PERSONAL CEREMONIES We are often asked to hold and support personal ceremonies for people in our community. Ceremonies can be for various reasons: releasing, healing, empowerment, others. The ceremonies are usually held at the Community Woodland in Balerno. We don't charge for a ceremony, we invite you to give a donation for our time which is affordable to you. Marriage Ceremony. For marriage ceremonies we recommend Dr. Geo Trevarthen. Geo's ceremonies are very beautiful and brings with it the richness of the Celtic tradition.

SWEAT LODGE CEREMONIES 10th and 11th April 2010 - Buiding community and Sweat Lodge (men only) 10am - 7pm 23rd May 2010 - Moon Lodge (women only) 10am - 7pm Venue: Community Woodland, Balerno - 10am to 7pm

About the Lodge

The Sweat Lodge, is an ancient sacred ceremony, and as such, one of the most powerful healing ceremonies. It is symbolic of entering the womb of the Earth Mother, so that we can be reborn; it is a ceremony for cleansing and purification. The hot stones that we bring inside the lodge are like the bones of the mother. The steam that comes up from the rocks is the breath of life. By sweat and prayer we can clean our bodies of toxins, clear our mind of negativity, drop old habits or limitations, clear feelings that create separation and heighten our spirits.

It is good to participate in a lodge at times of new beginnings in our lives with for example, marriage, divorce, birth, death, new year, birthday, new enterprise, new relationship, etc. The Lodge is a good way to prepare ourselves, do a clearing, make space, release “the old” and call in “the new” that we want to bring into our lives.

During the Ceremony we will honour each of the four directions. The four directions are the base of the Medicine Wheel and is at the heart of the teachings of the Native ways, where life is seeing as a Sacred Circle.

THE EAST is the time of the beginnings, of giving birth to ourselves, the springtime of our lives. It is the place of the sunrise, the path of illumination, clarity and creativity. In the east we find our inspiration. Golden Eagle is the spirit keeper of the east.

THE SOUTH is the time of summer, of rapid growth. Coyote, the trickster, is the spirit keeper of the south; he tricks us into learning in different ways. This is the place of our child, of emotions: - anger, fear, sadness, jealousy, trust and innocence.

THE WEST is the place of introspection, of looking within, into the darkness of ourselves, so we may face monsters, our shadow, and find the gifts that we need to give to humanity at this time. Grizzly Bear is the spirit keeper of the west. This is the power of strength and introspection, the season of autumn, when the growth of summer stops and the earth prepares for its renewal.

THE NORTH is the place that gives us balance, the inner man or woman who is responsible for their lives and their people. The qualities of the north are wisdom and understanding. It is the place of the give-away, the time of winter. Buffalo is the spirit keeper of the north

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The Lodge Facilitators 

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Preparation

A few days before it would be helpful if we can avoid alcohol, red meat and cigarettes (if you are a smoker), this will assist and begin our cleansing process.

We will be fasting on the day of the ceremony.  If fasting is difficult for you, we then recommend that you eat a fruit or a very light sandwich. Before the ceremony, which will start around 3pm or 4pm, we will work together as a community, preparing for the lodge, gathering the wood, the stones, clearing the area, making the fire, covering the lodge, etc. The fire needs to be on for 2 or 3 hours for the stones to get hot, therefore, we need to start the fire early. After that work is done we will have time to share, prepare and talk about the lodge.

For your own safety and well-being, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible if you have any of the following conditions or any other condition that may be relevant to you participating or not in the lodge: high blood pressure, angina, migraines, claustrophobia, any allergy, back pain, pregnancy, panic attacks or if you are under any strong medication. All the information is strictly confidential.

Fasting is very beneficial and will heighten our awareness. If fasting all day is really difficult for you then we recommend you eat fruit or something light during the day.

The mound of the earth outside the lodge is the altar. It is sacred and powerful. You can bring small objects or crystals to place in the altar if you wish.

Absolutely no alcoholic beverage or drugs are allowed on the day.

If you have to wait for your lodge to begin, please be patient, and use the time to consider what you want to release and what prayers you would make for yourself, your loved ones, your Earth Mother and your relations upon Her.

During the lodge, we can rub parts of our body that have pains or sickness, putting our hands on it and directing energy towards it and praying for healing.

If you are too hot in the lodge, keep your face to the ground and breath in the coolness of the Earth, let go of what may be holding you back and pray hard. Within the sweat lodge, when you are offered water to drink, remember this is the lifeblood of the Earth Mother, and feel its healing energy flowing through you.

After leaving the lodge, it is best to rinse your body to wash the toxins you have released and to close the pores. Also after the ceremony, give yourself a quiet space before you go back to the group. Relax or meditate.

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What to bring

We are asked to be modest and to keep ourselves clothed while inside the lodge. Please bring light clothes to wear inside, clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy. Suggestions: 2 towels, a bathing suit, light cotton t-shirt for women: a sarong if you have one (for women), , , shorts (men). Also outdoor warm clothes, cloves, boots or wellington boots (around the area can be very muddy at certain times of the year), a torch (very important if lodge not happening summer time) You will need  plenty of water to drink all day.

TIMES: We will all meet at 10am on the day of the lodge at the terminus bus stop in Balerno. We will finish the lodge around 7pm.

Please bring food to share afterwards.

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The process after the lodge

It will really help if you can avoid any doings until next morning or if at all possible even for the whole day. The integration process takes a few weeks, however, the time and space that you give to yourself after the lodge will be the foundation for that process to go as smooth as possible. Also, if a few days after the lodge you feel you need to talk to us, please do get in touch. The lodge is very powerful and it is a wonderful experience of transformation, releasing and getting in touch with a greater meaning and love inside. Sometimes that process is not so easy and if that is the case for you, please do get in touch and we will support you in whatever way we can.

The Sweat Lodge is a unique spiritual journey. The Ceremony will open up a doorway of deep healing, purification, new beginnings, clarity and more joy and love into your life.

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Donations

We do not charge for the Ceremony, however we do ask for a donation to contribute towards our time working during the day and towards rent of the woodland.

People often ask what donation they should give. We suggest: £40, £30 or £20 or a smaller donation that you are able to afford. The lodge is a Sacred Ceremony for Healing and as such is open to all regardless of financial circumstances.

With love and light,

Claudia Goncalves and Mark Halliday

What people say about our lodges

"I just wanted you to know how very special your lodges are, in the woodlands with everyone participating in building the fire and lodge, and in the welcoming of the stones, and observing the four directions. Not least your humbleness in facilitating. I hope I will meet you there again, one day in Balerno!"

"You and Mark do amazing work for the Community. It is an honour to work with you!

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