Introduction

If you have not heard of the Sweat Lodge before, a more apt name may be the Purifications Lodge (The Lakota Native American Indians call their Sweat Lodge Purification Ceremonies 'Inipi' which is derived from a Lakota word meaning 'you should purify yourself'). Though sweating is part of the experience, participants of this sacred and ancient ceremony may experience purification, cleansing and healing on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Many peoples view the ceremony itself as a primal re-enactment of Creation and participants will often refer to it as a rebirthing experience. It is a place of prayer and profound connection with Creation. For this reason, native peoples, including those of the Native Americans, still use it to mark special events, rituals, ceremonies and celebrations such as the Vision Quest, marriage or a person's 'rite of passage'. 

The concept of this ceremony has it's origins in indigenous cultures world wide, but in many places has lost its original purpose down through the centuries. Modern day descendants of the Sweat Lodge's ancient counterparts include saunas and steam baths. It is partly because of this that we were taught to use the term Medicine Sweat Lodge as opposed to just Sweat Lodge. These days there are many non-spiritual forms of Sweat Lodge being conducted in the West, some of which are performed purely for hedonistic purposes.

"The way of the indigenous Europeans was very similar to our Native Families here in the Americas. They had the Vision Quest. And they prayed in Lodges of Fire and Stone. Our Norse Family called these the Utiseta -- or the 'sitting out.' Anthropologists gave these Utiseta's the unflattering name of 'sweat lodge'."

Hyemeyohsts Storm

On a physical level the body is able to cleanse itself of undesirable toxins. It has been written that bacteria and viruses cannot survive at extreme temperatures and that this "rise in temperature also stimulates the endocrine glands and facilitates the release of negative ions into the air, inducing relaxation and alertness."

“Give me the power to create a fever and I shall cure every illness.”

Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) 

Construction, Ceremony & Symbolism (in brief!)

The Sweat Lodge usually takes the form of a small bender (a dome shaped structure made from saplings, in our case Hazel and Willow). This frame is then covered in blankets and tarps that, as well as keeping the weather out and the steam in, ensures it is total darkness inside. In the centre of the bender is a shallow pit which receives the red hot stones that are heated in a nearby fire pit situated outside of the Lodge. 

As mentioned earlier, the Sweat Lodge Ceremony can be seen as a re-enactment of Creation itself. The fire represents the masculine creative principle, or Grandfather, whilst the dark Sweat Lodge represents the feminine aspect, or Grandmother. Halfway between them lies the Altar which represents the point where male and female energies meet (we were always taught that this was significant as it reminds us that the receptive and nurturing feminine principle is not subservient to the initiating and creative masculine, but both play an equal role in Creation). When therefore, during the ceremony, we take red hot stones from the Grandfather Fire and place them inside the pit (womb) within the Grandmother Lodge, we are actually re-enacting the process of Creation. 

A typical ceremony will comprise of four rounds of prayer to Spirit (these can be spoken out loud or in silence), each focusing on a different aspect and intent. These may include thanks and gratitude, prayers for others, honouring of the Male & Female principles and prayers for self. Songs, celebration and introspection can also be a major part of the proceedings. Each round begins with seven new Stone People being brought in to the Lodge. Water is then poured over the stones which in turn create a cleansing steam representing the Breath of Life itself, (also called Grandfather's Breath by the Lakota). 

Participants can leave the Sweat Lodge at any time - as soon as 'door' is called, the door is opened immediately. However, once somebody leaves during a ceremony they cannot return. This is not a chastisement, but simply to ensure that the balance and continuity of the ceremony, and the energies inside the Lodge, are disrupted as little as possible once the proceedings are underway.

Community

For us, community is the most important aspect of this ancient ceremony. By participating in a Medicine Sweat Lodge, we are acknowledging, and entering into relationship with, the Stars, Sun, Earth, Moon and planets; the Birds, Animals and Insects; the Creative Powers of the Universe responsible for All That Is.  We are also entering into relationship with each other, as human beings, as equal aspects of creation here on this Earth Walk. The sense of loss that can be felt on departure from such events after bidding one another farewell, is testament to the bonding power of this powerful ceremony. 

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