Reviews for Release the Ex, Receive the Next: A Cord Cutting Ceremony

The music moved something in me. MonÁxi’s voice and drumming were incredibly powerful. At times it felt like the sound was guiding my breath and my emotions. There were moments I didn’t know how to express what I was feeling, and the music did it for me. Truly unforgettable.

“The intention-setting and fire ceremony beforehand was super special, and the ritual itself was… What can I say, incredibly intense! Life-changing! I love sauna, but this was just a whole other level. The simple chants were fun to sing along to, even though I am no great singer, they were easy, and by the end, I felt a whole other voice coming out of me and the harmonies from everybody singing together seem to like it created some kind of vibrational healing in my body. My skin afterwards has been the softest it ever has and I lost 5 pounds! I definitely recommend it for anybody who has never participated in something like this.”

I came to this ceremony at a major turning point in my life, and it helped me close one chapter and step into the next with clarity. The intention setting, the fire, the lodge, and the integration afterward all worked together beautifully. I left feeling lighter and more present than I have in years. I honestly can’t think of a better way to have begun this new chapter. Aho!

“This isn’t an activity - it’s a rite of passage. Olivia told us that this is traditionally done before a wedding and I have to say I feel like it was the best thing I could’ve done before getting married myself. I had an opportunity to release everything that may have been holding me back from real partnership and I feel like now I’m stepping into my marriage - just with me and my open heart without all kinds of unfinished business trailing behind me.

“I came for my friend’s bachelorette and expected something ‘interesting.’ I left feeling reborn. I released grief I didn’t even know I was carrying. I had heard about sweat lodge before, but never had the opportunity to do it. I really recommend it, although it was very hot and intense, I feel totally new.”

“This was the most powerful group experience I’ve ever had. We were all really close going into it, but I found that we got into deeper levels of vulnerability than I was expecting.The bond we formed in that lodge is something I’ll carry forever.”

“I cried, I laughed, I prayed, and I healed. This ceremony marked a turning point in my life. MonÁxi’s music is still in my head a week later.”

“I was nervous about the heat, but Olivia and MonÁxi made me feel completely safe. I felt held, guided, and respected. While we were waiting for the stones to heat up, before we went into the lodge, there was time to answer all of our questions, and I found that very calming and reassuring. Once inside, there were several rounds, and the door was always opened in between so we could cool off, and that made the heat more bearable. There was a moment in the third round where I felt like I would have to leave, but Olivia encouraged me to lay down and staying on the cool ground helped me be able to get through it until the end. I know it’s not a contest, but I felt like I wanted to prove something to myself and instead, I feel like I learned a lot about myself and came to grips with things that had been haunting me for a long time. Thank you both again so much.”

The heat is real, and the emotional release can be strong, but I never once felt pushed beyond my limits. We were reminded often to listen to our bodies, and that care made all the difference. This is how ceremony should be held.

I have been to a sweat lodge before in another tradition and had a not-so-great experience, so when my friend set this up, I had pretty low expectations. But the way that Olivia and MonÁxi host is so loving and compassionate that instantly everything felt very safe. The ceremony part was well explained, and I felt like it was easy to focus on myself and my process, and I didn’t have to be worried about all the details and getting things “right”. While the heat was very intense, the whole group managed to stay in the lodge because we had breaks and we could have a sip of water and cool off. Many of the people in our group had pretty intense cathartic experiences, which I wasn’t really expecting, but it was beautiful and powerful and I wouldn’t change it. I feel really blessed that we had the opportunity to do the ceremony and I look forward to being able to do another one at some point.

I’ve been to retreats, ceremonies, breathwork sessions, and countless workshops. This Sweat Lodge was in a different category. It was grounded, ancient, and real. Nothing felt rushed or trendy. Olivia’s leadership is steady and confident, and MonÁxi’s sound work carried me through moments where I thought I might not be able to stay inside. There was a space for each one to share prayers, and it was so dark that all we had was sound and feeling, so you kind of lose your inhibitions and before you know it you are singing. Thank you both so much for this profound work.