RavenCircle's Earth Lodge

The Earth Lodge vision is to create an empty space in which people may retreat from distractions of the world and get back in touch with stillness. Referred to as the womb of Mother Earth, participants emerge with a greater understanding of and connection to awareness within and outside of themselves. Earth Lodge holds to no singular religion, path or expression of the spiritual while maintaining respect for all religions and spiritual beliefs. The Earth Lodge aspires to create an environment where all are free to speak their hearts and minds as well as feelings and experiences when they deem appropriate. The Earth Lodge respects the boundaries of individual experiences within the lodge with mindfully honoring what has been shared as sacred. The Lodge encourages respect of other people's words through the experience of a sacred community.

"You must understand that knowledge cannot be turned into words. That knowledge is there for everyone. It is there to be felt, to be used, but not to be explained. One can come into it by changing levels of awareness, therefore, heightened awareness is an entrance. But even the entrance cannot be explained. One can only make use of it.” ~ Carlos Castaneda

Who May Request a Lodge? - Anyone may request a sweat lodge ceremony and for a wide variety of reasons.  In fact, we encourage people to put together lodges based on personal needs with an opportunity to be supported by those whom they feel are most able to provide the best support.  Don and/or Lorraine pour lodges for realizing vision, rites of passage, full moon, transformation, healings, weddings, personal growth, grieving, deepening of connection to spirit, naming and adoption ceremonies and more.  We also support and encourage people to create their own ceremonies.

An "open lodge" or "community lodge" may be called with no specific intent as a means to gather together in prayerfulness and purification and anyone may invite whomever they wish. Since it is customary, though not required, to fast from at least noon prior to a lodge, when it is over we share a meal of Thanksgiving by having a potluck. 

What to Bring to Lodge - Please feel free to bring your sacred objects to place on the altar or to bring into the lodge with you.  You may also want to bring a rattle or drum.  A pot-luck meal of Thanksgiving is shared following the lodge.  Some good things to bring are vegetable and fruit salads, breads, cheeses, desserts, casseroles, chili, soups and stews or whatever your creative mind and hand care to whip up.

It is recommended that you bring a towel to take into the lodge with you so may dry yourself off as well as cover yourself in the event that you feel a bit hot.  You may also want to have a second towel or bathrobe to put on as you exit the lodge, especially in the winter.  A small bottle of Gatorade will help you replenish electrolytes that you have lost due to sweating.

What to Wear in Lodge - Wear loose, comfortable clothing.  Shorts and a tank top or t-shirt, light cotton dress, skirt and top, these are all fine and appropriate.

Who May Participate? - The Ceremony, healings and Earth Lodges that we offer are available to anyone, however, those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  While a parent does not necessarily have to participate in a particular ceremony, they must be present and in close proximity to their minor child at all times.

Offerings - We do not charge a fee for ceremonies held in the Earth Lodge though we rely on monetary donations.  The donations are used to sustain these ceremonies so that they can be available whenever someone calls for one. With the donations we purchase the heating fuel for the lodge and maintain the fire and lodge area.  We also use the donations to purchase the ceremonial herbs, candles and other essentials that are used to heighten and enhance various ceremonies and cleansings.

If someone does not have the means to make a monetary donation they are encouraged to offer another type of give-away for the ceremony.  By so doing, they are taking responsibility for their experience.