FINALLY! We're! BACK!
Let's rock this second part of a chapter! But before that, here's an important notice:
This sequence depicts a purification ceremony (or sweat lodge) that is taken from one of the Native American rites: the "Inipi" (which means "to live again"). This one is specifically Lakota Sioux based.
This isn't a guide to the sacred ceremony that is the Inipi. I will not call it "Inipi" either, as the word calls for respect for a tradition I have but only slightly touched. It might give you a peep at some references typically found in these rituals (as I've seen it), but it is not meant to be teaching anything else on the matter.
For a better understanding, and a better representation, of the significance and sacredness of the ceremony, I would suggest websites, books, and other references by Native Americans who have gone through these rituals themselves.
-If you are uncomfortable with reading this arc, you can skip to chapter 33 here!-
The way I will show this in my comic will be influenced by my (totally white) experience. I have lived a few sweats mostly in France, lead by a man who has been learning from Native Americans direcly, and regularly joins them for rites on their lands, for over 15 years.
These rituals take a while to prepare: I have a limited amount of strips to go through this, and I won't be able to show everything (the construction of the hut is already done here, for example! That takes time, and is a ritual in itself.) Also because I don't want to fuck it up :) Again, and I can't stress this enough, if you're interested, further your research and don't stop here!
One last specification: The characters' experience does not speak for everyone's own, personal, journey.
Enjoy!
EDIT: Changed the clothes they were in! Upon reviewing this with the Lakota-friend I was lucky to get help from, he reminded me that clothes for this ceremony are to be, ideally, modest for everyone. Roomie in an undie wasn't gonna do it :)
Also edited: The direction the hut and people were facing! I had to turn the whole of panel 3 around so it could be more representative of the correct way of doing this.
