Huffington Post: James Ray Death Lodge
Huffington Post: Guru Says He's Being Tested By Sweat Lodge Deaths
DailyKos: Huffington Post Contributor James Arthur Ray Kills Two During Commission Of A Robbery
Huffington Post: James Arthur Ray: What Ever Happened To Personal Responsibility?
I have been taking a 30 minute sauna three times per week for the last five years. I started with 10 minutes and built up to 30 minutes slowly. A sauna is a very powerful detox tool. I became very ill the first time I took a 30 minute sauna. Not right away. But by the time I got home from the gym I was vomiting. I do not know what James Arthur Ray was thinking when he encouraged these people, some of whom may have never taken a sauna before, to stay in this sweat lodge, which was covered with plastic, for two hours.
I hope that in this case, James Arthur Ray will practice what he preaches and take personal responsibility for his part in this incident. I hope that he gives a full refund ($9,695 each) to all participants who were harmed while under his care and pays their medical bills (especially those who were uninsured). And I hope that he compensates the families of the participants who lost their lives. I hope that he does this voluntarily, and does not force these poor people into long, drawn-out and expensive legal battles where defense attorneys love to blame the victims.
I know how easy it is to fall for something like this . . . .
See how I was scammed out of $15K in one day here by holistic dentist Dr. Leonard Kundel. I woke up vomiting after a surgical procedure meant to excise and eradicate my osteolytic and destructive jawbone lesions, chronic fatigue syndrome and violent monthly migraines. It did not. I later learned that the reason I was vomiting was because I had very low oxygen saturation levels while under sedation. This is not good. This could lead to a heart attack during a surgery in which anesthesia or sedation is used. I was lucky, but it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or is even killed by a general dentist not properly trained or qualified to sedate and perform bone surgeries and biopsies on very ill patients.
Your Daily Spiritual Stimulus: How To Spot A Charlatan (excellent advice):
The Charlatans out there can rob us of more than our money, they also rob of us of our faith and trust in humanity. Let's not let that happen.And here is the real danger in the "Health Care Freedom" movement (which I am an advocate of because I love natural medicine and don't ever want to be forced into a treatment I don't want), in which some unscrupulous holistic practitioners and sacrilegious New Age gurus charge exorbitant fees in exchange for giving you a choice:
For today, there is still hope and real help is available, but please be careful where you go to find it.
Peace and Blessings!
May you be blessed with the powers of wisdom and discernment.
The Associate Press (October 15, 2009): Sheriff Probes Sweat Lodge Death As Homicides:
Ray held a telephone conference call with many of the sweat ceremony participants on Wednesday, according to people on the call. A recording of the call was made and transcribed by one of the listeners, said McFeeley, who also listened in and provided the transcript to the AP.
During the call, Ray stressed the importance of eating healthy food, exercising, resting, meditation and surrounding themselves with "like-minded individuals."
"Remember all that we've learned and experienced and knowing by law of the universe that out of every apparent chaos comes a greater state of order, an order that never existed prior to the chaos," he said, after asking those on the conference call to imagine themselves standing in a prayer circle.
Ray said he used the call as a way to provide closure to those attending the retreat outside Sedona, according to the transcript. Bragman confirmed the telephone conference was held.
Ray stopped short of apologizing to participants for not being at the Angel Valley Retreat Center the morning after the deaths, saying "I hope you understand it certainly wasn't my wish not to be with you and bring you some kind of closure."
Rhodes said he had no comment on the conference call, but said detectives have the transcript.
Fewer than a dozen callers were identified in the transcript, all of whom praised Ray and described his intentions as "pure" and their experiences as "profound." Cassandra Yorgey, a Pennsylvania columnist who also listened in on the call, said some of the people who were injured at the retreat participated in the call but their comments weren't included in the transcript.
Participants whose comments were included expressed sympathy for the families of the victims but suggested that the deaths of Brown and Shore were by choice.
"It breaks my heart to know that the families are suffering," said one caller identified as Brent. "I think that the people that left, I do believe they made their own choices, whether on this level or the next, but I do feel really for the families."
McFeeley said the comments on the call solidify his belief that Ray is controlling the people involved in his self-help program.
"There were reasonable people at this event, and it shows the power one man can have when you combine physical and mental mistreatment," McFeeley said. "Everything in this retreat seems to have been taken too far, and those statements were hurtful to hear and probably more hurtful to communicate them to the family last night."
Be careful who you choose to trust.
Anyone who charges you an exorbitant and non-refundable fee upfront does not trust you.
James Arthur Ray of Interest in Homicide Investigation
Oprah Winfrey Should Apologize for Promoting Dangerous Fraud James Arthur Ray
UPDATE October 17: From The Associated Press:
3rd Person Dies in Arizona Sweat Lodge Ceremony Case
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2 comments:
I live in an area that during the summer, out in the open air feels like a Sweat Lodge!
Anyhow, I would not go in a Sweat Lodge when there was not at least a proper Native American Shaman to supervise, who has had at least 20 yrs. experience....no joke.
Plus, I would say that there are too many chemicals that leach out in black plastic especially in the heat...so it should never be used. Only natural organic materials should be used.
From what I understand these people were fasting, and crowded into a sweat lodge for two hours, all without any medical doctors on the premises.
He crowded 65 people into a sweat lodge designed to hold 8-12 people.
Why?
To make as BIG of a profit for himself as possible.
The Huffington Post stories I linked to, and the comments are all great.
Alternative health is supposed to be health care you can do by yourself.
Self-help is the same thing.
I think these alternative health practitioners and self-help gurus are charging WAAAAY too much money.
I seriously doubt any of them will get their money back, voluntarily.
Actions speak louder than words.
Always.
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