Coordinates: 51°13′39″N 0°10′17″W / 51.2276°N 0.1713°W / 51.2276; -0.1713

Earlswood
Earlswood  Earlswood shown within Surrey
Population	<8,000
OS grid reference	TQ280495
District	Reigate and Banstead
Shire county	Surrey
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Redhill
Postcode district	RH1
Dialling code	01737
Police	Surrey
Fire	Surrey
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Reigate
List of places: UK • England • Surrey

Earlswood is a town in Surrey to the south of Redhill. The census area Earlswood and Whitebushes has a population of 8,234.^[1] The town lies on the A23 between Redhill and Horley. Other neighbouring settlements include Salfords, Nutfield and Reigate.

Earlswood was home to the Royal Earlswood psychiatric hospital until its closure in 1997 and to the Royal Philanthropic Society's reform school from 1849 until 1988.

The town is served by Earlswood (Surrey) railway station with trains running from London Bridge/London Victoria to Horsham hourly. The station previously had a third platform which gave access to the Royal Earlswood Hospital.

Nearby is Earlswood Common, with two artificial landscaped lakes called Earlswood Lakes, which are used for recreational purposes. The upper lake used to have a kiosk and boats for rent. The lower lake had a diving platform, a paddling pool and was used for summer swimming. Members of the Christian Science Church used the lake for all year swimming and broke the ice in winter. The lower lake has a concrete bottom and was used in World War I to test the ability of primitive tanks to cross flooded landscapes. Today the common is used as a golf course.

When the new road between the Earlswood Common and the London to Brighton railway was cut there is a claim that traces of a Roman villa were discovered. No evidence has since been located. The area south of the common known as Whitebushes was formally a wilderness; it contained many clay pits that may be linked to the reputed Roman remains. Whitebushes in more recent times was the location of the Jordan Fever Hospital and the Burnham Brickworks. Both^{[clarification needed]} are now housing estates.

References[link]

1. ^ Census data

External links[link]

• The Earlswood Angling Initiative
• Old photos

v t e Towns, villages and hamlets in the Reigate and Banstead District of Surrey, England Banstead Burgh Heath Chipstead Earlswood Hooley Horley Kingswood Lower Kingswood Meadvale Merstham Netherne-on-the-Hill Nork Redhill Reigate Salfords Sidlow South Park Tadworth Tattenham Corner Walton-on-the-Hill Whitebushes Woodhatch Woodmansterne

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The sweat lodge (also called purification ceremony, sweat house, medicine lodge, medicine house, or simply sweat) is a ceremonial sauna and is an important event in some North American First Nations or Native American cultures. There are several styles of sweat lodges that include a domed or oblong hut similar to a wickiup, or even a simple hole dug into the ground and covered with planks or tree trunks. Stones are typically heated in an exterior fire^[1] and then placed in a central pit in the ground.

World examples[link]

Early occurrences can be found in the fifth century BC, when Scythians constructed pole and woolen cloth sweat baths.^[2]

Vapour baths were in use among the Celtic tribes, and the sweat-house was in general use in Ireland down to the 18th, and even survived into the 19th century. It was of beehive shape and was covered with clay. It was especially resorted to as a cure for rheumatism.^[3]

Native Americans in many regions employed the sweat lodge. For example, Chumash peoples of the central coast of California built sweat lodges in coastal areas^[4] in association with habitation sites.

When Finnish immigrants first came to America to Delaware in 17th century, local natives started to call them "sweat lodge men" or "white-men-like-us" because of the habit of going to sauna. Because of that the Finns also got along with native peoples so their houses were not destroyed in the first Indian wars.^[5]

Frame for Ojibwe sweat lodge

Traditions[link]

Hupa Indian underground building covered with wood plank roof and surrounded by a wall of large rocks

Rituals and traditions vary from region to region and from tribe to tribe. They often include prayers, drumming, and offerings to the spirit world. In some cultures a sweat-lodge ceremony may be a part of another, longer ceremony such as a Sun Dance. Some common practices and key elements associated with sweat lodges include:

• Orientation – The door usually faces the fire. The cardinal directions usually have distinct symbolism in Native American cultures. The lodge may be oriented within its environment for a specific purpose. Placement and orientation of the lodge within its environment are often considered to facilitate the ceremony's connection with the spirit world.
• Construction – The lodge is generally built with great care, and with respect for the environment and for the materials being used. Many traditions construct the lodge in complete silence, some have a drum playing while they build, other traditions have the builders fast during construction.
• Clothing – In Native American lodges participants usually wear a simple garment such as shorts or a loose dress.
• Offerings – Various types of plant medicines are often used to make prayers, give thanks or make other offerings. Prayer ties are sometimes made.
• Support – In many traditions, one or more persons will remain outside the sweat lodge to protect the ceremony, and assist the participants. Sometimes they will tend the fire and place the hot stones, though usually this is done by a designated firekeeper. In another instance, a person who sits in the lodge, next to the door, is charged with protecting the ceremony, and maintaining lodge etiquette.
• Darkness - Many traditions consider it important that sweats be done in complete darkness.

Etiquette[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

The most important part of sweat lodge etiquette is respecting the traditions of the lodge leader. Some lodges take place in complete silence, while others involve singing, chanting, drumming, or other sound. It is important to know what is allowed and expected before entering a lodge. Traditional tribes hold a high value of respect to the lodge. In some cultures, objects, including clothing, without a ceremonial significance are discouraged from being brought into the lodge. Most traditional tribes place a high value on modesty as a respect to the lodge. In clothed lodges, women are usually expected to wear skirts or short-sleeved dresses of a longer length. In some traditions, nudity is forbidden, as are mixed sex sweats, whereas in others nudity is considered to have a greater connection with the spiritual aspect of your sweat. Some lodge leaders do not allow menstruating women. Perhaps the most important piece of etiquette is gratitude. It is important to be thankful to the purpose of the sweat, the people joining you in the lodge, and those helping to support the sweat lodge.

Risks[link]

There have been reports of lodge-related deaths resulting from overexposure to heat, dehydration, smoke inhalation, or improper lodge construction leading to suffocation.^[6][7] In October 2009, during a New Age retreat organized by James Arthur Ray, three people died and 21 more became ill while attending an overcrowded and improperly set up sweat lodge containing some 60 people and located near Sedona, Arizona.^[8] Ray was arrested by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office in connection with the deaths on February 3, 2010, and bond was set at $5 million.^[9] In response to these deaths, Lakota spiritual leader Arvol Looking Horse issued a statement reading in part:

Our First Nations People have to earn the right to pour the mini wic'oni (water of life) upon the inyan oyate (the stone people) in creating Inikag'a - by going on the vision quest for four years and four years Sundance. Then you are put through a ceremony to be painted - to recognize that you have now earned that right to take care of someone's life through purification. They should also be able to understand our sacred language, to be able to understand the messages from the Grandfathers, because they are ancient, they are our spirit ancestors. They walk and teach the values of our culture; in being humble, wise, caring and compassionate. What has happened in the news with the make shift sauna called the sweat lodge is not our ceremonial way of life!^[10]

Even people who are experienced with sweats, and attending a ceremony led by a properly trained and authorized Native American ceremonial leader, could suddenly experience problems due to underlying health issues. It is recommended^{[by whom?]} that a physician check people intending to have a sweat-lodge experience, and that people only attend lodges with reputable people.

If rocks are used, it is important not to use river rocks, or other kinds of rocks with air pockets inside them. Rocks must be completely dry before heating. Rocks with air pockets or excessive moisture could crack and possibly explode in the fire or when hit by water. Previously used rocks may absorb humidity or moisture leading to cracks or shattering.

Deaths[link]

A list of sweat lodge related deaths.

• Lizbeth Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, MN (died October 17, 2009)^[11][12]
• Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, NY (died October 9, 2009)^[12][13][14]
• James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee, WI (died October 9, 2009)^[12][15]
• Rowen Cooke, 37 (died 2004)^[16]
• Kirsten Babcock, 34 (died 2002)^[17]
• David Thomas Hawker, 36 (died 2002)^[18]
• Gordon Reynolds, 43 (died November 21, 1996)^[19]

Lawsuit filed by the Lakota Nation[link]

On November 2, 2009, the Lakota Nation filed a lawsuit against the United States, Arizona State, James Arthur Ray and Angel Valley Retreat Center site owners, to have Ray and the site owners arrested and punished under the Sioux Treaty of 1868 between the United States and the Lakota Nation, which states that “if bad men among the whites or other people subject to the authority of the United States shall commit any wrong upon the person or the property of the Indians, the United States will (...) proceed at once to cause the offender to be arrested and punished according to the laws of the United States, and also reimburse the injured person for the loss sustained.”^{[citation needed]}

The Lakota Nation holds that James Arthur Ray and the Angel Valley Retreat Center have “violated the peace between the United States and the Lakota Nation” and have caused the “desecration of our Sacred Oinikiga (purification ceremony) by causing the death of Liz Neuman, Kirby Brown and James Shore”. As well, the Lakota claim that James Arthur Ray and the Angel Valley Retreat Center fraudulently impersonated Indians and must be held responsible for causing the deaths and injuries, and for evidence destruction through dismantling of the sweat lodge. The lawsuit seeks to have the treaty enforced and does not seek monetary compensation.^[20]

Preceding the lawsuit, Native American experts on sweat lodges criticized the reported construction and conduct of the lodge as not meeting traditional ways ("bastardized", "mocked" and "desecrated"). Indian leaders expressed concerns and prayers for the dead and injured. The leaders said the ceremony is their way of life^{[citation needed]} and not a religion, as white men see it. It is Native American property protected by U.S. law and United Nation declaration. The ceremony should only be in sanctioned lodge carriers' hands from legitimate nations. Traditionally, a typical leader has 4 to 8 years of apprenticeship before being allowed to care for people in a lodge, and have been officially named as ceremonial leaders before the community. Participants are instructed to call out whenever they feel uncomfortable, and the ceremony is usually stopped to help them. The lodge was said to be unusually built from non-breathable materials. Charging for the ceremony was said to be inappropriate. The number of participants was criticized as too high and the ceremony length was said to be too long. Respect to elders' oversight was said to be important for avoiding unfortunate events. The tragedy was characterized as "plain carelessness", with a disregard for the participants' safety and outright negligence.^[21] The Native American community actively seeks to prevent abuses of their traditions. Organizers have been discussing ways to formalize guidance and oversight to authentic or independent lodge leaders.^{[20][22][23][24][25][26]}

See also[link]

• Inipi (Lakota Sweatlodge)
• Kiva
• Sauna
• Temazcal (Mexican & Central American Native Sweatlodge)
• The red road

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

• Bucko, Raymond A. (1998). The Lakota Ritual Of The Sweat Lodge. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-1272-0. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sweat lodges

• Adapted from the notes of Hopoyv Fekseko (D. Joseph Alderson)
• Article on the use of the temazcal or sweatbath among the Tzeltal-Tzotzil Maya of Chiapas, Mexico