This purification ceremony was and still is used throughout the world BY Native Peoples and increasingly by those of European descent. The purpose of this sacred ceremony is to communicate with GreatSpirit/GOD/N’KULULULU, your Ancestors and your HigherSelf.
A traditional African Sweat Hut is constructed of pliable thin branches, about the thickness of one’s thumb, that are bent into a shape symbolic of a ‘womb’ . The opening ‘door’, is usually EAST facing, with a corresponding ‘door’ in the WEST . These ‘doors’ are covered with blankets which are lifted between ‘doors’. There are usually four ‘doors’ to a sweat – these represent the Four Directions, as well as the elements and energies that are attributed to those directions, so too, the Ancestors of those directions. There is no set time for any ‘door’ – all is guided by the Medicine Wo/men, iSangoma/Shaman and Spirit. It is then covered with either thatch grasses, tarp or blankets.
On entering the site of a SweatLodge/SweatHut, one is ‘smudged’/cleansed by imphepho (sage).The ‘line’ (whether of ‘mieliemeel’ (cornmeal) or an invisablly drawn line which runs from the fire, around the altar and into the central pit inside the lodge, should not be crossed or walked over. No thing is to be thrown into the fire. People speak in hushed tones should there be a need to speak. When entering the SweatLodge, traditionally one would place your head on the earth, your hands open, face down alongside your head. One would greet the Earth, “Mitakuye Oya’cin” or “Siyabonga Mama, siyabonga”.
Once inside, the Medicine Wo/man/Shaman/DanceChief/WaterPourer, will point you to your space, or on entering f/the left you’d move into a clockwise direction. The lodge is hot as some stones have already been placed inside. Once everyone is placed, you might be invited to hang your PrayerTies onto the frame of the lodge.
Honouring of All Life, prayer, gratitude, chants and song will commence shortly after the East ‘door’ is closed. This will be repeated four times, each ‘door’ intensifying in heat.
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