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The moon rises illuminating the night’s sky as you sit watching the fire tenders near the sacred fire that symbolizes the never ending light of the world, eternity and spiritual beginnings.
The lodge has been built. The rocks, which have been heating in the sacred fire, are ready. It is time to journey into sacredness.
The drum sounds, you rise and walk around the sacred fire in humbleness giving thanks. Before entering the lodge from the East, the womb of Mother Earth, you are smudged with sage for protection. As you enter the lodge, you say the words “Mitakuye Oyasin” which means “All My Relations”. By uttering these words, you are honoring the sacredness of each person’s individual spiritual path, including your own path, and you are acknowledging the sacredness of all (human, animal and plant) within the circle of life. Within this circle of life, we are all co-existing, co-creating and co-dependent. We are all interconnected. We are all evolving and transforming into new spiritual awareness each and every moment.
As you move through the lodge in a counter clockwise direction, you find your place in the circle facing the fire pit. Once all of your fellow spiritual traveler’s are present and seated, the lodge leader enters and sits down opposite the door of the lodge and directly behind the fire pit. The ceremony is about to begin.
The drum sounds four times honoring the four directions…………..
As the West wind blows, your spirit guides begin to whisper to you to be open, relaxed, present within the moment and ready to receive. Most of all to carry in your heart love, faith and compassion as you begin this new journey of evolution and transformation that you have called to embark on…………..
Before we begin this ceremony of the four directions, it is important that you keep focused on being present in the moment, to be still in this practice of meditation and prayer, to let go and just be and not allow your judgment or anticipation of what you want to happen to interfere with the process. Just relax and let your soul guide into a new state of wonderment and awareness. Let your mind, body and soul become one with the Great Mystery/Divine Mystery that is also a part of you and your fellow traveler’s in this journey within the circle of life.
If at any time during this meditation journey, you find that you are distracted by thoughts and feelings do not focus on them. Visualize your thoughts and feelings being placed in a canoe and carried downstream, you can retrieve them later. Return to the sound of your breath and let the rhythm of your breath bring you back into a place of centeredness.
Four hot stones enter the lodge. One by one and are placed into the fire pit. The glowing red stones illuminate the darkness the lodge for a brief moment as they arranged in the fire pit with a deer horn. The stones are sprinkled with sage, cedar and sweetgrass. Four ladles of water are poured over the rocks to honor the four directions. As the steam rises, we honor the West for calling us to make this journey.
Embrace us in your winds of change
Surround us in white light for protection
Thank you for the angels/spirit guides that you have bestowed upon us
to help awaken our mind, body and soul into unity for a greater sense of healing, peace and well-being.
It is now time for you to just be and let your prayers rise with steam to the Great Creator.
You have done well, it is time to take a deep breath with your eyes closed and exhale gently as the door to lodge opens and rush of cool air soothes and comforts you.
It is time to continue our journey to the North. Four more hot stones enter the lodge and are placed into the fire pit. The leader arranges the stones with a deer horn. Then the stones are sprinkled with sage, cedar and sweetgrass. Lastly, four ladles of water are poured over the hot stones. The water sizzles upon touching the rock. Steam begins to rise surrounding you as it cleanses and purifies your mind, body and soul.
Oh Spirit of North
We honor you and humbly ask for the gifts of courage, perseverance and strength for our journey.
As we sit here in your presence with our angels/Spirit guides, we thank you for your gifts and ask that you help us to discover something that we may not be aware of about ourselves, a special talent perhaps.
And may you guide us with your strength and courage to let go those things that we may be holding onto that no longer serve us for our highest good and for highest good of others.
It is time for you to just be and let your soul speak to you. Just be still and let the wisdom flow through you, your soul knows who you are and what you truly need. Be open and let your soul speak to you and reveal to you all that you can be for your highest good and for the highest good of others.
The flap opens, you feel an instant rush of coolness refresh your being and soothe your body. You have done well. With your eyes closed, take a deep breath in and exhale slowly and just be as four more hot stones are brought into the lodge and placed into the fire pit one by one.
You watch as the lodge leader arranges the stones in the pit with the deer horn, a symbol of regeneration. The flap is closed. The rocks are sprinkled with sage, for protection, cedar for cleansing and sweetgrass to bring sweetness into your life. Four ladles of water are poured over the rocks. As the steam rises, it is time to honor the East. The direction of the rising sun.
The direction of the East symbolizes a time of awakening and of a new dawn. It is also a time for wisdom, knowledge, love and faith to flow through the heart of your heart of your being. For the heart is where the sun resides full of love, wisdom and warmth that is always nurturing and tending to our needs.
Be still and follow the rhythm of your breath as it guides you into a deeper state of relaxation. Allow your being to soar on the wings of the eagle and let the eagle guide you into the realm of peace, love and wonderment.
As the flap opens, receive the joy that the cool breeze has brought you and refresh you.
You are doing very well and we are all proud of you. Be still and silent as the last of the four rocks are brought into the lodge, placed into the pit and arranged. This is our last direction.
The flap closes. Once again, the glowing red stones illuminate the darkness bringing comfort to you as the smell of sage, cedar and sweetgrass fill your senses. The leader has added, especially for you, some extra sweetgrass. May the sweetness of life always find and be with you.
It is time to honor the South. The direction of healing. As you breathe in and out slowly following the rhythm of your breath, take a few moments to reflect on journey thus far and give thanks for all that you have received. This is not the end of your journey, it is only the beginning. Allow yourself time to drink in all the wisdom, the joy, the peace and the love that you have experienced during this time of sacredness.
Whatever it is that you have asked for in prayer and meditation, know that your prayers have been received and allow the Great Creator to work out the details to help bring healing, a greater sense of wholeness, well-being and peace to your mind, body and soul. Be still and give thanks. Remember to always be open and to always let the golden river flow through you unencumbered and free.
Closing Prayer
Great Creator
We thank you for being present with us on this journey of sacredness,
transformation and evolution of our mind, body and soul.
Thank you for holding us in love and in your light each and every day.
May your wisdom continue to flow through us without end.
May you continue to protect us, guide us and watch over us and all those we love.
Wherever we are, you are there with us Great One and we thank you with all our heart and soul………
“Mitakuye Oyasin” To All My Relations, love, peace and joy always………….. Eagle Breath Woman
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