The sweat lodge ceremony is a universal tradition known by various names across the globe. In Scandinavia, the ancient and present Viking practice is called a sauna; in Scotland, thousand year old hot stone domes have been found; and in Mexico, the temazcal is a long-standing tradition. Long house and Lakota inipi.
Each culture utilizes this method of purification, reflecting a shared human understanding of the healing power of steam.
At PachaMama, this tradition was originally planted by the indigenous moondance elders of Mexico and Puerto Rico. Continuing their ways, the practice here honors their teachings and wisdom, ensuring the ceremony remains authentic and respectful of its origins.
Afterwards elders from the north and south have planted as well in Lakota tradition known as the”inipi”.
In the Lakota language, the sweat lodge is called “inipi,” meaning “to live again.” This name reflects the profound renewal and rebirth experienced by participants.
The Lakota people believe that during the ceremony, participants shed both physical and non-physical impurities, emerging rejuvenated and renewed.
The inipi is one of the seven sacred ceremonies given to the Lakota people by the White Buffalo Calf Woman. Another ceremony, the Vision Quest, or Hamblecha, has also been embraced, as well as the Spirit Dance.
Although the Sundance is not held here, many in the community are Sundancers, integrating these practices into the collective spiritual life.
The sweat lodge in traditional ceremonies is a temporary structure, using sacred geometry and reflecting the tropical climate of the location. In other places, sweat lodges may be permanent, made of clay bricks or cement.
The entrance to the lodge often faces the fire to the east, symbolising the dawn and new beginnings. The ceremony within is a space for personal and communal purification, contemplation, prayer, and connection with the Earth and each other.
The purifying steam inside the sweat lodge comes from heated stones, which are brought into the lodge. These stones, heated in the fire, symbolize the presence of ancestral wisdom.
They are revered as the “grandmothers” or “grandfathers,” honoring them as wise elder representatives of the ancestors.
Inside the sweat lodge, participants enter a state of selfless offering, humbling themselves and momentarily leaving behind the outside world. The dark, womb-like interior becomes a space for unique communication with the elements.
The combination of fire and water—referred to as atlatchinoli—brings the song of the stones and the presence of spirit. Prayers are offered in silence and through spoken words, songs, and poetry, unifying intentions and elevating them through collective energy.
Tobacco is often used in the ceremony, carrying prayers and intentions to the spirit realms.
The rhythmic sounds of drums and maracas resonate within the lodge, supporting prayers and connecting participants to the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
The sweat lodge helps us to remember things we forgot we knew and where we fit into the natural order of the world.
Weekly community sweats within the village, as well as special ceremonies during full moons and as part of other practices -silence retreats, Vision Quest, Spirit Dance, Woman’s work, offer an opportunity to restore harmony among all beings, invoking the timeless wisdom encapsulated in the phrase,
“Aho Mitakuye Oyasin”—For All Our Relations.
The sweat lodge ceremony at PachaMama honors the wisdom of ancient practices.
It is a space for purification, connection, and renewal. The approach is one of humility and reverence, inviting participants to engage with the elements and the spirit in a meaningful and authentic way.
This sacred practice provides a pathway to reconnect with the Earth and to honor the interconnectedness of all life.