Sweat lodge

Sweat lodge

Sweat lodge

Sweat lodge

Sweat lodge

The water in the sweat lodge symbolizes Wakan Tanka who is always flowing, giving His power and life to everything.

Sweat lodge

The Sioux believe that people should be like water because it is lower than all things, yet stronger even than the rocks.

Sweat lodge

The sweat lodge is made from twelve or sixteen young willows because in the fall their leaves die and return to the earth, but in the spring they come to life again.

Sweatlodge

Like the leaves of the willow, people die but live again in the real world of Wakan Tanka, where there is nothing but the spirits of all things.

Sweat lodge

People can know the “true life” of the “real world” here on earth if we purify our bodies and minds, thus coming closer to Wakan Tanka, who is all-purity.

Sweat lodge

The willows which make the frame of the sweat lodge are set up in such a way that they mark the four quarters of the universe.

Sweat lodge

Thus, the whole lodge is the universe in an image, and the two-legged, four-legged, and winged peoples, and all the things of the world are contained within it, for all these peoples and things too must be purified before they can send a voice to Wakan Tanka.

Sweat lodge

The rocks represent Grandmother Earth, from whom all fruits come, and they also represent the indestructible and everlasting nature of Wakan Tanka.

Sweat lodge

The round fireplace at the center of the sweat lodge represents the center of the universe, in which dwells Wakan Tanka, with His power symbolized by the fire.

Sweat lodge

The sweat lodge is always constructed with its door to the east, for it is from this direction that the light of understanding comes.

Sweat lodge

The leader now sprinkles water on the rocks, once for our Grandfather, once for our Father, once for our Grandmother, once for our Mother, the Earth, and then once for the sacred pipe.

Sweat lodge

It is now very hot in the lodge, but it is good to feel the purifying qualities of the fire, the air, and the water, and to smell the fragrance of the sacred sage.

Sweat lodge

After these powers have worked well into the participants, the door of the lodge is thrown open, reminding us of the first age in which the people received the Light from Wakan Tanka. Water is brought in and the pipe is smoked.

Sweat lodge

Next, the door of the lodge is closed, and the participants are in darkness for the second time. The person at the north now prays.

Sweat lodge

Water is put on the rocks again, and the door of the lodge is soon opened for the second time, representing the coming of the purifying Power of the north, and the participants see the light which destroys darkness, just as wisdom drives away ignorance.

Sweat lodge

Water is passed around again and the pipe is smoked.

Sweat lodge

In a short time, when the heat has worked all through us, the door is opened for the third time, and the light of the east comes in upon us.

Sweat lodge

The pipe is smoked again. It is the person at the south who now sends his or her voice.

Sweat lodge

All that is left of the water is now poured upon the rocks, which are still very hot, and as the steam rises and penetrates everything, the participants sing or chant a sacred song.

Sweat lodge

Moving around sun-wise, all the participants purify their hands and feet, and pray to Wakan Tanka while leaving the sweat lodge.

Sweat lodge

This most sacred rite has now been finished, and those who have participated are as people born again, and have done much good not only for themselves, but for the whole nation.

Sweat lodge

All that is impure is left behind in the lodge.

Purified, one can now live as the Great Spirit wishes, and that one may know something of that real world of the Spirit, which is behind the physical world.