Lee and Beth hard at work, square-lashing the saplings together
Ooh boy, are we excited! We just finished putting the finishing touches to our Bluegum Bushcraft sweatlodge. (It's actually made from spotted gum, as opposed to blue gum saplings, but don't tell anyone :c)
It's big enough for about 20 people comfortably, and we used a yurt-like design which makes more efficient use of the steam than a dome shape does.
For those of you who have never heard of a sweatlodge, it is a ceremonial shelter which is covered with blankets or hides, and has fire heated, red hot rocks placed in the centre pit. These are splashed with water which makes steam, which heats the lodge. So, yep, on one level it's basically a primitive sauna.
But when you sit on the soil in that utter darkness and feel the steam begin to work its magic, while a harmony of voices is raised in song, the experience is beyond description. It's no wonder that the sweatlodge was used for healing, prayer and personal transformation in so many cultures the world over - Celtic, indigenous Chinese, Siberian, not to mention indigenous Scandinavian and American.
We'll let you know once we get the coverings for the lodge (we're getting some special blankets) and if you feel called, we look forward to sweating with you in the new year!
It's big enough for about 20 people comfortably, and we used a yurt-like design which makes more efficient use of the steam than a dome shape does.
For those of you who have never heard of a sweatlodge, it is a ceremonial shelter which is covered with blankets or hides, and has fire heated, red hot rocks placed in the centre pit. These are splashed with water which makes steam, which heats the lodge. So, yep, on one level it's basically a primitive sauna.
But when you sit on the soil in that utter darkness and feel the steam begin to work its magic, while a harmony of voices is raised in song, the experience is beyond description. It's no wonder that the sweatlodge was used for healing, prayer and personal transformation in so many cultures the world over - Celtic, indigenous Chinese, Siberian, not to mention indigenous Scandinavian and American.
We'll let you know once we get the coverings for the lodge (we're getting some special blankets) and if you feel called, we look forward to sweating with you in the new year!
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