The Sweat Lodge Ceremony.

[James Standingdeer]

The sweat lodge ceremony was practiced throughout the North American continent probably for thousands of years. The sweat lodge is a dome shaped structure about 4 feet high, covered by bent willow saplings and covered with canvas or blankets. The door faces east, the direction of the morning star and the rising sun, which are symbols of renewal.During the ceremony hot rocks are placed in a central hole and cold water is poured over them to create intense heat. It is not only a purification right; it is also a prayer ceremony in which we offer our prayers through suffering and it is a means of establishing proper relationship between the sacred and the profane worlds.