Hello dear Steemians!

Last week-end with our friends we made an Inipi in the garden!!

Used by American Indians, it permits them to connect with the four elements of earth, water, fire and air.

To enter under the hut is to immerse oneself in Mother Earth, in the vapor emitted by the water on the red-heated "Stone Spirits."

The steam* (produced by the water poured on heated stones) unites each participant to the elements of the world inside the belly that represents the hut a rounded and very low form. Its shape represents the Uterus.

Inipi was given to men to purify themselves spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally; a ceremony that constitutes a way of going to our deepest, most painful truths.

How did we made it?

Before everything I just wanted to state that it rained all day long...

But thanks to the determination of the group we managed to do the Inipi session at the end of the day!

Starting with the structure

We used bamboo to make the structure.

🎋 12 bamboos to mount the vertical part.

We digged holes to make them fit into the ground and a big hole in the center that served as a fireplace to accommodate the hot stones.

Then we attached the bamboos to the top in the center with ropes.

Afterwards we tied others bamboos on the transverse in order to help to fix the covers.

It's good to have several persons for this step to hold the bamboos and attach them at the same time.

When the structure was ready we put the covers.

Collecting wood and stones...

While some people were making the structure, other were collecting wood in the florest and sawing it!

The Inipi's fire need a lot of large pieces of wood!!

The idea is making a big fire to put the stones inside to warm it.

We collected 40 stones. But during the Inipi session we didn't used all 😆

The type of stones used in the Inipi have to be very heavy and dense to support the heat without exploding!

It was very dificult for us to light the fire because the all wood was very wet.

We had to put 4 person at every corner of the fire to multiplicate the chances of lighting it 🔥

We finaly made it!!

How it is inside...

We made four "doors". In every doors new stones came. Hotter and hotter!

Between each door, the "Man Of Fire" (who stay outside to care of the fire and bring the stones) opens the doors of the Inipi to allow participants to breathe some fresh air.

Those breaks permit also to renovate the energies into the Inipi.
What was claensed goes away.

The water we put on the stones was an infusion of different plantes.

The 4 types of infusion worked with the 4 elements:

1. The first door was dedicated to the Earth with a mix of rosemary, basil, rue and coarse salt.
   Working on the purification of the Body.
   I felt it a lot on my stomac and intestines.

2. The second door came with element Water with lavender, jasmine, marjoram and coarse salt.
   Working on the purification of the Feelings. This door is related to the sacred feminity.
   I felt it on my heart. I felt it was cleaning my sorrows, fears, shame...

3. The third door is for the Air with some eucalyptus, mint and bicarbonate.
   Working on the purification of the Spirit.
   I felt it on my lungs, my throat, my breathing.

4. The fourth and last door is dedicated to Fire with a mix of rose, fennel, cinnamon and bicarbonate.
   Working on the purification of the Soul (in the spirituality way) and the Energies.
   I felt it like a toning force coming in my whole being. I felt a big process on my will and my intentions.

5. At the last door, we stay more time to listen every member of the group who wanted to share and experience, an idea, a feeling... It was a special moment of connection very pure, sincere and touching.

And after all... finally go out!! Wwwwooooo! So good to breathe
Taking a shower of cold and fresh water!!

I loved this experience!! (as the preparation of the Inipi as the ceremony)

I felt that my whole being was cleaner, feeling better, lightweigth 🌞
And I felt myself part of the Inipi's group, of the humanity, of the Universe!

So! Lovely people!! If you have a garden, some friends and enought motivation... DO IT!! For sure you will like 😌

Thank you for reading me,

With so much Love,

Lisa