How-to: Sweating in a sweat lodge

By far and away, the most profound way of liberating toxins via your sweat is by attending a sweat lodge ceremony. You often liberate emotional toxins during this experience as well.

Ingredients:

• a sweat lodge
• appropriate clothing for sweating in as suggested by the sweat lodge holder
• an offering of tobacco if you wish to pray for something specific during the ceremony
• your singing voice
• your prayers - either silent or verbal
• towel to take into the lodge with you
• potluck dish for the feast to follow

Steps:

1. Find out who holds sweat lodge ceremonies and ask the sweat holder if you could attend one.
2. Prepare a food dish for the potluck ceremony afterward.
3. Remove jewellery and watches before entering the lodge. Smudge yourself before entering.
4. Enter the lodge with gratitude.  Saying "all my relations", or something that fits your beliefs.
5. Follow the guidance of the lodge holder, whether it be to smoke a peace pipe, smudge yourself with herbs, sing, pray or drink water.
6. Be prepared for the closing of the lodge door and being in complete darkness.  At this time, you will begin to feel intense wet heat as water is poured on hot rocks by the sweat holder.
7. After the ceremony, exit the lodge with gratitude. 
8. Give thanks for the feast and enjoy the potluck and company.