When scholars study religion, the tendency exists to focus on the
             mythological aspects of the religion in an attempt to understand the major
             underlying concepts present. However, an equally rewarding study often can be
             accomplished through the careful analysis of the religion's ritual aspects.
             This is especially true when studying North American Indian religions where
             there is an abundance of elaborate rituals that play a significant role in their
             culture. By closely examining the details and symbolism of ritual movements, we
             can gather some basic understanding of what is seen to be of value in a certain
             theology. While most Native American rituals tend to be mono-cultural, there
             are a few rituals that frequently appear in many different regions and tribes
             across North America. Two of these widespread rituals are the ritual of the
             "sacred pipe," and sweat lodge ceremonials. The sacred pipe ritual is loaded
             with symbolic meaning, and offers a generous insight into Native American belief
             systems. This essay will first look at the dynamics of the sacred pipe ritual
             and offer some explanation into its religious significance, then draw some
             parallels to the more common sweat lodge ceremony. If a recurring spiritual
             theme appears in separate rituals, it can be considered evidence of a consistent,
             The use of smoking pipes in Native American cultures is a popular and
             very ancient practice. Direct predecessors of the modern pipe appear 1,500
             years ago, and other less relevant pipes can be found as far back as 2,500 years
             ago. The distinguishing characteristic of the sacred pipe is that the bowl is
             separable from the long stem, and the two parts are kept apart except during
             ritual use. The pipe is seen as a holy object and is treated with much respect.
             This type of ceremonial pipe was used by tribes ranging from the Rocky Mountain
             range to the Atlantic, and from the Gulf of Mexico to Ja...