Do you know what time it is?
It’s sweat lodge time 😅
Look out the window now. Here where I’m sitting right now in Hedehusene, with a view over a horse paddock, it’s just foggy and cold.
That’s when I thought about a project I was part of a long time ago, and which I miss right now; We built a sweat lodge on the beach and had a really great time there.
Everyone well equipped with cold beers, bare stomachs, and a towel. The last was for the cold dip waiting for us afterwards. Those were great times!
Depending on how long ago you signed up for the newsletter, you may have seen this picture before? Who knows, and that’s not the important part.
The most important thing is that you as an outdoor man—or woman—make sure to seek out the moments that bring you joy and well-being in life. The sweat lodge is a good option, and you’ll find the recipe for it further down.
The procedure for the sweat lodge is as follows:
Willow branches are fantastic to use for this project. They are wonderfully flexible and soft to work with. You can optionally soak them in water to soften them further. This can be good if you want to make a more permanent sweat lodge structure.
Make a circle by sticking the willow into the ground at intervals. Then gather them at the top and tie them together. If you’re not very dexterous or don’t want to weave the willow, you can tie it together with string.
Then cover the structure with plastic. Whether you buy a cheap Prins Henning plastic sheet at the hardware store, or have some clear plastic like we used, doesn’t matter much. Whatever you choose, you won’t be able to see out. The only difference is the amount of light that comes through. Everything becomes foggy once you’ve thrown some water on.
Near the sweat lodge, make a fire where you place some large granite stones inside. It’s important that these stones are dry because wet stones can explode—and you don’t want that!
After the stones have been in the fire for a few hours, they’re ready. Take them out with a shovel and carefully bring them into the sweat lodge. Place them in the middle in a pile, and then you’re more or less ready.
From zero to one hundred in a split second. Once you’ve stripped off your clothes and settled inside your little sweat lodge, it’s just a matter of throwing some water on the stones. PUUUFFFFFSS!!!!..... a steam cloud so thick now envelops the sweat lodge. Remember plenty of fluids, both for the stones and yourself 🍻 😎