Sweat lodge 75660 225522737 2008-07-14T03:31:31Z Deconstructhis 3905009 Added "morefootnotes" message tmplate and qualified a claim. {{morefootnotes}} The '''sweat lodge''' (also called '''sweat house''', '''medicine lodge''', or '''medicine house''') is a [[Ceremony|ceremonial]] [[sauna]] and an important ritual used by some North American [[First Nations]] or [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] peoples. There are several styles of sweat lodges that include a domed or oblong hut similar to a [[wickiup]], a [[teepee]], or even a simple hole dug into the ground and covered with planks or tree trunks. Stones are typically heated in an exterior fire<ref>Ella E. Clark, ''Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest'', llustrated by Robert Bruce Inverarity, 2003, University of California Press, 225 pages ISBN:0520239261</ref> and then placed in a central pit in the ground. Often the stones are [[granite]] and they glow red in the dark lodge. [[Image:Sweat lodge nez.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Nez Percé]] sweat-lodge]] ==Construction== In the northern part of North America, the sweat lodge is a low [[dome]]-like structure built on earth (as opposed to grass or forest brush). Traditionally it is built with a frame of tree shoots or branches, which are long, thin and very flexible. The tree most commonly used is [[willow]] although many other species are used such as [[lodgepole pine]]. Lodges range in size, from diameters of nearly 2 m (six feet) to well over 6 m (eighteen or nineteen feet). They range from 1-1.5 m (three to five feet) in height, as the participants sit or lay down during the ceremony. The lodge is aligned with the [[Cardinal direction|four directions]], and room for a doorway is provided. [[Image:Sweat lodge frame loc cropped.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Cheyenne]] sweat lodge frame]] The wood structure is then covered with either blankets, canvas, or sometimes animal skins, and the doorway is made on the east or south side. Sometimes permanent walls of clay are built over the wooden frame. The walls must be thick enough for the lodge to be completely dark inside and to keep in as much heat as possible. In some, a shallow pit is dug in the earth in the center of the lodge where the hot stones from the fire pit will be placed. The lodge is also known in Mexico with the name of [[temazcal]]. During the ceremony, the participants encircle the stone pit inside the lodge. The [[medicine man]], leader of the ceremony, or elder, perhaps better referred to as the pourer, receives the glowing hot stones from the firekeeper and places them in the pit, using a pitch fork and/or deer [[antler]]s<ref>Bucko, p.3</ref>. When enough stones have been placed in the lodge, the medicine man (pourer) closes the door and pours water on top of the stones to fill the lodge with steam. This happens usually four times, with periods of between ten minutes to hours spent [[Perspiration|sweating]] in the lodge. In [[Ojibway]] or [[Anishinaabe]] ceremonies, there are many songs sung with a drum and rattles, prayers given, and attempts to heal the sick. The lodge door is in the east, toward the sacred fire, and there are rattles for each of the directions. A fire keeper or helper outside passes the red hot granite stones, or ''grandfathers'', into the lodge, and puts prayer offerings of [[tobacco]] into the fire. The grandfathers are placed into the pit at the center of the lodge. Before the ceremony, there is a cedar strip or line along the ground that is not to be crossed. The little boy water drum is often used in the ceremonies, along with certain medicines that are burnt on the hot stones. As each person enters the lodge on hands and knees, they say their name in Ojibway, and crawl, like a baby, into the womb of the lodge. The women sit on one side, and the men sit on the other. The sweat lodge represents birth and being born out of the darkness, the red glow, the warmth, the wetness, and the small space like a womb. One also crawls out of the lodge, humbled, and like a baby. Everything is usually done in a clockwise direction in the lodge, the same way as the sun travels across the sky. One enters in a clockwise direction, passes rattles clockwise, songs and prayers are given clockwise, and each one leaves clockwise. Most people get their traditional names during the ceremony, and offerings are given of tobacco, food, and other things. The little boy drum is ceremoniously prepared before each sweat lodge and tied in a certain way depending on the teaching given. ==Origins== A general version is that the [[Creator deity|Creator]] gave the lodge to the people as a way to directly pray or talk with the Creator. The lodge is often seen as a womb, that gives birth and life, and it provides important teachings to the people. Entering the lodge is a [[Sacred (comparative religion)|sacred]] happening that involves important rituals and memories. The lodge provides a cleansing of the body, spirit, heart, and mind. Utmost respect is given to the Creator, the lodge, the fire, the medicines, the animals, the four directions, the elders, the participants, and the ceremonies. Thanks are given for the fire's warmth, the importance of the grandfather rocks, the animals for their skins, and the plants for their medicines. Thanks are given for all the necessary elements of nature that provide us with life and survival. The lodge is a natural way to bring fire, earth, rocks, water, air, human life, animals, and plants together into one, or close association and contact. ==World examples== One of the early non-Indian occurrences can be found in the fifth century [[BC]], when [[Scythian]]s constructed pole and woolen cloth sweat lodges.<ref name="Bruchac">Joseph Bruchac, ''The Native American Sweat Lodge: History and Legends'', 1993, The Crossing Press, 145 pages ISBN:089594636X</ref> [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] in many regions employed the sweat lodge. For example, [[Chumash]] peoples (present day [[San Luis Obispo County]], [[California]]) built sweat lodges in coastal areas<ref>[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18353 C. Michael Hogan, ''Los Osos Back Bay'', Megalithic Portal, editor A. Burnham]</ref> in association with habitation sites. ==Traditions== Rituals and traditions vary from region to region and [[tribe]] to tribe. They often include prayers, drumming, and offerings to the spirit world. Often easier methods are discovered and used, such as using a lighter to start the fire, and using a truck to haul wood and rocks. Even the use of a [[pitch fork]], shovel, and canvas would not be of the oldest traditions. These ceremonies can change over time as certain needs arise. A sweat lodge can be a part of, or a beginning component of another, longer ceremony such as a [[Sun Dance]]. Some common practices and key elements associated with sweat lodges include: *Orientation – The door usually faces the fire, forming a [[wikt:duality|duality]] between the lodge and the fire. This duality is, in many traditions, symbolic of the male-female or heaven-earth dualities. Directions usually have distinct symbolism in Native American ceremonies. The lodge may be oriented within its environment for a specific purpose; for example, a lodge constructed near a lake could be run with the intention of connecting to the spirit of the lake. Placement and orientation of the lodge within its environment often facilitates the ceremony's connection with the spirit world. *Construction – The lodge is generally built with great care and with respect to the environment and to the materials being used. Many traditions construct the lodge in complete silence, some have a drum playing while they build, other traditions have the builders fast during construction. Often, tobacco is placed in each hole made into the Earth and prayed over before the willow pole is placed. *Clothing – In traditional lodges, participants are naked. In more comtemporary lodges participants wear a simple brief garment or towel and nudity is most common with male only lodges. Where aversion to nudity is stronger, and where traditions vary, participants may be more fully clothed. *Offerings – [[Tobacco]], [[sweet grass]], [[redcedar]], and other plants are often used to make prayers, give thanks or make other offerings. They can be smoked in a stone pipe, sprinkled on the hot stones or offered to the fire. [[Prayer tie]]s are also made in many traditions to set the intention of the lodge, show gratitude, purify one's self before the lodge, summon support from the spirit world, and other such purposes. *Support – In many traditions, one or more persons (sometimes called "dog soldiers") will remain outside the sweat lodge to protect the ceremony, and assist the participants. Sometimes they will help tend the fire and place the hot stones, though usually this is done by a designated [[firekeeper]]. In another instance, a person that sits in the lodge, next to the door, is charged with protecting the ceremony, and maintaining lodge etiquette. ==Etiquette== The most important part of sweat lodge [[etiquette]] is respecting the traditions of the lodge leader. Some lodges are done in complete silence, while others involve singing, chanting, wailing, drumming, or other sound. It is important to know what is allowed and expected before entering a lodge. Traditional tribes hold a high value of respect to the lodge. In some cultures, objects, including clothing, without a ceremonial significance are discouraged from being brought into the lodge. The tenet is: enter the lodge as you came into this world. Alternately, other traditional tribes place a high value on modesty as a respect to the lodge. In clothed lodges, women are usually expected to wear skirts or short-sleeved dresses of a longer length. In some traditions, nudity is forbidden in mixed sex sweats. In other traditions mixed gender sweats are forbidden. Still others encourage, if not require, mixed gender sweats. Many lodge leaders do not allow [[Menstrual cycle|menstruating]] women (these women are often referred to as being on their moon-time) to participate in ceremonies. Some will run a separate lodge for menstruating women. Still others allow them into the lodge after they have completed a purifying ritual, such as making a belt of [[prayer tie]]s. Perhaps the most important piece of etiquette is gratitude. It is important to be thankful to the people joining you in the lodge, and those helping to support the lodge. ==Risks== Wearing metal jewelry can be dangerous as metal objects may become hot enough to burn the wearer. [[Contact lens]]es and synthetic clothing should not be worn in sweat lodges as the heat can cause the materials to melt and adhere to eyes, skin, or whatever they might be touching. Cotton clothing is recommended for lodges. Although the temperature in a sweat lodge can exceed that of a conventional [[sauna]], partakers in a ceremony can stay inside for several hours at a time. Some argue that this is due to the ceremonial nature of the lodge. However, emphasis is placed on knowing one's own limits and knowing when to leave. There have been reports of lodge-related deaths resulting from overexposure to heat, [[dehydration]], and [[smoke inhalation]]. Even people who are experienced with sweats could suddenly experience problems due to underlying health issues. It is recommended that a physician check people intending to have a sweat lodge experience. If rocks are used, it is important not to use river rocks, or other kinds of rocks with air pockets inside them. Often, [[Igneous rock|igneous]] [[basalt]] is the best type of rock to employ. Rocks must be completely dry before heating. Rocks with air pockets or excessive moisture will likely crack and possibly explode in the fire or when hit by water. This can result in razor-sharp fragments and splinters striking participants with sufficient force to effect injury. Even rocks used before may absorb humidity or moisture leading to cracks and or shattering. There is also a risk posed by modern chemical [[pesticide]]s. When [[sweet grass]], [[cedar]], or certain other plants are sprinkled on the hot rocks, any pesticides accumulated on them can be turned into airborne [[toxin]]s. These toxins can then be inhaled by the participants. In the past, the potential for the inhalation of [[carcinogenic]] chemicals was not well known. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Bibliography== {{cite book | last = Bucko | first = Raymond A. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Lakota Ritual Of The Sweat Lodge | publisher = University of Nebraska Press | date = 1998 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-8032-1272-0 }} ==See also== {{commons|Category:Sweat lodges}} * [[Sauna]] * [[Kiva]] * [[Temazcal]] ==External links== *[http://www.tfn.net/Museum/culture/sweat_lodge.html Adapted from the notes of Hopoyv Fekseko (D. Joseph Alderson)] [[Category:Native American religion]] [[Category:Ritual purification]] [[Category:Bathing]] [[Category:lakota]] [[als:Schwitzhütte]] [[de:Schwitzhütte]] [[fr:Hutte à sudation]] [[tr:Buhar kulübesi]]