Temazcal Ceremony: A few days back I shared a story of my recent visit to the Riviera Maya region of Mexico, where I had the chance to climb an ancient pyramid and go swimming in the cenotes. Those experiences were both wonderful, providing me an opportunity to check a few more things off my ever-growing bucket list.
But, they also happen to be pretty common travel experiences that many tourists participate in while visiting the Mexican Caribbean region. However, I did take part in an amazing cultural ceremony that isn’t quite so common and it left a lasting impression that has stayed with me long after I’ve come home.
On my first day in Quintana Roo, the Mexican state that I was visiting I had the chance to take part in a ritual known as the temazcal. This is a ceremony that has been used throughout the region dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Originally, the temazcal was used as a healing process, allowing warriors, athletes, or injured individuals the chance to jumpstart the process of letting their bodies recover from strenuous activities. But, over time, the temazcal also became a way to heal the spirt and mind too.
The ceremony derives its name from the fact that it takes place inside a “temazcal”, or sweat lodge. The structure is small, dark, and designed to trap in heat while keeping out the light. Sweat lodges are common throughout indigenous Native American cultures, stretching from Central America all the way to Canada and Alaska. It is believed that the origins of those structures can be traced back to the Mesoamerican cultures that have inhabited the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala for centuries.
Our temazcal ceremony began outside the sweat lodge itself as we gathered around an incredibly hot fire. Inside that fire were large, thick rocks that had been heated up so much that they glowed intensely red. Standing close to the flames,
we immediately began to warm up, with the thick jungle forest around us providing a bit of humidity to aid in the cause. A local guide of Mayan descent, along with her interpreter, began the proceedings by explaining what the temazcal was all about and how it played into their culture. We also took a moment to turn in each direction to acknowledge the elements of earth, air, water, and fire, all of which play a central role in the ceremony.
After about ten or fifteen minutes of orientation and introductions, the group turned towards the sweat lodge itself and started to go inside. The small, narrow entrance requires us to get down on our hands and knees as we entered, circling the interior in a clockwise fashion until we found our place along the outer wall.
It was already quite dark, with just a dim light from the entryway allowing us to find our way. It was also surprisingly cool, with the thick walls of the lodge keeping the afternoon heat at bay. It wouldn’t stay cool for every long however, as the ceremony was only just beginning.
Once we were settled into place, our guide took charge once again, closing the entryway and bringing darkness across the chamber. She provided a bit more background on what was about to occur and told us to be sure that we were mindful of how we were feeling.
If we started to get overheated or felt light headed, we should let someone know so they could assist us back out into the fresh air. After that, she murmured something to one of her assistants outside the sweat lodge and things started to get much more intense.
That assistant immediately began shuttling several of those large, glowing red rocks from the fire into the temazcal. They were slid into the interior and dropped into a round opening in the center of the lodge using a special tool designed to make moving those super-heated stones as easy as possible. Within a minute or two, several of the rocks were in place and the interior temperature began to rise dramatically. It didn’t take long for the sweat lodge to live up to its name, as the incredible heat started to have an impact on those of us gathered inside.
We started the ceremony by first going round the circle in the darkness and sharing our names, the names of our parents, and where we were from. In terms of the original temazcal process, this is a way of letting the spirits know who is there, while simultaneously acknowledging our ancestors and origins.
Throughout the ceremony we were all encouraged to share things about ourselves, including why we had come to take part in the process in the first place. Some of us had come to heal old wounds with friends and family, others were seeking spiritual guidance, while a few were there to absorb the cultural experience and learn a bit about ourselves along the way.
The entire ceremony lasted about an hour, which was just enough to give us travelers a chance to learn about it and understand its principles to a degree. True Mayan temazcal ceremonies can go on for hours and even days, testing the strength, resolve, and stamina of those who embark on the journey.
As we sat there, more of the hot stones were shuttled inside in order to maintain the hot temperature. On occasion, the guide would sprinkle water on those rocks, and us as well, creating intense steam as a result. That water brought momentary relief for those of us inside the sweat lodge, where it was so intensely warm at times that it became hard to breathe.
As part of the temazcal we learned a few Mayan chants and simple songs that are used to once again acknowledge the elements that make up the world around us and are part of our own bodies too.
We would repeat certain words back to our guide or sing segments of the song to signify the importance of water, fire, earth, and air in our lives. It was also a way for us fellow travelers to begin the bonding process, connecting us to one another through a shared experience that most others never really get a chance to experience for themselves.
After our hour inside the sweat lodge was up, the entryway was opened once again, allowing light and fresh air to pour in. We all scrambled out of the lodge and soaked in the cooler air and gentle breezes we found outside. It was still a warm and humid evening, but compared to the intense heat we had experienced inside the temazcal, it felt incredible to be back out in the world.
The entire ceremony was a unique and intense experience to say the least. Inside the lodge there was a bit of sensory deprivation that brought a vulnerability to the entire affair. There we were, sitting in the dark, with only a dim glow from the overheated stones to provide any light.
The temperature was so extreme that sweat ran down our bodies and dehydration was a potential issue. Fortunately, no one experienced any real difficulties, although the process did leave a lasting impression on all of us. It was easy to see why this was deemed a healing exercise, as self-reflection, discipline, and inner strength were all gained by each of us to some degree.
If you happen to be visiting Mexico or Central America and want to take part in a temazcal ceremony, chances are you’ll find one near your location. The practice has begun rising in popularity once again as people go in search of spiritual, mental, and bodily healing. In Mexico in particular the practice has become more common for both locals and visitors alike. Under the proper context and guidance, it can be a truly wonderful and eye-opening experience.
In the Riviera Maya region you can get the same experience I had by visiting Spirituality Riviera Maya, where the guides and interpreters are simply wonderful. They offer a number of other cultural options as well, including a fantastic cacao ceremony, traditional healing methods, and more.
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