A: A purification lodge is a structure used for ceremonial steam bathing. While it is commonly identified with cultures from North America and Canada, the practice is nearly universal. Some form of steam bathing has been used through thousands of years in places as diverse as Russia, Finland, Rome, Greece, Turkey, Japan, Nigeria, Ghana and other locations.

The exact design of the structure depends on the culture of the people, the terrain and available materials. A SMSD purification lodge is often made of willow branches formed into arches and woven together to create a dome-like structure approximately fifteen feet in diameter and four feet high. The construction itself is a ceremony that follows strict procedures established by our Elders in order to create a safe and sacred space. Before erecting a lodge, we pray to the ancestors of that place for their permission. Saplings used in the structure are offered tobacco and are asked if they are willing to give their life for the lodge. Rocks are also chosen in this sacred way.

When the lodge is made ready for ceremony, it is covered to eliminate outside light, thus creating a space for prayer undisturbed by the everyday world. Lodge coverings are made of non-toxic materials such as cotton canvas tarps or wool blankets. These natural materials are thick enough to shut out the light but also allow the lodge to “breathe.” In some regions, rain tarps (either plastic or canvas) are added as the top layer to protect the lodge and the people from rain, ice and snow, as well as extreme cold. At the time of the ceremony, heated stones are brought into the lodge and placed in a pit. When water is poured over the hot stones, steam is created and heats the lodge, much like a sauna.

A: While people take part in the ceremony for many different reasons, the primary purpose of a SMSD purification lodge is to cleanse oneself and re-establish one’s connection to Spirit through prayer. The specific intent may be for purification of body and spirit, for healing, for guidance, for help with change or loss, for a closer connection to one’s higher self, or to offer prayers for others. The purification lodge is considered to be the womb of Grandmother Earth. We emerge from the lodge “reborn” and reconnected to life and Spirit

A: The ceremonialist who conducts a SMSD purification lodge is known as the Dance Chief. The Dance Chief speaks to the people before they enter the lodge to review the intent of the ceremony and explain how it is performed. This includes discussion of pre-existing health conditions that may be aggravated by participation in the sauna-like conditions present in a purification lodge. Individuals who cannot safely go into the lodge are permitted to sit outside the structure and pray from outside the lodge if they wish to do so.

Participants wear loose comfortable clothing into the lodge, and are welcome to bring water bottles with them. Most ceremonies consist of 4 rounds of prayer. The Dance Chief begins each round by asking the rock carriers to bring in hot stones. Then the lodge door is closed so the ceremony can be conducted within the darkness of the womb space. The Dance Chief pours water on the stones to create heat and steam similar to a sauna; offers prayers; and guides the people to pray. At the end of each round the door is opened to bring in fresh air and release the prayers to Spirit.

After the final round of prayer everyone leaves the lodge and gathers for a formal closing. It is a time to ask further questions, express gratitude, share food and comradery before heading for home.

A: Purification lodges have existed around the world for thousands of years because they bring healing and beauty to the people. A lodge can become unsafe if the ceremony is improperly performed. A purification lodge is not an endurance contest. The greatest potential risks are dehydration and overheating. It is advisable to hydrate before and after a lodge, and you are welcome to bring a water bottle into the lodge itself. If you feel too hot or need help at any point during the ceremony, ask for it. The Dance Chief is there to facilitate your connection to the natural power present in the lodge and assist you in aligning with the heat and energy of the space. If you feel your concerns have not been adequately addressed, ask to leave. There is no shame in leaving a lodge. You know yourself better than anyone else, and your desire to leave will be respected. If someone asks to leave, they are assisted in doing so and may continue their prayers on the outside of the lodge.

A: Leading a lodge is considered to be both a privilege and a responsibility. The Dance Chief is responsible for the stability of the structure, the safety of the fire, the sanctity of the space around the lodge, the level of heat within the lodge, the safety and overall well-being of the participants. While the Dance Chief may delegate specific duties to others, s/he is spiritually accountable for everything, from the beginning to the end of the ceremony.

This requires proper preparation and rigorous training over many years time. Dance Chiefs are all apprentices to the SMSD tradition. They have spent years taking part in lodges for their own purification. They have participated on the fire crew that prepares the lodge; carried stones for many ceremonies; and finally tested to become a Fire Chief- someone who is qualified to care for the sacred fire. An experienced Fire Chief may eventually begin the extensive monitored training required to pour a purification lodge. No one is qualified to pour a lodge without supervision until they have completed their training and passed written, oral and practical testing. They are now permitted to conduct purification lodges.

All Dance Chiefs remain accountable to the SMSD lineage for the impeccability of their leadership, for their continued study and progress as apprentices, and for the preservation of our ceremonial alchemy and protocols. They remain accountable to Spirit to facilitate the beauty of the ceremony and serve the people in a responsible way.

A: It is always wise to ask about the training and experience of the person leading any kind of ceremony before you participate. It is also prudent to know in advance what will take place, so you can assess your desire to participate. Be honest and forthcoming with the Dance Chief about your physical health and emotional stability, to determine if it is safe for you to take part in the ceremony. During the ceremony, ask for any help you need, and ask to leave if you feel that is best for you. Finally, remember that prayers made by others are confidential and should not be discussed after the ceremony is complete.

A: There is never a charge for ceremony in the SMSD tradition. Participants share in the actual costs of the ceremony as they can, but no one is turned away if they cannot contribute. If you wish to do so you may make donations and express gratitude to the Fire Crew and Dance Chief by placing contributions and gifts on a giveaway blanket after the ceremony.

A: The SMSD path does not practice tribal Native American ways. Our purification ceremony is part of the ancient shamanic lineage of the Twisted Hairs of Turtle Island. Thousands of years ago medicine women and men from tribes across the Americas (Turtle Island) traveled beyond their tribal boundaries to seek new knowledge. In sharing with each other they discovered common principles regarding communication with the natural world, energy laws, ceremonial alchemy, healing procedures, and dreaming techniques. These common principles became the basis for the secret medicine society they founded in 1250 BC, which eventually came to be called the Twisted Hairs Metis Medicine Societies Council of Elders. The Twisted Hairs knowledge is known as the Sweet Medicine SunDance path.

In 1975 the Council of Elders opened the SMSD path to the public. They did this to reawaken people’s heart connection to Grandmother Earth and to help re-establish male and female balance on our planet. The Twisted Hairs Elder Thunder Strikes, descended from Eastern Cherokee and Irish parents, was one of those designated to carry these teachings to the people. His diverse background in traditional ceremonial medicine, comparative religion, and martial arts contributes to his remarkable skill as a contemporary shaman. In 1986, he founded the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society to share the Sweet Medicine SunDance teachings with people all over the world.

Metis means “mixed blood”. The Twisted Hairs who initiated the SMSD path thousands of years ago mixed or wove together the “braids of truth” from their respective full-blood traditions, creating a unique shamanic tradition for the metis people. The Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society is “metis” in that it includes people from both native and non-native heritages. We carry forward the alchemy and beauty of the original Twisted Hairs way while establishing our own traditions as we bridge ancient wisdom and ways into modern times. You can learn more about the Twisted Hairs and the Deer Tribe at www.dtmms.org.