Easter Weekend Community Gathering & Sweat Lodge Ceremony
Hosted at Terra Nova Center
We are honored to invite you to a deeply special Easter weekend on the mountain—an immersive, two-day community gathering rooted in connection, ceremony, and renewal. This experience is intentionally open and flexible. You are welcome to join us for any or all parts of the weekend—whether that is the community potluck, storytelling and songs around the bonfire, overnight camping, or the full Easter Sunrise Sweat Lodge Ceremony.
If you feel led, we invite you to arrive the day before and settle into the land. Camping and on-site lodging are available, including individual guest suites. We also have a limited number of volunteer opportunities available for those who feel called to exchange service for their stay. Please fill out the form at the bottom of this page or call us at (828) 862-5909 or email us at info@terranovacenter.org to reserve your stay.
Saturday, April 4 — Community Gathering
We ask all participants to arrive and check in between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, either to their lodging or to set up camp. At 5:30 pm, we will begin our time together with a community potluck, gathering in shared nourishment and fellowship as we arrive on the land.
As evening unfolds, we will move to the lake. At 7:00 pm, we will light a bonfire by the lake, opening the space for connection, reflection, and shared presence. At 8:00 pm, we will gather around the fire for an evening of Cherokee storytelling and song sharing with Yona Frenchhawk. Together, we will sit in community—listening, sharing, and honoring the stories and songs that connect us across time. As part of this sacred evening, participants will also be honored with a special fire performance on the beach by James Graham, woven into the rhythm of the fire gathering. Participants are welcome to stay by the fire as long as they feel called. As the fire winds down, we will return to our accommodations to rest before the early morning ceremony.
Sunday, April 5 — Easter Sunrise Ceremony
Participants are asked to arrive at the chapel between 3:00 am and 3:45 am. At 3:45 am, the final transport will depart for the Sweat Lodge. We will enter the lodge in darkness and emerge together at sunrise. Following the ceremony, we will return to the chapel for a breakfast-style potluck to begin Easter Sunday in community. Please bring a breakfast item and drop it off at the chapel before departing for the lodge. This is a gathering we feel deeply grateful to host on the land—a space to move through darkness into light, together.
About the Ceremony
Terra Nova Center welcomes participants to take part in a traditional Sweat Lodge Ceremony, held on the land in a spirit of respect, cultural awareness, and community presence. This ceremony is led by Yona Frenchhawk, a Cherokee Wisdom Keeper who carries this tradition with humility and integrity. The Sweat Lodge is a ceremonial structure representing the womb of Mother Earth—a place of purification, reflection, renewal, and reconnection to the natural world. Participants enter the lodge together in community, engaging in an ancient practice that honors the elements, the Earth, and the shared human journey. It is a traditional ceremonial experience rooted in Indigenous wisdom and held with respect for the lineage it comes from.
The Flow of the Ceremony
Fire Ceremony
The sacred fire is built and tended. The stones that will be used in the lodge are heated in preparation. Participants are warmly encouraged to arrive early and be present for this portion of the ceremony, supporting the fire and the space as the foundation for the lodge is prepared.
Sweat Lodge
Participants gather at the lodge and enter together for the central ceremonial experience. The lodge is a heat-intensive environment designed to support purification, grounding, and connection to sacred traditions and nature.
Feast
Following the lodge, the community gathers for a shared meal. Participants bring a dish to contribute. The feast is a time of integration, fellowship, and gratitude.
On the Land
Participants will gather at the Lighthouse Chapel before walking approximately 5–10 minutes to the lodge site. The ceremony area is near the Medicine Wheel and other sacred spaces on the land. We ask that all participants move through these areas with mindfulness and respect.
Suggested Offering
A suggested donation of $40 is offered to support the ceremonialist and should be given directly to Yona on the day of the ceremony. Donations to Terra Nova Center are also welcome. Contributions help sustain the land, facilities, and continued offering of traditional ceremonial spaces.
Traditional offerings such as sacred medicines, stones, or meaningful objects may be brought if desired and may be respectfully gifted to the ceremonialist, to the fire tender, or placed upon the altar. Participants are also welcome to bring personal items they feel called to have present within the ceremonial space and may retrieve those items afterward for placement on their home altars or personal sacred spaces.
Overnight Lodging & Camping
Overnight lodging and camping are available. Those traveling from a distance or wishing to remain on the land before/after the ceremony are welcome to inquire about accommodations.
Please contact Terra Nova Center directly at 828-862-5909 to check availability and make arrangements (also included on the form at the bottom of this page).
What to Expect
A structured, traditional ceremonial environment
A communal experience rooted in Indigenous practice
Periods of heat, darkness, silence, and shared reflection
Time outdoors on the land in all weather conditions
A shared meal following the ceremony
Participation requires presence, openness, and attentiveness to guidance provided by the ceremonialist.
What to Bring
Water bottle
Towel
Blanket or mat
Modest, comfortable clothing appropriate for high heat
Change of clothes for after ceremony
A potluck dish to share
Please do not bring:
Phones, cameras, or recording devices
Alcohol or intoxicants
Heavy meals immediately before the lodge
Synthetic clothing that may be uncomfortable in high heat
Health & Safety
The Sweat Lodge is a physically demanding, heat-intensive ceremonial experience. Individuals who are pregnant or who have cardiovascular, respiratory, or other medical conditions that may be impacted by heat should consult a medical professional before participating.
Participation is voluntary. Individuals are encouraged to listen to their bodies and step out if necessary. All participants are strongly encouraged to consume only light meals and to stay well hydrated throughout the day of the ceremony.
Learn More About the Ceremony
Full details can be found here:
https://www.terranovacenter.org/sweatlodgeceremony
Register for The Easter Gathering by filling out the form below:
Receive Email Invitations for Upcoming Ceremonies
To be notified directly when future Sweat Lodge Ceremonies are scheduled, sign up here and reserve your space: