This was my first sweatlodge and as well as being excited I also had anxiety.
It was taking place near my home and I did know a couple of the people although not well. The landscape is very wide there, a big sky and flattish land.
The chosen field was surrounded by views of this wide landscape. There were also some trees and stone walls. The place where we stayed was close by.
The first day we collected saplings in a wood also nearby.
There are signs of many old settlements in the area. From Roman times and since then Border Reivers but also pre-historic.
The saplings were beautiful, tall and supple yet strong. Mostly ash but also willow.
We collected 18 in all and brought them back along with tools and herbs.
An expedition went to the sea to collect stones. They came back with 25 gorgeous black volcanic stones from the coast.
The next day we built the sweat lodge with the help of everyone. That was wonderful.
The day started with stillness at sunrise but by lunchtime a windstorm and a weather system were over us with rain and gale force winds! It proved quite a challenge to cover the structure we had built made of the saplings!
By late afternoon we had tied down blankets and a tarpaulin and made the sweatlodge dark and protected.
A firepit was dug outside and an altar made and inside there was also a round stonepit.
We moved and stacked wood. Got everything together. I would say it took all day!
Soup for lunch and then a meeting later when all was prepared and we made our prayer "bracelets" to hang in the lodge with great intent on the prayers. This focus of intention was very important. We also talked before the lodge as a group.
Getting undressed and then dressed for the lodge and out in the dark and windy evening. The fire was roaring in the pit heating the stones for what seemed like hours.
Clockwise around the firepit sparks in the wind and smoke. Greeting the ancestors and then entering the lodge without shoes. We were about 10. There were four rounds and each one shared prayers. It took a long time but to my great surprise instead of being a very hot sweaty experience it was a No Sweat Lodge! In fact we were cold for most of it!
It seemed funny but the whole day had proven to be full of challenges weather wise and so this was what a "winter" lodge can be like I suppose!
Going out I felt exhausted and wanted to go to bed straight after a very late meal of rice and lentils. I put red socks on and covered myself and tried to sleep.
I did not sleep well but I thought a lot about the lodge and the feelings and the nightmare I had before I came to the weekend. This meant that I had really checked in with what I felt and what my intent was.
The next morning we went straight to do another lodge but only one round. This time it was very warm and it became hot and sweaty over time.
When I stepped out I felt this overwhelming sense of being new-born. Pure and clean. Coming out of a womb. I felt as though I could see certain things more clearly.
We had meditation for an hour afterwards and I lay down in a fetal position in a safe place and just lay there very still.
We had check in with all of us after and shared our experiences of the weekend.
I felt a strong connection with the other participants in the room.
Openness and kindness prevailed.
We prepared a feast for everyone to share while others were dismantling the lodge and firepit.
Afterwards the field looked miraculously untouched! Although certainly the sheep would be able to tell.
Personally I was far from untouched and made decisions to communicate more honestly and clearly with some people in my life.
I have had some new ideas and feel good about them too.
Consciously I am not writing with many details as I want to respect this lodge and its participants.
The reason I am writing at all is that it is an important experience for me and I want to share that and perhaps it also inpires you to try a sweatlodge one day yourself.
Thank you for reading and I will write more in future,I am certain of it, about this.
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