The Sweat Lodge at the One Spirit Retreat Center was built in July 2007 by

Francis White Lance (Pine Ridge Reservation) & Roger and Linda Two Crow (Sturgis, South Dakota).

Unfortunately a large animal uprooted the lodge, so we are in the process of having the lodge rebuilt.

The Sweat Lodge has been built in many different ways. The sweat lodges of North and South Dakota have

become almost universal in construction. The Sweat Lodge at the Retreat Center was built with ash and

 willow saplings. The ends of the withes are set into the ground in a circle, approximately

10 feet in diameter, though there is no set size for a sweat lodge.

In many traditions the entrance to the sweat lodge faces to the East and the sacred fire pit.

This has very significant spiritual value.Each new day for all begins in the East with the rising of  Father Sun,

the source of life and power, dawn of wisdom, while the fire heating the rocks is

the underlying light of the world, eternity, and it is a new spiritual beginning day

that we seek in the sweat lodge ceremony.

(Owner's nephew Shane Brink has the rare opportunity to particiate in building the lodge)

The Sweat Lodge which Native Americans call Inipi (traditional sweat lodge) or Iwipi (a teaching sweat in which all blood lines are allowed), has been practiced by many people across the globe. During this purification ceremony all sense of race, color and religion are set aside. As in the mother's womb and the father's eyes, we are all the same, we are One.  The Sweat Lodge Ceremony usually occurs before and after other major rituals like the "Vision Quest". The aim of the ceremony is to purify one's mind, body, spirit and heart. It is also a "stand alone" ritual that occurs whenever it is needed. Sweat Lodge essentially translates into returning to the womb and the innocence of childhood. The lodge is a dark, moist, hot and safe. The darkness relates to human ignorance before the spiritual world and so much of the physical world.

A sweat ceremony in many traditions may start with the loading and offering of the "Sacred Chanunpa"(peace pipe) in prayer, that the participants may know and speak the truth. As you prepare to enter the lodge the leader will smudges you with the smoke of burning sage, cedar, or sweetgrass, wafting the smoke over you with an eagle feather. You then crawl into the lodge in a sun-wise direction, bowing in humility to the Great Spirit and in close contact with Mother Earth, and take your place in the circle, sitting crosslegged upright against the wall of the lodge.

 A sweat ceremony is typically four rounds, each lasting 30 to 45 minutes. The round ends when the leader announces the opening of the door. The first round is for recognition of the spirit world which resides in the black West where the sun goes down, and the Creator may be asked for a "spirit guide" by some of the participants.

The second round is for recognition of courage, endurance, strength, cleanliness, and honesty, calling upon the power of the white North.

In he third round there is a recognition of knowledge and time for individual prayer. Prayers are to the direction of the daybreak star and the rising sun that we may gain wisdom and may follow the Red Road of the East in all our endeavors.

The yellow south stands for growth and healing. Thus, the last round centers on spiritual growth and healing.                                                                                         

If you would like to know more about the Sweat Lodge Ceremony - attend one. It will be different then the last one you attended.....       

Ho! Mitakuye oyasin.    Hecetu welo!!........All my relatives.