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Shamanism is a study in perception, psychology, ecology, and the nature of the universe itself. A shaman is one who can enter altered states of consciousness at will, travelling to other realms and interacting with spiritual entities, using his/her mastery of energy and perception in order to heal individuals and serve their community.
Temascal or Inipi Ceremony
INIPI
An Inipi is a purification ceremony, which is common among many Northern Woodland and Plains tribes. The Lakota Inipi or Stone People’s House is perhaps the most widely utilized and understood form of this ceremony today. Therefore its procedure is universally accepted as the standard by most people. There is also a ceremony of purification that is used by the Denéh in their Hogan. The Hopi have a Kiva Ceremony for this form of purification as well. Here we present a basic understanding of the Lakota Inipi for use as a healing lodge, a People’s Lodge.
The Inipi Ceremony is often performed prior to many Lakota Ceremonies. It is the preparation of our bodies and spirits through purification. The People’s Lodge, or Healing Lodge does not require that a ‘medicine person' pour the water, any person who is respected by those attending can be chosen for this service. This is usually a person who has had a substantial amount of experience and, or training by elders with this ceremony.
BUILDING THE LODGE
There are specific ways of building the Inipi lodge. There is a sacred architecture if you will. This is important when doing certain ceremonies where medicine people perform the right. Then there are also specific ceremonies, which deal with each direction. These are the territories of the medicine people and each has a specific purpose and intention. So keep your ceremony simple, and very pure. A Healing or Peoples Lodge is just that. It is for the People, and performed by the People.
The lodge is usually built of willow, although when not available most any sapling that grows along the waters edge can be utilized. The relation of the tree to the water is important in the energy of the lodge. Water and fire are after all the great purifiers that Wakan Tanka has given us. Also the water is a feminine energy while the fire is a male energy. Bringing both aspects into the purification ceremony plays an important role in the healing process of the Inipi.
There is an emphasis placed on the addressing the Sacredness of the area, and waking up of the Spirits where the Inipi will be constructed. Remembering always that it is our intentions that Spirit understands. The emphasis of the Healing and asking for the cooperation of the energies in this particular location said in the prayers we offer before we disturb the site in any way. When the Lodge is constructed it is most always used the same day. All necessary items should be gathered prior to the construction to allow for this. Besides the ceremonial things, and sacred herbs like sage and sweetgrass, it includes things such as rocks, wood, and water. Shovels rakes and pitchforks to carry the stones from the fire pit.
DOING THE CEREMONY
The wood is placed in a reverent manner around and in between the rocks, which will allow for the rocks to be heated effectively. NO ARTIFICIAL FIRE STARTERS SHOULD EVER BE USED. Besides being dangerous, this can cause bad energy in and around the ceremony. Also the placement of each piece of wood as well as stone becomes as a prayer, setting the intentions of the lodge.
Someone is selected to be the doorkeeper who will close and open the entrance flap from the outside. When the water pourer calls from the inside and says ³Mitakuye Oyasin,² or All my relations in a loud voice the doorkeeper will open the entrance flap. This usually occurs at the end of each round, or session, of the Inipi ceremony. The Lakota version of the Peoples lodge has four rounds. There are some medicine lodges that have as many as seven.
Two people are usually selected to be the firekeepers who are responsible for tending the fire and heating the rocks. These people play an important role in balance with the water pourer inside the lodge, so they are not missing anything, or less than, if they are not included inside. Sometimes the experiences outside can be quite exciting.
The direction to which the entrance of an Inipi faces depends on the medicine person¹s vision. The People’s Lodge usually has their entrances facing east, while others that are Medicine Lodges , run by medicine people usually face west. Sage or sweet cedar is also usually placed on the floor inside of the Inipi for the further purification of the participants. Some of this is also used to smudge the participants, or to spray water with while in the lodge
After all preparations have been made, the medicine person or ceremony leader should gather those who will be participating to join in prayer circle and announce their intentions and purpose for this lodge prior to entering it. This is important for creating a oneness and connection between those about to participate in this Sacred Ceremony. After the circle has completed their prayer the first person to enter the Inipi is the water pourer. They enter stating Aho Mitakyue Oyasin, All my Relations and proceed into the lodge by crawling on all fours in a clockwise or sunwise manner until they arrive at the right side of the entrance, as viewed from outside the lodge. Next, the other participants crawl in the lodge in the same manner as the medicine person or ceremony leader.
In the traditional manner of the Inipi Ceremony, depending on the purpose for the ceremony and also depending upon the medicine person's tradition, women may or may not be allowed to participate. Sometimes the ceremony may also be for women only. In co-ed ceremonies, the women will enter the lodge along with the men, they also enter upon all fours in a clockwise or sunwise manner. The final person to enter is the medicine person or ceremony leader¹s assistant who sits to the left of the entrance, as viewed from the outside.
Then the heated rocks will be brought in by the firekeeper. The glowing red rocks will be placed at the center in a pit, inside the lodge by the water pourer and their assistant with either deer antlers or two willow sticks. When all the rocks called for by the water pourer are in, a bucket of water is then brought in as well. The entrance is then closed at the instruction of the medicine person or ceremony leader. Prayers and songs are sung, as the water is poured at different intervals upon the rocks causing steam to rise, and the temperature begins to rise inside the lodge.
Often songs are sung, and prayers are always said. In executing proper procedure for the purpose of each round simply stay focused to the specific purpose that each round is dedicated to achieving. Listen and stay aware, become clear, leave your own agendas behind you, there is a place and a time for them all. There is a element of individualism in each ceremony as well as in the way each person performs that ceremony. Each lodge is unique to itself, and I have never seen any two done exactly the same. There is a basic structure, there are steps, but Spirit runs the show.:
Round 1. Purify yourself, before you pray for others or speak your words to the Grandfathers. Round 2. Pray for healing of yourself and or others. Speak you message very simply and clearly. Round 3. Bringing in the Spirits round, calling and singing to the spirit world. Round 4. Praying our thanks to mother Earth, and the Spirits, this is the gratitude round for receiving the healing, always gratitude for closure
The water pourer always begins the lead prayers and callings and states the purpose of each round. This purpose should be stated clearly and simply as is possible. Do not try to accomplish many things, state one purpose at a time. The participants then begin in turn to declare their purposes and desires for healings proceeding in a clockwise manner from the water pourer. Prayers and callings may be said aloud or in silence. Should it get too it hot for any participant, so that they would be placed in jeopardy that person may say ³Mitakuye Oyasin² 'All My Relations in a loud voice, and the water pourer will ask for the door keeper to open the flap from the outside.
The Inipi Ceremony, is not an endurance test to see how much heat one can stand. Everyone has their individual limitations. People's safety and well being should always be considered by the water Pourer, and they should be respected, and not humiliated if they have to leave for a real reason. The purification ceremony is not a contest to see who can take the most heat. This totally defeats the purpose of the ceremony, and is disrespectful to others¹ rights of sovereign individuality. One does not receive more blessings because he or she has suffered the most in the Inipi. To have such thoughts is foolish and far from being loving and healing in nature, isn't it?
When the Inipi ceremony is over, the water pourer usually exits last, following after the participants, all in a clockwise manner. It is customary for people to jump in a lake or river to cool off, while others will spill water over themselves. In the winter, some will jump in the snow and play like bears. People should be attentive to those coming out of the Lodge, as many times they can be in an altered state, and could loose their equilibrium, thus easily falling or hurting them selves. So be aware and compassionate of each other.
Source: wolflodge.org
TEMASCAL
A Temascal is the mexican version of the Inipi. It’s a steam-bath practice that was in general use in Meso-American cultures, the oldest vestiges of which can be found in the archeological zones of Teotihuacan in Mexico and Piedras Negras in Guatemala. Its use throughout history has been ceremonial as well as therapeutic. The practice survives today thanks to the oral tradition of Mexican indigenous communities. The word Temascal comes from the Nahuatl language meaning “steam house”.
The Temascal is a small round closed structure. Red hot rocks are placed in a center pit over which an infusion of medicinal herbs is poured, producing a curative steam. The symbolism of the steam and the structure of the Temascal represent the womb, life's starting place.
