Welcome to Coyote Medicine Sweat Lodge

May 25, 2009

Coyote Medicine Sweat Lodge was born on May 25, 2009.  After much planning and group effort, time and heavy duty work, it became a reality! It is now a wonderful family and will continue to grow.

How did we get the name - that is an interesting story - as Debbie, Dave and Kiki were clearing the space to set up the lodge, a coyote came to watch and say hello.  It was a blessing and a gift from the Guardians, esp. for Debbie.  This is a time of change and growth. In this time we need to look at ourselves, our inner strengths and weaknesses and face our own truth, so we can move forward. We need to learn to laugh at ourselves and Life's irony.

Coyote medicine helps us be in that truth. Coyote teaches us how wisdom and folly go hand-in-hand.  In the folly of others, we see our own foolishness and we learn from their mistakes.  If we are in the truth of our own light, we have nothing to fear, not even death. 

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What is a Sweat Lodge?

Coyote  Medicine Sweat Lodge is a new part of the RoseHeart Family.  It is located in Cazenovia, at the home of Virginia and Tim Waldron (RoseHeart East).  It is a magical place where nature is in her glory and the natural world all around takes part in the sweat lodge experience.   RoseHeart has provided this opportunity to be part of the spirit of nature, to experience physical and spiritual cleansing and healing, and to deepen the connection of the RoseHeart family to each other in ways that are both traditional and new, just as we all come from the traditions of our past and at the same time are creating the here and now.  

If you have participated in a sweat lodge before or not, the basics are simple and straight forward.  A sweat lasts about 2 hours and consists of 4 prayers or rounds.  Each one is directed towards one of the 4 directions, East, South, West, & North.  Each direction has a focus or emotion, a cleansing and releasing aspect to it, as well as a healing and sharing or connecting aspect.  There is a brief break between each one in which participants may remain in the lodge or leave for a few moments.  

There are two active participants who lead the sweat; one is the FireKeeper who tends the fire and brings the heated rocks (known as Grandfathers) into the lodge for each prayer round. The FireKeeper remains just outside the lodge with the fire during the ceremony.  There is the WaterPourer who leads the prayers and pours water on the Grandfathers to release the heat as steam.  The rest of the participants share their stories, their feelings and thoughts and support each other throughout the ceremony.  There is room in this lodge for 12 participants as well as the WaterPourer.   

What to wear?
    bathing suit, light weight clothing like shorts and a t-shirt, wraps

What to bring?
    $10 Heart Donation
    Two Towels (one is with you and       one remains outside the lodge)
    Change of clothing-layers are good   with something warm to wear at first
    Dish to pass
    Your own tableware
    Gift for the alter (optional) or something you want blessed to leave on the alter during the ceremony
    Wood for the fire (optional) if you have any to share

Since there is only room for 12 participants, we do require you to sign up for a sweat. 

Questions or to sign up contact Virginia Waldron at 315-243-1828 or gatkepr@dreamscape.com, or Debbie DeRusha at 315-383-9752. 

To read more about how the Oglala Sioux would hold such a ceremony you can read about it in chapter 8 of the book “Mother Earth Spirituality” by Ed McGaa, Eagle Main, an Oglala Sioux lawyer, writer and lecturer who has introduced thousands to Native American spirituality and rituals. 

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My first experience in a sweat lodge - by Virginia (Kiki) Waldron

This first sweat went quite well and we had a great time.  For those of us who had never done a sweat before, we were not sure exactly what to expect but Debbie's introduction class and guidance was very helpful in preparing us for the basics. The rest of the real experience is in the doing. 

It takes a while to adjust to breathing in the hot moist air, but once your body and lungs have adapted, it is not hard at all.  The small space fills in nicely with the heat and it feels good to release all the negative emotions and their toxins that we have been holding in for far too long.  The only trouble I had was the cramped sitting position - I have to learn how to stay in a seated position on the ground without getting stiff muscles!

I was anxious about the hot moist air and breathing - I have mild asthma - and the small enclosed space filled with sweating bodies.  I just did not know what to expect, so I guess most of my fears were just about facing an unknown experience.  It was not anything like I had feared, it was easy to adjust my breathing to the heat just by relaxing into it, and the closeness was one of the best parts.  I didn't know I could sweat THAT much, but it was cleansing and releasing.  

There are 4 rounds or endurances, about 30 minutes each, and each one brings the focus into our hearts and healing our emotions. We were led by an experienced Water Pourer - Jim - and we shared stories, songs, prayers, hopes, wishes, fears and feelings from our hearts.  So much is shared and lovingly supported by the group in a sweat that by the end you are a family, a spiritual family. It is a ritual, a very powerful spiritual ceremony and so much more!  

Thank you to everyone who helped put it all together, to build and create, to lead and teach and guide - it is all so greatly appreciated!

Thank you FireKeeper, WaterPourer, LandKeepers, GrandFathers, Spirits and Guides who joined us, Coyote, BumbleBee, and Others - thank you - 

These photographs are only some of the great pictures taken as the lodge was being built.  It was an amazing gift to be part of the whole adventure! 

Clearing the sacred space - Debbie, Dave, & Kiki - the week before.  Torg helped..

(above) Dave, Kiki, & Torg - digging the firepit

Monday, May 25th, 2009 - The Birthing of Coyote Medicine Sweat Lodge

(above) setting the doorkeepers

Building the Lodge - It takes a lot of people and a huge group effort to build a lodge.  We became a family in the process!

First we built the basic frame...

with many hands and backs...

Tying the pieces and cross pieces together took many people.
Weaving side pieces through the frame


Covered and nearly ready...

The firebuilders Tim and Dave, and the fire that is heating the Grandfathers (huge stones inside the flames)

The Alter with its gifts and offerings

At this point the prayers were about to begin and I put the camera away. There are some things that are too sacred and special to put into digital form. 
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Friday, May 29, 2009 - Inside the Lodge - the grandfathers have cooled down a bit now...

Our goatskin peak Torg checking out his handi-work(Paw-work?) ...

June 1, 2009 - after a windy weekend

OK, so we start again - at least we still have the frame!