Gentle Tiger Acupuncture

Greetings true believers and carriers of faith, the inspiration that infuses this blog was fired up by my friend Michelle and her great question a month or so ago about whether or not a sweat  is a desirable place for one to open up access to psychic doors or close issues that need to be laid to rest. I believe that both of these items of spiritual endeavor are approachable in a sweatlodge during a sweat, but indirectly.  

     In his book, Mother Earth Spirituality, Ed McGaa Eagle Man gives a brief overview that sums it up nicely, “the Inipi (Sweat Lodge Ceremony) has been used as a cleansing and a preparatory ceremony. It is like a spiritual sauna; one feels reborn, renewed and strengthened through the commingling of one’s own lifeblood (sweat) with the lifeblood of the planet. These commingled waters are carried forth out of the lodge by the four winds, the four directions. The lodge itself allows a special closeness to Mother Earth.”

     A participant in the sweat lodge ceremony reaches a trance-like state of spiritual elevation in a sweat lodge, despite being crouched over and close to the ground, which puts us closer to Mother Earth.  There is a taking of turns where a participant can speak his mind and offer up his prayers to Father Sky.

     The whole tradition of sweat lodge is full of meaning from the choosing of the 7 willow trees brought in to bend over in order to provide a strong but flexible skeleton for the sweatlodge frame to the exiting of the sweat lodge after the ceremony.

     My own personal experience of the sweat lodge was ecstatic and meaningful for me. I was brought in by my teacher, friend and colleage Diane in order to participate in a sweat. The leader’s name was Thomas and his spirits resided in thunder. He was friendly as was his wife, whose name I cannot remember, but food was prepared to provide the strength to endure. I met a few of Thomas’ friends who were also there to participate. There was a friendliness, a community if you will that seemed instant. I felt that I belonged there.

     Without giving away too much detail of our particular ceremony, everything that I’d read about up until that point about sweatlodges, proved to be true. It was an amazing experience. I’ve spoken with others about their experiences in the sweat lodge and found that the ingredients really need to be right. It’s a powerful, yet delicate process. Without knowing why, but feeling certain about it, I absolutely trusted Thomas with my safety. In my opinion, it’s crucial that this aspect is present. He leads the prayer, directs the direction of the circle, pours the water on the fire, etc. If you don’t feel comfortable for whatever reason, don’t do it. I’ve learned this from other people that spoke to less than pleasant overall experiences in the sweat due to this fact. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong for everyone present, just for you. With trust in your sweat leader, everything else will fall into place.  

     So, to answer Michelle’s question, there is a spiritual door opening aspect to the sweat lodge ceremony, but I also take what I’ve experienced and liken it to going to church, you enter, you bow down before those powers that support you and are infinitely bigger than you, you give praise and thanks and express humility and gratitude for all you have and ask for help with those things that make us uniquely human. And laying to rest issues is definitely included in these activities.

     And then from a completely biological standpoint, the negative ions that are released with the steam from a sweat can help to release toxins, help with respiratory issues, move fluid through your lymph system, move out skin problems, moisturize your skin, etc.  but I feel that’s a secondary motive when I participate in a sweat and not something I really think about during that actual ceremony.

     There is one more thing I’d like to pass on about the sweat ceremony – I prefer a small group of people – There were 6 of us in my sweat and we were all very close to each other. I’ve heard of sweats where people were standing and spread out in the dark. It seems to me that it loses some of its focus, concentration, power and significance when it loosens up physically (people not right next to each other, able to stand, etc.) I strongly recommend you keep the group small and the sweat lodge small and the grounding, focus and experience will be the exact opposite, powerful, expansive and fulfilling.

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