SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post - Woman Dies in Az Sweat Lodge .... words of advice

barb dwyer · 10-25-2009, 09:02 PM

{ moderators - I didn't know where to put this - if more appropriate someplace else, please move it there? thank you!}

I don't know how many here are delving into Native American Spirituality as part of their 11th step stuff... or how many *do* think about having a 'sweat lodge experience' ...

You can google the incident I'm talking about ...
just say 'sweat lodge deaths in az'

Hi.
My name is Deb.
In *some* circles, I'm more often known as Falling Leaves.

I've been running sweats for over 25 years and there's a few rules of thumb I'd like to pass on to my firends here in SR. I confess this only to show qualification for what I'm about to advise.

First and foremost -

If you're on anti-depressants - do NOT sweat.
Go and watch - help carry stones ... but do NOT go inside the lodge.
If you've EVER had a heart problem -
High blood pressure
if you're on Kolonipin, ultram, or other type pain medication...
thyroid medication, anything ANYTHING ....

do NOT go into the lodge.

Not unless you can medically supervised go OFF the meds
and even then - you need a few weeks OFF it
before your body can properly react to the amazingly INTENSE heat
of a Sweat Lodge Ceremony.

If you got drunk the night before -
stay OUT of the lodge.
You risk immediate liver and kidney failure
to enter a sweat with a polluted liver

I read that article ....
and I just got MAD.
Flat out angry.

I've heard people compare the heat of a sweat lodge
to a high sauna.
The two are NOTHING alike.
NOTHING alike.

two places
you go into
and theres heated rocks.
THAT ... is where the similarity ends.

Please please PLEASE consult a doctor
before trying something
as intense and as complicated
as a Sweat Lodge.

RUN AWAY from anyone who tries
o charge you money to sweat.
(I read these people paid 10,000.00 each for a week of this)

P.T. Barnum is proven right again.

It's ... well, it's blasphemy is what it is.

This is a Sacred Ceremony dreamed into this world by our Native American Ancestors. I was YEARS on a path of knowledge before my teachers decided that I, as part-blood would be able to hold the space to Chief a Lodge. It was an honor that I earned, and never EVER has money exchanged hands for the privilidge of running a sweat.

Wow.
Those poor people.

Thank you for letting me rant for a minute.

I like most everyone I co-respond with here on SR
and I'd HATE to lose someone
because of irresponsibility.

10-25-2009, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
barb dwyer same planet...different world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: butte mt Posts: 10,933 Blog Entries: 7	Woman Dies in Az Sweat Lodge .... words of advice { moderators - I didn't know where to put this - if more appropriate someplace else, please move it there? thank you!} I don't know how many here are delving into Native American Spirituality as part of their 11th step stuff... or how many do think about having a 'sweat lodge experience' ... You can google the incident I'm talking about ... just say 'sweat lodge deaths in az' Hi. My name is Deb. In some circles, I'm more often known as Falling Leaves. I've been running sweats for over 25 years and there's a few rules of thumb I'd like to pass on to my firends here in SR. I confess this only to show qualification for what I'm about to advise. First and foremost - If you're on anti-depressants - do NOT sweat. Go and watch - help carry stones ... but do NOT go inside the lodge. If you've EVER had a heart problem - High blood pressure if you're on Kolonipin, ultram, or other type pain medication... thyroid medication, anything ANYTHING .... do NOT go into the lodge. Not unless you can medically supervised go OFF the meds and even then - you need a few weeks OFF it before your body can properly react to the amazingly INTENSE heat of a Sweat Lodge Ceremony. If you got drunk the night before - stay OUT of the lodge. You risk immediate liver and kidney failure to enter a sweat with a polluted liver I read that article .... and I just got MAD. Flat out angry. I've heard people compare the heat of a sweat lodge to a high sauna. The two are NOTHING alike. NOTHING alike. two places you go into and theres heated rocks. THAT ... is where the similarity ends. Please please PLEASE consult a doctor before trying something as intense and as complicated as a Sweat Lodge. *RUN AWAY* from anyone who tries o charge you money to sweat. (I read these people paid 10,000.00 each for a week of this) P.T. Barnum is proven right again. It's ... well, it's blasphemy is what it is. This is a Sacred Ceremony dreamed into this world by our Native American Ancestors. I was YEARS on a path of knowledge before my teachers decided that I, as part-blood would be able to hold the space to Chief a Lodge. It was an honor that I earned, and never EVER has money exchanged hands for the privilidge of running a sweat. Wow. Those poor people. Thank you for letting me rant for a minute. I like most everyone I co-respond with here on SR and I'd HATE to lose someone because of irresponsibility. __________________ Knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad. Last edited by barb dwyer; 10-25-2009 at 09:22 PM.