Prayer and Purification: Honoring the Sacred Fire at the Lodge

 

     The fire crackled under the Spring sun. "What is the main purpose of the lodge?" I asked the water pourer, a man of mixed ancestry, Dakota, Ojibwe, French and German. 

     He answered without hesitation.

     "Prayer and purification. We pray, and we purify. When we purify, we make ourselves wakan, holy. This helps to bring ourselves closer to our Creator, Wakan Tanka, the Holy Spirit."

     I have never found a better explanation for the point of participating in a sweat lodge, or inipi ceremony. This man was dedicated to his way of life, and held every activity at the site of the lodge with reverence, a quiet calm and clarity in all of his movements and words expressing his faith and dedication.

     Reflecting back on the many seasons I have walked the road of beauty, the Red Road of Native American spirituality, I am filled with gratitude. Early on, I was named and trained as a helper, scabewis, tending to the fire and heated rocks, and for keeping the sanctity of the fire through focus and sometimes through gentle reminders to the participants to focus and contain their attention. 

     I was welcomed into this service and mentored by Coyote, the Muskogee pipe-carrier who later adopted me into his family, tribe, and way of life. We shared many adventures and assisted with countless ceremonies and gatherings over the decades. He died a few years ago, blessed is his memory. The fire has been a guide, teacher, and portal throughout the years of sacred service.

     FIRE TEACHINGS

     The fire is the center of ceremonial life in the Ojibwe-Creek tradition in which I have been primarily mentored and participated in. The way of life and sacred traditions that touches on these and many other teachings, is called, mino-bemaade-ziwiin, the Good Way of Life. 

     There are several important things to know whilst participating at the fire during ceremony. These are not absolute, nor consistently enforced throughout the way of life in various indigenous ceremonies, but rather serve as guidelines to consider and respect. Showing respect for the fire as a spiritual process is a step into the consciousness that goes past the material concept of fire, and into a sacred function. As a general rule, it is best to clear your consciousness and be present to the deep self that is participating for healing reasons, and to attend to the soul. 

     1) Don't mess with the fire. Don't touch it or tend to it unless instructed to do so. Don't add anything, and never put garbage or throw paper or other things into it - it's not a campfire. Don't put food into it unless instructed to as part of the ceremony. Let the firekeepers handle things.

     2) Mind your actions - thoughts, speech, and behaviors at the fire. The fire is an amplification of spiritual intention, therefore, avoid crass or mundane speech, cursing and foul language are unacceptable, and even talking about regular topics - sports, business, politics - are discouraged.   

     The focus of your mind and words ought to be on your prayers and purposes, and not on superficial matters. Often, quiet and calm is preferred to talking and busy activities, reduce the noise of anything outside of the ceremonial functions.

     3) Don't lie or perjure yourself at the fire. "The ancestors are listening!" Coyote would say, if he noticed someone saying anything false, or gossiping, or making jokes. "Never, ever lie at the fire, this will weaken your spiritual power." No question about what he meant here.

     4) No drinking or substance use at the fire. This includes not having any alcohol or drugs in your system. There are often restrictions such as none in your system for a minimum of four days so that you show up clean and sober. The use of medications, such as for mental health purposes is a matter to be discussed with the water pourer. There are different traditions around the use of psycho-trophic substances such as peyote during ceremony; this most like would be a matter to be discussed with the water pourer of the lodge if there any questions.

     5) Don't flirt or act sexual around the fire. Whilst sexual energy may be acceptable (or possibly part of the intention) at some ceremonial activities in certain traditions, at the Native American sacred fire, it is not acceptable. Even how you dress is important, especially for women, who are traditionally expected to wear a dress or skirt that covers their legs to their ankles, and also at minimum a T-shirt (no bikinis, short skirts nor shorts).

     The sexual energy can naturally be amplified at any fire, so it is important to show up with a focus on healing and support, and not with the idea to meet people for dating or hookups when attending ceremony in the Native American way of life. 

     Remember that the others who are participating at the ceremony are, in effect, your brothers and sisters, all of whom will experience a symbolic rebirth through the lodge service.

     Fire is a powerful element, a symbol of transformation, a portal to the ancestors, and a method of healing in the Native American sacred traditions. Care for it, honor it, and you will be rewarded with insight, healing, and understanding. The fire offers you a place to deepen your connection to self, your relationships, and to your spirituality. It offers a place to let go of hurts, resentments, and difficult feelings and associations. It is a place to return to nature and to the wider being of cosmos.