From the article: Purification Sweat
Share Post: Have you ever participated in a sweat lodge? Or have you ever been a lodge leader in a sweat event? What was your experience? Would you do it again if you had the opportunity? Share Your Experience
The sweatlodge ceremony
- I am native and have went to a few sweatlodges with my 96 year old grandfather he makes the "chunupa" or piece pipe. There are procedures that must be followed like the rocks they use have don't explode because of the type of rock. The case that was in the news had all sort of things that you should know ahead of time. These ceremonies are sacred. Sorry, guys it is forbidden to charge money for things such as the sweat, healing,etc. It is just known by the native community. In my opinion from the people I've known and met these are the ways of "spiritual power" that should be respected and unlike chritianity and the bible. It isn't advised to disrespect sacred ways to suit your materialistic desires because you have to answer for this in doing so. It is on a spiritual level. Enter in with pure of heart in a good way the creator will meet you with the same amount. The result is why the sweat is so sacred and respected by myself. It is awesome, simply awesome. In a good way.
- —Guest jt
Sweat Lodges Can be a Great Blessing
- As with any form of spiritual and physical detox, you don't just jump into something unless you're prepared and the protocol is followed to the letter. I've never been in a sweat lodge because I am not of any of the Tribal people's lineage --except in spirit as I love these people. If you are going to a sweatlodge, yes you will be going through serious detox -- even from heavy metals as intense sweating does leach out things like mercury-- and from the Tribal customs mentioned, it sounds like a very uplifting spiritually freeing cleansing. Just because a few have died partaking in a sweat lodge doesn't turn me off to them. You have to really prepare ahead of time and follow the protocol exactly. When I saw the news of that woman dying from the sweat ceremony, I was glad to see a Native American elder interviewed who affirmed that it MUST be done correctly. He said you can't use things like plastic in these lodges because of the toxins. Wisdom is needed.
- —Guest L. Augustine
Sweat Lodge Seriousness
- I have been to several sweat lodges, since 1995. Some are drawn to the ways of the Natives. Who are we to keep them away because they don't have proof they are Native? There was so much fear & anger when people were forced to the rez; & in any attempt to enter the society, bloodlines were lost and mixed. To hold the wisdom of the Native ways secret would not make the Elders of long ago proud. We are to set examples; teach our youth about the Red Road. The work to do prior to the sweat is vast & needs to be taken seriously. Any type of illness or medication can alter the subject's experience in a sweat as well as not being hydrated or having fasted.
- —Guest HorseSister
New Man Lane Sweatlodge experience
- 15 years ago, my experience started... 1st meeting to be at nearby gas station; intuition said go back to store passed on way. Two men came out: one I "knew" was CrazyBear! "You have great power, this will be great sweat!" he said. On New Man Lane in hills outside town, youngest Son & I arrived to 50' rock circle with opening to N. "Spirit Pole" Altar at opening, coal-burning hole filled by "rock people" in center, clawfoot bathtubs filled with water to E & W & deerskin covered lodge at S. Mexican-American Indian "Traditional" Ceremony began dressing down to underwear; we entered. Herbs & chant greeted each rock-filled shovelful added to center stack; mud forming on earth floor from steam; heat grew in each door! Icy tub cooling, drinking water a-plenty, we did 4-doors; last, hardest & hottest - body scalded all exposed areas! Son "mudded" self. I forgot, too worried of him & suffered. Learned: common sense teaching of Son worked, failed me! Memorable, mystical. Would go again.
- —Mikey3air
SweatLodge = Validation
- I think key to all of this is that in order for a sweatlodge to work, rules must be followed. In the case of the this latest mishap (Sweat lodge deaths at Angel Vally Retreat in October 2009), rules were not followed, was this man who conducted the ceremony a native? For certain too many people were in the lodge. Also charging large amounts of money for people to be in a sweatlodge is not tradition and brings negative vibrations. It is about spiritual cleansing and growth. I have had the honor of being in a sweatlodge ceremony, one done correctly according to native law. It validated everything about who I am; and was the single most life changing event I have ever experienced. May Peace Walk All CloudDancer
- —Guest CloudDancer
Sweatlodge Experience
- Hi - I attended and participated in a crone's sweat lodge in Lakeland FL a few years ago.It was an interesting experience,We prayed and went into the sweat lodge constructed on a friend's property (he is a Native American) It was very dry so he insisted on having 2 hoses from the house nearby - very long distance and was extremely careful about both safety and following the American Indian rituals. It was in the summer so it was very hot and while I am not sure I would do it again, it was a worthwhile experience. We made and released "prayer bundles" into the fire after the sweatlodge ceremony - all in all it lasted about 4 hours but only about an hour in the lodge. He also made sure we knew that we could lift the bottom edge of the "tent like" structure if we needed to to breathe. Thanks for an opportunity to share, Kathy
- —Guest Kathy
Sweat lodges are sacred ceremonies
- I've participated in sweat lodge ceremonies - these are sacred to the Native American community. I am Metis - part Native American and part white. I did not have the privledge of knowing native cultures when growing up and my father's parents wanted their children to "fit in". . . as many parents learned to do as a way to survive in a white man's world. In my opinion - if a ceremony is not conducted in collaboration with an experienced Native American guide - and if the lodge is not done within the sacred and cultural guidelines, the participants are not fully prepared for a positive experience. I've read and heard about how the Native American groups do not like having a white person conduct these ceremonies. I can understand . . . it's one more thing being robbed from them. I believe that when a 'guru' starts offering sweat lodges without significant native culture liaison - the process loses something.
- —Guest JoyRae
Sweat Lodge; leave us alone
- I have been doing sweats for many years and my friends all their lives. Only good, has ever come from doing a sweat lodge. If the white man’s papers want to print something about my culture then they should print the good with the bad. I have plenty of stories where a white man died in church and nothing is said about that. Hmmmmm sounds like B---- S--- to me. I love my native people and will protect them in any way that I can and to the end. I would like the person that wrote the original story to stand in front of me and say one word; I dare the punk and challenge him any day any time. The people that continue to spread this about that day are evil and are not helping the native peoples. I will not be a part of this political scam to keep my people down. Just let it be, go spread the word about the old man that died in the white man’s church, spread that around, do us all a favor and get off our back for a change. All My Relations Joe Oliver
- —Guest Topwaya
