SALLY SMILES
SWEATLODGE
The Sweat Lodge is an ancient ceremonial practice of fire & water found across many Indigenous cultures, created as a space for prayer, purification, healing, and spiritual connection. Entering the lodge is a return to the womb of Mother Earth, a place for visioning, to shed what no longer serves, listen to the wisdom of Spirit, and emerge renewed.
A Sweat Lodge is a dome-shaped structure built close to the earth, traditionally covered with blankets and other materials. Heated stones (ancestors) are brought into the lodge, and water infused with prayer is poured over them to create steam.
Within the darkness, guided by drum, song, silence, and intention, we pray for ourselves, our ancestors, our communities, and the Earth.
The ceremony unfolds in rounds, each with its own focus. The medicine lies within the simplicity of the lodge, the elements, the herbs offered to the rocks, the closeness to the earth and the portal it provides for a truly intimate connection with self and the cosmos.
UPCOMING DATES
12th September 11am-6pm
19th December (Winter Solstice Lodge)
Knotted Roots Eco Stay
Adams Orchard
Boraston Bank
Tenbury Wells
WR15 8LQ
The Heat & The Experience
Through the lodge, we enter the deep void of Mother Earth. In silence we bow to the unknown. As we enter the under world on our hand and knees in a spiral motion, embodying the cosmos and the great mystery of creation.
Inside the lodge we remain in silence until the prayers begin. Low to the ground we reside on the mother belly. Her coolness keeping us grounded in the intense heat. Each round we welcome the ancestor rocks.
We speak our prayers as water is poured onto the glowing rocks as they transmute those prayers into steam.
The heat builds with each round. The intensity is part of the medicine, inviting surrender, breath, resilience, and trust.
We witness the transmutation through the breath of the ancient ones. The sacred fire, the place of transformation cleansing the energies. A true rebirth from the dark back into the light.
The heat works on the physical body, encouraging detoxification and release, while the prayers and darkness work on the spiritual and emotional layers. It is here, in the darkness that we can truly meet ourselves.
You are always encouraged to listen to your body. Participation is invitational, and there is space for choice within the lodge.
The ceremony usually lasts around 2-3 hours with 4-5 rounds.
Our Sweatlodge & Local Materials
This ceremony is an initiation in to Mother Earth. With deep reverence and respect we work with the spirits of the land. we offer our prayers and gratitude for all that they give to us.
Our lodge is held with the 4 elements water, earth, fire and air, the spring water we use is collected from Beneath a 1600 year old yew tree, that has been held in local folklore as a healing spring. Once in the lodge the water is transmuted in to the breath of ancient ancestors, our rock brother and sisters. The ancient rocks that reside on the this hill above the spring are molten rocks formed of olivine and Dolorite. Formed deep in the earth core these rock can hold intense heat. For centuries Clee Hill has been mined, raped and quarried. We send our prayer for forgiveness with deep respect and honour for all she provides us with. Clee hill is a sacred being and we honour her spirit.
Our sweat lodge is held in an Apple orchard in the rolling landscape below Clee hill. The Apple Tree, a spiritual being worshiped by the ancestors of this land for their magic, connections to fertility and the underworld. Here too grows the mistletoe among the apple trees. A boundary between the realms of the underworld, long associated with the fae folk and their wisdom. Here on this land, Bryannie has lovingly created a relationship with these spirits and we ask them to join us and guide us as open the ceremony.
The Day & What to Expect
From arrival, the day itself is held in community as everyone grounds and shares the journey of blessing the rocks, carrying the firewood, dressing the lodge ready for ceremony and spend our time with music, setting our intentions, honouring the land, the spirits that will join and ourselves whilst we wait for the rocks to be hot enough to enter.
Once the lodge is completed we will bless each participant with a flower bath. This will be Infused spring water with roses and plants gown and collected from within the orchard. intuitively chosen for the healing of the group. Dried Roses from the garden represent the energy of love and the divine feminine. Sage for protection as we re enter the world. After the banos we will give you time for Rest. The idea is that the flowers and plants from the banos stay on the body until they naturally fall off this gives them time to work within the energy field of the person.
After a break we will collect from nature to form a living prayer of thanks a nature mandala known as a despacio to the lodge and to the spirits of the land. We will then close the ceremony.
Once the ceremony is closed we will share food cooked around the sacred fire. Songs and music.
Everyone helps with the building and closing down of the lodge. This is a community event and this is how we connect by working together to achieve our goals
Before we enter the lodge, there will be a talk to go through any considerations, expectations and what happens within the ceremony.
After the ceremony, we will enjoy food together.
Your Facilitators
Sally Smiles
Sally is a Shamanic Practitioner who has been holding ceremonial spaces & offerings for over 12 years. Her work is deeply rooted in the medicine of the land, inspired by the ancient ways and finding balance through connection to the natural world. She works to empower those who come to her offerings, holding space for people to cultivate their own deeper relationship to spirit, nature and to themselves.
"My journey with the medicine of the Sweatlodge has been over 8 years and I blend both Celtic & Lakota lineages to offer this space of healing & transformation with gratitude to all who have passed these teachings".
Bryannie Rose Collins
Bryannie is a manifesting medicine woman. Trained in yoga, breath-work, EFT and shamanism. Together she blends elements of each technique to guide you to your highest timeline. After living outside amongst nature for over 9 years within the orchard.
"I have learnt how to connect and understand the subtle layers of our environment that make up this experience we call
Life. My work is to connect you back to these subtle layers so you too, can come back to nature. To nurture and restore all the magic you already hold".
Time & Address
Arrival at 10am with the lodge itself finishing around 5/6pm. You are welcome to stay for a pre-prepared vegetarian/vegan meal after the lodge.
Adams Orchard
Boraston Bank
Tenbury Wells
WR15 8LQ
The Venue
We are so blessed to offer this ceremony within a beautiful orchard & woodland setting. The land is cared for and loved by Bry-annie & Rich, providing a natural & peaceful space with areas to sit, explore, gather and be at one with the earth. There is compostable toilets, Large outdoor dining tables, communal areas, an Earth Lodge and so much more surrounded by organically grown fruit and vegetables. If you would like to find out more, head to https://knottedroots.co.uk/
Exchange
We offer a tiered ticket structure to allow this ceremony to be as accessible as possible, we do encourage everyone to pay what they can afford as the ticket exchange covers the cost of the materials, wood, food & facilitators, so that we can continue this ancient tradition in service to those who enter.
Pay it forward £85
Regular (recommended) £70
Concession £50 (for those in financial hardship)
September Community offer pay what you can (min £40)
if you are unable to afford any of the above, contact me to arrange alternative exchange where possible.
Please note that all payments are non-refundable or transferrable
Optional Stay Overnight
You are very welcome to stay overnight on site with a variety of camping or glamping options available. This can be booked separately with our host via their website https://knottedroots.co.uk/
What to Bring
*Plenty of water
*Snacks/light food to eat before lodge (if you wish to)
*2 large towels (that may get dirty)
*Items to wear in Lodge (see below)
*An instrument/drum if you wish to contribute musically to the day
*Warm, layered clothing and footwear suitable for outdoors
*A bag to take home your rubbish and another to put any wet/dirty clothes if you wish
*Sliders/flip flops or suitable footwear to wear before entering lodge and leave outside whilst in ceremony
What to wear in Lodge
Women-A sarong. You may like to wear a bikini or swimming costume underneath, but not necessary
Men-Sarong or shorts
Non-Binary- Whatever you feel comfortable in
Preparation Guidelines
To support the depth and safety of the ceremony, you will be asked to:
*Avoid alcohol and drugs in the days leading up to the lodge (including plant medicines)
*Eat lightly on the day of the lodge
*Wear natural fibres (sarong, towel, or loose clothing)
*Do not wear contact lenses, jewellery or heavy synthetic fabrics in the lodge.
Considerations
The sweat lodge is not advised for pregnant women, people taking tranquillisers or antipsychotic drugs, or people with any of the following conditions:
*cardiovascular problems
*respiratory infections (colds /flu or any COVID-19 related symptoms)
*kidney problems
*diabetes
*contagious skin disorders
*hepatitis
*claustrophobia
*alcohol or drug addiction
*exposure to an infectious disease or have been in a known region of an infectious outbreak
On the day there will be a waiver to sign in order to enter the lodge.
We cannot wait to spend this magical ceremony with you
With Love
Sally & Bry-annie