Sweat Lodge Ceremonies
Sweat lodge ceremonies have their roots in all indigenous tribal communities. Because tribal communities were historically small and thus dependent on collective harmony for survival, when people did not get along with one another everyone suffered. To regain harmony for the benefit of the tribe, the spiritual leader would take the conflicting parties into a small and dark hut like structure where they would remain until the issues were resolved and harmony returned. Heated in a fire outside the sweat lodge, grandfather and grandmother stones were brought into the lodge and placed in the center. The sweat lodge leader would sprinkle water on the hot stones and participants would pray and sing for resolution and peace between each other. No one left the lodge until there was peace, understanding and commitments.
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The primary purpose of sweat lodge ceremonies is to remove obstacles within yourself that prevent you from being in the present moment in a peaceful and loving way. The focus in the ceremony is on yourself, not others. It is a difficult process and not something to take lightly. A sweat lodge ceremony has the magic we bring to it, the magic of having the willingness to look within and letting go of our attachments and aversions. In doing so, we can create more peace within ourselves and help the world come to more peace one person at a time.
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Today, when someone calls for a sweat lodge ceremony, they might want relief for whatever causes them to suffer such as anger, rage, grief, anxiety, resentments, obsessions or addictions. They might want to have a sweat lodge ceremony to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. Sometimes sweat lodge ceremonies are used to resolve issues between couples, family members or friends.
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Whatever the reason or purpose of the ceremony, it is conducted within the lodge. Fully clothed, participants sit on the ground in a circle. The inside of the lodge is dark. There is a hole in the center for hot stones which are heated in a fire outside the lodge. There are 4 rounds to the ceremony. Each round lasts approximately 20 minutes. No one is allowed to leave during the rounds. During each round of prayers and songs, participants have an opportunity to express themselves, to identify and let go of whatever causes them to suffer. After each round, participants can leave the lodge to drink water and then come back inside. Generally, sweat lodge ceremonies take approximately 4 hours to complete. After the ceremony, participants share a light meal together.
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Sweat lodge ceremonies can be held for an individual, a couple, a family or a group. The sweat lodge at my home holds 6 people, including myself.
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I generally run sweat lodge ceremonies without the use of medicine such as peyote or ayahuasca. Appropriate clothing is worn by all participants.
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The cost is $100, which is paid at the beginning of the ceremony.
