Sweat Lodge Ceremony for The Pink Moon

Join us for a transformative celebration in honor of the upcoming Pink Moon! Step into the sacred space of our sweat lodge ceremony, where we'll journey inward to recharge and reflect on our paths. As the Pink Moon illuminates the sky, let's harness its energy to shed what no longer serves us and to set intentions for the road ahead. Don't miss this chance to connect deeply with yourself and the natural world around you.

What you need to bring:

2 towels (one for sitting on in the lodge and one to dry yourself with afterwards)

swimsuit or equivalent (to wear in the lodge)

warm clothing for afterwards

food/drink to share with everyone around the fire after the lodge (no alcohol please)

flowers/crytstals/tobacco, incense for the altar (optional)

drinking water to share after the lodge

We recommend that you have a restful evening prior to the lodge and that you keep the evening after the lodge completely free of engagements.

We also ask that all mobile phones be switched off.

Location

The Sweat Lodge is based at The CIP Outdoor Retreat Centre in Devon. If you decide to come to the Sweat Lodge, please use the directions by looking on Google maps for The CIP Outdoor Retreat Space.

More about sweat lodges

The sweat lodge has a strong connection to creation, the lodge itself representing the womb of mother earth and the rocks representing our ancestors. Within the sweat lodge we feel very protected and nurtured making it easy for us to get in touch with our inner self. We can look very deep within and are shown parts of ourselves that may have been forgotten or parts that may be out of balance. At the same time, we feel a strong connection to our ancestors, to the whole of humanity, to nature and to the elements – a connection, which is always there, but which is all too often forgotten.

This means that as well as a physical cleanse from the heat, steam and medicinal herbs, we also get a mental and spiritual cleanse. We can let go of old patterns of behaviour through achieving a state of mental clarity enabling us to see who we really are and understand our true path in life.

Background

Our sweat lodge started running in 2019, with the rites to pour lodge being handed down to our founder Michael Maisey by his Lakota elder. Michael, known amongst the Oglala Lakota as Ska Wičháša hówakȟaŋ (White Man Weeping), holds the distinction of being the sole initiated Lakota Sundancer in the UK.

For 16 years, he has walked the Red Road learning these ways, carrying the sacred Lakota medicine into his homeland of Devon. In his ceremonies, he seamlessly integrates elements of native Celtic culture, bridging traditions to create a unique and enriching spiritual experience. Michael trained with Blackfoot and Lakota elders, and uses sweat lodges, in his work as a medicine carrier. Michael has also spent time with the Shoshone Bannock in Utah, and The Lakota in Indiana. In 2023 upon completion of his Hanblecheya (vision quest) on Fort Hall reservation in Utah, he was invited to attend the Lakota Rites of Passage ceremony called the Sundance. Upon completion of Sundance, he was recognised as a Lakota Sundancer by the Sundance Chief.

These lodges are brought through with reverence and respect for all the elders who carried this medicine forward. In Lakota tradition it’s against the rules to charge for ceremony, and we rely mainly on donations to ensure we can keep this work available to those who need it. 

All costs for our sweat lodges go towards the upkeep and running of the ceremony (wood, rocks, food) and offering bursary places to those who cannot afford to pay, no personal profit is gained out of our ceremonies.