My Temazcal Experience: A Journey Through the Elements
Many temazcal ceremonies are practiced across different cultures, emphasizing their widespread significance.
My journey with the temazcal experience was raw, intense, and deeply personal. It touched parts of my soul I hadn’t known were still aching.
Nestled right between the lush Jungle and the ocean shore of the Xinalani resort, I embarked on an ancient ritual that would prove to be physically grueling and spiritually transformative.
The temazcal ceremony, a profound cleansing ritual from pre-Hispanic indigenous people, was not just a sweat lodge—it was a “house of heat,” a spiritual practice designed to reconnect with Mother Earth, release mental burdens, and foster deep healing.
When I tried explaining this to my husband, he asked me if it was like a sauna or steam room. I replied it was more like a journey through hell with your ancestral trauma.
Understanding Temazcal Ceremonies
A temazcal ceremony is a traditional Mesoamerican ritual practiced for centuries. The word “temazcal” originates from the Nahuatl word “temāzcalli,” which translates to “house of heat.” This ancient tradition is a form of spiritual practice used for healing, purification, and renewal.
The ceremony typically takes place in a sweat lodge, where participants sit in a circle surrounded by heat, darkness, and the sounds of their breathing. The shaman plays a crucial role in the ceremony, guiding participants through the process.
The shaman also leads the group in prayers and songs and helps to create a safe and sacred space for healing and growth.
The temazcal ceremony is a powerful tool for spiritual growth and healing. It is a way to connect with one’s ancestors and the natural world and to tap into the collective energy of the community.
The ceremony can be a transformative experience that can leave participants feeling refreshed, uplifted, and renewed.
A Temazcal Ceremony Begins: Embracing the Spirit of the Sweat Lodge
The temazcal hut, an igloo-shaped structure, is small and dark. Traditionally made of stone or adobe, it represents the mother’s womb, offering a space for rebirth.
The ceremony starts with a shaman-led series of blessings. Then, before we each entered the hut, our spirits were cleansed with some sage in preparation for the journey ahead. I remember thinking how grateful I was that it was winter, and it was at least cool outside!
This ritualistic opening sets the tone—serenity interwoven with anticipation.
We each tossed an offering of tobacco into the fire. Then, dressed in nothing but my swimsuit I entered the temazcal hut with a group of fellow participants from a resonance repatterning healing retreat. We had to ask for permission from our ancestors before entering.
The temperature climbed as hot volcanic stones, glowing red with heat, were placed in a central pit. The Shaman explained we started with seven stones to represent the seven chakras.
Water poured over these stones to produce steam that quickly filled the space, intensifying the heat and plunging us into total darkness.
The shaman’s voice guided us, asking us to honor the elements—Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire. He also asked us to each choose an intention. This is where my journey took an unexpected emotional turn.
The moment we began, I was consumed by thoughts of fire and flames.
Heat radiated from the hot volcanic rocks in the center of the temazcal hut, and the steam they produced wrapped around us like a heavy, inescapable veil.
Wind: The Spirit Speaks
In the first phase of the ceremony, dedicated to the element of Wind, I felt utterly undone.
Tears began streaming down my face as the shaman chanted. The air, thick with steam produced from water poured over the stones, felt suffocating. The heat aids blood flow by opening up capillaries, facilitating easier movement of blood throughout the body.
I collapsed onto the sand-covered floor, pressing my face into it as though seeking solace from Mother Earth herself.
It felt as though the air itself was whispering truths I had long avoided. I sobbed quietly, my face pressed into the cool sand, feeling vulnerable.
As a child, I often hid myself in quiet corners, imagining I could disappear from the volatility around me. Eventually trying to escape my reality through books and music.
Those feelings of isolation—of being unheard—washed over me. And yet, the Wind seemed to whisper that those moments had shaped me, too. They had made me strong, even if the cost of that strength was pain.
Water: Mother’s Embrace
The Water element phase was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
The Shaman had his apprentice add even more hot stones and bring in a new bucket of water. Then he explained that this session was for the women and the female ancestors. He had all the females state their full times and share the intention they chose. Mine was “to understand.”
He started chanting again and the steam produced became suffocatingly thick.
The heat was nearly unbearable. I found myself digging a small hole in the sand, pressing my nose into it to seek even the faintest hint of cool air. The steam seemed relentless, an all-encompassing presence that forced me to confront every aspect of my being.
This phase is said to represent the nurturing and cleansing aspects of the mother. The irony was not lost on me—my mother abandoned me more times than I can count.
I felt anything but nurtured by my female relatives, including the grandma who raised me. I had suspected this part would be difficult.
The woman next to me, a fellow participant, reached over and cradled me as I sobbed uncontrollably. It was an act of pure, maternal kindness—something I hadn’t realized I still needed.
For a few minutes, I allowed myself to feel vulnerable, to accept care without resistance. The healing powers of this moment were undeniable. The connection felt like water washing over an open wound.
Her quiet strength mirrored that of the Water element, flowing where it was needed most, washing away layers of pain I hadn’t realized I was carrying.
Earth: Gazing Into the Abyss
As we moved into the Earth element phase (which meant even more hot rocks and two buckets of water), I braced myself for what I thought would be the hardest part.
This phase often represents masculine energy and familial relationships. For me, this meant confronting memories of my father and other male relatives. I braced for an emotional storm, expecting to feel overwhelmed by anger and grief.
I thought I might crumble under the weight of these emotions if the previous two were any indicators. My thoughts had been consumed with flames and fire, and I was almost certain I would die in this hut by the sea.
Instead, halfway through, something shifted.
I sat upright, eyes fixed on the smoky pit. The glowing rocks seemed to come alive, flickering and shifting in color.
I began to see visions of goldish-green flames, dancing, and undulating. They felt like echoes of the past—shades of anger and pain, but also flashes of resilience and growth.
Halfway through this phase, the green flames gave way to purple flames, deeper and more mysterious.
They seemed to burn away the anger, leaving only clarity.
By the end of the Earth round, I was sitting upright, gazing steadily into the flames.
The heat no longer felt oppressive; it felt grounding, as though the hot volcanic rocks were lending me their strength. I understood, for the first time, that my father’s absence had shaped me, but it didn’t define me.
Fire: Rekindling the Inner Child
The final phase, Fire, is said to represent the inner child.
By this point, I was utterly spent, both physically and emotionally. My body, drenched in sweat, felt like it was purging not just toxins but years of accumulated pain and self-doubt.
The purple flames from earlier remained, but something extraordinary happened. Near the end of this phase, the flames seemed to shift again.
A ring of white flames appeared around the purple, forming a glowing circle that pulsed with energy.
Instead of tears and sadness, there was a flicker of something else—hope. Even more than that was a sense of “bring it.”
The healing powers of the temazcal ceremony are not just in the sweat that helps release toxins or the aided blood flow. They lie in their ability to strip you down to your essence, forcing you to confront yourself in the rawest form.
The Fire element reignited something in me—a sense of purpose, of resilience, of possibility.
Emerging Reborn From the Very Ancient Ritual of Temazcal
When the ceremony ended, the shaman opened the door of the temazcal hut, flooding it with sunlight and cool air.
We stepped out, blinking into the sunlight, and were greeted with bowls of fruity-infused water to drink. Instead, I raced for the ocean first.
This simple act felt like a baptism—a ritual of renewal. Temazcal ceremonies are deeply rooted in spiritual practices aimed at emotional and spiritual rejuvenation. As the water cascaded over me, I felt like I was washing away the weight of my past, emerging lighter and freer.
The Healing Powers of the Temazcal Ceremony
The temazcal hut itself is a sacred space, designed to mimic the womb of Mother Earth.
Its purpose is to cleanse not just the body but the spirit, helping participants release what no longer serves them and emerge with a renewed sense of well-being.
The temazcal ceremony is far more than a physical ordeal. It is an ancient ritual that bridges the physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Some of the many physical benefits temazcal offers include:
Lowering blood pressure
Improving circulation
Releasing toxins through sweat
It can even treat acne and supports weight loss by increasing the body’s temperature and shedding water weight.
Temazcal offers many benefits regarding mental and spiritual well-being. By confronting discomfort and engaging in mindfulness sessions, participants report feeling mentally healthier and less burdened by stress, anxiety, or mild depression.
The temazcal hut, an igloo-shaped structure, represents the mother’s womb, offering a space for rebirth and transformation.
This ritual, rooted in indigenous cultures, has been practiced for centuries, preserving its sacred purpose of healing and renewal.
A Personal Reflection on This Cleansing Process
For me, this journey was as much about letting go as it was about discovering what remains when you strip away the layers of pain, guilt, and self-protection.
From the goldish-green flames of my past to the purple and white flames of my present, I felt my soul shift. The heat burned away the layers I no longer needed, leaving me raw but renewed.
The temazcal ceremony offered a space to face my deepest fears, grieve the losses I’ve carried, and find solace in the support of others. Temazcal, like other sweat lodges, provides a unique environment for deep personal reflection and healing.
It reminded me that healing is not a solitary act—it is a communal one, deeply rooted in the shared experience of being human.
As I left the temazcal hut, I carried with me a deep gratitude for the resilience that has shaped me, the kindness of those who supported me, and the wisdom of the pre-Hispanic Indigenous people who created this ritual.
The temazcal, derived from the Nahuatl word temāzcalli, means “house of heat.”
But for me, it became a house of transformation—a place where I confronted my past, reclaimed my inner child, and found the courage to step forward into the light.
This experience was not just a part of the resonance repatterning retreat; it was a turning point.
Through the Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire, I found pieces of myself I hadn’t realized were missing—and I brought them home.
Have you tried Temazcal before? Share your experience in the comments below!
I really enjoyed reading about this journey you underwent. You are absolutely right, healing is not a solitary act. It’s brave to accept help – the woman next to you who cradled you at your most difficult moment. I wonder if perhaps that was healing for her as well – I hope so. Thanks for writing this.
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Thank you for sharing your experience. These sacred and profound experiences prepare us for the shadow work ahead. As above so below. It reminds us that we are in this circle but there is the other side of that circle below. We are meant to heal the 7 generations before and after us and generational trauma breakers 💕🙌🙏🙌💕