A sweatlodge is a powerful purification ritual that has been passed to the modern world from Native American and other First Nations’ people. It involves sitting on Mother Earth, in complete darkness, in a simple lodge. Hot rocks are brought in from a fire pit, water is poured on them, prayers are spoken and sung. The ceremony generally lasts several hours starting when the fire is laid and lit. After the rocks are heated, participants enter the lodge for four “rounds,” conducted by the leader of the lodge, the “pourer,” who leads the prayers, songs and ceremony.

There are many different traditions and rituals around how sweatlodges are conducted. Our sweatlodge at Sacred Groves is a “Rainbow Lodge” which means we welcome people from any spiritual path. Although we do not offer a traditional Native American sweatlodge, we conduct our lodges in a serious and sacred way. Our intention is to show deep respect for the traditions of First Nations peoples and those who have shared this ceremony with us. We feel honored and humbled to offer this ancient ceremony. Our lodge has been blessed by a Native elder and has been a place of deep healing for people of many cultures and spiritual belief systems. We give thanks to Great Spirit for the gift of this ceremony at Sacred Groves.

For more information about indigenous Native American teachings, click here for First Peoples Voices and click here for Four Directions Teachings..

Open sweatlodges for men and women are offered once a season, around the time of the season’s change, generally co-facilitated by Therese and Tere. Our next open sweatlodge for men and women is March 24, a celebration and welcome to the spring season. , Therese and Tere will be pouring and fire-tending.  Arrival time will be around 10:30am. Please RSVP for more details.

Sweatlodges for women only are offered once a year, geared especially for those women that are part of the Earth Mothers Circle, but open to guests as well. In this women’s lodge we invoke our personal grandmother guides and the ancient Clan Mothers. The next one is scheduled for January 28th.

There is not a required fee for our open sweatlodge ceremonies. We propose a ‘suggested donation’ of $25-40, put out a basket and receive what is offered.

Occasionally a group requests that a private sweatlodge facilitated by Therese and Tere. In this case, we do request a minimum donation of $250.

We also open our lodge to outside groups who want to manage their own sweatlodge ceremony using our facilities. In such cases we request $100 for firewood and use of the meadow.