Sacred Sweat Lodge ceremony
21 December 2023
This ceremony is for everyone who is ready to take full responsibility for their own abundant happy life. For everyone who is ready to share their own special gift to the world and shine. To shine their light bright, so others will recognise and remember their own inner light. And maybe dare to do the same.
What is a Sweat Lodge Ceremony?
A sweat Lodge ceremony is a sacred and ancient ritual. We can find different uses of sweat lodges all over the world rooted in different cultures. From the Inipi sweat lodges in North-America, through the Temascal ceremony in South-America to the Sauna culture in the North of Europe. But also the Celtic culture had different forms of Sweat lodges. You find sweat lodges in the depths of Mongolia: every culture has roots within this healing and cleansing ceremony.
And that is why we hold sweat lodge ceremonies: to cleanse, heal and ground ourselves, solid and firm on the ground.
A Sweat lodge is a medicine wheel. To connect ourselves with the great spirit and the different worlds around us. We connect to the 4 directions of the wind. To learn what the spirits from these directions have to tell us. Here we can connect ourselves with the 4 elements.
We connect with the Fire. The fire will warm us and share his/her healing and wisdom. The Water, will cleans us. She will connect us with our emotions and support us to be soft and gentle with ourselves. The Air will be our constant guide. Helping us to breath and give space. And the Earth will carry us so that we can stand tall, strong and honest in our own truth.
It is a place of prayer. A place we give our personal prayers and wishes. But also a place to pray for our brothers and sisters, our children, the elderly, our community, the earth and for what is way bigger than ourselves and our understanding.
What can I expect during a Sweat Lodge Ceremony?
The Sweat Lodge is a ceremony with different rituals. First we form a big circle with all the people who are present during the ceremony. To honor and support each other. The circle symbolise the equality between everyone. Side by side and hand in hand we stand. We listen, we speak and we learn together during this ceremony.
We create a strong foundation for the stones. The stones are the foundation of the sweat lodge ceremony. They are the ancient and oldest creatures of this planet. They are representing our ancestors and we treat them with deepest respect and care. We give our prayers, wishes and intentions to the stones. Later the fire will heat them. Sometimes it might seem like the stones are asleep. But the stones are alive and supporting us. The fire will wake them up and unleash their sacred wisdom.
When the time is right: We will light the fire together. This ritual is not just about lighting fire. But it is about our connection with fire. We speak and connect with the sacred fire. What has the fire to say to us? How do we connect with the fire? How do we connect with our inner fire? And do we honor our own fire, or did we forget? What have we to tell the fire? We offer herbs, tobacco, flowers, and love to the fire and the stones as a sacrifice. And together they will carry us during the ceremony.
Both the fire and the stones will need some time to get ready. We leave them in the capable care of the “Fire-keeper” during the ceremony. We will take this time to get ready ourselves. To connect with our intentions. But when the stones are red from the heat and we can see the fire in them: then it is time. We will go in to the sweat lodge.
A place to find your roods, ground and stand strong with
an open hart.
Janna Rasteiro - de Weerd
Acupuncturist, Canyon guide,
Medicine woman
I'm a medicine woman. I am passionate about nature and the healing work I do.
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Within the healthcare system I work with acupuncture and massage, and also as a shamanic practitioner, by giving meaningful ceremonies, individual healing sessions and workshops. I am dedicated to helping every person who is on the path of personal growth.
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In the summer season you can find me in the mountains. Or more specifically: in the canyons. Canyoning is a very important part of my life, and canyons teach me, humble me and help me grow with strength and honesty.
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Everyone carries a light inside themselves. A spark, a flame, a special source of energy: This is your own true essence. It is my life purpose to rekindle this light in humanity.
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Life can be difficult. Because of this, as humans we sometimes forget this special spark. I went to a lot of darkness myself to learn, to understand what it means to really dare to be yourself and shine your own light. Through trauma, depression and PTSD, I learned to overcome my own shadows. It felt as a painful ride. (And sometimes life is). But it became a powerful initiation journey.
I work with the shamanic wisdom that unleashed inside me during this journey. And I feel humbled to work with the shamanic wisdom that has been passed on to me by the teachers that have supported me along the way. Different teachers from different backgrounds and different cultures along the way, helped me find and rekindle life in my own strength and wisdom. I hope I can do the same for the people around me.
Daniel Rasteiro - de Weerd
Freedom fighter, Self-sufficient farmer, Nature lover and Spiritual apprentice
I am a freedom fighter continuously seeking alternatives to free myself from the established conventions whether they are physical or psychological. I live and nurture a harmonious relationship with Mother nature where my work as a self-sufficient farmer is greatly decided by nature in a symbiotic level as well as native wisdom from our ancestors.
From my very early years, I have lived and experienced intense feelings throughout my youth. I was separated from my parents at the age of 6 and placed at a children’s shelter... 5 years later, my father, who was my great pillar, passed away. These circumstances forced me to seek spiritual and inner self guidance even at this young age, but the tools weren’t there, yet, despite the strong perception of an higher spirit.
I now have an opportunity to learn, heal and share this knowledge with everyone else in need.
I hope to combine all these ingredients for a better world and help bring us back to our roots as a civilization.
Coming soon
Terra Firme will start giving shamanic Teatchings starding with the educational year program: Strong Roods
Shamanic year training: Strong Roods
Strong Roods is a powerful education program. During this training you will be guided through the path of initiation within shamanism. We will follow the wisdom of nature from a shamanic point of view. Knowledge and wisdom that is embedded within the traditions and cultures from all over the world. Not only will you learn the basic principles and practice of shamanism during this training.
Every person has unique talents. These talent’s we call our personal medicine. We will focus on developing our own talents so we can create a personal working method. We will make space for active training and practice of the medicine we have to offer to the world.
For ourselves, for our loved ones and the world around us.
In a healing way
In a medicine way
For the good of all
Awen