The SWEATLODGE (Rainbow lodge, inipi etc.) is a traditional PURIFICATION CEREMONY (and/or preparation or conclusion of important events/ rite of passage).
It comes to us mainly through the Natives of North America, even if practiced in different fashions in many other parts of the world).
The Sweatlodge in is physically composed by a low half spheric structure constructed by sacred Willow branches bound together, an Altar and a Fire place.
The hut is covered from the outside in order to create absolute darkness inside. All participants enter either naked or covered by a towel and sit. Stones get heated up to incandescence in the Fire and are brought into the center of the hut: they get blessed, and Water and purifying Herbs are put on the hot Rocks by the leader to provoke Steam.
After the smoke has gone, the door gets blinded, and the central part of the ceremony begins: we sweat, we pray, we are quiet, talk, sing and/or we sit in meditation. More Water is poured on the Stones…until the time is ready to get out, to the new Rebirth.
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Traditions are various, more or less rigid, and the ways of conducting the ceremony vary from leader to leader: the essence is always respect.
Common is, with a few exceptions, the division into 4 rounds, that corresponds to the Medicine Wheel, 4 directions of space, the 4 elements, the 4 seasons, and the 4 human plans: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
At the end of every round the door is opened and “fresh” Rocks come in.
The Sweatlodge is the symbol of coming back to the sweet dark womb of Mother Earth, going through a “little Death” (suffering, sweating, missing air, maybe bad body position), to Renewal, new Birth and Life.
It is dedicated to all our Relations (all Beings who surround us) and it is a Prayer sent out to Great Mistery that surrounds us, for common good.
It can be used for healing, thanksgiving, to mark a specific moment of change, as individual purification, to get clarity and strenght on one or all four plans, to ask for answers, inspiration or vision in one’s life, to celebrate coming of Age, change, or for other purposes.
INTENTIONS can vary, and not always what we think is what we need to do, therefore there will also be TIME to BE, TO LET GO, and Intention will manifest.
Me and the Sweat ceremony
I have received permission and blessing for becoming a ceremonial leader from Manitonquat, Wanpanoag tribe (Americas north-east coast), now deceased (but still watching:), and I have been participating to many traditional and not Sweatlodges.
In the last years I have led many many huts, both for Rainbow gatherings, for our school Tribal Life and for several groups of people, in different occasions including equinoxes and solstices, healing circles, marriages, unions, threeshold ceremonies, memorial service, woman groups and more. I am very honored and grateful for this gift and responsibility.
My guidance is simple, essential and disciplined, inspired both from my “earthy” and spiritual teachers, intuition and experience, and of course by the participants’s prayers and needs. Ask anything if in doubt.
RESERVE:
It is possible to “reserve” the Sweatlodge for you and your group (room for six/seven people, plus me), or be with in a big hut with room for up to 12 persons ( a big hut could be constructed if necessary).
YOU ARE WELCOME!
Should you be atheist, critical or skeptical, you are welcome too, as long as you respect the process, and the other’s beliefs and ways.
DONATION. The Sweat is a ceremony, a sacred one, and therefore not “for sale”. Your money is used to buy wood, drive around to find rocks, replace old blankets, tobacco, water, electricity, food, and all preparation and clean up afterwards, plus a little for me and Fire person.
ROOM FOR SIX persons, therefore YOUR RESERVATION COUNTS! please pay deposit of 300 kr. on mobile pay, 42424681, latest one week in advance, unless you have an agreement with me. Reduction is possible.
PRACTICAL (BRING WITH): two towels, a sharon (if you are not naked), water bottle, own “helpfood” if you go easy down with blood sugar (fruit?), a little food to share when we eat together afterwards (for “landing and reconnect”), to add my good soup :), POWER OBJECTS If you have any rattle, feather, crystal or ?