Om

It was; tonight was my second Inipi (sweat) in a place that looked something like this:
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h317/wildkatz1981/Native%20American%20Images/9ff7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/IronGoldMine/sweat20lodge202.jpg[/IMG]

The first time, a month ago, we did made three rounds of the 28 stones, which is rare, and tonight we did 4 rounds of 7 each. As the stones, which have been in a fire for 2-3 hours, are placed in the center of the lodge, we all say oh-kola (I think) to welcome the stone, which is a "grandfather," an "old one," who's been around a lot longer than we have. I caught more of the ceremony of it this time; I remember more of it, probably I was hearing a lot of it for the second time. We sang songs and prayed and another guy told a story; there were only 6 of us in the lodge the first 3 rounds, and the fire-keeper joined for the fourth.

This describes it fairly well:

[quote]An Inipi ceremony, also known as a sweat lodge, is a Lakota purification ceremony. The Inipi ceremony is conducted in an Inipi lodge. An Inipi lodge has a frame which is usually made from willow branches, and is covered either with hides or blankets. The Inipi ceremony is an ancient practice of the Lakota people and has been passed down through the generations as sacred knowledge.

The actual ceremony involves the introduction of fire heated stones to the fire pit dug in the center of the lodge, followed by poured water which creates hot steam. The ceremony takes place in pitch black and may include song and drum. A Canumpa may also be passed around. A cunumpa is a sacred pipe that allows the host to pray. You also have to make the pipe yourself.[/quote]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inipi

So we prayed a lot; in one round we asked different spirits to join us, each person talked for a bit. We honoured the 7 directions: East, West, North and South, as well as Mother Earth, God, and Heart. At the end of the ceremoney we smoked tobacco from a canumpa, so that our prayers would be heard. We weren't supposed to pray for ourselves, because, in the spirit world, there's a ceremony of the exact same kind with the same number of people, who are praying for us. In coming to the lodge we came to pray, and to purify ourselves; as you're supposed to fast 24 hours before it starts. Everyone who comes is meant to come, as there aren't any coincidences.

Practical advice: be ready for it to be very hot and steamy, be ready to have to tough it out, because you'll probably sweat in your eyes a lot, so keep them closed as soon as this starts; don't worry because as soon as they open the door, your eyes will dry out and you'll feel great, but if you get sweat in your eyes, there won't be anything to wipe it out of them with. Try to get the most out of it the first time; really enjoy the heat and the sweat.

I guess that's all. So anyway the people I do it with are great, they're my friends. One of them was showing three of us tai-chi movements before it started. A couple of women cooked some fish and there was some other food...yes I ate fish- I know, I'm a killer! So anyway, all in all it was a great day. Missing Baki *pout* though. Hope she comes back soon.