Jitka Mandalam

Indian Sweat Lodge – Stone People Ceremony

The ritual is an accompanying ceremony.
It is a journey of prayer and finding the truth of the heart. A journey of Beauty. The healing of all relationships and sacred worship of the Earth Mother and her treasures.

The Stone People Ceremony is a ceremony by which Native Americans honor Mother Earth. Through this ritual, all relationships are healed and mended.
Into the hut, as into the womb of Mother Earth, one comes to regenerate, to die and to be born again. To leave behind the old and find the new.
It is also a celebration of the union of the male and female principles, in the sacred marriage of Hieros Gamos, which gives birth to Beauty.
The heated stones – the seed of the light of the Ancestor Sun is brought in, penetrating the womb of Mother Earth.
It is also a celebration of bringing light into darkness.

From such a womb (hut) of Mother Earth we are born with a clearer consciousness of self, in full power and beauty.

TRADITION:
A tradition that goes back to the teachers of John Hawken (Star Water) to what is called The Morning Star Dream Weavers Lodge. It contains the teachings of the Medicine Circles (inspired by the tradition of The Twisted Hair society). The teachings themselves are of much older origin. It was brought into modern times by two main branches of two great teachers, namely Harley Swift Deer Regan and Arwyn Dreamwalker. Arwyn was a teacher of John Hawken and a pupil of Don Juan (of Carlos Castaneda books fame). Jitka Wakanu Mandalam is thus the third in a generation of Don Juan’s pupils.

Schedule:
Wednesday (from 7pm and Friday)
1:45-2:45pm Ritual linking of rods according to the medicine tradition.
Creating an altar.
19:00 Ritual lighting of the fire. Placing the Stone People in the Fire. Chanting of songs.
22:30 Fireside gathering – dedication of the fire. Intention.
23:00 Going in (ending at approx. 00:01)
The Hut has 4 parts – Celebration of the 4 Elements. There is a short break of about 5 min. between these parts, water is served. You don’t have to come out of the hut, but you can.
The ritual is an accompanied ceremony.

FAQ

Can women with menstruation go there? Yes, women with periods are welcome. The hut is a symbol of the womb of the Earth Mother. The bleeding and seeping of blood into the earth is symbolic of connecting with feminine energy and showing respect and gratitude.

How should I dress for the hut? We go to the hut as we were born – naked.This Ceremony, however, is guided by the path of beauty. If you have a problem with nudity, you can wear a light shawl to cover you.

What do you sit on in the hut? You sit directly on the ground. It’s about feeling the ground. However, if someone has health problems, they can sit on a towel or other small mat. One can also sit on one’s heels.

Can I eat in front of the hut? Do I have to follow a diet before the ritual? Yes, you can eat before the hut. It is recommended not to overeat, but to eat something small, such as soup. It is not advisable to go to the hut fasting unless one is used to it. It is a cleansing ceremony so it may be supportive to let go of unhealthy foods a few days or weeks before the ceremony.

How long does the ceremony last? The ceremony itself takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Will I be able to go out if I’m hot? Yes, you can come out at any time to cool off.The only time I will not let you out or in is when hot stones on sharp forks go into the hut.There are four breaks during the entire ceremony when you can, but are not allowed to, come out.

What is the way of beauty? It’s consciously watching our personal boundaries and not running away from discomfort prematurely, while also having the kindness to take care of ourselves if anything goes unhealthily beyond our own boundaries.

Read more at www.mandalam.cz