Last weekend I made the 4.5 hour trek up to West Des Moines where my favorite control freak of a friend organized an awesome spiritual retreat. She and I have one significant common characteristic and that is we like to have everything planned out, scheduled, and don't you dare change anything! Unfortunately for us and our O.C.D the Iowa weather made arrangements that we could not control. These pictures are the result of Plan B as far as location and it turned out to be the perfect spot.
This was my first experience getting to actually construct the sweat lodge. It is amazing to me how simple willow branches can be transformed into such a thing of beauty.
The willow branches are thin but they are very flexible and incredibly strong. We secured them together with simple twine and then added the red ribbons to attract the spirits.
Once the frame was constructed we covered it with a plethora of blankets and tarps. This is to insure that the inside of the lodge is pitch dark even if the sweat is held in the middle of the day.
Aaaaah.... the finished product.
This was my first experience getting to actually construct the sweat lodge. It is amazing to me how simple willow branches can be transformed into such a thing of beauty.
The willow branches are thin but they are very flexible and incredibly strong. We secured them together with simple twine and then added the red ribbons to attract the spirits.
Once the frame was constructed we covered it with a plethora of blankets and tarps. This is to insure that the inside of the lodge is pitch dark even if the sweat is held in the middle of the day.
Aaaaah.... the finished product.
1 comment:
???Control Freak???....if it weren't so true it might hurt my feelings :-D It was beautiful, wasn't it? I'm so glad you were here to share in the planning, construction and participation of the sweat and Keinna's visit. Made the whole thing perfect in it's imperfection. Thanks Pal.
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