Interpreting Dreams

Religion is a large part of the Aborignial culture, but most of the focus was more on individual spiritual growth, rather than it being a corporate activity. The Ojibwe people were focused on gaining insight through dreams and visions. There were many ceremonies dedicated to acquiring and interpreting dreams such as fasting, vision quests, initiation, rite of passage ceremony, the Shake Tent Ceremony, the Sunrise Ceremony and Pow Wow ceremonies. Each of these hold religious significance. These ceremonies include different spiritual symbols such as the eagle.

The Ojibwe people used items such as dream catchers, to emphasize the importance of dreams. They also had a 'dreamer' set in place. A dreamer is a person, also considered a tribal visionary, who had access to important dreams. Often these dreams were prophetic and used to foretell some oncoming danger.

The ceremony that I am most interested in is the sweat lodge ceremony. Sweat lodges are a dome-shaped structure made of natural materials that helped in bringing dreams, as well as healing. In dream sweat lodges, water is poured over hit rocks to produce steam and all the doors are closed off (similar to a sauna). The ritual was said to enhance the occurrence of dreams. Some common practices associated with sweat lodges include;

1. Training - before someone can lead a lodge they much be fully trained and go through many intensive years of practice. One of the requirements of a lodge leader is that you must be able to speak fluently in the indigenous language of that culture and understand how to conduct the ceremony safely. The role is granted by the Elders, so it isn't self-designated.
2. Orientation - Placement and orientation of the lodge within its environment are often considered to facilitate the ceremony's connection with the spirit world. The door may be facing a sacred fire to connect more with the spirit world.
3. Construction - The lodge is built with care and respect for the environment and for the materials being used. Many traditions construct the lodge in complete silence, some play a drum, and other traditions even fast during construction.
4. Clothing - Participants usually wear a simple garment such as shorts or a loose dress.
5. Support - In many traditions, one or more people will stand outside the sweat lodges to protect the ceremony, assist the participants and generally make sure everything runs smoothly.
6. Darkness - Many traditions consider it important that sweats are done in complete darkness.

I have been in a sweat lodge, not while the ceremony is going though. It smells absolutely horrible and it is quite dark inside because they drop heavy cloths over all entrances, completely closing off any possible daylight. It was interesting to see, but it was quite hot in there.

One thing that I found interesting about sweat lodges is that quite a number of people have actually died from these ceremonies. If done incorrectly, these ceremonies are very dangerous. There have been reports of lodge-related deaths resulting from overexposure to heat, dehydration, smoke inhalation, or improper lodge construction leading to suffocation. If rocks are used, it is important not the use river rocks because rocks with air pockets or excessive moisture could crack and possibly explode in the fire when hit by the water that is poured on top of them.