On No Roz and inipis

Just a reminder that No Roz, the Persian New Year, will be taking place at the spring equinox....it is a celebration that started with the Zoroastrians, and has continued on with Sufis and others now living in the region. We're having our own No Roz celebration here in Arkansas, complete with fire ceremony (the Zoroastrians use fire as a part of their worship).

On another note, I haven't seen a thread posted here yet on Native American inipis, or sweatlodge ceremonies. Anyone here take part in these ceremonies? It would be nice to chat if you have-my husband is a pipe carrier in the Lakota tradition, and we've been to many inipis.

and also all the drumming groups that were happening for awhile.

I have been to many saunas, however, including wood-burning outdoor saunas. Never a particular ceremony, though.

and an inipi is nothing like a sauna, except for the heat. The quality of the inipi is based upon the water pourer, who leads the sweat. If you have someone into playing around, it can have rather dire consequences. Personally, I feel that people on power trips need not apply for the position. There can be a lot of energy loosed in an inipi-I even know of a person being healed in such a ceremony (broken ribs went back in place and finally started healing).

Its interesting that the ceremony can change, depending on the water pourer. It is said that you honor the way the water pourer does the ceremony, because he or she learned it from their elders, and will keep doing it that way until Spirit tells them otherwise.

I've been in inipis where tobacco was rolled up in a corn husk and smoked by the leader, and I've been in inipis where the chanupe (sacred pipe) was smoked in the lodge, and in inipis where the chanupe was smoked outside the lodge. I've worn a bathing suit and a long skirt with long sleeves, sat mixed with men and sat with only women. I've sung different songs or the songs in different order, and with different accents! (there is a difference in Lakota and Dakota)

If you are interested in attending an inipi, I would urge you to check out the people first. Make sure they are coming from a good space and aren't into power trips. Traditionally, to ask for a sweat, you ask the water pourer and give him/her a gift of tobacco. No money need change hands-this, to my mind, would be a sure indication that the intent might not be spiritual.

In every inipi ceremony I've attended, there is a time for prayers. Some pray in silence, some pray only to the Great Mystery (Wakah Tankah) and the Grandfathers (Tenkasela), while others pray to God, to Jesus, or even chant hymns to Shiva! (Like I say, I've been to a great variety of inipi ceremonies). But whatever way you pray, one thing is consistant no matter who is leading (in my experience at least): what is said in the lodge stays in the lodge. That includes not only prayers but visions that might come to you in the lodge-and I and many others have had visions while doing the ceremony.

Hope this information gives you a little flavor of what an inipi ceremony can be like.

Thanks for posting this. ayeshahaqqiqa are you a sufi? What is the meaning of your name and your avatar. I love your posts. Keep up the great work. I'll light some candles on the eve of the equinox.

Ah, Shiva, dancing on the dwarf of ignorance! May all people learn this wisdom!

I am a Sufi initiate, and believe in universality.

The heart represents one's own spiritual center. The star in the heart represents the Light of God, the crescent moon the receptivity of the individual. The wings, which lift one from maya (unreality) to the Real, are Indpendence and Indifference. Independence in that one is not dependent on one particular dogma, but that one uses the different teachings of various faiths to reach the goal. Indifference because one should not be affected by what others say-something I'm still working on :)

that is lovely.

On the principle of nonattachment, it certainly is hard to practice in real life, isn't it. :)

Peace,

-wildflower