Presented by Various Leaders

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
7:00 pm
Lily Dale Beach

There are many ways of praying and reaching to the Spirit Realms and the Divine. One way used by the Celts and many Native American tribes is the sweat lodge ceremony. Lily Dale’s lodge is a structure made of saplings bent over to form a small dome high enough to crawl and sit up in. Usually about 25 people are able to squeeze in to form 2 circles around the center, where a stone people’s pit is located. Stones are heated red-hot in a fire near the lodge. These are then brought into the pit. Water is poured onto the stones, creating a sacred breath which helps us to center and pray.

The sweat lodge ceremony can last anywhere from under an hour to several hours, depending on the lodge leader and the needs of those attending. All lodge leaders have many years of experience with doing these ceremonies. No two ceremonies are alike. Appropriate attire for Lily Dale’s lodges includes shorts and a T-shirt, although some women choose the more traditional long (below knee) skirt and a T-shirt that covers the elbows. Please bring a towel and a dry change of clothes. No bathing suits please.

Attendance is first come, first served up to 24 participants. We do reserve the right to turn away people whose presence may be disharmonious in the group. If there are enough latecomers after the first 24, and there is interest, there may be another lodge about 2 1/2 hours after the original one.

There is no fee for participation, but goodwill offerings to defray costs are gratefully appreciated.

Please note: Inside the lodge it can get very hot and crowded. If you have any health concerns about such conditions, or concerns about the health of other participants (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B, etc.) please discuss them beforehand with your doctor. Participation is open, voluntary, and at your own risk.