Inipi or Sweat Lodge Ceremony
Inipi or Sweat Lodge Ceremony
What do you do at a Sweat Lodge or Inipi Ceremony?
I was taught there is only 3 reasons to ever crawl into a Sweat, to pray, to purify, and to heal.
It is called a sweat because it is a steam bath. Rocks are heated in a Sacred Fire. Whe the Rocks are ready we crawl into the dome shaped structure made of bent branches and covered with canvas and blankets to make a dark close space that represents the womb of the mother. There is hollow in the center that the rocks are placed. The door is closed and the Sacred Songs are sung that invite our relatives to hear our prayers and to help us to focus and just pray.
There are four doors or rounds to most lodges but each family has thier expression and purpose. Many things are symbolic as well as utility in purpose, and are used as oral teaching tools for the people present.
We pray outloud, we sing prayer songs and pray out loud inside the lodge. It does not matter what your outsides reflect, inside the Lodge we are all the same. The intensity of praying like this simplifies what is really important.
Sometime a Chanupa or Sacred Pipe is used as part of the Inipi Ceremony. Children and Elders are Sacred like the Pipe. There is a saying that what you pray for comes true so come always with a good heart.
We fellowship together over a meal following the lodge. The fruit and food we share together is amazing after the time spent praying inside the Sweat Lodge.
What to wear?
Think modest you are going to pray. Men wear street shorts. Women a cotton dress or skirt and shirt. (TShirt covering - covered shoulders) We are mindful of our posture especially in and around the Lodge.
I get the question from visiting women interested in praying; do I have to wear a dress? The answer is yes, if I can you can. It is a privilege to participate in these traditional ceremonies, so the ceremony is treated with the respect granted a Grandparent.
We are any way we choose outside the ceremony. We choose to participate in the Sweat Lodge and honoring the container you are in is just part of the territory. This way to pray is generations old and on this traditional action we are honorable.
Drums and Such
I have been asked to just feel the heart beat as the only drum in the Lodge, so when I pour there are people, rocks and water in the lodge and really that is all. Bring a towel if you like. We may pass the ladle during the ceremony to have a drink.
Each person that facilitates a ceremony keeps the ways they were taught and given permission to practice.
We are careful to keep the ceremony as simple as possible.
MEDICAL ISSUES:
Please advise the person pouring water of medication issues or health issues prior to going into the Sweat. This allows us to be sensitive to your needs.
Personal Preparation to Sweat:
Hydrate: Drink LOTS of water especially the 48hours before you Sweat. Minimize your caffeine and carbonated beverage use. This helps with avoiding dehydration.
Abstain from alcohol and street drugs for 24hours prior to the Sweat.
Women please be clear of your Moontime, stop spotting completely before choosing to enter the Lodge or handling the Pipe. (If you are not sure ask)
Have a towel and your sweat clothes. Have the clothes you work in prior to the Lodge, good shoes and gloves are an excellent idea. Have the clothes you will change into after the Lodge.
Bring a contribution of food or drink for the meal we share together after the Lodge.
It is a traditional Thank You to bring a small tobacco gift for the facilitators of the ceremony; water pourer, firekeepers, singer, one who keeps the land. The tobacco is typically used in later ceremonies for prayer tie making and such.
Please no cameras or firearms in the ceremony area. Please minimize cell phone use around the Lodge and Fire.
SACRED: Act of Prayer
This ceremony is a prayer ceremony. It is a way to pray. It is not an endurance contest, although it is difficult and not everybody is attracted to this way to pray. The curious usually only participate once, and that is ok with me. I ask that you just treat the experience as a Sacred thing. Because it certainly is a powerful spiritual experience to be regarded with respect and reverence just as any voice lifted up or any effort dedicated to God.