hot, hot, hot!
I went to a native sweat this past thursday. Please note that don't have native ancestry. It was a wicked awesome experience and different than how I imagined.
Basically this lodge is a dome built with a pit in the middle. The pit is made of stone and packed dirt to hold the red hot rocks ('grandfathers') that heat up the lodge. Around floor of the lodge are branches of pine with needles (it almost looks like a Christmas wreath looking from the outside in). It's actually surprisingly comfortable to sit on not to mention it releases a pleasant aroma when warmed up.
There is a certain ritual for setting up, each of the four sessions, going in, bringing the 'grandfathers' in, what you do when you're in, when breaks occur, etc... It varies depending on traditions of the lodge. In this one there were songs sung and prayers said (it doesn't matter what faith you follow, if any).
When you're in and the door is sealed, initially the only light you have are the hot rocks. Water was poured on them which brings you slowly into darkness and the steam heats up the lodge so much (it's like pouring water on a hot pan). It's hotter than the hottest day within.
After sweating buckets, I didn't feel gross like after a run. I felt rather relaxed. Afterwards, there was a food offering and a pot luck dinner. If you get a chance to experience one of these events and don't have any medical issues that would prevent you from participating... I highly recommend the experience.
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Comments
mmmmm… sweet sweat!
Nice!
Sweat lodges are great for the body mind and spirit. It’s cool that you could go some lodges are not all that cool with having women attend.
I highly recommend going again if you get the chance, I like to do 3 or 4 a year if I can. You’ll find that when there are people there who are working out serious emotional issues the temperature can get pretty high. I was at one once where it got so hot after one prayer that one guy dug his way out under the wall it was so hot.
:)
The cool thing about this lodge is that it runs weekly. I try to go weekly if I can. There is another sweat that runs but it's men only. The lady that runs this one believes that lodges would have evolved to include women if their culture was left alone.
The reason why I didn't get into the spiritual or the emotional aspect in this blog (although it is a major part) was out of respect for those who attended and simply because the experience is different for everyone else.
In my experience, natives are very respectful of other people and cultures especially to those who try to understand theirs. All I can say is that for me, each time is positively memorable... before, during and after. I feel privileged to be apart of such an amazing group of people.
Thank you for your thoughts and sharing your experiences :)