The sweat lodge is a ceremonial sauna used by the Native American peoples. There are several styles of sweat lodge including a domed or oblong hut. Stones are heated in an exterior fire and then placed in a hole in the middle of the floor.

TRADITIONS - Rituals and traditions can vary from one tribal clan to another. They often include prayers, drumming, and offerings to the spirit world. Often the particulars have been handed down through the generations. When we choose to participate in any ceremony, it is critical that we honor the traditions. Some common practices and key elements associated with sweat lodges include the following.

ORIENTATION – The door usually faces the fire, forming a duality between the lodge and the fire. This duality is, in many traditions, symbolic of the male-female or heaven-earth dualities. Directions usually have distinct symbolism in Native American ceremonies. Placement and orientation of the lodge within its environment often facilitates the ceremony’s connection with the sprit world.

CONSTRUCTION – The lodge is generally built with great care and with respect to the environment and to the materials being used. Many traditions construct the Lodge in complete silence, some have a drum playing while they build, and other traditions have the builders fast during construction.

CLOTHING – In traditional lodges, participants wear a simple brief garment or towel made of cotton, with no metal buttons, snaps or zippers and nudity is frowned upon. One or two towels are essential for your comfort, one for the lodge and one to wrap up in when you come out. Blankets and robes may also be used. Whatever your choice, it should be used exclusively for the Lodge. No jewelry or glasses can be worn into the Lodge as it gets hot inside and the metal can burn. Shoes can be left outside the Lodge.

OFFERINGS – Tobacco, sweet grass, red cedar, and other plants are often used to make prayers, give thanks or make other offerings. They can be sprinkled on the hot stones or offered to the fire. Traditionally tobacco is given to whoever leads the women and men in the Lodge ceremony. The fire keeper should also be honored with tobacco. Prayer ties are also made in many traditions to set the intention of the Lodge, show gratitude, purify one’s self before the Lodge, summon support from the spirit world, and other such purposes. Prayer ties must be made in a quiet place. It is a good idea to give yourself some time to do this before the Lodge. If you have never made prayer ties, please come early enough in the afternoon and happily someone will show you. Prayer ties are made for all ceremonies. The number of ties will vary depending upon the ceremony. For the Lodge 28 red ties are made in support of the people leading us. Seven each; for the Lodge, for whomever is pouring for the women, for whoever is pouring for the men and for the fire keeper. These are the people that make all this possible for us.

FOOD – Traditionally 1 to 3 days before Lodge we fast. Because we humans have become soft, for some this is a hard sacrifice to make. If you are able, fast at least the day of the Lodge, however if you have health issues please try not to eat for at least 8 hours before the sweat. In the Lodge we offer ourselves to Spirit with a clean body. After the purification of the Lodge the participants gather to share in a feast (each participant is asked to bring a food dish for the feast).

SUPPORT – In many traditions, one or more persons (sometimes called “dog soldiers”) will remain outside the Sweat Lodge to protect the ceremony, and assist the participants. Sometimes they will help tend the fire and place the hot stones, though usually the designated fire keeper does this. You may bring items to be blessed. Please check with the fire keeper on what you should do with them. As a general rule, they should be wrapped in red cloth and given when the fire is lit. Please keep your voices low and your energy positive. The leader of the fire keeper will try to answer any questions you may have.

ETIQUETTE – The most important part of Sweat Lodge etiquette is respecting the traditions of the lodge leader. Some lodges are done in complete silence, while others involve singing, chanting, wailing, drumming, or other sound. It is important you know what is allowed and expected before entering a Lodge. Many traditional tribes place a high value on modesty in respect to the Lodge. In clothed lodges, women are usually expected to wear skirts or short-sleeved dresses of a longer length. Traditions forbid nudity in mixed sex sweats. Many lodge leaders do not allow menstruating women (these women are often referred to as being on their moon-time) to participate in ceremonies. During this time a woman is at the peak of her creative power and can totally confuse the prayers of everybody else. Some traditions will not allow a woman on her moon-time to be around anything that has to do with the ceremony. She cannot be around the food, the prayer ties, or even the place where the sweat is held. Some will run a separate Lodge for moon-time women. Still others allow them into the lodge after they have completed a purifying ritual, such as making a belt of prayer ties. Perhaps the most important piece of etiquette is gratitude. I t is important to be thankful to the people joining you in the Lodge and those helping to support the Lodge.

RISKS – Wearing metal jewelry can be dangerous, as metal objects may become hot enough to burn the wearer. Contact lenses and synthetic clothing should not be worn in Sweat Lodges as the heat can cause the materials to melt and adhere to eyes, skin, and whatever they might be touching. Cotton clothing is recommended for Lodges. Although the temperature in a Sweat Lodge can reach that of a traditional sauna, partakers in a ceremony can stay inside for several hours at a time. Some argue that this due to the ceremonial nature of the Lodge.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS– Sweating rids the body of wastes. In this modern sedentary age of pollution, artificial environments, synthetic clothing and lack of regular exercise, a sweat bath can open clogged skin pores and stimulate the healthy flow of a body’s own natural sweat. Sweat baths are not recommended for persons with pneumonia and major respiratory problems. The heat of a sweat bath and the often rapid cooling afterwards, conditions the body. A well-tuned body is more resistant to colds, disease and infection. In cold weather, a warm glowing feeling often lingers for hours following a sweat bath. In hot weather, the body seems cooler afterwards.

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS – Songs are often shared in the Lodge. Some have passed to us from our elders and teachers for opening certain rounds; most reflect the spiritual teachings of the participants. Most are songs of worship praising Creator. They often show appreciation for creation. Songs help clear away obstructions to clarity and growth. They lift our spirits and call upon helper beings, ancestors and Creator.

Through a combination of silence, singing, praying, and sharing from the heart, Sweat Lodges become the heart of a community. The Sweat Lodge experience is very holistic with innumerable benefits to be experienced on many levels of understanding. It is a microcosm of the cosmos.

Everything we do is an outward symbolic presentation of an inner action. It is important that sweat rituals serve you; do not simply serve the ritual. A certain amount of discipline and form enables participants to be more focused as both individuals and as a community.

Words cannot describe all things that occur during a Lodge. Each individual receives something different than other participants; yet all share in a general way, too. Participants in a particular Lodge may come and go. They may benefit for a while and then need to seek a different spiritual path. This is not the way for everyone and that is fine. All that is asked of the participant is respect – respect what we are doing and know that our intent is good. It is important that we recognize that all are connected to the Great Creator of the Universe. AH HO!

The Lodge at Grandma’s Farm – Our once a month Lodge is offered on the Third Saturday of the month. The fire is started about 1 ½ - 2 hours before sunset and participants are asked to be there at that time for the starting of the sacred fire. The Sweat Lodge ceremony begins at sunset.

For further information and questions please contact:

Patty Green green3482003@yahoo.com

Crystal Gingras massagemadeconvenient.com 316) 409-6929

Grandma’s Farm grandmas.farm@earthlink.net 316) 721-9964