The Sioux's willingness to allow non-Indians to participate in their sacredSun Dance ceremony has made many of us aware of both the spiritual and medicinal benefits of the sweat lodge. It also encourages camaraderie in acommunity sharing and growing together. I asked many Native Americans how they felt about this cultural loan. Most responses were positive, though a few had reservations. The Sioux leader of my sweat bath during thc Sun Dance ceremony had one caution.
Sweat lodges are easy to make.
You can pray to your own gods and take herbs that heal. But without a medicine man or spiritual leader, it is not an Indian sweat. Others were hesitant to discuss the sweat bath ceremonies at all, afraid that a non-Indian might not understand its spiritual implications and might inadvertently defile its sanctity. Black Elk wanted the ancient ways to be remembered by his brethren. I visited a commune in the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California who happily adapted a sweat lodge to their lifestyle.