THE SWEAT LODGE AT BIRKIHOF
A place to let go, reconnect and begin again
The sweat lodge at Birkihof is a deeply meaningful part of our story. Sweat lodge ceremonies have ancient roots among Indigenous peoples of North America, with different Nations holding their own distinct traditions, teachings and practices.
The tradition we were introduced to in Iceland began in 1991, when Somp Noh Noh, also known as Cloud Man, came to Iceland and a sweat lodge ceremony was held at Helgufoss. Through his teachings, knowledge of the ceremony was shared with Nonni and Heiðar, who continued holding sweat lodges in Iceland for many years. It was through this community that the sweat lodge eventually became part of our own lives.
For us, entering the sweat lodge is an opportunity to step away from everyday life and turn our attention inward. The experience combines heat, darkness, stillness and ceremony, creating space for reflection, emotion and letting go. Everyone enters for their own reasons. For some, it is about challenging themselves. For others, it is an opportunity to sit quietly with their thoughts and emotions, release something they have been carrying or simply experience being fully present.
The lodge is traditionally associated with ideas of purification, renewal and rebirth and is sometimes described symbolically as returning to the womb of Mother Earth. You enter carrying what you bring with you and leave having experienced something entirely your own.
HOW THE SWEAT LODGE CAME TO BIRKIHOF
Valur was first introduced to the sweat lodge in 2001 and it became an important part of his spiritual journey. In 2015, he began building the frame for a sweat lodge at Birkihof after feeling strongly that this experience should have a place here.
The following year, we invited Laila to lead ceremonies at Birkihof. Laila had participated in sweat lodge ceremonies since 1992, beginning with Somp Noh Noh, who had introduced the practice to the community in Iceland. She later became a co-owner of Birkihof and led ceremonies alongside us. Valur took the role of firekeeper and Laufey the role of stonekeeper.
Today, Laufey and Valur lead the Birkihof sweat lodge experience, carrying forward what they have been taught while recognising and respecting the traditions from which the practice originates.
LAUFEY'S STORY
My own first experience of the sweat lodge came in 2010. Valur and I had recently met when he invited me on a surprise date. All he told me was, "Bring a swimsuit." I had no idea where we were going.
I had recently become sober and was at a point in my life where the future felt uncertain and frightening. We arrived at Nonni and Heiðar's place and began by dancing. I found it incredibly difficult. I was so conscious of myself and convinced everyone was watching me. Everyone around me seemed able to dance freely with their eyes closed while I kept opening mine to see what everyone else was doing.
Then Nonni looked at me and said: "Be the dance, not the dancer."
Something shifted. I closed my eyes, stopped worrying about how I looked and allowed myself to move.
Then I entered the sweat lodge. It wasn't an easy experience. Without the distractions of everyday life, I found myself sitting with emotions I had spent a long time avoiding. Fear and joy seemed to move through me at the same time.
When I eventually stepped outside, everything felt different. The grass seemed greener, the sky seemed bluer and the trees seemed completely still. I cried. I felt enormously grateful to be alive and as though I had been given an opportunity to begin again.
That experience stayed with me. It was also the beginning of Valur and me understanding that the sweat lodge would become an important part of our lives together and, eventually, part of Birkihof.
EXPERIENCE THE SWEAT LODGE
The Birkihof sweat lodge can be incorporated into your retreat as a powerful shared experience. It isn't about performing or achieving anything. It's about creating time to be present, reflect and experience something outside everyday life.
If you're considering including the sweat lodge in your retreat, talk to us when planning your stay. We'll explain what to expect, how to prepare and whether the experience is appropriate for your group.
WHAT TO BRING: Two towels, swimwear and light footwear such as sandals for walking to and from the lodge.
