The sweat lodge ceremony (sometimes called “a sweat”) is ceremony which may be done for healing and cleansing of the spirit. It is preferred that a person not go into a sweat with negative thoughts or feelings. People may undergo a sweat before other activities like a fast. The sweat lodge itself is usually dome shaped and may be made out of flexible saplings.
“The butts of the saplings are embedded in the ground, and bend towards each other from opposite sides of the structure. They are secured by weaving them into the structure, and by braiding the branches at the ends around the sapling opposite. If anything else is required, we use a natural material, such as spruce roots, cotton cloth or sisal twine.”
Quote is from Mi’kmaq Spirit website
To ensure that no light enters the sweat lodge, it is often covered with heavy fabrics. The entrance of the sweat lodge faces eastward toward the sacred fire which is used to heat stones which represent the grandfathers. In the center of the sweat lodge a pit is formed for stones which represent the grandfathers. Igneous stones (rock created by cooling and solidification of lava or magma) are preferred but other types of rock may be used with the exception of sedimentary stones found in a wet area like a swamp as they have a potential to explode when heated. When stones are collected an offering is made to respect the earth. Stones may be reused in future sweats.
“We first create a small platform of pieces of firewood, on which the grandfathers are carefully stacked in a pyramidal pile. Kindling and more firewood are then stacked around the grandfathers, building into a tepee shape that is sometimes called the Lodge of the Sacred Fire. An opening is left facing the sweat lodge, and is used for lighting the fire, after which it is quickly closed. By the way, it is not the size of the fire that matters – it is our prayers that heat the grandfathers. From personal experience, we can vouch for that, having seen red-hot grandfathers coming from a smallish fire made with wet wood. By preference, we will use birch and maple for firewood.”
Quote is from Mi’kmaq Spirit website
Before a sweat lodge is used, a smudging ceremony takes place to cleanse the lodge. The stones are heated and they are brought into the lodge one at a time. The heating of the stone in the sacred fire brings in the spirits of the grandfathers and the grandfather is placed in the center of the sweat lodge in the pit where water is splashed on it to fill the lodge with steam. The elements of earth, air, fire and water become present in the lodge. The first grandfather to be placed in the pit inside the sweat lodge is the Creator and the Creator and once the Creator is placed, he is greeted and smudged by the sweat lodge conductor. Then the fire keeper brings the rest in one at a time and places them where the conductor wants them to.
Afterwards, participants are allowed in. Men enter first in order of oldest to youngest, followed by women in order of oldest to youngest. Men sit in the north while women sit in the south. When a person enters a sweat they say “All my relations” (Msit No’kmaq). Once everyone is in, the door is closed.
“Each round of the sweat is dedicated to one of the sacred directions, and the spirits and elements of that direction are honoured in a prayer by the Conductor. Each participant may then be offered a chance to pray or speak as well. The Conductor splashes water on the grandfathers to create steam and fill the lodge with heat; as we sweat, impurities are taken from our bodies. The Conductor is also responsible for controlling the energies within the lodge, and for keeping the participants safe while they are spiritually open and vulnerable. This can take quite a toll on the Conductor.“
Quote is from Mi’kmaq Spirit website
Sweat lodge ceremonies may be done differently by different people and each conductor may have different rules. After each round, the door may be called to open and the people who are participating may be able to stretch for a moment and water is passed around. Another round of grandfathers are brought in and the sweat lodge continues. The temperature within the sweat lodge may vary, but in any case, as the name of the ceremony suggests, it will be hot enough for a person to sweat out impurities. Participants of a sweat lodge are told that they can leave at any time and as they leave may say “All my relations.” Women on their periods may not be allowed to participate and women who are pregnant are encouraged not to participate. A person may have to restrain from alcohol consumption for a day prior, 2 weeks prior, a month prior or some other amount of time prior to the sweat lodge ceremony. People should well hydrate themselves before the ceremony. Metallic objects and anything with batteries such as glasses, rings, watches, and cellphones must be removed as they can cause burns and batteries can explode. Conductors may want participants to dress very modestly such as a long loose skirt on females or participants may be allowed to dress how they wish. Shoes are removed prior to entering the sweat lodge. A towel may be brought in by the participant as well.
As you can imagine, it has the potential very hot in a sweat lodge- being an enclosed space of people filled with heat and steam. Some people may try to be more stoic and attempt to remain in temperatures simply too hot for them to handle which can lead to serious dehydration or burns. As a health care professional, we may see people who have tried to endure temperatures too high for them to handle in a sweat lodge and we may have patients or see clients who wish to undergo a sweat lodge ceremony who may come to us with questions about things like they started a new medication, or were diagnosed with a new illness and if it would be safe for them to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony. We must understand and remember that sweat lodge ceremonies are done to cleanse the body and spirit and heal the person.
More information may be found on the Dancing to Eagle Spirit Society website!
Two-Eyed Seeing for Health 