Sweat Lodge
In the Lakota tradition, the sweat lodge, or Inipi (meaning “to live again”), is a sacred ceremony with deep spiritual, emotional, and physical purposes. It is about cleansing the body, healing, renewal, and connecting to the spiritual world.
Becky’s passion for this medicine began over ten years ago, when she sat in her first Sweat Lodge in the mountains of Ecuador. She has continued this practice of ceremonial prayer in Central and South America, including time living in communities following the path of The Red Road.
The love she has for these traditions took her to Scotland, where she completed her lodge training with Twobirds Cunningham in 2021. Since then, Becky has facilitated her own lodges in the UK, blending inspiration from the Lakota peoples of the Sioux and traditions of the indigenous peoples of ancient Mexico. Her love for nature and the elements is truly reflected inside and outside the lodge.
Better together
The sweat lodge is a safe confidential space. Everyone agrees to maintain confidentiality for their fellow participants. After the sweat lodge, we will share food around the fire. It is important to have this time to connect and decompress after the lodge.
The sweat lodge is a place to heal.
It’s a space for introspection and connection to your ancestors. Under the guidance of Mother Earth, you have time to express gratitude, set intentions, and leave behind anything that no longer serves you. Much like any modern-day sauna, the physical process of sweating helps your body purge toxins. You’ll experience storytelling, meditation, singing and chanting.
The lodge is a small dome shaped structure made from the branches of the hazel tree. It is covered with blankets to ensure pitch darkness and warmth.
Inside is a central pit for the stones to sit. Outside the lodge is a fire. An experienced fire keeper tends to the fire and looks after the stones heating within it. After the initial fire ceremony and circle, you’ll enter the sweat lodge with the other participants and sit around the pit. Once everyone feels safe and comfortable, Becky will call in the stones. The fire keeper will place stones in the pit and lower the blanket that creates the door. During the sweat, Becky will sprinkle water over the stones to create steam.
The Sweat Lodge Ceremony has one overarching theme. Within this theme, there are four rounds of prayer (although this is a non-religious ceremony, the word prayer is traditionally used). The four rounds have subthemes that fit within the main theme. After each round, you’ll call the door, and the fire keeper will bring in more hot stones. You will get the theme for this sweat lodge closer to the day, giving you plenty of time for preparation.
