Native AmericansSweat lodges were a basic component of Native American life. The NativeAmerican completed a purification ceremony in these sweat lodges. This ritualdealt with purifying the human body and soul.
The layout of the sweat lodge, thepractice of the purification ceremony, and the symbolism in each of these thingsare all part of Native American rituals The Navaho used to call sweat lodgestq”ache. They are made out of birch willow branches and resemble a beehive. Outside of the sweat lodges is a fire used to heat rocks. A dirt path from thefire outside goes through the door leading to the fire inside. The door isalways facing toward the east.
In the middle of the sweat lodge is a hole withthe heated rocks from the fire outside. Sweat baths are filled with symbolism. Sweat represents the washing away of physical and moral impurities. Thisceremony is meant to revitalize and allow the person to be born anew.
The lodgeis an image of the universe. The rocks inside symbolize the center of theuniverse. The heated rocks in the fireplace represent the Mother Earth. Thestream created by pouring water over the rocks symbolizes the Thunder Being. Theparticipants purify themselves with rocks, fire, water, earth and air.
Thepractice of the purification ceremony is essentially a sweat bath. When thestones in the fire outside are hot enough they are brought in. The participantschant and sit in silence. After this is done, a mixture of water, sage grass,cedar, and pine needles is poured onto the hot rocks. This produces a hot vaporbath that leaves the fragrance of burning needles and grass.
This practice canbe done many times a day. There are always sweat baths before importantceremonies, warpaths, or the signing of treaties. This ritualistic ceremonyshows many of the beliefs about God’s relationship with the earth and humans. This purification ceremony put the American Indians in a frame of mind to makeimportant decisions. The layout, practice, and symbolism in the sweat lodges area major part of Native American rituals.
