Ok, this is where my story began. After my divorce, me and the boys moved to the Wilderness (paradise) in the Western Cape where we survived and overcame our emotions, scorpions and our daily trip to George and back where I work and the boys go to school, one Saturday day after I was on my way back from canoeing on the river I saw an invite to a sweat lodge ceremony at the local garage. I decided to Google what this sweat lodge story is about and I then decided to do it.
When I arrived I met the other 20 spiritual or self searchers some from Johannesburg, others from Cape Town and other parts of SA. They were also geared for the ceremony most of them were camping there and was going to do it for a second or third day in a row, all of them were private, some were warm and friendly. From high up in the mountain I could see the night lights all the way from Mosselbay to Knysna.
At first we started by making prayer ties. A single prayer tie is made from a square piece of cotton cloth, no larger than 5 inches square. A pinch or two of loose tobacco is placed in the center of the square. Tobacco is considered a sacred herb when it is used as a gift to the spirit world. It has become universally accepted as an offering of gratitude.
Four colors of prayer ties to represent the four directions or four winds - east (yellow) represent our future, south (red) unconditional love, west (blue) our past, and north (white) creator or the Great Spirit.
After the prayer tie ceremony followed the sweat lodge
Just a little something about the sweat lodge, it is also called purification ceremony or medicine lodge, but it is a ceremonial sauna and is an important event in some North American or Native American cultures. It consist of a hut similar to a wickiup, the door faced the altar that was in line with the holy fire. The directions usually have distinct symbolism in Native American cultures specifically to connect with the spirit world. This lodge was build with great care and with respect to the environment. In Native American lodges participants usually wear a simple garment such as shorts or loose dresses. We were told to only wear cotton and that no synthetic clothing should be worn as the heat can cause these materials to melt. The stones for the sweat lodge were heated in the exterior fire or the holy fire as Tim ‘Lonely Eagle” called it, and then was placed in a central pit in the ground by the fire keeper.
I took my prayer tie and some fancy expensive tobacco as offering to the great spirit and was blown away by the size of the lodge or hut, it was so small, we were 21 people in a hut size equal to a 4-man tent we were literally sitting cheek to cheek, woman on the one side and men on the other. The fire keeper had no end at brining in hot stones form the sacred fire and to add to this experience this specific tribe Tim ‘Lonely Eagle” belonged to considered it important for the sweat to be done in complete darkness. The heat was absolutely unbearable, the sweat ran of my body like a river, my hair was so warm I was scared it might caught fire and in a blond moment I opened my eyes and then burned my eye lenses (my vision was blurry for 2 days afterwards) not to mention my nostrils and lungs and every session lasted 20 to 30 min for every every wind direction. Tim was moved by the great spirit and then added green to thank mother earth. During the east (yellow) which was the second last session and almost 2 hours in the sweat lodge session, Tim told us to search for something we desire in the future… OK I immediately foreseen a huge problem for myself as I just don’t have the ability to create something in my mind for the future … jeez I couldn’t even imagine myself as a princess wearing a pretty dress when I was a little girl…
And then it happened, not being able to run away from the unbearable heat I turned inwards and while Lonely Eagle led the session with his Native American chanting, I saw myself standing and weeping out of sheer gratefulness and from a state total bliss and amazement about all the love and complete perfection in and around me. Then following that vision I then saw and felt myself become one with my Creator almost like in a thin blue green light or energy as if we were always one and that was even more overwhelming as this was the only thing I ever wanted for myself.
From the sweat lodge we all gathered in a big circle around the holy fire and did the pipe smoking ceremony where Lonely Eagle taught us to really appreciate the elements fire, water, earth and wind and he explained how they tie together and each element’s significance.
What an experience I had , me a nature loving, hippy hearted, spiritual and freethinking city girl!
Today almost a year later I’m standing in my 2 bedroom little dollhouse doing the dishes looking at the soft rain that’s falling on the late autumn’s bead of leafs outside my kitchen window, with the washing machine and tumble dryer humming, with over active kittens and boys playing in the background and with the mothers-day meal that I’m planning in the back of my mind. In the midst of this very moments I’ve been overcome with gratefulness, so much love and complete perfection in and around me. Mind you this was the precise moment and experience I felt that day in the sweat lodge.
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I had thought it would happen one day when I’m in the perfect relationship situation, in a comfortable 3 bedroom house perhaps with a beautiful kitchen or when I’m financially free … But no, this is my moment, it has been me, in me and part of my essence since the day I was born, my moment is now! It took 39 years and a sweat lodge session for me to realize it.
Today I'm weeping because I’m grateful for my moment is now.
In South Africa today security plays a vital part in any business or private home. This book and the volumes to follow, will guide you step by step through the essential precautionary measures to be taken in protecting your family and valuables. From employing security guards, evacuation of your site and security measures to burglar bars and alarms in your private home.
a Book compiled by me from experience gained after 10 years in the security industry as Industrial relations officer with Nosa qualifications, 1st Aid, fire protection and also S.O.B. grade A.
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