27 festival, the place to hang your hat and have a whole lot of fun is La Quinta. Biking is a popular past time in La Quinta - there's so much to see and do in Old Town and beyond. The best activities in La Quinta are centered around the outdoors, and trust me, you wouldn't want it any other way. This town is pure California, with arid temps, soaring date palms, and bursts of impossibly red bougainvillea that spills from white adobe brick courtyards. Biking is a popular way to get around – designated bike lanes and minimal traffic make pedaling safe and easy, and renting an e-bike helps with the hills. Pedego Electric Bikes is located in Old Town and is the perfect starting point for a ride. While in Old Town La Quinta, take some time to wander the local shops and enjoy the casual vibe of this quaint town. You'll find artisanal gifts, unique clothing, hair and nail salons, and specialty items like olive oils and French macarons. Quaff your thirst with a craft beer at La Quinta Brewing Company, an establishment that despite its posh façade, serves up delightfully casual snacks like chips and soft pretzels. If you enjoy hiking, trek out to the trailhead of Cove to Lake Trail, an in-and-out route of about 6.5 miles. I highly recommend an early morning hike – this trail is entirely exposed to the sun, so you will appreciate kicking out at least half of it before the desert heat descends on your brow. An early start also increases your chances of seeing the bighorn sheep that make this area their home. If you don't spot any, you'll still enjoy the surrounding Santa Rosa mountain vistas, especially as they reflect off the water of Lake Cahuilla, named after the indigenous people who found and settled in this part of California. Your hike will even take you past a golf course, something you should make time for while in this town. La Quinta is the long-time host city for the PGA Tour's American Express Golf Tournament, and its award-winning courses are legendary. PGA West offers four courses here including the Pete Dye Dunes Course and the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course. Majestic mountain views, clear blue skies, and lush greens make for beautiful days on the fairway. Finally, the small but mighty La Quinta Museum is worthy of a visit. Its displays bring to life the history of La Quinta, from the life of the early Cahuillas to the development of the desert oasis we see today. You'll learn about the origin of the city name (spoiler alert: it comes from the La Quinta Resort & Club that started it all) and the famous people who frequented both the hotel and the city, bringing attention to a town that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. The casitas at La Quinta Resort & Club blend into the desert landscape and feature courtyards and patios that bring the outdoors in. To really embrace the history of this city, stay in its namesake, the La Quinta Resort & Club, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026. Reserve a casita with a view of one of the 42 pools that dot the property, and be sure to dine at every restaurant on the grounds – you just can't go wrong at any of them. In February, the resort debuted its first adults-only pool, an ultra-relaxing setting with a full bar and a market where you can grab a panini or snacks. And at Spa La Quinta, splurge on the Citrus Escape body treatment, a sugar scrub followed by a Vichy shower and topped off with a massage. Note: The walk to the spa is one of the most beautiful you will take, so allow time for photos. Old Town is home to a variety of restaurants, and the vast majority offer outdoor seating so you can soak up the incredible views. If I had to pick just three meals, I'd choose breakfast at Yes Please for a delectable egg sandwich and lavender honey latte and lunch at RD RNNR for a massive and filling bowl of lamb chili. Back at La Quinta Resort, make Morgan's in the Desert your top dinner priority. The chateaubriand is cooked to perfection and perfectly paired with Levendi's Legacy cabernet sauvignon. And do not ask for your check until you've indulged in the caramel cheesecake. You can thank me later. MORE ON FORBES
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
INDIGENOUS A&E: Art from fire, film stars, art ID
Sandra Hale SchulmanSpecial to ICT The latest: A flaming reset, native movies and actors, group show offs Art certainly imitated life for the Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art exhibit at The Fowler Museum at UCLA. Originally slated to open mid-January, fires tore through Los Angeles early in the month, forcing the show to delay opening until Jan. 23. The City of Angels could have heeded the knowledge presented as it centers the living with fire expertise of Tongva, Cahuilla, Luiseño and Kumeyaay communities through objects, stories, videos, images and newly commissioned works from contemporary artists. In a statement the museum said, 'The Fowler Museum mourns the tragic loss of life and the immense damage caused by the recent Southern California wildfires. We extend gratitude to firefighters and first responders, including tribal nations, for their heroic efforts. 'At this critical moment, Fire Kinship offers timely insights into Indigenous fire stewardship, ecological resilience, and climate change. Developed over several years, the exhibition underscores the vital role of fire as a regenerative force and honors the ancestral knowledge of Native communities. We hope its messages inspire reflection, healing, and sustainable rebuilding.' The exhibition introduces fire as a generative force, an element that connects to the past and present and offers a collective path toward a sustainable future, challenging viewers to rethink attitudes of fear and illegality around fire. On view through July 13, the objects, images and stories in the exhibition make a case for fire ('kút' in the Payómkawichum and Cahuilla language, ''aaw' in Kumeyaay, and 'cha'wot' in Tongva) to be seen as an elemental relative who creates a cycle that gives all living things a fresh beginning despite the initial destruction. Included in Fire Kinship are loaned objects: baskets, ollas, rabbit sticks, bark skirts and canoes. Fire is used to harden clay vessels that are used for cooking and storing food. It cultivates plant materials and is used in the making of baskets, blankets, capes and skirts – pánul, se'ill, súul and sélet (yucca, juncus, deergrass and sumac in Wanakik Cahuilla language). Fire thins out brush patches, allowing new shoots to grow. It softens the tar that seals them and makes them seaworthy. 'Southern California Native communities are bringing fire practices back from dormancy,' said Ocampo Diaz. 'Colonization, both past and present, disrupted a cycle that honored fire at the center and caused earth-wrenching ramifications. Native communities have been holding on to these gentle burns despite California's ravaging by flames. We are all part of this story, and it is a time for listening and (un)learning.' The Seminole Fair's Native Reel Cinema Fest will be extra bright this year with a galaxy of Native stars. Starting with the 30th anniversary of 'Last of the Mohicans' on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 7-9 p.m., the film is a retelling of a classic novel written by James Fenimore Cooper. Set during the French and Indian War of the 1700s, Native hunters, including Russell Means, find themselves in a conflict as they protect two young daughters of a British colonel captured by Mohicans, particularly the menacing Wes Studi as Mogwa. Immediately following the film, Oscar recipient and Native veteran actor Studi will be in attendance for a Q&A panel. In a Native Reel Cinema Fest exclusive, they will be showcasing short films from filmmakers, producers and directors from the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes of Florida. An array of films will be shown, covering different genres, from action to art house. All the crew, directors, producers and actors of the short film will be in attendance, and there will be a Q&A panel discussion after the short film block screening. On Saturday, Feb. 1, they will screen the Emmy-winning Comanche Nation version of "Prey,' the story of Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. Raised in the shadow of legendary hunters, she sets out to protect her people when alien danger threatens her camp. Emmy Award-winner and filmmaker/producer Jhane Myers will be in attendance for a Q&A immediately following the screening, fresh from premiering her latest film 'Free Leonard Peltier' at the Sundance Film Festival. 'Rezball' screens Friday, Jan. 31, from 5-7 p.m. The 2024 Netflix sports drama film follows a high school basketball team from the Navajo Nation as it competes in the state championship after losing its star player and dealing with tragedy in their community. The film stars Jessica Matten, who will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening. Martin Sensemeier and Gene BraveRock will also be there for photo ops. As the last major show she ever did, an unprecedented survey of contemporary Native American art curated by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation), who finally had a retrospective of her own in her 80s at the Whitney, opens at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Indigenous Identities: Here, Now & Always. The acclaimed artist died Jan. 24, and her exhibit emphasizes her major role in defining living Native art over 100 works from beadwork and jewelry to video and painting, Indigenous Identities represents more than 50 Indigenous nations across the United States. On view from Feb. 1 to Dec. 21, the exhibition explores the facets of indigeneity. In curating Indigenous Identities, Smith invited artists to help select the work that would represent them, and the result is expansive in the range of works presented and in the artists whose voices are included. Smith situates the work of elders, such as G. Peter Jemison, George Longfish and Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie, alongside works by younger generations including George Alexander and Tyrrell Tapaha, and lesser-known artists along with celebrated names Jeffrey Gibson, Raven Chacon, Wendy Red Star, and Julie Buffalohead. 'For years, the media has portrayed us as a vanishing race and museums historically have ignored us. It's an interesting moment that we find ourselves in, having captured the attention of the art world. My hope with exhibitions like this one, is to place Native Americans in our contemporary present and in every possible future,' said Quick-to-See Smith. 'That means moving beyond the silos that have confined Native American art and instead embracing the infinity of Indigenous identity. This exhibition is a celebration of life.' Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. 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