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Near Full Moon Sweat Lodge!The Thai Yoga Center would like to invite you to a community ceremony for cleansing and purification performed in a traditional way. We have established an all nations or one nation lodge to honor the native way for all tribes and nations. A beautiful twelve pole lodge with path to sacred fire is opened to those sincere individuals who wish to share and be blessed in this way. As we are peoples from many and various backgrounds the lodge is set up and run in an eclectic fashion suitable for this purpose. This means elements of tradition are borrowed and incorporated from Ojibway, Lakota, Dakota, Crow, Cherokee and Rainbow traditions as described by Black Elk, Sun Bear, Floyd Realbird, Kathleen O'Sullivan, and Ed McGaa of Mother Earth Spirituality. We also incorporate and honor teachings from our friends and elders of the Huichol, Tarahumara and Mescalero traditions. Prayers will be made, Sacred fire fashioned and water pored in a good way. We may begin and end with the pipe ceremony.
This ceremony will be made clear for beginners and elders alike. All good people are welcome. The Lodge will be co-ed. The Lodge is Sky Clad and or clothing optional. Ask if you don't know what this means. Please note: In our offering of this traditional experience we are NOT propagating any specific form or religion. This ceremony is essentially for purification and honoring of the earth and all living beings. It is appropriate for sensible persons of all religious faiths to join together without discrimination to do these and similar things. All faiths are welcome as we all share the same planet.
The leader for this ceremony will be Dr. Anthony B. James CMT, ND, MDAM. Dr. James a fully adopted Crow tribal Member of the Whistling Water Clan, son of the late medicine man Floyd Realbird. Dr. James is one of four living persons given the Crow Chanupa or pipe ceremony directly by Chief Floyd Realbird. Dr. James was introduced to the Sweat Lodge ceremony by the late elder Sun Bear of the Bear Medicine Tribe, progressed in his education under Charla and Tarwater of Spirit Wind (Cherokee Nation, Ala.), then trained under Crow medicine men and women on Crow Agency, Montana for seven years. He was also assistant fire keeper at the first three Sun dances (Pipe Carriers Sun Dance) held at the Memorial at Pipestone National Monument under Sun dance Chiefs Chris Leaf, Clyde Bellecourt, Leanard Crowdog and others. Dr. James was given the right and honor to conduct the sacred lodge by his adopted father, Chief Floyd Realbird (Past president NAC- Native American Church), Robert "Bobby" Littlelight (Past President NAC) and Richard Realbird (Past President Crow Nation, Gary Owen , Montana). Additional training and authorization was received from Acasio Acatecatl Oltehua Spiritual Leader and healer, born in the Nahuatl Nation of Veracruz , Mexico. The Tehkulle of Kalpulle Olmeca in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico and the spiritual leader of Kalpulli Tonal Teokalli in Chi Huahua Mexico, Warez and El Paso Texas.
Our ceremony is an eclectic variation of traditional style. We honor all relevant traditions including those we also make as a distinctive community. We are householders and our lodge is private and for friends and family and as such is an all faiths, all colors lodge, not run according to any specific medicine man or womans ritual. We honor all of the Earth spirits and energies and as we are a Yoga school and Shamanistic tradition we incorporate various activities and ritual appropriate for our community. The lodges are Sky Clad or clothing optional as a sign of humility. It is not required that you be naked during ceremony, however, if you are offended in any way by the natural body and nudity we do not recommend that you participate. We celebrate the natural gifts of spirit including our bodies and this is just one way we work with positive body image in a safe and respectful environment.
We are looking to building a special womens only lodge and are looking for serious and helpful minded women of all backgrounds and skills to help build a new lodge and to begin offering womens only ceremony and ritual. Please be sure to let Julie know if this is an interest of your or you can help in some way.
At TYC, we follow the "Golden Rule" for ceremony and there is No Charge at all for participation. ITTA, Inc. "The Thai Yoga Center" is located at AWA, a Non-Profit organization. All World Acres will accept any donations toward maintenance of the land only. Additionally, the way to make this "your lodge" is to help out. There are always many preparations toward putting on a lodge successfully. We ask that all participants come and have a giving attitude. Help not only set up the lodge but help with the surrouding property as your able. AWA is an all volunteer sanctuary. Help us make it you Sanctuary. Ask us for the volunteer projects for this lodge.
A pot luck feast will be served after the lodge and you are invited to bring a dish for sharing. If you cannot afford to bring food, or are unable to prepare, come anyway and we will feed you! Please Note: So, there is no charge for ceremony however we are holding this on SomaVeda Institute property , We request a donation towards the regular day fee of $7.00 per person applies for all activities on the premises. This applies whether you sweat or walk in the gardens!
Do bring your drums, songs and grateful heart!
Come early, walk the land, help build the fire, set up the lodge... learn by doing and sharing!
See Photo from last Ceremony.
What we do require : Space is limited so you must call ahead to reserve your seat. Once the ceremony begins no one will be allowed in. You do not have to actually go in the lodge to be blessed, you may simply be there and share the good energy. Drum, sing or pray. The fire pit itself is a healing space.
We are happy to answer your questions , give directions or help in any way with your participation.
Be well, Mitakyue Oyasin, A Ho!
Want to see pictures?
1) June 09
2) May 09
3) July 08
When? Next Sweats: May 16th, June 13th, July 18th: Saturday afternoon and evening. Begin Fire at 3:00- 4:00 pm. Come earlier if you want to chop wood , carry water! The land is beautiful... come for a walk.
Where? All World Acres, Plant City Florida
How Much? No Charge, Donations accepted, If you want bring some good tobacco.
How to Sign Up? Call The Thai Yoga Center at (706) 358-8646 Ask for Dr. J, Julie!
What to Bring? Rough and Garden clothes for set up and prep, Gloves, Sweat clothes or towel, drum, rattle, tamborine, towel, food for potluck feast, good attitude. Always ok to bring questions!
Schedule: 2009
Visit or sign up for our Shamanism Meetup Group at http://shamanism.meetup.com/243/
Coming up soon! Please RSVP at our MeetUp group.
Check This schedule frequently for regular additions and updates. We try our best to do this at least once a month or more. If there is a specific location near you which is not represented let us know. We are always looking for new sites and sponsors to host various trainings. Copyright. 2009, This schedule was last updated on 06/14/2009
