Sweat Lodge

Sweat lodges and Ceremony

Welcome to you brothers and sisters.
We are all of the same family; we all have the same ancestors, and when we travel back to the beginning of two legged time, we knew that.
Science tells us that the planet earth started from bits of space debris coming together forming a ball of molten rock. Over time, this cooled down, except for the core and the volcanoes that let us know what lies beneath us. The continental plates being forced apart, all the time creating mountains as they collide with each other. The gasses, rock and heat creating pressures that form minerals and what we call precious stones.
Science then goes on to say that the meteors collided with the earth bringing ice and water plus more rocks. After time with the gasses and chemicals that had formed on the earth, algae and later mosses and ferns formed. These were to become trees and flowers. Sometime later the sea life developed of which some moved on to land then later some decided to go back to the water. The mammals, reptiles, insects, fish and birds developed from the simple early life forms, and then recently mankind came along, again being formed from the previous life forms. So we all come from the fire, heat, rocks, minerals, water and gasses of the beginning of time, everything started from the creator, spirit, and the energy that forms all matter.
Why have I told you all this, when you came here to listen to a talk on Sweat Lodges, for those of you that have come to the opening or closing ceremony, know that I call in the four directions, heaven and earth. The last one goes as, Pachamama we are gathered for the healing of all your children, the stone people, plant people, four legged, and two legged, finned, furred and winged ones.
We are made of the earth and when we die we go back to the earth, although our spirit lives on.
So using rocks, which during the ceremony we call our grandfathers, using fire, heat, water, and the darkness of the lodge, then taking none of our belongings into the lodge we go back to honour our creator and all our ancestors who try to guide us.
Now let’s talk about the history and meaning of the sweat Lodge.
Ancient stone buildings in Ireland, China, Russia, Mongolia and the Polish made use of sweat lodges in folk medicine, the saunas of northern Europe, steam baths of Turkey and of the well known use in North America with the Indians.
The oldest sweat lodge evidence dates back to 5BC, it appears that the Scythians, a nomadic group that travelled southern Russia constructed sweat lodges from poles and woven cloth.
Native American Indians used sweat lodges to cleanse, to heal, to celebrate or to mourn, some used sweats to seek wisdom or counsel, or elicit visions. They felt that the sweats had sacred properties. The Christians of this time forced most of the Indians to give up these practices, but a few carried on the practice, so it has not been lost through time.
I still feel that a lot of present day sweats are not used for the sacred space they create, but used as endurance tests, ego or macho experiences. I find it sad when I talk to these people, its like going to a beautiful temple or church and saying all there was, was a stone building and they never felt moved.
The sauna is very similar in its physical working as the sweat; you are in a small confined space,
Rocks are heated to heat the space and water is dripped over the stones to create steam and more heat.
Most people find hard to do 15 to 20 minutes in a sauna, where as in a lodge you can spend several hours. 2 to 4
This time is split into 4 or 5 rounds where the door is opened to bring in more hot rocks for the next round. The fact that the sweat lodge is ceremony and used with spirit, creating a purifying of body, mind and spirit, unlike the attitude of the sauna a deep tissue and skin cleanse.

The sweat lodge ceremony consists of;
1/ Finding a sacred space to place the lodge,
2/ Cutting the poles for making the lodge,
3/ Bringing rocks to area,
4/Building the frame work for the lodge,
5/ Digging the centre pit for the rocks in the lodge,
6/This is the time when most people come to join the lodge ceremony and the next process’s help to bring intention into these new arrivals. Smudging of everyone taking part.
7/ New arrival’s place offering’s on the altar, along side the tools for use in the ceremony so that they maybe blessed or cleansed. I also believe that if you write a letter to spirit asking for guidance or forgiveness and place it on the altar, and then releasing it to the fire after the ceremony the fire will release and transform these wishes.
Working together. Respecting the space, carrying out duty’s with intention and focus
Not to cross the centre line between the fire and lodge door at any time, but to walk around.
8/Bringing the wood and constructing the Fire placing the rocks in with the wood.
9/ Covering the lodge frame work with blankets, sheets and tarps.
10/Lighting of the fire, I like to use the ceremonial bow and drill fire lighting, not matches.
11/Undressing and removing all material objects, some women like to use a sarong to help with modesty, some men like to wear shorts, for me shorts are more like being dressed. I feel if men need to cover them selves they should also use a sarong. The Idea is to go in with nothing to bare your body mind and soul to the sweat and spirit.
12/Entering the lodge from the left side of centre line, the line between the fire and lodge. Then moving on all fours moving around the lodge and to start sitting from the entrance working back to the door. The Ceremonial leader/ elder sits opposite the door. When we leave the lodge we must leave from the right side of the line.
13/Leaving the lodge one at a time moving around the lodge as you entered first one in becomes first one out leaving from the right. If anyone wants to stay for awhile just ask and allow others to pass.
The ceremony.
Elder.
Fire keeper, the only one to be allowed to cross the centre line, or walk along it in carrying out his duties .
Person by door to place rocks in fire pit for blessing and heating of lodge. These rocks glow red with heat.
Person to anoint the rocks with herbs and or oils as they are placed.
The ceremony starts in the lodge as the fire keeper brings in the first rock, it is placed and blessed, three or four more rocks are brought in, each being blessed in turn, the door is then closed and except for the glow of the grandfathers it is now in darkness.
This is carried out four or five times, each one being called a round, each round having its own purpose.
First round. To ask for the lodge to become a sacred space and calling on Spirit, ancestors and guides, to come and be with us. To honour them, to welcome them, to be at one with them. Time to be with your God by which ever name you like to call him, and your ancestors back to the beginning of time. This can be done in chanting, drumming, prayer or songs. The lodge becomes hot and the mind slows down, focus and intention increases. When ready we call out to the Fire keeper to open the door, for the next four or five rocks and the start to the next round.
Second round
One option; to take it in turn, using a talking stick to bring to spirit your pain or sickness, of mind, body or spirit. Asking for guidance and help this can be out loud or in thought, I feel it’s stronger when spoken in voice and emotion.

Third round; calling on healing for myself, my brothers and sisters present. Allowing the feelings and thoughts to flow through us, to recognise who we really are, to see our destiny.

Fourth round. Giving thanks to spirit, ancestors and guides, thanking the grandfathers and the fire. Giving a blessing and thanks to the fire keeper and all present and the part they have played. Again carried out in chants, drumming, prayer or songs.
A moment of quietness and peace, a time of refection, allowing healing to take its place within. To leave the lodge to stand by the fire to wash or rub down to dress,
Now is the time to respect that some may wish to talk, some be still and quiet, others may need a hug.

Dates of next Sweat Lodges
Saturday 16th July 2011
Saturday 13th August 2011
Sat 10th September 2011

For a life changing experience.
For bookings
Please contact
Phone: 07956069721
Email: williamgadd@williamgadd.co.uk