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Online LibraryNative American Sweat Lodge Blesses FSM Volume One Summer 1992 After six months of construction, former student Richard Bonsteel's Directed Independent Study project, a sweat lodge designed in accordance with Mikasuki Seminole tradition, was christened with a staff ceremony in April. The sweat lodge is a Native American cultural tradition dating back many centuries. In addition to being used in healing the sick, they were held before great rituals and ceremonies to cleanse the body, mind and spirit. Sweat lodge ceremonies are a unique, insightful experience into higher dimensions of knowledge, wisdom and understanding of our connection with the Earth.
Set behind the school in a cozy little niche on the edge of the prairie, the lodge and herb garden make up the sacred ground of a medicine wheel. Built with love and respect for the Florida School of Massage with help from Joan Kennedy and others, it is constructed in the shape of a turtle. The fire pit represents a head, the walkway a neck and the lodge a shell. The fascinating aspect of this creature to physically go within itself is symbolically powerful. Inside it may ponder its existence in relationship to the Earth, healing the soul and then re-emerging when ready, with the wisdom of a new day. Richard spent much time and energy gathering just the right materials for his project from all over the state. The Main arch is a live oak beam darkened with beeswax and cocoa butter. Six cedar ribs along with the arch signify the seven directions - North, South, East, West, Above, Below and where you stand in the present moment. Ancient tribes worshiped cedar for its polarity: it must be carefully replanted in the same direction in which it was dug up or it will die. Bald Cypress, chosen for its flexibility, is used as sticks that encircle the ribs. The bonding together of oyster sediment and crushed shells from the coquina rocks that cover the base, The designs on the main arch are cedar paddle imprints, designs of the tribes that lived on the school property many years ago. Carved into the arches are the hand prints of the dedicated staff members and their children, dyed with natural colors from indigenous plant life. Prayer feathers hanging from the ribs represent the link between the human and spirit worlds. Surrounding the lodge are echinoid shells, fossilized sea urchins dating back to over two million years. Since the lodge was specially crafted for the Florida School of Massage community, each ceremony may be as unique as the participants desire. Group size may vary from an intimate number to however many can comfortably fit. At the ceremony onset, everyone gathers in the herb garden and together call in the gifts of the four directions, Mother Earth and Father Sky. All proceed over to the lodge taking care not to walk on the turtles' neck out of respect to a living entity. The head, neck and shell are sprinkled with sage as it helps ward off evil forces at work in the world. Circling clockwise around the lodge, blankets are placed over the top and side. The lodge is now open and the ceremonial leader enters. Proceeding clockwise into the lodge, each guest is met with a thick blanket of heat. A fire keeper is stationed at the entrance to enable easy passage in and out with hot rocks. Once inside the darkened shell, the glowing rocks are all that can be seen. Scents may be placed on the rocks for aroma therapy. Members crouch on the ground close enough to touch; some lay on the earth to be cooled. The first of three rounds begin. One by one, each person says a prayer, speaks some heartfelt words or invokes a living or dead spirit to join in the spiritual sauna. Following each round, the guests leave as they entered and take a purifying cold plunge in a nearby tub for contrast. Back in the lodge for the second round, storytelling ensues. Everyone adds their own aura and sparkle to the atmosphere. Some stories are true, others are unique tales. Round three: "The voice that beautifies the land, the voice above. The voice of thunder, within the dark cloud. Again and again it sounds. The voice that beautifies the land, the voice below. The voice of the grasshopper among the plants. Again and again it sounds. The voice that beautifies the land!!" All voices resonate the chanting. A final round of singing and drumming ends the ceremony. Like the turtle, the group emerges rejuvenated and release the spirit and direction they've called on to guide them through the cleansing experience. Richard Bonsteel's hope is that this sweat lodge be used in a sacred manner for healing the sick, and that its use be kept sacred for the well-being of body, mind and spirit. As Richard says, "respect the past and what it can teach the future. May this attitude extend past the lodge to become the spirit that lives in all things for the healing of the spirit."
All images, text, and online material Copyright © 2005 |
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