Sweat Lodge

The Sweat Lodge experience, was definitely an experience. Before I talk about the Sweat Lodge I just want to say I was sooo inspired but the set up of the Ojai Foundation. It was so beautiful surrounded by greener and perched on a hill the view was serene. The communal areas and little structures just made me think about how I want to live, that is, simply in a sustainable environment where I can kick it with friends amongst the beauty of nature.

Okay back to the Sweat Lodge, so that morning I awoke after a nightmare in which I dreamt that I had done the sweat lodge but didn't remember a thing about it. I approached a table of fresh fruits and veggies where Cameron was munching away and he asked "How did you like it?" I was dumfounded because I could not recollect any memory of the experience. Crazy right, but I actually do remember my waking experience in the sweat lodge and I'll tell you all about it.

It was very ritual oriented with some pseudo-Native American ceremonies, which were cool but actually felt kind of like attending church except, it actually made sense. Giving thanks to nature and reflecting on what you want for yourself and others. Be selected our rocks and made a wish for ourselves and then selected some wood to burn away something. My wish for my self, to envision my passion in life more clearly. The burn, the close mindedness of our world leaders.

Inside the womb as Paul referred to it the sweating commenced. We went through 4 levels of rocks all with different degrees of sweat and activity. Level 1 I wanted the heat ore intense, by Level 3 I was sweating like no other, this was my favorite level because of the intensity and everyone through concepts, ideologies, and bad habits into the void. You think you know how you feel and think about things but verbally expressing them really drives your stance on things home and into your memory.

Overall it was an awesome experience and a definite bonding experience. I did feel a sort of lightness coming out of the lodge perhaps it was because I stopped living in the past and future and was just taking in the present. We ate delicious food we cooked the night prior and all slept like babies that night.