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Sauna
and Spirit
Sauna is a enjoyable, invigorating and relaxing way to cleanse. It's base
use is not sexual and many new age practitioners are taking saunas to a
spiritual level. Originally used as a place to give birth, heal and
cleanse, saunas in the western world have taken on a social and religious
aspect for many seeking spirituality in this hectic world.
Aside from
the tremendous benefits of health in sauna, it gives a glow to the body and
refreshes the spirit. The concept of hot/cold tightens skin pores and causes
a healthy sloughing of dead skin cells.
Nudity is
common in saunas throughout Europe and Northern Europe. To sauna naked is as
natural as eating and many families continue to practice the tradition of
keeping it a private ritual. Others use sauna as a place to socialize and rejuvenate.
In the
ancient world, the public baths and sweat chambers were a social setting,
although always overseen by large, predominant statues of the gods and
goddesses appropriate to the area.
People met at the baths as a social
occasion.
At the
Coven of The Crone in southern Oregon, members sauna together at every full
moon. They feel the benefits of naked bathing enhance their ritual.
Convening in early evening, enjoying sauna while catching up with other
members, they laugh and relax prior to Circle. Once a "healthy
sweat" is a achieved, members then take magical ablutions in cool
water, describing this as the "connection" for which they
prepare.
Their
bodies are ready for the dance of their Esbat and their spirits renewed. ____________________
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