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Moon Time

Sweat lodge holds a very important and special place in my heart. It is a day of prayer, singing, healing, and connection. As the day of lodge approaches, I feel my inner self settle into a peaceful and spiritual rhythm. My prayers have already begun.

It is good to remember that sweat lodge is a sacred ceremony. Respect everyone and everything surrounding you. Mother Earth is honored as we walk within this sacred circle. The flames of the sacred fire flicker and point to Father Sky. The blessed Grandfathers have taken their place within the sacred fire, preparing to offer healing and cleansing to all who enter lodge.

When you enter the Circle, there are a few things we do in respect of this sacred area. Movement around lodge always flows to the left, clockwise.

A path of cedar is placed from the edge of the sacred fire, over the mounded alter, and into the entrance of lodge. This path is called the Spirit Path. No one crosses the Spirit Path except for the person who tends to the sacred fire – the fire keeper.

When it is time to enter lodge and the sage is prepared for smudging, it is a time we become silent. Again, this is done in respect for the ceremony.

Before entering lodge, each person will approach the small pit where the sage has been lit for smudging. Kneel before the pit and wipe yourself with the sage as a means of cleansing. Also smudge any thing you are taking into lodge.

There is a bowl filled with tobacco. Take the tobacco with your left hand (closest to your heart); offer your prayers to Creator. When you have finished your prayer(s), place the tobacco in your right hand and place it in the sacred fire. Your prayers will ascend toward the heavens.

Sweat Lodge

Women will enter the lodge first (oldest to youngest in age).
As you enter the doorway of lodge, you say, Mitakuye Oyasin, Indinawemaagen or All My Relations. You will crawl in on hands and knees to your place within lodge. You also say any of these three words when ending your prayers or have finished speaking, or as you pass something to the person sitting next to you, and when leaving lodge.

If a woman is in her menstrual cycle (Moon Time), she will not enter the lodge.

In our Circle, women may sit near the Family Fire for a time of prayer and self-nurture. Women wear long, loose fitting cotton dresses (of any color) or a t-shirt and long, loose fitting skirt (for dresses go to www.mamashome.com). It is suggested that your clothing does not have metal zippers or buttons. Hair ties with metal and jewelry of any kind are also not worn because of the heat in lodge. If you wear contacts, your eyes may become dry but it is your preference as to whether or not you wear.

Men wear swimming trunks or shorts. Again, no metal zippers or buttons. You will need to bring a towel and clothing to change into after lodge. It is suggested you bring tobacco or tobacco ties (if you choose) to use for your prayer time. It is also helpful to have water with you to stay hydrated.

Each person is asked to bring a dish to pass for the feast that is held after lodge.

**We ask that no alcohol be used in the time period of 24 hours before entering lodge. As our body sweats and begins the cleansing process, the smell of alcohol can be offensive to others within lodge.

LODGE DONATIONS:
Although all of the teachings and the ceremonies are given freely at no charge, there is clearly cost attached to doing ceremony. We are not ashamed to ask for help to cover these costs: building the lodge ($2,000 annually, mostly for new tarps), up-keep of the property (mowing and snow clearing…and gasoline costs, plus the time that it takes to do it), stones for lodge (mother earth gives them for free but the quarries charge us for them), building costs for the out-buildings, the cost of wood for lodge (about a face cord per lodge @ $100), medicines (about $30.00 per lodge), use of the land.

We are taught that when we take something from Mother Earth, we leave something in return. For instance, when we take a stone from mother earth, we lay down tobacco to thank her for the gift. It is the same for ceremony. At lodge we receive much and we give our gifts of thanks. Often we will give symbolic gifts of tobacco, or tobacco ties to the fire-keeper or the person pouring lodge. In the old days, horses, blankets, buffalo robes, meat, moccasins etc., were given to acknowledge and say “thank you” for gifts received from ceremony. The medium of exchange today is monetary. So, we ask for donations to cover the cost of doing ceremony.

We have had many requests to be specific about what amount is appropriate.  Through prayer and some calculating we have come up with a range: $25 – $40 per lodge. The donations basket is out during feast and gifts may be placed in the basket. No one will ever be refused lodge because they do not have the means to contribute.

If we should ever have a surplus of donations, the money is put back into Circle of Life Inc.