Purification

Last week I had the opportunity to attend an Inipi Ceremeony - also known as a sweat lodge. It has been a foundation of my practice of purification for 30 years.

In the fire are lava stones, referred to as Grandmothers and Grandfathers -from time before time.

Inside the lodge men and women sit and offer medicines like dried sage, cedar and sweet grass to the stones the smoke is part of the purification process before entering into rounds of song and prayer. The door to the lodge is closed, sacred songs are sung and water put onto the stones ( it gets hot like a sauna) purification of mind, body and spirit.

In returning from Malaysia a few weeks ago the importance of purification has stayed with me - How do I continue to hold that?

I think it is through breath, fasting,silence,watching my intake of foods, watching my intake of media, being selective in language and thoughts so I don’t put things back upon myself, taking time in nature and tending to my home spaces inside and out.