I asked Osa Lety of the Circulo de los Osos , on the western edge of the City of Durango, Mexico, to remind me how we began each temazcal . She wrote, in an abbreviated version,... "Ancianos y ancianas de la tradicion sagrada, te pedimos permiso para inciciar nuestra ceremonia de temazcal, agradeciendo a la Madre Tierra, a los cuatro elementos, y a los guardianes de este lugar." That translates, approximately, to ... "Ancient ones of the sacred tradition, we ask your permission to iniate our sweat lodge ceremony, thanking the Mother Earth, the four elements, and the guardians of this place." In the temazcal ceremony our guides, Osos, Lety and Mario , began with this humble petition, addressing the ancient ones, or the elders that came before us. They would ask their permission to initiate the ceremony and gave thanks before anything else occurred in the darkness of the lodge. As I recall the petition, which has come to mind in my ten day dedicat...
Here, now, and temazcal.