ALUNA TEMPLE MAGAZINE Edition No2 'HONOURING LIFE' | Page 26

Purification: The Sun-wise of the Sweat lodge is for purification,
healing, teaching, prayers and purposes connected to other
Ceremonies and Life Ways of the spiritual cosmology of the tribe or
community.
It is for our Peoples to nourish healthy spiritual relationships with
each other, Mother Earth, Creation, All Life, Father Sun, the
Elements and the Cosmos.
During the childbearing years, womyn "purify" naturally and has
her Moon Lodge and Dream Ceremonies which are different from
the Sun-wise ceremonies.

Art © Laura Corbier - Spirit of the Lodge

Womyn grow up knowing both Ceremonies, because they can participate in mixed lodges when not in their
Ceremonial Moon Time or if called to do so, choose to partake of the rites to become a Water Pourer in
both Ways.
Moon "sweat" Lodge: During the childbearing years, the Moon 'sweat' lodge is poured for various
reasons. Health benefits, fertility, Dream-visioning in service to their family and tribe, prayers, healing, the
tribal-communal wisdom and teachings shared through the matrilineal relationships between
Grandmothers and Daughters, inner and interconnection with Spirit and the Creationing Ways, raising the
infants and babies up into the Lodge Ways and cleanse-bathing.
The womyn will take care of pouring the water, fire-keeping, making of medicines if this is what they see is
called for. They may also call upon a Grandmother to attend as well.
All Moon "sweats" I have ever poured or participated in, are usually very gentle in nature. Water being the
first and most powerful medicine of all medicines, is given during 3 of the 4 rounds, and whenever asked
for. One of the rounds is for the medicine tea, and the Water Pourer will give instruction on how this is to
be received. Womyn may also choose to have men firekeepers who are either one of the womyn's
relatives ( father, husband, uncle, brother, son) or a man who is a fully trained Firekeeper of a particular
Clan or Society within the Tribe.
Moon Dreamseed Lodge: In the most optimum of tribal relationship, the womyn of a community or tribe
that is cycling at the same time, may also have a Tipi or build a simple structure covered with boughs to
dream together during the night and day, or if the Moon "sweat" Lodge is very large it could serve both
purposes of sweat and deamseed visioning-living.
The "supporters" will bring them food for 2-4 days. When they "retreat," their community or tribe knows
that they do this, to commune and bring back the dream-visions for the greater good of the life of the
family, tribe, regi