Sweat Lodge

Sweat Lodges are held at Felipe's house on a regular basis, as often as twice a month on the Saturdays nearest the Full Moon and the New Moon. Lodges are also held on or as near as possible to the Equinoxes and the Solstices and there are also occasional Women's Lodges held. Click here to see the current lodge schedule. The lodge starts at sundown, so the time varies with the time of year.

The adobe sweat lodge at Felipe's house, November 2006, with the stones heating in the firepit.

The sweats lodges are in the Two-Spirit Apache Tradition. There are four rounds, honoring the hac'tsim of the East, South, West & North. Each round is opened by a song to that particular direction and a prayer by the water pourer.

The lodge has only three rules that need to be followed: no shoes & no shiny objects to be worn for the eagle feather blessing/empowerment; A Spirit plate with food is placed outside before feasting as the Spirits who helped in lodge have to be fed; And a third rule insures that the water pourer will not be left alone, in the lodge, after a silent prayer. Other than that, everything else is expressed as a preference and so, it is a gentle lodge with which to be introduced to the tradition of sweating.

The lodge is clothing optional where people dress to their own level of comfort for entry to lodge. Blankets for sitting on and towels are provided. There is also an altar outside the door of the lodge where people leave objects, photos of loved ones, etc. for the duration of the lodge, so that those objects can be empowered by the lodge.

Traditionally, three gifts are brought to lodge, wood for the fire, food for the feast & a gift for the water pourer. These days, it is more usual for those who attend to make a monetary donation to the house, when possible, to off set the cost of firewood, laundry, food & maintenance. Gifts for the feast (a potluck), & for the water pourer are still appreciated but please be clear that attendance at lodge is not dependent on one's ability to donate, at any level. Lodge & the blessing of lodge, is free.

People can arrive about ½ hour before the lodge is due to begin, as there is always is a short introduction, led by the water pourer for the night, before each lodge. The 'confab' allows newcomers to introduce themselves and get a full overview of the lodge and ask any questions they need to.

Lodge Timetable 2008

If you wish to receive notice about forthcoming lodges, please email .

Sweat Lodges

Open Lodge
Sat., April 5th, 2008
Waterpourer: Lezlie

Open Lodge
Sat., May 3rd, 2008
Waterpourer: Kele

Annual Lodge Repair
Sun., May 4th, 2008
All are welcome!

Open Lodge
Sat., May 17th, 2008
Waterpourer: Felipe

If you wish to receive notice about forthcoming lodges, please email .