It looks like actress Alexa Demie believes in the cleansing power of Palo Santo.
The star, best known for her role as Maddy Pérez on the HBO series Euphoria, was recently photographed outside a car repair shop in Los Angeles burning a piece of the wood that many people believe has spiritual properties.
For many in our communities, Palo Santo is used to clear away negative energy. According to the book Sacred Smoke: The Magic and Medicine of Palo Santo, the wood, which comes from a wild tree native to countries in Latin America like Peru and Venezuela, has the power “to clean bad energy, and the power to benefit life.”
We’re not sure why exactly Pérez was at the repair shop, but if she had a problem with her vehicle, maybe she felt like burning a piece of Palo Santo would remove all the bad juju around the shop, so the mechanic could give her some good news. Just a blown fuse? Great!
Or maybe she was burning it, so she could put herself in a place of peace knowing she probably needed a new engine. Either way, virtual onlookers were happy to see Demie practicing a ritual that has been used by indigenous communities for centuries to rid themselves of mala energía.
“OK, now Alexa Demie cleansing her car with Palo Santo outside a repair shop is an actual vibe shift,” tweeted New York-based writer Emily Kirkpatrick.
This isn’t the first time that Demie has used Palo Santo to cleanse her personal space. In 2019, she posted a video of herself burning a piece of Palo Santo inside a car and then allowing the smoke to cover her body.
Even if you don’t believe in the healing powers of Palo Santo, the fragrance is so nice, you won’t need to hang a car freshener on your rearview mirror anymore.