« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2
Not that Mr. Langstramm considers himself a new age huckster or whatever he says in his intro, but he does strongly end his critique with a warning to those who signed on to the declaration, “If you think that proposed [Purification] lodge of mine on my own property is exploiting Lakota Spirituality and you want war with me than I can defend myself just as well, violently if necessary.”
At any rate, his response speaks for itself.
That said, regarding a purification lodge in reference to the declaration, Langstramm writes,
"Where:
The person "running the sweat lodge" is just a facilitator and host that arranges an itinery for a consensus of participants to safely worship or derive health benefits of participating respectfully.
Everyone is equal at the lodge, especially sweating in the dark.
There is no elite heirarchy of sundancers nor vision questers, nor "medicine men", nor elders, nor pipe carriers, nor shamans there. There is no special reverence to someone with self inflicted mutilation scars.
No one waits for a so called "medicine man" or spiritual leader's permission to take a drink of water.
No one passes a communal ladel around with a communal bucket to drink water out of risking contagious germs.
Everyone is free to bring their own Nalgene or other water bottles full of their beverage of choice, except intoxicants, with all the ice they want to put in it, if they so desire. Drink freely whenever you are thirsty. No one should control when you feel the need to be re-hydrated.
Women are welcome on their moon (menstral cycle) as long as they are clean and wear sanitary napkins that won't cause them to bleed in the lodge. I'm not a medical Doctor just an amateur one client gynecologist at best, but some women have suggested there are health risks of excessive bleeding from the heat while on their periods. The women would decide what is appropriate for them.
If there's some health risk like that, I guess I'd put it in the liability waiver notice for them to choose what they do at their own risk.
Likewise, men's testicles could melt off and cook all the sperm away so we end up shooting blanks for months and years, putting us in pain. Who knows what prolonged risks could happen to us guys too?
In either case, there's been women and men surviving in hot climates since for a very long time. Some people are more adaptible than others.
If someone feels comfortable being naked in a sweat lodge, its entirely your choice.
Pets, such as dogs and cats, are generally not welcome, but if its a clean well trained intelligent animal who won't urinate or defecate or have flatulnece in the lodge, what's the big deal? I mean seriously considering that a lot of human farting and human sweating, especially from those who had recent fire water relapse, is going to make the place stink a lot worse than an animal ever could.
Some have suggested there are health risks to the pets and that could be a liability waiver at the owner's own risk too advising them to consult a Veterinarian. That has to do with science and the habits of each individual animal, not because the animal is a curse to spirituality.
Actually, pet monkeys from tropical jungles might benefit from sweating the most.
Metal forceps are used to carry in the stones if there are no antlers available.
Any kind of metal jewelry is welcome for anyone who thinks they need it, though if it gets too hot, metal conducts heat. That has to do with science and not some spiritual concept about metal interfering with prayers.
It's all right to go ahead and walk clockwise or counter clockwise around the lodge or in front of the alter carefree as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone.
Anyone can throw water on the stones at any time provided they are considerate enough to ask if others find the ceremony getting too hot or too cold for some.
Sometimes a little pachouli and other incense is burned in addition to sage, sweet grass, and cedar.
There is no obligation to smoke a pipe nor is there any special merit if you think a pipe is sacred or not. You don't even have to touch a pipe. It's entirely your choice if you do or don't smoke. Besides, tobacco does nothing good for the human body anyways.
If it gets too hot, politely and respectfully ask to leave and let everyone know you are leaving.
There'd be some kind of cedar boards or foundation like in a sauna so that no one has to crawl around in the mud and filthy mildewy old carpets."