Safety & Personal Responsibility

Your health and the well-being of the Calmunity are your personal responsibility. Please be vigilant with your health in the 14 days prior to the ceremony. If you have traveled internationally, or experience fever, cough, aches, sore throat, chills, or fatigue, do not attend.

If you are ill, uncomfortable, or have questions, contact us immediately: Events@tainowoods.com. The safety of our elders and children rests on our collective good judgment.

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Our History: The First Medicine

The Purification (Sweat) Lodge—also known as Kansi the place apart, or Temazcal—is the First Medicine and has been the indigenous way for hundreds of years. 

The oldest church where we come to purify, prepare for, and celebrate in ceremony and in life. It is the first medicine. The sweat lodge is a sacred space to heal and express ourselves with our ancestors and community. It is extremely powerful and held with great reverence. Purification, Temazcal, or Sweat lodge have been used to cure a variety of physical, mental and emotional ailments. 

• The Lodge: Represents the Womb of the Mother Earth (Divine Feminine), where we are purified and reborn. (Life, Death, Rebirth)

• The Fire: The entrance aligns with the Sacred Grandfather Fire (Divine Masculine), where the stones (our Abuelos and Abuelas, the ancestors of the Earth) are prepared.

• The Ceremony: Herbal medicines are placed on the stones. When water (the primal medicine) is poured, it creates The Breath of Life—a spiritual cleansing enhanced by prayer and medicine songs.

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A Day on the Land: Community & Ceremony

To honor the ancestral tradition, the Lodge is built, maintained, and taken down by the community.

• Arrival & Preparation: Arrive at least one hour before the lighting of the fire. We will gather the firewood and blankets together in prayer—this is the start of the ceremony.

• Completion: After the sweat, we will collectively clean the Lodge and gather ceremonial materials before returning up the land to share prayers.

• Potluck Feast: Bring a prepared dish to contribute to the community potluck. Sharing a meal together is an important part of completing the ceremony.

Important Note: Move Slowly

Our ceremonies can last for several hours and require preparation and cleanup. Do not book anything important afterward. Moving slowly allows the medicine to be fully absorbed by your heart, mind, and spirit.

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What to Expect: Protocols

Pre-Ceremony & Health

• Substances: We highly recommend refraining from substances that alter the mind, including alcohol and caffeine.

• Medication: Inform us prior to entering if you are on any medication or have medical conditions.

• Skin: Eat a light breakfast and stay hydrated. Add minerals to your water. Do NOT use oils or lotions on your skin before the Lodge.

Timing & Doors

The ceremony consists of four rounds, or four doors, each lasting 15-20 minutes. The door is opened briefly between rounds for rest or exit. 

The entire Lodge ceremony can take up to 6 hours (including 1 hour prep and 1 hour cleanup/potluck).

1. 1st Door: Welcoming Prayer

2. 2nd Door: Prayer for Yourself

3. 3rd Door: Prayer for Others

4. 4th Door: Prayer for Gratitude

Clothing (stick with tradition)

• Women: Wear a lightweight, non see-through dress or skirt that covers the shoulders, cleavage, and knees. It’s best not to use pants or shorts for the sacred hoop connection we women contribute. No woman will be turned away if she chooses to wear shorts or pants. 

• Men: Wear shorts and a light shirt.

• General: No shoes, metal jewelry, or glasses inside. Bring a small towel to sit on or cover your face if you need. 

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Communicating & Breathing

• Silence: Once the ceremony begins, we are in prayer. Remain silent and go within. Ask the Water Pourer for permission to speak. Cursing and touching are prohibited.

• Songs/Prayers: The Fire Keeper or Water Pourer may invite you to share a prayer or song from the heart. You may bring a drum or rattle, but the Fire Keeper determines if it is played.

• Heat: Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. If the heat is too intense, lower yourself to the ground (Mother Earth). Notify the keepers if you experience distress; your health is our priority.

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Offerings & Amenities Traditional Offerings

To honor the service and tradition—which involves significant time, energy, and resources—we humbly suggest donations for the teachings and experience. Offerings may include:

• A monetary donation (in lieu of the items below)

• Lodge blankets (moving blankets)

• Sacred tobacco (American Spirits or organically grown), Cedar, Sage, Sweet Grass, Copal, Lavender, Rosemary

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After Ceremony

• River/Snow: We encourage you to enter the magical River (or snow in winter) to replenish your energy and boost your immune system.

• Facilities: A communal hot shower (river water only), an outdoor communal kitchen (clean up after yourself), and five outdoor bathrooms are available.

Directions

We are located behind 302 Big Woods Rd, Harris NY. Continue driving past 302 to the second driveway on the right (a gravel parking lot). Park at the top of the lot and walk straight down the path from the parking lot to the communal kitchen. Do not veer off the path so you don’t trespass.