My Experience with Temazcal
While in Mexico, I took part in a traditional Temazcal ceremony. It was a little over a year ago now and to be honest I don’t know why I didn’t think to share it with you sooner!
I’m the type of person who’s normally up for trying anything… once. When I went skydiving, for example, I remember jumping out of the plane and immediately afterwards being like “K, did it. Glad I did. Will never do it again” haha.
I like to try the bigger bucket list items just for the experience. I want to know what it feels like and then carry on with my lowkey life.
My experience with Temazcal was kind of like that. One of those things that I thought I’d try just for the heck of it.
I met a friend in Mexico. Let’s call him Jonas. Every week, twice a week he would go to these 4 hour long ceremonies that he introduced to me as ‘Temazcal’. He explained that it was a Mexican sweat lodge ceremony that had been practiced for thousands of years in ancient South American culture. It was said to be a cleansing ritual, invoking guidance from ancestors, and an opportunity to heal the emotional, physical, and spiritual body.
My interest was piqued, but I was skeptical.
He would always come back after these sessions with a serene quality about him so I wanted to know more. I asked if he would be open to sharing details about his personal experience. He told me that it was difficult to put into words and that it would take him a long time to fully integrate it. One thing was for certain, he was profoundly moved. We finished our convo by him saying I should try it, if I felt called.
Unsure if I wanted to dive into that, I decided on a whim to attend. Roping in another friend of mine so I wasn’t in it alone. Power in numbers & all.
Jonas (bless him) sent me a very long, very detailed list of what to bring and how to prepare.
Hydrate (a lot)
eat light foods prior
meditate
bring a bathing suit but make sure it’s a dark colour so the dirt doesn’t stain it
Things like that.
That evening, we walked from the bustling seaside into the quiet outskirts of town. The sun was just beginning to set and I was nervous in anticipation, yet chilled out. What was the worst thing that could happen? I thought to myself.
We entered the property where the ceremony would take place. A narrow cobblestone entrance leading us towards a back pavilion. There were vines of every sort growing along the surrounding infrastructures. Clay, earth, and stone which immediately made you feel grounded. It wasn’t anything fancy, but that was the beauty in it.
We gathered in a circle. Seasoned ‘temazcal’ go-ers and newbies alike. Everyone quietly whispering amongst their neighbours. I glanced at the friend who had joined me, sharing a “Oh god, what have we gotten ourselves into?” look.
The gentle chatter came to a hush as the shaman, a younger soft spoken man with a seemingly gentle heart, asked us to share our intentions with the group.
After doing so, we were asked to enter a dome-like-structure. It was essentially a small hole in the ground. The men went in first, women following suit. Before entering the space, we were saged and given a blessing as we knelt to the ground to crawl in.
There were 15 or so of us side by side, close enough that our shoulders were touching with minimal room to spare. The shaman entered last, closing a makeshift rock slab door which shielded the little light that came in. Everything was pitch black. So dark that you couldn’t even see your own hand held two inches from your face.
Traditionally this is supposed to represent the mothers womb. They say that when you emerge from it, you are reborn.
Walking into it I really had no idea what to expect other than it was a sweat lodge so it was going to be hot. I’d been in saunas before. This couldn’t be much different, right? ‘Temazcal’ translated literally means ‘house of heat’ and the heat was unlike anything I had ever felt.
There were 4 rounds. We were told at the start that each round would get increasingly hotter. It started off tame. The temperature then quickly rose as the minutes went by. With each scoop of water that was poured onto the volcanic stone in the middle of the dome, steam would rise and hiss.
Most of the ceremony was in Spanish so I didn’t understand much. I wish I did. But it was special to just sit, observe, and witness regardless. Being present to how much it moved others. You could still feel the energy, despite the language barrier.
After each round they would open the stone door, allowing some of the heat to escape as we took a breather, cooling down for a minute or two only to go straight back into the following round.
By the end, all you could do was focus on your breath. Sweat was pouring down your face and body like rain water. You felt like you were surrounded by a blazing fire. Breathing became difficult. Some panic started to set in. The thoughts of getting up and leaving began to cross my mind.
Jonah, who was sitting beside me, noticed my panic and said to try and get as close to the ground as possible. I curled up in a tiny little ball. Face against the cool, muddy earth. Focusing on my breath.
The temazcalero (shaman) spoke about the desire to leave, and the relevance it had to our tendency to run away in our own lives. We were encouraged to stay. To remain steady. To quiet our minds.
He called on anstestors, grandmothers, grandfathers, the elements of nature, and all of Mother Earth. He asked that our obstacles be removed. He asked that we feel peace.
That final round, a few people left, unable to handle the heat. The hours & hours of meditation definitely helped, as I leaned on the one tool we always have access to in order to steady ourselves; our breath.
After 2 hours of intensity, the temazcalero concluded the ceremony. I was definitely in a daze. A mix of the intensity we had all just endured, whatever was activated on the spiritual plane, and dehydration.
Coming out, I headed straight for the pool. Which, as you can imagine, was a godsend. I floated there for a while in the cool waters. Feeling weightless and gazing up at the stars, illuminated across the dark night sky. I felt this really deep sense of peace. I also was able to find a lot of self respect for staying with it all the way through. I loved connecting to that strength that emanates from within. The willingness to endure.
I was physically exhausted, yet mentally alert. My mind felt so, so clear.
They served us cacao and fruit, and sent us on our way.
What was cool was that each person left carrying with them their own unique experience. For me, I found it to be a physical and mental challenge. For others, it was more spiritual than that.
So what were my takeaways? What were the things I was able to pull from it?
Well 1) if you’re claustrophobic, babe, I don’t recommend this for you. Like, at all.
Haha no, but in all seriousness I think it was an experience. And I’m okay with it being just that. Nothing lifechanging or groundbreaking, just an experience that I definitely won’t forget.
The funny thing is that I’m a real skeptic when it comes to these kinds of “spiritual ceremonies”. I know I teach meditation, but it’s the truth.
Personally, I very much want my feet on the ground. There are things in life that require our attention. They require us to show up fully in the real world and not check out. Leaning more towards reality, less towards escapism.
But hey, I’m open to allllll of it. There’s no one way fits all.
All in all, I’m SO grateful for the experience and it was a really cool thing to be a part of.
— xx, jewels
P.S. If you ever head to Sayulita and are keen on trying this out for yourself, I can tell you where I went! Just send me a message