Pyramid & Sweat House
The Pyramid Sanctuary at Samara Healing Center
The pyramid sanctuary at Samara is an enclosed pyramidal structure (14′ x 9′) that is used as a retreat space.
The pyramid is built using the “golden ratio proportion” or Phi (1.618…), that forms a 51.8º slope angle. Phi has been used in the design of many modern and ancient structures, such as the Great Pyramids, the Parthenon, the Taj Mahal, and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The proportion is prevalent in all of nature, including the human body. Whether it is the spirals of conch shells, whirlpools and galaxies, the arrangement of leaves along a plant stem, or the relationship between your hand, wrist, and forearm, it is a omnipresent design in the universe.
The pyramid frame is cedar and is joined together with mostly wooden dowels. The structure itself, is aligned to true, geographical north. It is used to hold group events as well as provide an option for individual retreat time.
The Sweat House At Samara Healing Center
*We are currently in the process of building a new sweat house. No sweats scheduled until then.*
Sweat houses and lodges are an ancient practice that utilize the contained release of steam and/or heat within a small structure for purification. While the purification certainly occurs on a physical level with a release of bodily tension and toxins through perspiration, the sweat ritual is also intended to support the release of unwanted mental and emotional accumulations. This allows the space to invite new understanding, healing, and guidance into our lives. The sweat house ceremony at Samara honors and cultivates our connection to the Earth, the Creator, and community.
In coming to a sweat at Samara, participants need to bring: two towels, shirt and shorts to wear inside, a clean change of clothes, water bottle, drum or percussion item, and if desired, a small totem, sacred and/or meaningful item to place on the altar outside the sweat house. After the sweat, there is a potluck meal in which participates are asked to bring a dish to share. Depending on the number of attendees, the event usually ends around midnight.
If you are new to Samara and/or have never taken part in a sweat before, please contact Jim prior to registering. If you would like to participate in the evening but prefer not to sweat at that time, you are still welcome to come, support the participants, and assist in tending the fire. We would ask that you stay for the entire evening and also bring a dish for the potluck.
The fee for the evening is by donation. Unless there are severe storms that night, we hold the sweat house ceremony rain or shine.
**We typically hold sweats every two to three months. Please check our events page and Facebook page to see if any ceremonies are currently scheduled, and sign up on our mailing list to receive sweat house and other event announcements.**
