Sweat Lodge on Solstice

Doing a “sweat” is not the same as going to the sauna or steam room. Unlike those leisurely pursuits, the sweat that my wife, Jitka, and I did the evening of December 20^th was intense, prayerful and transformative. The invitation came from my wife’s teacher, Paul Bergner, and the sweat was led by a man named Ryan.

We began by making prayer ties, a meditative process meant to focus our intent and attune our spirits. Next we walked from Ryan’s house through the snow to the lodge, constructed from willow branches covered with blankets. Once we had gathered inside, stones from a large fire by the lodge were brought in and placed in a pit in the center. When the flap over the door was closed it became completely dark inside, save the faintly glowing stones. Ryan, who has been trained in traditional Lakota ways, poured water on the stones, creating an intense heat. He led prayers and chants and kept us focused, reminding us why we were there. Between the “rounds” the door flap was opened, and fresh hot stones were added, but we didn’t leave the lodge until the fourth round was completed.

The experience was intense, and despite my best efforts to stay focused during the sweat, my mind did wander and my prayers were somewhat muddled. Yet, while recovering in Ryan’s house, now well past midnight, I realized that the world had changed over the course of the past few hours. There was a tangible sense of being in a new year. Even now, five days later, I am still seeing things with fresh eyes. What an amazing gift it is, to leave old ways and stale perspectives behind. Thank you Ryan, and thanks to the Spirits that guided us that night.