July 2023 Events
July 2nd - 4th, Sunday - Tuesday
RETREAT: Full Moon Sweat Lodge
Join us for our May full moon sweat lodge in the forest! In a sweat lodge ceremony there are physical benefits such as purifying the body and ridding it of toxins, and spiritual benefits such as communing with the spirit, a spiritual rebirth, etc. This sweat lodge will follow no specific tradition. Veronika Rose (XuihMalinalli) will be the pourer. She is a former nurse, visionary artist, and Marine Corps Veteran from Orlando, FL. In 2009 she began the path of the Red Road, leading her to become a Moon dancer, Vision quester, Chanupa carrier, and entheogenic integration coach. She is also a sahumadora and Temazcalera while serving on the Moon Dance council for XiuhOzeloMetztli. She received the blessing to serve and pour Temezcals in 2017 from Abuela Malinalli after completing her 4 years of Moon Dance (ceremony from the ancient codices of the Anahuac Nations of Indigenous Mexico, ) in Teotihuacan, Mexico with Ollintlahuimetztli. Veronika now travels the world offering temazcals, and holistic retreats for women, veterans, and artists. Veronika is also a former Hostel in the Forest Staff member and Artist in residence.
For guests that are participating in the sweat, they MUST arrive on Sunday, July 2nd by 4pm and depart on Tuesday, July 4th. There will be an opening ceremony after dinner Sunday night, where instructions will be given for the day of the sweat, what to expect, etc. On Monday we will serve a light breakfast and participants will be asked not to eat after 9:00 or 9:30am. Monday during the day will be a day of reflection, intention setting, and quiet time, to prepare physically and mentally. There will be four rounds of the sweat lodge ceremony - lasting somewhere around 2.5 hours in total. There are short breaks in between rounds and water can be brought inside the lodge. After the sweat, a dinner will be served.
Participants are encouraged to HYDRATE (drinking ½ gallon of water a day for the few days before and day of the sweat). Guests are encouraged not to drink alcohol or consume meat for the 48 hours before the sweat. The body will be purifying and ridding itself of toxins during the sweat and this helps to prepare the body for that. No one will be allowed to enter the lodge if they have been drinking alcohol or if they are high on any substances. Women on their Moon cycle will not be allowed to participate. Modesty is practiced. Women are asked to wear a cotton dress or cotton shirt and shorts/pants. Men can be shirtless and can wear a bathing suit or shorts. Jewelry should not be worn inside the lodge.
It is essential that everyone participating in the sweat must have respect for what is taking place. Their intention for sweating must be good. They should always go into the sweat with a belief of healing and not take any negative attitudes with them inside the sweat. It must be stressed that we are all brothers and sisters and connected to the Creator of the universe.
Anything that is said by the pourer should not be taken as the beliefs or policy of the hostel. What is said is a representation of the beliefs of the pourer. The hostel does not promote any religion or denomination or religious belief. It only provides an environment where each visitor can find their own beliefs by going inside themselves in the quiet surroundings of the hostel.
Cost: This is a donation based-event. Guests will be asked for their donation at check-in to reimburse the pourer for travel expenses and the hostel for supplies.
Please note, the Hostel is not dedicated to any particular religion or denomination. Event, workshop, and retreat instructors and leaders are not Hostel employees or representatives, and instructors’ and leaders’ views are solely their own. The Hostel is not liable for any experiences a participant may have during an event, workshop, or retreat; attendees assume all risks of participation.
Accommodations are limited so please visit Your First Visit to make your reservation. Unless otherwise noted, any event fees are in addition to overnight Hostel fees.