After I arrived in Mexico in 2021, I heard about Temazcal for the first time.
I learned that it is a deeply purifying Mayan ritual in a sweat lodge.
I always loved to visit a sauna, especially in the Netherlands, because these are beautiful and luxurious retreat places with delicious food and senses awakening rituals.
Who doesn’t love to relax in cozy warm cabins with mesmerizing scents and be spoiled by high-end cuisine?
Well, the Mayan Temazcal ritual is nothing like that. But the magic of it is something I wouldn’t exchange for the luxury spa anymore.
Temazcal is more than just a sweat lodge as so many people present it. In the tourist area where I live, it is offered in all kinds of places by many people. As much as I wanted to try it I never really felt it was the right moment and place.
Then I found it.
I was led to a magical jungle retreat place. I felt the need to purify my body and my life generally from toxicity and release my emotional attachment to food. The past years before I moved to Mexico I gained so much weight due to emotional eating patterns that it was impossible for me to love my body. But I was determined to change my habits, eat only healthy nourishing foods, and return to Love.
My journey to reach all of that began right here when I answered the call of the medicine.
The ceremony of Temazcal was held by the owner of the center, a Colombian shaman with a heart full of love and passion.
The ritual started with a prayer to the sacred Tobacco plant and putting our intentions in its healing and cleansing powers.
The whole ritual has a specific setting and nothing happens without a reason. Every step of the ritual, every prayer, and each movement is connected to ancient knowledge and has a deep meaning.
The Tobacco ritual was followed by asking permission from ten directions and lighting up the fire with gratitude to all Spirits.
Then it was sealed by ceremonial inhaling of the Tobacco in three inhales and speaking out three intentions.
This whole part lasted for two hours and I fully innerstood the importance of all the permissions and support asked by the shaman.
This was my first real shamanic ritual and it was very beautiful and humbling.
After that, we were ready to receive the healing Spirit of Tobacco in the Rapeh ritual. The shaman asked me if I wanted to receive top, medium, or low experience. I was ready to go all the way and when I said so he was very surprised. “You want that?” he asked looking at me with his big dark eyes. “I give you medium for the first time. Next time you get maximum, ” he promised and prepared his Rapeh. Then he told me to inhale deeply
three times and then he put the Rapeh applicator called Tepi in my nose and slowly blew.
The burning sensation of Tobacco mixed with some other herbs sharply burned in my brain and tears flew out of my eyes. Then he blew a second time into the other nose drill and again the burning traveled almost to the back of my head. I felt it settle in my throat and had to swallow a few times to free my throat and not cough it out. I was a little bit dizzy so he brought me to sit on the stone at the fire. I felt amazing and was very clear in my head. This feeling didn't leave me for the next few days.
When everyone present received the Rapeh, it was time to be cleansed by the fire-man with copal before entering the Temazcal.
In Mayan tradition, Temazcal represents the womb of Mother Earth and this ritual carries the deep meaning of going past your mind’s limits, surrendering, and being reborn.
While we were singing, the fire-man brought one by one the hot stones that were burning in the ceremonial fire for a few hours. They are called Abuelitas, grandmothers, and they bring wisdom into the little hot space so that everyone can release what no longer serves them. This by itself is a beautiful ritual. To watch the fire-man being surrendered to serving this purpose, with no ego, no own will, just deep respect and love for the medicine and tradition, is magical in a world full of ego and its need to perform.
The fire-man present at this Temazcal was a beautiful being from Aztec lineage who is devoted to healing the world through this ancient work. I was touched by the purity of every facilitator.
Bringing Abuelitas traditionally happens in four cycles and mostly it is eight stones each time. Meanwhile, we got to drink water and the “door” was opened for a while so the fresh air could come in.
Then everything started again. Prayers, chanting, naming the names of our ancestors, and the breathwork. It was all beautiful and deeply meaningful.
At the same time, the shaman kept pouring water on the hot stones with herbs like rosemary, lemongrass, sage, and others.
The fourth time was quite difficult for some people but I just wanted more. I love this heat and I am very much used to it from the Löyly sessions in the saunas.
But the end came and one by one we left the womb as reborn. Sitting on our knees in the door opening, the shaman performed the last part of the ritual by slapping us with the soaked herbs over our backs. That was a very pleasant experience especially because of the strong scent of those herbs.
In the meantime, the fire-man prepared fruits and tea so we could refresh ourselves after hours of intense physical, emotional, and mental work.
I felt so purified, energized, and rejuvenated even though it was already after one o'clock in the night. I never expected this ritual to continue for so many hours because I always heard it all takes one to two hours. I felt truly grateful that I found this place and that all of these experiences I’ve been having for the first time happened right there.
I had a feeling that it couldn’t be any better elsewhere.
I had full trust in the people of this community and their work.
I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I am sending prayers for their well-being in deep gratitude for their work.
~ Nika
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