The sweat lodge, rooted in Native American tradition, is gaining increasing popularity in cultural creative circles. However, it is often overlooked that this body, mind, and soul healing ritual also has a millennia-old tradition in European cultures. Based on current archaeological findings, historical sources, and her own experiences as a participant and leader of sweat lodge ceremonies, Christiane van Schie reveals the European roots of this ancient healing practice and dispels a myth: the sweat lodge was by no means a purely male ritual. On the contrary: the healing sweat bath primarily belonged to women. The author outlines ways in which we can connect with this primal, healing path, which has been overshadowed by menstruation taboos, today. The wide range of topics covered in this book, written in clear and simple language, is part cultural history, part...