The Sweat Lodge
Ritual sweating is a physical and mental cleansing practice, a powerful introspection tool that enables us to connect to our source, releasing that which no longer serves us and receiving that which we need to move forward in our spiritual growth. The Sweat Lodge may include the making of prayers or declarations, chanting, singing or drumming to create a ritual with spiritual or healing intent. Sweat practices differ slightly amongst cultures; however they all share the elements of purification, prayer and deep connection to life. In most traditions, this powerful ceremony is a place of spirit where one goes to cleanse the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body, to pray and to sing.
All sense of race, colour and religion disappear in the heat and darkness of the lodge. In the womb of Mother Earth, we are all the same and have the ability to sit with the Great Spirit. It is a place to seek answers and guidance. As the steam rises so do our senses and our prayers. In the heat and darkness of the lodge we can come closer to ourselves, the Great Spirit and to understanding each other.
Inside our lodge we sing. Many of the songs show appreciation for creation; clearing away obstructions to clarity and growth. They lift our spirits and call upon helper beings, the ancestors and Great Spirit. Each round or quarter last for approximately half an hour, but on occasions can last as long as a hour. So, we may be inside the Lodge for two to three hours.
There is a fire keeper who tends the sacred fire and carries the hot stones into the lodge. The stones used represent Earth as both Grandmother and Mother, and are symbols of endurance in the same manner in which the Earth endures. They are alive, stone absorbs the essence & power of fire and when water is splashed on them in the lodge, the steam or produced is considered powerful and holy, the visible symbol of Great Spirits Breath. Finns call this vapor "loyly", spirit of life.
The Sacred Fire is honored as Master, the Fire is the Grandfather. Before the Lodge begins we have time to center ourselves around the Fire. This is a time to meditate & listen to the teachings of the Fire.
The greater underlying intention in all such ceremonies is to acknowledge, feel and experience our spirit bodies. When groups of people come together and focus their intent, it becomes a potentially powerful and creative situation. By doing these ceremonies we gently weave a web of connections between those present and all of our relations (all of creation).
Links:
We run regular Sweat Lodges at our home in Rustlers Valley / Eastern Free State. The Sunmoon Sweat lodge is an integration of the African Sweat Hut, the Temazcal and the Inipi; and the songs of those traditions. These ceremonies are held in a red path design, exploring ancient and new songs as a ‘glue’ to hold our community together.
The Lodge at 
Sunmoon House
Read about our Weekend Sunmoon Sweat Lodge Retreats, held monthly in the spectacular mountain valley known as Rustlers Valley.
Click here for more info.
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If you are interested in participating in the Sweat Lodge circle then please join our mail list. You will then receive notice of Sweat Lodges that often happen at short notice. Click here to join the mail list.
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Take a look at the video that was filmed of our Sweat Lodge by
‘Free Spirit”
to watch the video.
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