What is a Sweatlodge? Sweatlodge is a slang term used for the Purification Lodge Ceremony. The Purification Lodge is one of the sacred ceremonies of the Blackfoot Indians honored by Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge. It's a wonderful and powerful out-of-doors, on-the-earth prayer experience.
Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge offers sweatlodge monthly in the form of an All Nations Purification Lodge. All Nations is a phrase used by Indians to express that everyone is welcome to participate, no matter who you are or where you come from. Indians created the All Nations Purification Lodge for the purpose of helping non-Indians "clean themselves up." It is our way of offering you the opportunity to participate in a unique and ancient experience of sacred encounter, connection and prayer.
What Happens? When you arrive at the ceremony location you will be greeted and smudged as you enter the Purification Lodge area. Smudging is having smoke of a sacred plant, usually Sage, fanned over you. Smudging is for the purpose of cleaning you up in order to enter the Sweatlodge ceremony ritual area. After you are smudged you will be given opportunity to participate in the lighting of the Sacred Fire and learn about and make prayer ties to take with you into the Lodge.
When it is time for the “inside the hut” purification Ceremony to begin, it is Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge's tradition to call everyone into a circle and start our gathering with a welcome and check-in. During this time instructions are given for those unfamiliar with this ceremony and questions are answered. Those who lead our Purification Lodge feel that it is important that we assemble and continue to bond in preparation for the ceremony. When everyone is ready you will be asked to enter the Lodge in a respectful way.
We expect persons arriving in a way that precludes their participation in the lighting of the Sacred Fire and those not expecting to stay for the full ceremony to not participate in the “inside the hut” Purification Lodge Ceremony. These will be asked to remain outside the Lodge for the entire ceremony.
What does it look like? The sweatlodge is a structure constructed out of small willow poles formed into an upside-down bowl shape and covered with blankets and canvas tarps. It is usually about twelve feet in diameter and four to five foot tall. You will enter on your hands and knees through a door in the canvas. When you find your place you will sit facing inwards. In the middle of the earthen floor of the Lodge is hole about one foot deep and three foot wide.
If you were to float three or four stories above the sweatlodge site you would see the canvas covered lodge, an earthen altar East of the lodge door, and a blazing fire about ten to fifteen feet from the Lodge door. The earthen altar is a blessing altar on which things are placed for blessing. The fire is a sacred fire in which the ceremonial stones are heated.
Everyone is expected to treat the ceremonial ground and activities (altar and fire) with deep respect.
What is the ceremony like? The Ceremony begins with the building and lighting of the Sacred Fire and ends with the sharing of the common feast. The All Nations “in the hut” Ceremony has four parts, called doors, aligned with the four cardinal directions. Beginning with the East, the direction is honored; stones from the fire are brought into the Lodge and placed in the hole in the floor of the Lodge. Herbs are placed on the stones and their smells fill the structure. The door is closed. In the darkness the ceremonial leader directs the ways of the ceremony. There will be songs to sing, wisdom shared and prayers offered. At the end of each part the door is open.
Who can attend? Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge Ceremony is open to everyone. No reservations are required. Menstruating women, (women on their moon time) are welcome into the sweatlodge. An individual under the age of 18 must have a parent's permission and signature on our Release of Liability form to participate in the Lodge. Younger children may participate accompanied by a supervisory parent. In every way possible we make the ceremony open to all people. The Release of Liability form can be acquired by going on our web page
http://www.bearspiritmedicinelodge.org/ and clicking on Important Documents. We also have such forms at the ceremonial site.
What should I bring? What people wear inside the sweatlodge is light, loose clothing such as shorts and a tee shirt or a bathing suit. There is space provided to change from street clothes to sweat clothes but that space may be outside. Also bring a towel or two- you will get wet and sweaty, and possibly muddy.
Bring a lawn chair, blanket or back-jack for sitting at the ceremonial site. Bring drinking water.
You are invited to bring simple food to share in the after the sweat lodge feast. Please bring only "finger food" that does not require refrigeration, preparation or dishes for serving. We also ask that you take home any food you bring that does not get eaten.
Do I need to prepare in advance? It is highly recommended that you spend some quiet time reflecting on the concerns you wish to pray for on all levels, the universe, the Earth, life, your community(s) and all your relations. Get as clear about your intentions as you can and bring them with on open heart to the ceremony.
We recommend that you reduce dairy and caffeine intake 24 hours prior to entering the lodge. Drink plenty of water and increase your intake of root
vegetables (carrots, potatoes, beets, onions, etc.) All of this will help to ground you in preparation for the lodge.
What does it cost? Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge does not charge for ceremony. Ceremony is the essence of prayer and we do not charge for prayer. A normal sweatlodge costs us about $250 to produce. The cost is in firewood, stones and mostly required insurance. We have found that people often want to contribute to the cost of a sweatlodge. They offer donations of $1 to $20 to support the continuance of these ceremonies. All donations are expended for ceremonial costs. You may freely participate in this ceremony at no charge.
Chuck Skelton
