CEREMONIAL GATEWAY PREPARATION

sun 9th - sat 15th march 2025

WALK WITH FOOTPRINTS OF BEAUTY, POWER & MAGICK
PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY.
USE THE CEREMONIAL GATEWAY WHATSAPP GROUP
FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMUNICATION.
You will need to sign an indemnity form and are responsible for your own behaviour thereafter.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CG
arrival:
sunday 8TH @ 2pm

PLEASE NOTE - YOU WILL REQUIRE A 4X4 TO GET DOWN & BACK UP THE HILL
LIFTS CAN BE ARRANGED IN THE CG WHATSAPP GROUP

departure:

saturday 14th aFTER lunch

EVERYONE PARTICIPATES IN CLEAN UP AND PACKING BEFORE FINAL CLOSING CIRCLE AND DEPARTURE

LAND USAGE FEES
ZAR800 per person

BANKING DETAILS

Payable to CL Miller before January 31st.
Capitec, Savings Account # 1699 590 328
Reference: CG Name

Please note the following:

There are inherent risks and dangers of the location of Ceremonial Gateway, being outside of an urban environment in natural surroundings.

You assume authority and take responsibility for yourself, your choices, decisions, and actions for the duration of your experience of Ceremonial Gateway.

You participation in all activities shall be undertaken at your own risk and of your own free will, and you are responsible for your own safety with regards to participating in all activities for the duration of Ceremonial Gateway.

CATERING COSTS 
Raven Lodge, Bear Lodge & Rainbow Lodge: ZAR2,200
Wolf Lodge: ZAR1,700

Eagle Lodge: ZAR1,200

BANKING DETAILS

Payable to Joanne Padt before January 31st.
Discovery Bank, Black Credit Card Account # 1419 2415 601
Reference: CG Name

FACILITATION EXCHANGE

Worldweaver & Weaving Willow will be your Dance Chiefs for the week.

STANDARD FEE: ZAR4,500 per student

PAY-AS-YOU-GO ENROLLED STUDENT FEE: ZAR3,500 per student

Payable to Shamanic Training Centre before March 6th.

First National Bank, Cheque Account # 6232 8101 358

Reference: CG Name

RETURNING ENROLLED STUDENT FEE: A minimum exchange of ZAR1,000 to each Dance Chief

Bring your exchanges for each Dance Chief IN CASH in envelopes with your name.
Place it in their respective marriage baskets at the Opening Circle on Sunday.  

MEDICINE SHOP 
The following items will be available at Gateway.

Please note all shop items are payable in CASH 

Smudge Large: ZAR300
Sweetgrass: ZAR350 
Eagle Dance Packet : ZAR150
(this includes ribbons, plumes and a bone to make your whistle) 
Hokkshideh Bundle Materials : ZAR150
(you will need to bring your own locket)
 PLEASE NOTE:
 NO ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR psychedelic stimulants.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CG
general kit list

  • An Emergency Whistle - to hang around your neck

  • Sleeping Gear - bring your own sleeping bag, blankets, pillows, stretcher / mattress etc 

  • Mess Kit - cup, plate, bowl, fork, knife, spoon, stainless steel or plastic sports water bottle – PLEASE NO GLASS, drying towels. (Ensure you have a bag big enough to hold everything & LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR NAME)

  • AT LEAST 20 litres of drinking water – please note there is no drinking water down there so be mindful of your water consumption

  • Toiletries - bring bio-degradable hair & bodywash products ONLY - water is pumped from the river so please watch your water usage DO NOT take showers every day

  • Insect repellent, toilet sanitizer & bite/sting muti - please ensure these products are NATURAL, diatomaceous earth & essential oils are recommended & cutaway mixture also works - contact Jo Rolling Thunder Gazelle for great products, info & cost

  • Sacred PP - IN A ZIPLOCK BAG - 2/3 rolls of toilet paper, a good quality lighter, small hand spade (Year 2 & 4 require a sealable toilet bucket) 

  • Comfy clothing & footwear - clothes for all weather, rain jacket, poncho, walking shoes, slops, gumboots, sunblock, hat, at least 2 towels, sarong

  • Strong & sturdy backpack 

  • Camping chair 

  • Headlamp & extra batteries 

  • Medicine – this includes smudge, lighter, red fabric & wool, Medicine Blanket, Hokkshideh Bundle, ALL your medicine mixtures, Drums, Pipe, Skull, Shifter etc 

  • Ceremonial Gear  - see BELOW for details - This includes your Ceremony handout, relevant teaching notes, notebook/journal & pens and all equipment on your Ceremony List (instructions given at Weekend 5)

  • Eagle Dance Regalia - see BELOW for details

  • Heart Gifts - It is suggested you bring along extra heart gifts & trinkets (for our host, caterer, Dance Chiefs, leadership items for Senior Apprentices etc). Heart Gifts can be money placed in a pouch, gifts given with the receiver in mind or materials they use in everyday life.  

  • Snacks & refreshments - bring along your mocha's / coffee / tea etc. 

    There will be one communal gazebo so please bring along your gas bottles and burners if you have. 

    Catering will be basic so please ensure you bring along anything extra to take care of your body’s needs – there are no refrigeration facilities. Fasting is recommended during your ceremony.
    Lucozade or rehydrate are also recommended, especially for longer ceremonies. 

  • Plastic packets - for any wet items & the disposal of ALL your garbage
    (PLEASE MAKE SURE - WHAT YOU BRING DOWN THE HILL GOES BACK UP WITH YOU INCLUDING ALL GARBAGE)
eAGLE DANCE regalia

  • Tobacco Pouch with lots of tobacco 

  • Skirt with fringe – needs to be ANKLE LENGTH & hemmed with fringe

  • Ribbon shirt – seven colours of the Medicine Wheel pinned at shoulders (red, turquoise, black, brown or grey, white, green, yellow, orange & purple)

  • Sash – belt keeps our energy contained

  • Eagle whistle & plumes 

  • Medicine Blanket

  • Forked pole

  • Gateway Shields

  • You can purchase an Eagle Dance Packet from the Medicine Shoppe (this includes ribbons for your shirt, fluffs for your plumes and a bone to make your eagle whistle)

  • Rainbow Warrior Vows - only if you are ready to Apprentice (PLEASE INFORM YOUR MEDICINE GUIDE IF YOU ARE READY TO TAKE YOUR APPRENTICESHIP BLANKETING CEREMONY - SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS)
YEAR ONE CEREMONY
NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN OF FEAR

  • Backpack to carry what you need for your Ceremony

  • Medicine Blanket

  • Notebook, pen & teaching notes

  • Headlamp & water bottle

  • Red fabric, wool & tobacco

  • Personal items

  • Sacred PP (a ziplock bag with toilet paper, lighter & small spade)

  • Compass

  • Smudge, bowl & lighter

  • Camping Chair

  • Small tarpaulin (only in case of rain)
YEAR TWO CEREMONY
OVERNIGHT HOLE IN THE GROUND

  • Backpack to carry what you need for your Ceremony

  • Medicine Blanket

  • Notebook, pen & teaching notes

  • Headlamp, batteries & water bottle

  • Red fabric & wool

  • Personal items

  • Compass

  • Sacred PP (a ziplock bag with toilet paper, lighter, small spade & a bucket)

  • Smudge, bowl & lighter

  • Sealing Mixtures

  • Shovel & digging equipment

  • 2 waterproof tarps, one for covering (at least 3x3m) & one for lining the hole (at least 4x5m)

  • Sleeping bag
YEAR THREE CEREMONY
TWO DAY EIGHT POINT VISION QUEST

  • Backpack to carry what you need for the duration of your Ceremony

  • Compass

  • Smudge, bowl, lighter & Sealing Mixtures

  • Medicine Blanket, Medicine Pipe & lots of tobacco

  • Notebook, pen & teaching notes

  • Red fabric & wool

  • Small one-man tent, bedding & personal items

  • Headlamp, extra batteries, water & water bottle

  • Snack Pack (this is a fasting ceremony but make sure your body does not go into deficit during your Ceremony)

  • Sacred PP (a ziplock bag with toilet paper, lighter & small spade) 
YEAR FOUR CEREMONY
TWO DAY HOLE IN THE GROUND

  • Backpack to carry what you need for the duration of your Ceremony

  • Medicine Blanket, Medicine Pipe & lots of Tobacco

  • Notebook, pen & teaching notes (SMC & AMWA Tonal Allies)

  • Headlamp, extra batteries, water & water bottle

  • Compass

  • Red fabric & wool

  • Smudge, bowl & lighter, Sealing Mixtures

  • 44 blue tobacco ties & 44 green tobacco ties

  • Tarp to cover lodge (at least 5x5m)

  • Liner for lodge floor (3x3m – shade cloth is recommended)

  • Medium/Large UV protected cable ties for tying lodge together

  • Work gloves, good pair of secateurs or pruning shears & a handsaw

  • Sledgehammer & pipe

  • Personal items, ceremonial snack pack (if needed - lucozade or rehidrate suggested)& bedding

  • Sacred PP (a ziplock bag with toilet paper, lighter, small spade & a bucket)
YEAR FIVE CEREMONY
THREE DAY FOUR POINT VISION QUEST

  • Backpack to carry what you need for the duration of your Ceremony

  • Compass

  • A small compact mirror

  • Smudge, bowl, lighter & Sealing Mixtures

  • Medicine Blanket, Medicine Pipe & lots of tobacco

  • Notebook, pen & teaching notes

  • Small one-man tent, bedding & personal items

  • Headlamp, extra batteries, water & water bottle

  • Red Ochre or a red crayon that will work on skin

  • 4 pieces of red fabric & string to tie them

  • 4 large clear crystals about the size of a small egg

  • Snack Pack (this is a fasting ceremony but make sure your body does not go into deficit during your Ceremony)

  • Sacred PP (a ziplock bag with toilet paper, lighter & small spade) 

 

apprenticeship BLANKETING CEREMONY

PLEASE INFORM YOUR MEDICINE GUIDE WHEN YOU ARE READY TO STEP BEYOND STUDENT INTO APPRENTICESHIP AND TAKE YOUR RAINBOW WARRIOR VOW.
HERE'S What you will need in order to participate in this Ceremony:

  • Your Medicine Blanket 

    The student acquires a personal blanket as a symbol of their Medicine and their Sacred Journey of Self. This Medicine Blanket serves as a companion, soaking up and containing the energy of all the Student’s ‘great work’, all the wisdom gained from each teaching, insight, experience or ceremony. This becomes a symbol of personal power. The Medicine Blanket symbolizes a bond of warmth, camaraderie and fellowship. In this union, the Teacher and the Student become mirrors of reflection to one another’s development of character and excellence.

  • The Rainbow Warrior Vows are personal to each student and are focused on the most important relationship we will ever have: the one with ourselves. They speak of honesty, integrity and self-trust. Each Student writes their own vows reflecting their commitment to being a Rainbow Warrior and how they will choose to live within sacred law and walk their talk. These vows also acknowledge that their pursuit of autonomy and self-mastery require an undying commitment to battle against all obstacles and to never give up on themselves.
    Your     vows are to be written down. (Please bring an A4 copy of your vow to be held in trust with Sacred Journeys.) 

  • The Apprenticeship Gift represents a nagual exchange of energy, an honouring of the teacher who's role is to hold, guide and support you on your healing journey. In the old way, an Apprentice's Gift was traditionally a Blanket, gifted as a representation of your request and commitment to work with your teacher and the elders of the Twisted Hairs Lineage. We no longer use the Blanket in this way, instead you offer a thoughtfully chosen Apprenticeship Gift from your heart that is meaningful to you, that reflects your decision to commit to being an Apprentice. This item holds the sacred agreement between you and your teacher.

  • Offering a Pouch of Tobacco with your Rainbow Warrior Vows and Apprenticeship Gift to your teacher seals the agreement you are making with Great Spirit and indicates that you and your Guide/s will walk in beauty together. The pouch of tobacco connects us to spirit and creation.

These four items seal the intent and commitment of both Rainbow Warrior Apprentice and Medicine Guide to the Greater Purpose. 
They symbolize the student’s respect for the teacher and maintain the balance of energies given and received, thereby completing the circle.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CG