I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Native American Indian ceremony known as a sweat lodge. I learned from the Tribal Elders, direct representatives, (authorized instructor foster tribal brothers) that the Crow Indian Nation allowed foster brothers to use the Sweat Lodge Ceremony if several conditions were met. Also in the previous story I had the pleasure of having a good time with a Chief of the Crow Nation, Chief Dan Old Elk. Old Elk and I discussed Native Indian ceremonies and energy in general. That in itself would be a great topic for another article.
To have the rights to perform the ceremony, one must be properly trained. It is about the safety of the participants. In addition to security, the basic fabric of the philosophy must also be maintained, that is, not compromised. In exchange for the rights to “To” the ceremony, the following items are offered in exchange. A blanket, tobacco, a small amount of money, and a personal item valued by the donor. Hence the Universal Law of Fair Exchange.
The short list of items seemed like a small price to pay for permission to perform a sacred ceremony. After a trip to Wal-Mart for a blanket and tobacco, the rest of the items were easily put together. The currency was available. The gift of a personal item was a more difficult task. I decided that my favorite old t-shirt, with a wolf howling at the moon, would be suitable. Like most of my favorite t-shirts, In Larry the Cable Guy Fashion, the sleeves came off immediately. I also love the universal “right to bare arms.” The shirt was splattered with various colors from various paints from years of previous wear.
Sweat day came too soon for me and I started hearing my phone ringing waking me up from a very comfortable sleep. Looks like I fell asleep for about an hour. I jumped off to take care of my morning essentials and sped toward the spot at a speed slightly above the legal limit. Arriving at the sweat lodge I realized that although I was running late, so had other participants.
The training began in a circle, as is common in the Company I work for. We use many traditions borrowed (with permission) from Crow Nation. The circle represents the endless cycle of life. The elders occupy key positions that mark the north, south, east and west. The circle begins with the leader declaring; “What goes around comes around.” Then we pass the hug from heart to heart. After the hug, the person at the control location (north) begins the instruction. In essence, the next twenty minutes of discussion were about company policy and safety procedures and, of course, the recent tragedy that occurred in Sedona, Arizona. Google that if you have an interest.
Then we discuss the gifts to be exchanged. The blanket meant comfort. Tobacco came from mother earth. Currency represents a fair exchange, something of value for something of value. In hindsight, silver or gold would be more appropriate (because Federal Reserve Notes, by definition, represent DEBT). The personal gift for me is more meaningful.
A coworker provided two nice pieces of his artwork that had obviously been well thought out and very symbolic. One pencil, the other colored pencil. For a moment I was jealous, that turned into envy, which quickly dissipated, ending in self-loathing.
Another co-worker handed over a very special watch that she had been given when she was young. She later lost the watch in a pond. He got the watch back, however, it wasn’t working, but it was very special to her. And so she happened with me and another co-worker explaining our gifts.
It is important to note that typical ceremony participants are a diverse group with multiple religious backgrounds. The instructor clarified that while we may all have different belief systems, spirituality is found within all denominations. To remain faithful to the Raven Ceremony it is necessary to offer a prayer to the Great Father or Grandfather. It is also necessary to pay homage to Mother Earth. Personally, I had no problem with the raven belief system. However, my personal preference is to pray first to mother earth and then to father sky. Does that make me a mama’s boy?
After collecting the gifts, we turn clockwise, symbolizing an upward spiraling vortex.
We then had another co-worker available to operate the gate opener. This person (porter) was also responsible for passing “hot stones” and water through the gate at the appointed time. Interestingly, the door person is also responsible for keeping intruders from walking between the fire pit and the sweat lodge. That prevents negative energy from penetrating the area. The participants in the sweat ceremony had already performed the ritual in the circle.
I will not discuss the sweat lodge construction process at this time. This in itself is another ceremonial theme. However, the sweat lodge is a small dome built with a frame of hickory branches that is approximately eight feet in circumference and about five feet high. The cover or skin is a layered heavyweight canvas so when inside it provides a completely dark environment. Inside the lodge, just inside the door opening, is an earthen pit about a foot deep and three feet in diameter. The symbolism of the current lodge is as follows; the frame and cover when inside represent the inside of the buffalo, and the hole with incandescent hot rocks inserted represents the heart.
Outside the sweat lodge, a safe distance from flammable materials, is the fire where the rocks are heated. Hardwoods, some dry and some green, are ideal for bringing rocks to the right temperature to produce the right amount of steam. It is suggested that at least fifty or sixty rocks the size of a hand or melon be available in the sweat lodge. The rocks should not be sandstone, however, that is generally what was available for this particular ceremony. Also outside the fire area, several containers of water were stored to serve multiple purposes. At the end of the ceremony it is necessary to put out the fire.
Also outside the sweat lodge was a small mound of rocks on which participants could place personal items to bless them for the power of the cleansing process that was about to unfold. It is believed that items placed there would attract the same benefits received as inside the sweat lodge.
Crouching or crawling participants paraded through the door in a clockwise direction to continue the theme of the upward spiral. Once inside, the actual ceremony began. There were a number of “pours” with various items discussed in relation to the number of ladles poured onto the hot rocks. The numbers four, seven, ten and millions are significant. I prefer not to go into detail on the subject of numbers. It is very important that “what happens in the sweat lodge stays in the sweat lodge.”
The ceremony itself lasted about an hour and a half. There were breaks between pours to replenish the rocks and provide drinking water for the participants. I don’t know for sure, but I’ll hazard a guess that in the days of old, there were no water breaks. In fact, fasting and going without water were probably required.
The sweat lodge ceremony ended outside the lodge, culminating in the participants gathering in another circle. Final thanks given to everyone in the circle, including support staff. Afterward, we turned around and lined up for a bucket bath. This was a nice ending to an impressive ceremony.
From a personal perspective I offer the following. According to the Universal Laws as I understand them, a gathering of like-minded people is synergistic and even in business marketing circles (that damn way again) known as a mastermind. The release of negative energy from the energy system and the physical body is an amazing form of cleansing. Saying positive affirmations and giving thanks is certainly a way to be very full; (Self-explanatory.)
In exchange for all that powerful energy received and negative energy expelled, and acknowledging that we earthbound spirits are powerful and capable of co-creating our own realities, I can only say Thank You to the Crow Nation.
James “Jim” Blackstone
Footnote: Another unmentioned but standard ceremony is the practice of “erasing”. Once again, this is another ceremony worthy of its own article.