stricted consciousness. Then you are free. The
shaman used the sweat lodge to move beyond the
limited consciousness of the ego to a place where
he could seek guidance for those who were suffer-
ing, to transport himself to other dimensions of
reality where he could retrieve the spirits of those
who were lost, or even to call forth a vision of the
future. To sum up, the subject of cleansing is of cru-
cial importance, but is widely ignored.”
The lodge itself symbolizes communication
with the Higher Power, not unlike a church
or temple. According to http://curtis collection.com/
cheyennesweatlodge.html, “The lodge is often
built or restored during the morning of the cho-
sen Sweat Day. People fast while working on the
lodge to help their intent remain pure, and prayer
and tobacco are offered as willow (the wood of
choice) or other saplings are cut, as holes are dug
for the placement of saplings and as the pit for the
hot rocks is excavated. Sioux sweat leader Bobby
Woods said: ‘Willow branches used to construct
the lodge also taught bathers a lesson. In Fall,
leaves of the willow died and returned to earth
... in Spring, they come to life again. So too, men
died but lived again in the real world of Creator
where there is nothing but the eternal spirits
of deceased things. A foretaste of this true life
could be known here on Earth if they purified
their bodies and minds, thus coming closer to the
Great Spirit who is All-Purity... .’ Woods also
said willows used in the lodge symbolically mark
off the four quadrants of the universe—every-
thing of the world and sky was represented
within the framework.
“Muskogees use willow extensively for sweat
lodges, brush arbors, and medicines. Willow bark
contains salicin, an analgesic and ingredient in sev-
eral aspirin-like compounds. There are many ail-
ments for which willow and aspirin are effective.
Cutting or pruning willow encourages additional
branches to sprout. In addition, a willow tree’s life
cycle reflects the human life cycle. The constructed
lodge is usually a round or oval-shaped dome, rep-
resentative of the womb and sometimes called
‘Mother Earth’s womb’. The door is low to prevent
heat from escaping but lessons of humility are eas-
ily taught when one must bend low to enter the
lodge. Sweats begin in silent darkness inside the
lodge. The arrival of glowing rocks is a constant
reminder of One-Above’s penetrating goodness
and radiance. Sakim, Creek spiritual leader, con-
stantly reminds us that Silence is the voice of Cre-
ator, One Above. Sometimes, a flute is played; this
represents bird song, Creator’s first specific gift to
the newly created. In the Pine Arbor Creation
Story, birds received songs for their part in drying
out land when it was covered with water—bird
songs are both a form of spiritual silence and an
aural blessing.”
Other symbols in the sweat lodge include a
small altar mound made of dirt in front of the lodge
entrance, where participants can place special
items, and fire, which represents various concepts
according to the nation. For Creeks, for example,
fire is a piece of the Sun and perfect symbol of Cre-
ator. Saunas and sweat lodges exist throughout the
world, largely in North and Central America, Ire-
land, Finland, and much of Europe, Russia, Africa,
Japan, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
(http://www.memory.lor.gov/ammem/award98/
lenhtml/curthome.html)
Edward S. Curtis, photographer and author of
Cheyenne Sweat Lodge, volume 6 of a 20-volume set
entitled The North American Indian, wrote: “With
the Cheyenne the sweat bath is one of the most
essential religious observances. Through its agency
their purified minds and bodies are brought in
accord with the supernatural powers. Even when it
is employed in healing disease the thought is that
the power of the spirits, not the steam, will expel
the sickness. Certain medicine men have the right
to build sweat lodges and conduct the ceremony,
and they can impart the prerogative to others. In
this way alone can a man obtain the sweat lodge
medicine, that is, the right to have a sweat lodge
built and then to preside at the ceremony. After the
promise of valuable presents the medicine man
instructs the novice, while his wife teaches the wife
of the latter her duties. The transfer of the medicine
of healing and fighting is also involved in the trans-
action.... The origin of the sweating ceremony is
ascribed to the buffalo, and buffalo skull is always
placed in front of and looking toward the lodge.”
Tobacco is smoked as well during the sweat-lodge
ceremony.
See also NATIVE AMERICAN HEALING; HYDROTHERAPY.148 sweat lodge