Part 1 of the Earth Medicine Weekend Extravaganza #2 outlined the magical safety / wilderness day that led us into day 2 – aka, The Hot Hot Sweat Lodge soiree. A sweat lodge! I was so antsy and excited to really *experience* one of these – so primal and ancient and detoxifying. I had risen super early that morning to meditate and prepare, bringing my four precious plant parts in tow, so that I may not only honor the four winds / directions, but call on them to communicate with me, and lift me up when needed. I felt all kinds of enforcements around me – therefore I felt no fear, just a quiet, yet very amped, resolve.
The sweat lodge structure is in the back of Teacher’s yard. It’s a very small, igloo shaped creation, made of criss-crossing sticks. The shape intentionally resembles a turtle – within this shape, we can and do recreate the womb, so that we may feel safe to heal and release whatever comes up. About 3 paces outside of the sweat lodge sits the big fire pit. This required our attention first – we piled in 34 large lava rocks and dozens more pieces of wood, kindling and paper. As we lit the fire, each of us kept an eager watch on two things – 1) the strength of the fire, so as not to reach any sort of danger zone level and 2) to see the spirit of this particular fire dance into the mix. Every fire has it’s own spirit, it’s own essence, and we watched to see who would be communing with us. A fierce, energetic, powerful force? A more gentle, playful, loving embrace? Something in between? Eyes stayed transfixed as the energies grew.
Teacher called the fire department to let them know of our inferno, and we received interesting news – our time may be limited, as the wind gods were expected to start howling in a few hours. So we stood around the fire and asked it to please not dilly dally – we needed full force flames, and fast, por favor. Likewise, dear gods that create the billowing gusts, please hold off on said swooshes until after our little ceremony, yes?
To prepare the space, we first had to create a seal. We took dozens of blankets and tossed them around the turtle stick-mold – blankets on top of blankets on top of blankets. Then we sealed the bottom edge with rocks, ensuring that absolutely no trace of light could be seen on the inside. On top of the blankets went a black tarp – for darkness, and to trap in that all-important HEAT. Hallelujah.
Once the lodge was all good to go, we awaited our new friend, Mr. Fire Tender. Even Teacher had never met this kind soul – he was brand new to the area and had contacted her about participating in sweat lodge ceremonies, as he’s an old pro. And as luck would have it, we needed a Fire Tender. He arrived and in an instant, I knew we were in good hands. A warm, smiley Libra man with an old soul to boot. Jackpot. Everything was in place. The fire’s spirit was a docile yet spunky one, and he had infused the lava rocks with loads of healing heat. Knowing it was Time, we opened with a prayer, followed the path into inside of the sweat lodge, and began the next phase of our ceremony.
Round 1 honored the spirits of the South – the playful, intuitive, happy parts of ourselves. We’d start it off on a festive note. Fire Tender brought in 7 hot lava rocks and rested them in the small pit in the center of the lodge. The tiny space got instantly toasty with just one rock – by the time all 7 were in place, I was already coated in moisture. All of us got out our South plant spirit helpers, and Teacher opened the Round with a lovely prayer / song. Then, one by one, we went around and offered our own individual prayers. We were free to cry, sing, giggle, talk – whatever was moving through us. We remembered, too, the experience we had with our South spirit plant the day before, and much of that came rolling through the lodge as well. I went third, so grateful to the other beautiful folks who got the party started, and I just went for it. By this time, I was already feeling the effects of the heat, and so incredibly comforted by the immense darkness. I spoke outloud to my higher self, and thanked my inner child for leading me to such bliss. I let the happy tears flow, and expressed the immense gratitude that bubbled up and out of every pore. Then I sang “I am so blessed, I am so grateful” for a few rounds, tossed my South spirit plant into the fire, and felt my heart rip wide open.
The round lasted somewhere around 30 minutes, and once we had all said our peace, Teacher asked for FT to open the door. The cool air felt freaking fantastic. We were all absolutely drenched, but crazy exhilarated. I already felt like a shinier version of myself. Yes, the heat was intense. Yes, I had a little dialogue inside that worried we wouldn’t be able to take four rounds – I mean, what if we couldn’t breathe? What if we had to ask to get out early? I knew the rules around such things – Teacher asked that we express what our needs were before going for the door. To ask for help from all that were there to assist – human and spirit – before succumbing to the egoic desire to get the hell out. I loved the idea of this process. I knew that naming my fears instantly deflated them, and that was empowering. So really, there was no fret running through me. Three more rounds? Bring it.
Round 2 honored the West – our warrior spirits. We fished out the West plants from the day before, and started this round in a much different fashion. Teacher had handed out lyrics to an amazing Ayahuasca song called “All is Welcome Here”, and we sang that to call in the right energies – right after 7 more rocks were added to the lodge. As the door was sealed and the process began, I was immediately pounded with an entirely different energy. Shit was this intense. I clutched my warrior plant and begged, internally, for assistance. I wasn’t sure I could last 5 minutes in this heat, but I focused on one breath at a time. Teacher told us, after the opening prayer, to speak and cry and emote whenever we felt the urge. There were no turns in this round – a free for all, and a really powerful one at that. I cried a bit, and wailed a little, but mostly, I just spoke to all that was. I marveled at how amazing it felt to just feel, without abandon. To let everything come up and out and just be. I struggled a lot, almost asking for the door a time or two, but I kept asking my body how she was, and she kept saying – I’m perfect. Keep going. And the room, wow was it bursting with power. We all groaned and moaned and let these deep demons release out of us. So beautiful and therapeutic. And then my most favorite revelation of the day come flooding through – as I called on the spirits to give me strength to make it through this, I felt my chest thrust out and my arms open wide. ”A true warrior is undefended,” a voice whispered to me. I sat awestruck by this thought. Of course, yes – there is nothing to defend. NOTHING to defend. Against what was I defending? LIfe? I allowed my arms to remain outstretched and kept imagining my heart, completely exposed, seething in the oneness. Then Teacher called for the door, and I collapsed at the opening, breathing in the cool and delicious air.
Are you altered? She asked me. I giggled and yelled YES, thank you! I felt more normal than the regular waking spaces usually provided – unbridled, totally taken care of, deep into my true essence. Wow. We were all awestruck by the energy that was exploding in that space, and a couple of us exited the lodge to get some water, breathe, and grin like idiots.
Round 3 was for the spirits of the North – our elders. Our ancient selves. We had FT bring in 7 more rocks, and Teacher opened with another beautiful prayer / song. Whereas the last round was full of intensity, this one felt more like a warm hug – soft, soothing, intensely quiet. My posture was totally different too – I was literally falling into myself. My chin buried into my chest, hair dancing around in sweat-soaked threads, arms embracing my legs. I felt like an old child. Strong. Wise. Calm. The rest of my companions seemed to mirror this energy. We did a free for all again with the prayers and emotions – but this time it was spoken, and not wailed. We felt revelations coming in left and right – all these ancient gifts. Breathing was easier, despite the increased heat. One of the other apprentices echoed what I was thinking to myself – “I could stay here forever.” At some point, we sacrificed our North plant pieces, and agreed it was time to move on. The door opened, and we enjoyed fluids and cool breezes. About 10 minutes later, the last round began.
The final direction honored was the East – our connection to spirit. We all had this “go big or go home” energy about us, wanting to take full advantage of our last opportunity. We invited FT to join us, after adding 7 more rocks (!), and it was marvelous to have his additional masculine wisdom. He sang a song to open us up, and I just reveled in this incredible, altered, beautiful state. I took huge, deep, gulping breaths of the sweat-laden air, soaking in the tobacco smells. I had no tears this time, just a very full chest / heart, and more of that immense gratitude for yet another glorious adventure. I could feel the toxins escaping every pore. I could feel spirits literally lifting me up – clearing away the dark energies from my heart. I remembered my best lesson for the day, over and over, saying to myself “I am an undefended warrior.” I said very little except this – but that said plenty. So happy. So grateful.
And then it was over. The door opened for the last time, and I piled out to lay in the dirt next to another apprentice, and relish the grounding gifts of Mother Earth. We didn’t say much, the five of us. for the few minutes after the ceremony. One of us, the Super Woman amongst us, jumped up to tend to the fire – put out the flames and secure the area. The winds started picking up just as she did so, and I sent out a big thank you to them for waiting until we had completed our task. Everything was in flow – so perfect. So precious.
Once we all regained our strength, we enjoyed an incredible ceremonial meal, cooked by Teacher. We each blessed a different dish – I got to bless the berries. We ate the awesome food and positively beamed – all of us. Such hard work, but such sacred work at that. I knew I had a long drive ahead of me – 5 hours to Phoenix, where Orion would be waiting, and 5 more hours from there. The ride home would be magnificent. I knew that already. But nothing would top this ceremony + meal for sometime.
And now – now I am cleansed, connected, and peaceful. And looking to connect with locals who do Sweat Lodge ceremonies, as this was something I’d love to repeat. Again and again.
