Sweat Lodge
See calendar for dates of Thursday and Saturday sweat lodges
Purification & Prayer
A sweat lodge, or a stone people’s lodge, can be an intensely rewarding experience. By entering the mother’s womb (the lodge), we seek purification and a deeper spiritual awareness through prayer. While reasons for attending sweat lodge ceremonies are personal, generally speaking the experience is to deepen spiritual awareness. The steam, heat, and darkness help intensify and hold our prayers and add to our personal introspection. The lodge leader (pourer), with help from the fire tender, hold an energetic space of safety and security while setting the intent of the lodge. The medicine of the lodge leader and of each participant helps to enrich the lessons of the lodge.
General Information
The fire is generally started at 5:00 pm on Thursday’s sweats and 10:00 am on Saturday sweats. It is suggested that you to arrive at these times.
• If you have any questions, please ask the lodge master and/or the fire tender.
• Composting toilets are located in the meadow and near the Peace Sound Chamber.
• You may change clothes in either the Peace Sound Chamber or the composting toilets.
Safety Guidelines - click here
Suggested Items to Bring
• two towels (one to bring in the lodge with you and one for after the lodge)
• Flashlight for Thursday night sweat.
• Suggested dress includes shorts or swim trunks for men and dresses or skirts for women for inside the lodge (something that is modest and that you don’t mind getting muddy). There is no nudity in our lodges.
• Change of clothes (preferably long-sleeved shirts and something that covers all of the legs to keep from getting the feast area dirty).
• Food to share for the feast after the lodge.It is appropriate to bring tobacco, a small gift, or monetary donation for the fire-keeper and lodge master, both of whom offer their services to the people as a gift.
Directions to the Sweat Lodge
Leaving the driveway at the Center, turn right on Graves-Delozier Road. At the first right (a paved road), drive down the hill. Please DO NOT park in the meadow. Park along the drive, or at the chamber, which is located at the top of the drive. If there are no places to park, you will have to leave your car at the house and walk down. The sweat lodge is just past the tree line and a path leads through the woods to the lodge.
Donations for the Lodge
The Center for Peace is a non-profit organization that is blessed to continue based on the donations of members and those who attend its functions. Donations are used to support the sweat lodge. A cord of wood, for example, costs more than $100. We use lots of wood for the fire as well as supplies like herbs (sage, tobacco, cornmeal, etc.), drinking water, sweetgrass, and more. Donations are always appreciated.
THERE IS NEVER A CHARGE FOR CEREMONY. IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING ABUNDANT, PLEASE DON’T ALLOW THIS TO PREVENT YOU FROM COMING. If you have no idea what would be appropriate, we would suggest $10 although less, more, an item, and/or a prayer would also be very much appreciated.