|
|
| Lodge in Our Back Yard with Spirit Orb |
The Sacred Intention lodge is structured from Native American culture…
but we prefer a non-traditional sweat which incorporates many different ways to connect to Spirit. The sacred Lodge Ceremony is a way of cleansing
mind, emotions, body and spirit. By sweat and prayer, we clean our bodies of toxins, our minds of negativities, and heighten
our spirits -- coming into a balanced relationship with ourselves, the Earth, and everything that surrounds us. It is an ancient ceremony
that is used for healing, purification, preparing for battle, or some other ritual or ceremony. The ceremony within the lodge
begins in total darkness, where we see only the “light” of our true relationship to all that is. The shape of
the lodge and the darkness represents going back in the womb to be reborn. We call in the Spirit Keepers of the Four
Directions into the lodge with prayer. Sometimes there is laughter, sometimes tears as well as giving thanks in the guiding
presence of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers - the stones heated by the Sacred Dancing Spirit of Fire. The turtle-like structure
is built of willow saplings, harvested and bound together in a sacred manner, covered with blankets. There are two concentric
circles of crystals buried in the ground around the lodge (24 crystals).
The Week Before the Lodge:
Cut down on the intake of red meat, alcohol, cigarettes,
and caffeine. The day of the lodge, it’s suggested to eat light foods and fruits. It’s important to be hydrated
Before, During and After the sweat. The water intake helps flush the bodies toxins. This will also raise your bodies vibratory
level and help you with the sweat lodge in the physical sense.
What Do
You Need to Bring to the Sweat Lodge?
First, to prepare, ask yourself, why you wish to attend. What is your intention for healing? You
may want to ask why you have been led to this place and time.... Search for the reason....The sweat lodge leader will ask
what your intention is, just be honest. There is no wrong answer.
Come with a humble heart and an open mind.
Bring a large towel to sit on or to dry off with. Water is allowed in the lodge. Bring loose clothing to wear.
For men, swim trunks, or gym shorts (a T-shirt if you are modest). Women need to bring a loose t-shirt and shorts or
a sarong. The point here is to wear non-restrictive clothing. Wear no jewelry or makeup to the lodge. Metal will get hot and
the chemicals in makeup might react with your skin when you start sweating. Also wear no aftershave or perfumes. It will be
best to bring items in a small tote bag for ease of portability.
Also, please bring something healthy to share for a meal
with the group after the lodge ceremony.
There will also be an altar where you can place an item
you wish to be blessed, while you are participating in the ceremony.
What Will Happen
Before the Lodge Starts?
The group will assemble to be smudged, then sit in a circle to pass the talking
stick to speak of your intention for healing, and if time allows drumming together as a group. Usually the group together
will build the sacred fire and light it. You may also speak your intentions into a pinch of sacred tobacco and throw it into
the fire. Then you will be asked to get dressed for the lodge. This is the time to cut out talk about worldly things and to
prepare your body, mind and spirit for the lodge. You will then wait for the sweat lodge leader to call for the group when
the fire is done heating the grandfathers (stones) which usually takes about two hours to heat completely. When the leader
is ready to begin the lodge, it begins, it is that simple.
You will be ceremonially
"smudged" again to cleanse you before entering the ritual area. This cleansing is to remove all traces of "worldly"
things from you in both the real and spiritual sense.
The leader will
begin the activity with some explanations of what will occur in this particular sweat lodge and why.
Enter the lodge on hands and knees
(the door is built too low for standing
or crouching).
This action teaches humility. When you enter the lodge say "Mitakuye Oyasin" or in English - "All My Relations". This teaches us that we are all inter-related to each other and to ALL THAT IS. Enter
the sweat lodge in a clockwise fashion, to the first open spot available, unless told to sit in a particular place. The sweat leader will ask if all are
ready to begin and if all are ready, the Grandfather rocks will be called for next. The helper will bring into the lodge,
the beautiful hot, glowing rocks. They will be placed in the center of the lodge and the blanket door will be closed. And
then water will be applied to the rocks.
The sweat lodge will last for four quarters or doorways. The leader will end each doorway when the group is ready to end them.
Between doorways the door flap will be raised, the steam will rise out along with our prayers to the Creator and water passed
around to those wishing to drink. Within each doorway different things may occur such as drumming, singing, prayers and releasing.
Each doorway will last as long as needed, usually a half hour, with the usual time for the entire sweat lodge being about
two hours. Water will be applied to the rocks as required by the water pourer and more rocks added to the lodge at the beginning
of each doorway. When the lodge is over all persons will exit in a clock-wise manner and say "Mitakuye Oyasin" or in English - "All My Relations" as you exist the doorway. The sweat lodge will be over at this time. Please remember,
this is a "spiritual" ceremony. Wait until you are out of the ritual area to begin any worldly discussions.
To schedule a lodge - we wait for others to ask. So if you are drawn to being in a lodge - please email:
White Owl or
Otter Woman to schedule. And so it is... aho..
