Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

I had a first this week. I was invited to participate in an authentic Apache Two Spirit Sweat Lodge on Thursday night, on the Spring (vernal)Equinox. I am claustrophic and sensitive to the heat so I knew this was going to be a real challenge.... The Lodge is located in Arroyo Hondo about eight miles from Taos in the Hondo River Valley. Jim, the Lodge Master, lives on 5 acres of beautfil sagebrush-filled land with beautiful mountain views. He has a Tepee, fire pit and traditional lodge. The lodge is made from birch saplings stretched and bound together with twine and then covered with canvas to create a small dome that you have to crawl into on your hands and feet and then sit on the ground around an indoor fire pit. Mercifully there were small rugs covering the dirt so we (there was 13 of us)could sit on them instead of dirt - although, truthfully as it started getting hotter and hotter I would have enjoy sitting directly on the cooler dirt and not care how dirty I got. As it was I got plenty dirty enough...

The ceremony consists of "four rounds", for the four directions (East, South, West and finally North). The stone bearer brings in 6-8 basalt (volcanic) rocks that have been heated in the outdoor fire pit all afternoon and carries them by pitchfork, one by one into the lodge. After everyone has situated themselves in the lodge the flap is closed and you are in complete darkness. The lodge master then ladles water onto the hot rocks, creating steam, after each person says a prayer for the direction of that particular round. Each round brings 6-8 more rocks, more water, intenser heat, etc. We were each given sprigs of sage to inhale to help us endure the heat and were thankifully given permission to lie down on the ground (not enough space to fully lie down - but in a modified fetal position - symbolic, I suppose)when we got too hot. I discovered a "trick" after getting through the first round, when I scrunched myself up on the dirt my hand immediately sought out the underneath of the back of the canvas - and then my hand found a hole and was released into the freedom and coolness of the outside air. This of course is not encouraged and in some lodges strictly forbidden. And I was determined to make it all the way through the four rounds and this was my survival technique. I must admit that as the rounds went on my silent prayer was that everybody's prayers were short. Laying down I can't honestly say I heard their prayers. I did however discover that when my hand found the space between the dirt and the canvas on the back wall I could lift it an inch and get a cool puff of air.

He allowed everyone the opportunity to take a "break" between the second and third rounds. Everyone except him left the lodge and went outside for 15-20 mins to cool down. This made it so much easier to endure the last two rounds. The ceremony started at sundown and I didn't get home until after midnight. After the ceremony was over we had a "feast" - a potluck that everyone contributed to - which is also part of the tradition. I don't know yet whether this was a first last or whether I will be called to do it again. We'll see. Maybe at the summer solstice.

He does hold other native american ceremonies - one of which is shamanic journeying which I do plan to try. "While in Rome, do as the Romans...." What better place than in the Southwest to try Native ceremonies. Speaking of which a long time friend is visiting soon so I plan to take that opportunity to visit the Taos Pueble and Chimayo (a Southwest "Lourdes" - known for its healing miracle waters and sacred ground).