Native American Sweat Lodge to Purify the Soul
A Simple Hut to Cleanse Mind, Body, and Spirit
Oct 21, 2009
The sweat lodge, while important to Native American culture, was not a unique concept. Cultures across North and South American and throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa have used some type sweat bath in their histories. The purpose of the Native American sweat lodge was to rebuild the body while purifying the body and spirit.
Sweat Lodge Design and Construction
A typical sweat lodge is about 10 feet wide but there is variation with this measure. The location of the lodge and ease of access to materials all played a role in the size of the finished hut. The frame was constructed using young trees. These offered strength while maintaining the flexibility needed to create the dome shape. The young trees were often tied together with grass or roots.
With the frame in place the hut was usually about 4 to 5 feet tall. In the past, hides would be used to cover the frame. These were from the location animals such as buffalo, bear, or moose. The inside of the lodge could be dirt, grass, or leaves to add comfort. The grass or leaves would be kept away from the central area of the lodge to avoid the warm pit.
Hut Orientation and Precautions
Because of the spiritual nature of hut, the entrance would face East. This was symbolic because of the rising sun. Life begins in the East so the huts would face this direction to help purify the soul. The individuals would be revitalized following the completion of the ceremony. A large fire would be placed between the lodge and the East. The stones from the fire were brought into the lodge and placed in the central pit.
A small barrier would be placed between the lodge and the fire. Only selected individuals could pass through the barrier during a ceremony. This was to help avoid accidents when participants would exit the lodge.
Ceremony
In the past, only men were allowed to attend the ceremony but this has changed in recent times. As the ceremony begins, stones from the fire are cleaned and placed in the center pit. The leader asks for the door (or flap) to be closed and places water on the stones.
As the steam rises, the individuals participate in mediation or silent prayer. There could be a period of group reflection with talking but again, this is based on the leader. After a short period, individuals may leave to clean the sweat as new, hot stones replace the cooled ones in the pit. After several rounds the ceremony is complete.
The National Museum of the American Indian is a good resource for more information. Sweat lodges are used to refresh the soul and provide moments of clarity in what could be a chaotic environment. The lodges are designed small to keep in heat but also to help bring together the individual participants while helping to rebuild their bodies.
