The Sweat Lodge

I am not sure there are words to describe the experience!

I will tell you as much as I am able, there are some things which are not to be spoken, private things between us and the great Spirit :) I do not know which of you may have experienced this or if you either agree with my interpretation, or enjoy reading about it, but here it is :))

We met first to decide who would sit in each position, to talk about the ritual and its etiquette, what would be done at each point. The entrance was low, you crawl in, and water is offered between rounds to drink....

The men left the meeting-tent and us 4 women undressed inside, the 6 men outside. The sarong I wrapped around me was discarded inside, you cannot bear to wear anything!

Absolutely amazing, nothing could have prepared me for it, the only way to deal with the immense and incredible overpowering heat was to remember that we are not solid matter but just energy, and to allow the energy of the fire to flow through you as energy beings... the chanting also helped to focus.

There were 4 rounds, the 1st was the dance chief invoking the great spirits... the hot rocks were brought in and placed in the fire pit, herbs and tobacco sprinkled over them (this is repeated at beginning of each round), then over 20 pourings of water onto the rocks...this was the biggest 'shock to the system' for those of us who were there for the 1st time, the small and pitch black space filled with the heat and scents etc... nearly overpowered us all! Then he took us through each chakra, envisaging each one becoming a flame of its colour. Next each of us said prayers for ourselves, in turn, and a pouring of water for each person - could you possibly feel any more hot?? ... Would anyone ask to leave? People were restless, committed to the ritual, yet wrestling with themselves and their egos which were battling with us to resist instead of let go...........Then the door opened, the night air entered and we could breathe again so it seemed! - and we all crawled out - we all needed to, the energy was very powerful and needed to be released -  and lay on our bellies on the wonderfully cold grass! There was a moment when some of us wondered if we could actually re-enter... but we decided it could be faced, and we all did.

2nd round, and as we entered we began to chant again, helping us find balance and the power to continue ... this round is prayers for others/the world etc. A round that was easier to cope with, and somehow there seemed to be more space inside...   time and space just an illusion? ;) ... at the end the door opened - less people left to lie on the grass at this point, I found it helped me build up more focus and my physical plane perceived it as relief!

3rd round, the 'give-away' - to release anything you wish to be rid of but to remember to ask for a positive to fill its place... this time we would all speak at once and when the last person had finished speaking, the round would be finished. Everyone it seemed, had a lot to say! Then, at last, the door opened once more......last chance to cool off as nobody allowed out during the last round ... you may ask to during the others if you need to. A few of us chose one more cooling lie on the grass, then returned to crawl back into the lodge.

4th round. Giving thanks to the Great spirits... the dance chief told us this would short but hot. What, it gets *hotter*??

As I crawled back to my place in the West (the place of mother earth, femininity and balance to the dance chief who sits in the east at the doorway), I saw one of the others lying down with knees bent to make room for the others still... I decided that was the best way to cope too! The towel under my head had to be draped over my knees as now they were in direct line of heat from the rocks... this time the blessings were faster, the pourings flowed one after another, the intensity of heat was bordering on unbearable, I continued to breathe deep in through my nose - had discovered from the start it was impossible to open your mouth to draw breath in there - try to keep up the chant then listen to the dance chief as he thanked each spirit... focused on me being just an energy spirit, nothing is solid, felt myself spinning around in spirals around the inside of the lodge... then it was over, the door was opened once more and we could all crawl back out and lie belly down on the cool earth.

Exhausted, exhilarated, filled with adrenaline, cleansed, humbled, and definitely a re-birth!!

My legs shook as we got dressed and tried to carry me into the cottage for the shared feast! I could have both collapsed into deep sleep and ran up a mountain!

As we ate we gave our gifts to the dance chief, known that night as Rowan Wise Heart, and the fire chief, my friend Steve.

Towards 1 am, we drifted off to our various resting places... my friend Pam and I , along with Steve, Stevie and Pete all into the woods into out tents, some into the caravan in the garden, one of a sofa... it took me an hour to persuade myself I could sleep! And awoke at 8am feeling fabulous :)) - and to the sound of coffee brewing by the fire ...

This WAS an amazing journey. At one point I thought I could not go on or ever experience it again, but the ego melted in the heat. And I *would* do it again, it is truly a life changing experience.

I prayed for all my friends and families and I hope on some level you were touched by the blessings :))

------------------------------------------------------------------------