The
North Speaks
by Karen L. Scheel
The Inipi or "Sweat Lodge" as they are most commonly called is a sacred
ceremony that is still used by Native Americans and utilizes the four
primary elemental powers of the universe. Sweat lodges exist within most
every culture and serve many purposes but among the Native Americans,
the Inipi is a place of spirit where one goes to cleanse the physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual body, and to pray. This powerful ceremony
penetrates to the very core, cleansing and renewing all aspects of an
individual's being. The cleansing is used as preparation to commune and
listen to the Great Spirit. And for many tribes nothing of significance
is undertaken without the Inipi and its accompanying rites.
Everything from the construction of what is known as the Stone People's lodge to the actual Inipi ceremony has a spiritual significance and is according to a specific ritual. The dome structure representing the womb of Mother Earth is made from fresh cut saplings laid in a circle that are bent over to the center and tied together to form a half sphere. When in use, it is usually covered with canvas tarps or blankets and hides were used in the past. A circular pit in the center represents the Great Mystery's power which represents the center of everything. Outside the lodge in a larger fire pit the sacred Stone People are tended by the Fire keeper until their color is red. The fire is considered to be the first medicine man and represents life. Whatever goes into the fire goes into the lodge and into each individual. A fire keeper assists the medicine person by making the fire and preparing the Stone People for the Inipi Ceremony.
Several years ago our community at Frog Hollow was given the honor of having a traditional Inipi lodge built for the first medicine man that came. Another gift soon followed in my training under an individual from our culture who would teach me the traditional way to lead women's lodges. As men and women have a different kind of power, many traditionals feel it is best to have separate lodges for both, so as not to mix the energies. It is believed a greater power is derived from repeating ceremonies in the exact same way as they have always been done. It is through repetition that a sacred space is created that the ancient spirits remember and can easily return to. I was to go through four separate lodges known as doors and would lead my first Inipi ceremony upon the fifth door.
At first I was very excited about the prospect of being able to do some major spiritual healing in the lodge and the first door was passed through very easily. A couple of months later, I went through the second door and spirit delivered a teaching with such profound impact that ultimately served to alter my course. Throughout the years the spirit of this teaching has come through many times asking me to reveal the message received. It is my hope to help all who feel inclined to build, lead or participate in any kind of Sweat Lodge to have a greater understanding of what it is they are actually doing and to be very clear as to why they are undertaking this passage, especially with so much misuse currently taking place within our culture. It is also out of great respect for an ancient culture's ways that I share the message received. And so...
On the night of my second door; when everything was ready opening prayers were said and four of us cleansed with medicine herbs before entering the womb of Mother Earth in a clockwise direction. After the pipe filling prayers that would be smoked in the fourth round I watched as the first five Stone People were individually brought in on a pitchfork and placed in the pit. As each one entered medicine herbs were sprinkled on them. The first Stone Person was placed in the center of the pit to represent the "Creator". The second was placed in the East representing the spiritual aspects and new beginnings. The third Stone Person was placed in the South representing everything related to the emotions and community. The forth Stone Person was placed in the West representing introspection, both physical strength and healing. The fifth Stone Person was placed in the North representing wisdom and sacrifice.
After the first five Stone People were honored the door closed for the first of four rounds, The water was poured and the lodge began to heat up. In the first round we honor and pray for the female aspects of life. In the second round we honor and pray for the male aspects. The third round is for healing and the forth round is for the personal self. At the end of each round the door is opened for more Stone People coming from the fire.
Sitting in the womb of my darkness and ignorance with my back facing the north, the intensity of the burning heat was bringing up my human weaknesses as the medicine of the Stone People melted them away. I welcomed the brief coolness of air filtering through as the door opened and more Stone People joined the first five. The door closed for the second round and the heat penetrated even more deeply forcing the liquids to pour from my body. The door opened and closed quickly for the third round, I was struggling to keep myself there. In total surrender my body went from a sitting position to lying down on the earth, I prayed for even more strength to remain in an environment that was rapidly becoming unbearable. Just when I thought I could take no more the door to the lodge flung open and a draft of coolness flooded through giving much needed relief.
In the fourth and final round, I sat listening to prayers in a native tongue and watched the fire light flicker from the lighter as the pipe was being lit. Suddenly I felt another presence as an energy stepped into my body. I quickly became aware of seeing from and with another perspective. I heard the words: "They have no spiritual culture of their own and are reaching out to ours".
As the me within the we continued to watch and listen a feeling of sadness and compassion began to wash over me bringing tears to my eyes. Within a few seconds the energy within me shifted and simultaneously a forceful tone spoke the words: "They are taking and using something that doesn't belong to them" and then the energy abruptly left my body.
I
left the Stone People's lodge with a sinking feeling and the questions
this spirit had come to raise. By the end of the ceremony I knew our lodge
was coming down and Inipi ceremonies were not something I would do at
this time. To this day, I still have mixed feelings about our culture
doing this ceremony in a Native American way. If a second lodge is erected
then it will be done in another medicine way so as not to infringe on
any culture's spirituality, which was the teaching from an Ancient One
who sits in the north. Aho!
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©1998-2008 Karen L. Scheel