The brief explanation: "It's like a sauna, but it's more of a ceremony."

The long explanation:
At Ehk-wheh-heh-weh it usually goes a little something like this...

Lava rocks are placed in a fire pit with wood and a fire is started. It takes 2 or 3 hours to heat up the rocks depending on how soon the fire gets going and how cold it is outside. When it's time to go in someone volunteers to smudge everyone, including themselves (first), and the lodge itself - inside and out. Smudging is usually done with burning sage. The person smudging allows the smoke to wash over the person or thing being smudged.. allowing the smoke to purify the energy of anything it touches. Close behind the smudging is someone carrying sacred tobacco. This person will go around and have everyone "stir the tobacco" with their fingers, which can simply consist of placing fingertips in the tabacco and connecting with the energy of the sacred tobacco. The intention is for each person to "put their prayers into the tobacco". This is done in silence, it's between you and Creator. When everyone has been smudged and has stirred the tobacco, the Water Pourer (the person who leads the lodge) takes the tobacco and says a prayer before going into the lodge. Then the tobacco is placed into the fire, and with it, the prayers go up with the smoke.
Now it's time to go into the lodge, ladies first, counter clockwise. People first, then rocks. As the rocks come in (via pitch-fork), they are welcomed ("welcome ancestor" or simply "welcome" is the most common way to do this). - The sweat lodge itself is a turtle shell shaped structure. It is built with tree saplings put into the ground, bent over and tied together; tarps and blankets are placed on top to keep the heat in. - There is a pit in the center where the rocks are placed, and usually after each rock comes in it is given an offering of cedar, sweet grass or some other herb... unless nothing is available. There are four official rounds to the lodge. Each round represents a stage of life: birth, puberty, adulthood, and death. New rocks come in at the beginning of each lodge untill all the rocks are in the lodge. Sometimes there are a few left out and they are used in a more casual setting during a fifth round that usually someone else (somewhat experienced) pours. Sometimes there is a fifth round with no extra rocks if the rocks in the lodge are still hot enough and if some people want to stay in. As far as what happens during the rounds, you have to come check that out for yourself. It's an organic unique experience, and it's completely up to the water pourer... the whole ceremony is at the discretion of the water pourer actually. Usually there is some sharing, usually one person speaks at a time and when that person is speaking everyone else is quiet. Singing usually happens. It's a purification ceremony... and it's whatever ceremony you want it to be - a ceremony of letting go, a ceremony of rejoicing, a ceremony of asking for guidance, a ceremony of listening, a ceremony of being present, a ceremony of giving thanks, a ceremony of being sad or angry - it's a different experience for everyone. There is usually an opportunity for people to share. If you need to get out during a round, try to wait until someone is done speaking if you can, and just say something like, "I need to get out", or "open the door"... Oh, when you are entering or leaving the lodge please give respect to the lodge and to all our relations by saying "All My Relations".

A few rules: Women can not sweat on their moon / during their period. You can't do any drugs or drink alcohol for 24 hours before doing a lodge. The energies just don't go together. Also, you can't walk around naked at Ekwh. Most people wear shorts and a tee-shirt in the lodge / tank top, or a loose dress... guys just wear shorts usually.

Tips: It's handy to bring two towels, one to bring in the lodge, and one to clean off afterwards. If you get too hot you can put the towel over your head and it will protect you from the intensity of the heat. Also, getting close to the ground helps with cooling off. Something to take note of is that usually when the lodge is getting too hot for you it's not the actual heat that's too hot but whatever is being talked about. It can get kind of heavy in there, but it's a hell of a ride and you'll possibly have a whole new way of looking at things afterwards. In other words, if you are getting too hot, do your best to stick around a little while and hear what's being said... or maybe you have something to share at an appropriate time for that. On the flip side of that, a sweat lodge is not a tough person competition. Take care of yourself and do what you need to do.

After the lodge is over, everyone joins together for a potluck, in a warm kitchen. Everyone is responsible for washing their own dishes. Please take home any empty water bottles of water you brought to recycle them. Make sure you look around the lodge for clothes, towels you may have forgotten, before you leave. Things are often left behind. You can feel a little light headed after a lodge so drive safe.
There are out-houses if you need to use the bathroom... we are working on building a bathroom with running water.

A $10 donation is suggested. All people are welcome. If you have any further questions you're welcome to email me - earthloveljc@yahoo. Look forward to seeing new faces at upcoming lodges.

The sweat lodge has become my church. I love it. It's not everybodies medicine, but it is definitely mine. You will know if it is your medicine if you're wanting to come back. One more thing... anything that is shared in the lodge, stays in the lodge. It is a very sacred space. People aren't in there looking for advice or comments in response to what they share... it is between them and Creator... or you and Creator, whatever the case may be. It is a safe place to share anything you feel called to share. You don't have to share / say / sing / pray anything at all.

Currently there are two lodges a month at Ekwh. The Full Moon Lodge (on or near the full moon), led by Tahwehdahqui; and the Buffalotribe Lodge (on or near the new moon). Dates will be posted on buffalotribe, with the name of the water pourer. Buffalotribe lodges are led by one of a group of four people including myself - Laura Jean Castelluzzo, Sean Kennedy, Christopher Sierzcula, and Jason Pfaff. Jason will be leading this months Buffalotribe lodge, March 25. The next Full moon lodge is April 8th. Currently the fire for all monthly lodges starts around 6am, and we go in at 9am. Be there by 9am, or come early to help with the fire.

That's all folks.
Much Love,
LJ

address for ekwh:
2323 Printup Rd.
Sanborn NY 14132

I see I made a typo... in my introduction entry I said I was doing massage a the massage "school" on allen... that was suppose to say, massage "studio". Sorry about the confusion. Someone emailed me asking about prices at the massage school. (I don't know how to email this person back.) As far as I remember it's $30 for 50 minutes. I don't work there. That school is in Williamsville on Transit. I work on Allen St. If you'd like an appointment with me give me a call at 465-7408.
peace,
Laura Jean

in case i forget to say it later...
HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY MATT!
peace,
LJ

hey,
paul was showing me around on here when i signed on and published that first entry by accident, fyi... i don't have anything against chicken, but in case you're wondering i haven't eaten chicken in years.... on the contrary, i'm usually vegan.
peace,
LJ

Just want to do a quick introduction... I'm Laura Jean Castelluzzo. I'll write more soon.

I started a yahoo group for local announcements called buffalotribe . To find it you can go to my geocities site www.geocities.com/earthloveljc or go to yahoo, click on groups, then do a search on buffalotribe.

I graduated from the NY Institute of Massage in Williamsville. Great school. Now I'm licensed and available to work at The Massage School at 181 Allen. You can call me for an appointment on my cell at 716 465-7408.

Currently I'm living at Nickel City Housing Cooperative / 208 North St. We have a couple parties coming up. On March 31st there's a Spring party, and on April 14th there is a benefit party for a place called Ehk-wheh-heh-weh which means "For All People". It's on the Tuscarora Nation. A bunch of folks go out there for sweat lodges and classes with a Native American elder, Tahwehdahqui.

The link for Nickel City Coop is www.nickelcitycoop.org

That's all for now. I'm going to get to bed before midnight for the first time in weeks.
Love Light and Laughter,
Laura Jean