The Sweat Lodge

by Emma Bevan

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 if any of you have experienced this or whether or not you will agree with my interpretation, but I hope you enjoy reading my version—here it is!

We met first to decide who would sit in each position, to talk about the ritual and its etiquette, and 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 four women undressed inside, the six men outside. The sarong I wrapped around me was discarded inside, as you cannot bear to wear anything!
It was 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 us as energy beings… the chanting also helped to focus.

There were four rounds, the first 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 first time, the small and pitch black space filled with the heat and scents etc. nearly overpowered us all! Then the dance chief 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 hotter?… 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!  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.

For the second round,  as we entered we began to chant again, helping us find balance and the power to continue.  This round was for prayers for others/the world etc. This round  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!

The third round was 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 mor; it was the last chance to cool off as nobody was to be allowed out during the last round, although you may ask to leave 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. 
The fourth round entailed 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.   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, as I continued to breathe deep in through my nose.  (I had discovered from the start it was impossible to open your mouth to draw breath in there.)  I tried to keep up the chant, then listened to the dance chief as he thanked each spirit.  I focused on me being just an energy spirit, that nothing is solid, and felt myself spinning around in spirals around the inside of the lodge. Then it was over and  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  re-birthed!!
As we got dressed my legs shook as they tried to carry me into the cottage for the shared feast. I felt I could have either collapsed into deep sleep or else run up a mountain!

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

Towards 1:00 am, we drifted off to our various resting places. My friend Pam and I, along with Steve, Stevie and Pete,  all retired into the woods to our tents, some into the caravan in the garden, one on a sofa.   It took me an hour to persuade myself I could sleep, but I awoke at 8:00 am feeling fabulous 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!