Traditional Lakota Sweat Lodge

Traditions need to be passed down to preserve them for future generations. The Sweat Lodge ceremony was developed to meditate, pray, heal and cleanse the toxic energies one collects on their journey through life. The following information is being offered for the purpose of educating non-natives on the basics of the Traditional Native American Sweat Lodge.
 

STARTING A SWEAT LODGE
 

Any member of the tribe can request or call a lodge, for any reason. However, it's not uncommon for lodges to be held during specific cycles of the moon, prior to a hunt, battle or a particular event, such as a Vision Quest, Shaman's Death, Soul Retrieval, Sun Dance or Ghost Dance. During these special occasions, sometimes the whole tribe will participate in a sweat. If the lodge is not big enough to contain all the members of the tribe, then a second lodge may be held.  If a formal request is made, it is generally due to personal reasons and sometimes may be conducted with only the Lodge Leader, or specific tribal members, such as family and/or friends.

Depending on the size, location and materials used, building a lodge requires a lot of work and can usually take up to several days (or longer) to create, even with help. This is normally considered a community event. Unless the lodge is designated as a private lodge to be used for personal use only, everyone, including elders and children, are expected to do their part. No one is allowed to sit around and be waited on. Everyone gets their hands dirty and brings something of value to contribute to the experience, to the best of their ability, even if it's just drumming or keeping an eye on the little ones, while teaching them about the sacred ways.

It is the role of the Shaman, Medicine Man (Wičháša Wakȟáŋ)  or Medicine Woman (Wiyan Wakȟáŋ)  to serve as the Lodge Leader; who initiates and conducts the ceremonies held inside and outside of the lodge. They are also responsible for overseeing the well-being and safety of participants; as well as determining and establishing the location in which the sweat lodge will be built. This land is then consecrated with prayer and ceremony conducted in private by the Lodge Leader, prior to construction.

Once a dry, level location has been established, tree saplings, which will be used to create the framework of the lodge, are selected. A tobacco offering is made to the Standing People and a request for permission to use their offspring to aid in the construction of the sweat lodge, is made. If permission has been granted, the chosen ones are then blessed before being cut down and lashed together to form the dome-shape of the lodge. 

This particular shape was not by accident. It was purposely designed to resemble and represent the womb of Grandmother Earth. Inside the womb, all our needs are being met even before they become needs. As a famous comedian once said, "We spend nine months trying to get out of the womb and the rest of our lives trying to get back in!". Is this any wonder? No. Of course not! Within the womb we are safe and secure; loved and connected; cherished and wanted. Great hopes for our futures are held for us inside this sacred space by others who anxiously await our arrival. We do not know what fear or lack is- there is no contrasting energies in which to cause stress or conflict. There's no no expectations of us- no hidden agendas...  Just arrive safely with all the necessary body parts, ten fingers and ten toes. There's no brainwashing institutions to attend, no wars, no taxes, no bullies, no social media, no cellphones, computers, politicians, governments, SAFA's (Self-appointed False Authoritarians), SIFI's (Self-imposed False Identities), no bills or mind-numbing, pointless jobs to go to; no obligations or worldly responsibilities, rules, regulations, delusions, illusions, etc... Nothing to do but float effortlessly around, just enjoying the ride and the miracle of life! (Why in the world did we ever want to leave in the first place?) Yes- the womb is one of the best places to be; which is probably why we all grow up, so we can't change our minds and crawl back in before it's too late! But, we can go into a sweat lodge!

Once the frame of the sweat lodge has been completed, on the day of the lodge, it's covered with many blankets (NEVER PLASTIC!), which are secured into place with a rope. A thick blanket, or sometimes the hide of a Buffalo or Bear, is used to make the door. These blankets not only serve to contain the heat and steam produced by the Record Keepers, but they also help extinguish light from getting in. This literal blanket of darkness can play tricks on the eyes, but also forces participants to go within and removes the temptation for visual distractions, especially if participants are sky clad.

A two foot wide shallow pit is dug in the center of the lodge to hold fire heated rocks. Traditionally, the entrance is to the East. A Sacred Fire (Peta Oihankesni)  is built outside a safe distance away (Wayward sparks can turn a sweat lodge into a poof of smoke in record time, so it's important to keep it far enough away to prevent accidents!) and used to heat the rocks. Between the entrance and fire pit, an alter (Wagle Wosnapi)  is set up with a pipe rack. Oftentimes, a Sacred Pipe Ceremony is performed first, followed by smudging participants with either sage, sweet-grass or cedar. This process helps purify one's spirit body from spiritual hitchhikers and parasites. It also aids in removing blockages and relaxes anxieties. Each lodge experience is different for each person, but the powerful effects last a lifetime. In the future, anytime anyone smells one of these sacred herbs, they will be immediately brought back to the powerful memories of their lodge experience. The same is true for Vision Quests.

When entering a Sweat Lodge, participants display humility by crawling their way in following the wall clockwise (Sun-wise). They sit cross-legged during the ceremony, along the wall in a circle. If anyone desires to leave, they exit the same way (Sun-wise). Others will move in toward the center slightly, to allow them to pass by in the traditional manner. If it is a modesty mixed sweat, appropriate attire is required. Men usually wear shorts plus towels and women a short skirt, thin shirt, towels. (Bathing suits and towels are also acceptable.)

The only personal items allowed into the Sweat Lodge should be feathers, a Medicine Bag and similar things.  Jewelry or other metal based items worn against the skin is not recommended, as lodges tend to get hot. (Although, it's rare that these items will get hot enough to produce burns, it's still not a good idea to wear them inside a lodge.)

The first one to enter is always the Lodge Leader. They will be seated in the East, near the door, where they can easily make requests for assistance from the Fire Keeper, as well as help guide the stones as they're being brought into the pit. The next to follow would be the Elders. This seating arrangement is both symbolic and logistical; if they need to leave, they can easily do so, without losing their balance or accidentally stepping on someone. Next are the parents, men and women followed by the youth and then young children. (This particular arrangement also places the wee ones, as well as the Elders on the opposite side, closest to the door, so when the flap is opened to bring in more rocks, fresh, cool air will wash over them much faster than those in the back. The back of a lodge is usually VERY hot and does not cool down as fast as the front.)

During the ceremony, the lodge leader will pour water (that has been been previously blessed) over red hot stones which produces steam. This steam enters the body and begins its purification process from the inside out. Record Keepers, also known as "Stone People", or Sacred Stones (Tunkan) are placed clockwise (Sun-wise) in the pit, starting with the West, the direction of water and the spirit world.

A stone representing the Grandfather is placed in the center and also two stones for the Grandmother and All Relations (Mitakuye Oyasin).  Water is poured over each directional stone to fill the Sweat Lodge with steam. But, before any water is poured, a drum is used and spirit helpers are called in from the Four Directions. Prayers and songs to Great Spirit (Wankan Tanka) now bring blessing to the ceremony.

This is a time for cleansing, healing of the human spirit. The Talking Stick is passed around with each telling about who they are spiritually and in the mundane world. It is a time of visions, prayer, and help from spirit guides.

The ceremony is divided into four rounds; each generally lasts an interval of less than an hour. (Warrior lodges are far more intense and last much longer.) There is a short break between each round when new heated stones are brought in and joined with the others. A new direction is focused on as the ceremony progresses. Starting in  the West for seeking the aid of one's Spirit Guides; then North for purifying,  stamina; East for knowledge & wisdom; and finishing in the South for spiritual growth & healing.
 

SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS 

(Please note that there are variations to the following.)

WEST  (Wiohpeya)

Season: Fall

Element: Earth

Sacred Herb: Sage

Power Animal: Bear (Mato) 

Color: Black  (Sapa) 

Human Condition: Physical

Seating Arrangement: Parents (Men/Women)

NORTH  (Waziya)

Season: Winter

Element: Wind/Air

Sacred Herb: Cedar

Power Animal: Buffalo (Tatanka)

Color: White  (Ska) 

Human Condition: Mental

Seating Arrangement: Elders

EAST  (Wiohiyanpa)

Season: Spring

Element: Fire

Sacred Herb: Tobacco

Power Animal: Eagle (Wanbli) 

Color: Yellow (Zi) 

Human Condition: Spiritual

Seating Arrangement: Children

SOUTH  (Itokaga) 

Season: Summer

Element: Water

Sacred Herb: Sweet Grass

Power Animal: Wolf  (Sunkmanitu Tanka)

Color: Red  (Luta) 

Human Condition: Emotional (Energy in Motion)

Seating Arrangement: Youth