Some personal historic background including research into Inpi (Sweat lodge)

“While the sweat lodge was initially thought available only to Native American tribes and aboriginal tribes, Diane re-discovered these teachings have always been historically facilitated within her own Celtic linage.

 Diane is very clear that all traditions should be honored and respected and that protocols and participating in all specific ceremony’s prior to becoming a water pourer is necessary. 

Which can NOT be learnt by sitting in lodges, undertaken fire duties, or partaken within a day or weekend  teachings as often seen in western world, including those that do this for monetary gain. 

These teachings are a way of life and often you are sponsored by an elder or Chief from those diverse cultures which take place around the world . But please note you will NEVER Master the Lodge, and should  always have pure intention of these authentic traditional  ways  taught and hold respect of  those teachers  and their traditions.

Diane for over 30 years has sat in prayer within many lodges from teachings by  Celtic Medicine Grandmothers within her own homeland.  She  is also fortunate to have sat  in ceremony amongst Navajo , Apache, Cherokee  tribes, Grandmothers from many multi-cultural linages and those that teach the Mayan way. 

Along this journey she has also attended lodges which have NOT been delivered with pure intention, authentic teachings, right ethical reasons, including safe practice while charging  high fees .  

Over the last six years, Diane has been guided, taught and mentored by Celtic Medicine Woman, First Nation Lakota Chief, Sacred Fire Chief, of  largest Sundance in  world and profound Medicine man.  As  part of this ongoing practice and journey  she was required to undertake  challenging -but awakening  cultural ceremonies required to continue this  walk.  Including ,principle that lodges are not for PROFIT and by donations only , all our Mother Earth lodges are  gifts in kind and proceeds are rejuvenated back into funding other lodges to support those wishing to heal. 

Today in service, Diane is a water pourer for all her lodges - woman lodges - family lodges (men and woman )

For example one of  Diane's teachers, Chief Standing Cloud throughout his journey  has walked with heartfelt pure intention and in prayer and never gained financial  profit from being in service to others. This humble teacher has healed many during his journey  here in UK and around USA. 

Including being a well respected ,water pourer of  the late ,Chief Crowdog Senior at the largest ceremony in world “Sundance”. Including invitation from the United States Government, to host Inpi  (Sweat Lodges) for individual males from Native American tribes as part of their religious beliefs, while in prison.

Evidence of the benefits to Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health Including PTSD

Today there it has been wide evidence that Sweat Lodges has improved the mental health especially those suffering PTSD. For example in Toronto, Canada, one of the largest mental health centres (CAMH) and addition teaching hospital opened sweat lodge for aboriginal patients to help promote spiritual, physical and emotional healing. 

" Renee Linklater, director of aboriginal engagement and outreach programme stated “having the sweat lodge on-site at CAMH allows us to offer indigenous healing ceremonies as part of the treatment plans. 

The round sweat lodge is approximately -- 1.5 metres high and four metres in diameter -- is constructed from willow poles, gathered from sustainable sourced locally. With blankets and breathable tarp overlays the frame, with an opening facing a fire pit, where stones for the purification ceremony are heated.

Inside, a second pit has been dug to receive those stones, which will be washed with traditional medicines and the "sacred water" that will turn into a cleansing steam. Participants sit encircling the pit inside the lodge and engage in prayer, songs and other rituals of healing with the help of a ceremonial "conductor." The process can lasts about two hours. 

Taking part in the cleansing ceremony is meant to cast out negative thoughts and feelings, and to help heal "the wounds in their lives," said Longboat, a Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River territory in southwestern Ontario. The stones are called "grandmothers and grandfathers," terms reflective of aboriginal Canadians' great reverence for their ancestors.

"When sacred water is placed on them and steam occurs, that's a release of the spirit inside those rocks we call the eggs of Mother Earth," explained Longboat. "Not only is it a physical detoxification of your body, but it's an emotional shift within you.

"It is sometimes a miraculous adventure when you go in because there are profound and everlasting healings that occur inside the sweat lodge. And people will look back on life and say: 'This was a spiritual milestone for me. It was an emotional, mental and physical milestone.‘ 

“It allows me to cleanse myself, especially of those negative thoughts that keep coming back to me from time to time," said the 56-year-old. "So the sweat lodge ceremony allows me to release those. These looking forward to a time when clients from other cultures participate this most traditional healing processes."

Army and Military Centers -

 Sweat lodge within the Army base has also shown to help with PTSD treatment for veterans. A sweat lodge was hosted on Fort Carson and leading the way for military installations around the United States. 

The centuries-old Native American tradition has become a new form of treatment for soldiers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

What once was a ritual held in secrecy is now a growing trend among both active duty and veteran warriors seeking its legendary cleansing powers. In a remote section of Turkey Creek, the air is filled with songs and smoke at the Lakota Sioux inipi, a traditional sweat lodge made of willow branches and donated quilts.

This sweat lodge has been there since 1995. Hackwith, a Marine veteran of the Gulf War, started the inipi with a couple friends who wanted to follow their own cultural religious practice. They got permission from the manager of the Turkey Creek ranch at the time. The participants pray, sing, play drums and sweat in the tent around dozens of hot stones, in complete darkness. 

It is a purity ritual designed to help sweat out negativity, a common problem for struggling soldiers. Special Agent Kevin Cheek of the Air Force, now the military liaison for the sweat lodge, says, “I’ve deployed five times. I’ve been there and back, and all that negative baggage that you collect and the things that you see and stuff like that, this helps you cope. This helps you deal with all that.”

Fort Carson formally recognized the sweat lodge as a religious practice in 2005, the first ever on a military base. Chaplains now recommend the ritual to those with PTSD. Guided by natives belting out tribal chants, everyone else is encouraged to pray in their own faith. 

“You pray for your enemies and people that don’t like you,” explains Cheek. “And that’s difficult, and as a veteran, you’re praying for those people that actually shot at you. That helps you come to terms with a lot of the stuff.” Now rocks provide an escape. The stones heat over open flames for hours before being passed into the sweat lodge, where leaders pour sage and water over them to produce the steam.

Originally designated only for men of the tribe, leaders now welcome anyone to the lodge, especially soldiers. Women and men sit on opposite sides of the lodge, which seats up to 40 participants. Women wear loose cotton garb, while men wear shorts. After four rounds of sweating, the participants share a pipe filled with willow bark and eat ceremonial dishes that represent different aspects of life.

The leaders hope the tradition will continue for generations to come. 

Spiritual leader Wesley Black Elk says, “There’s not a whole lot of Native Americans left in this country, and the sad truth is someday we’ll be gone, and this is all they have to remember us by.”

You can now find sweat lodges at a few other military bases and Veterans Affairs centers around the country.

I wish you well on your walk and if you wish to attend one of our mother earth lodges, please do not hesitate to get in touch .

Diane Gower 

For those who attend our lodge: 

We recommend that you fast or eat little as possible (if needed) prior to the lodge.

Have a restful evening prior to the lodge with no alcohol or other substance.

More importantly keep the evening after the lodge completely free of engagements.

We also ask that all mobile phones be switched off once arriving on site.

What to expect: 

The number of people in our Mother Earth Lodge varies from month to month any where between 4 and 30.. The sweat lodge consists of several ‘rounds’ each lasting approximately twenty minutes and which may involve drumming singing praying story-telling, or simply silence. Because the sweat lodge is an organic each lodge will be a different experience and therefore all timings are approximate. 

Woman must wear long skirt and t shirt in lodge and men shorts and t shirt. .

What you need to bring ;

Towels (one for sitting on in the lodge and one to dry yourself with afterwards

Flip flops or sandals for outside of lodge.

Warm clothing for afterwards

Food/drink share with everyone around the fire after the lodge (no alcohol)

Flowers/white candles/incense for the altar (optional)

Drinking water  preferably in glass bottle - Coconut Water is good option   

NO PHOTOGRAPHY IS ALLOWED  -This is a ceremony