Like this "Spiritual Warrior" thing, presided over by a guy named James Arthur Ray, that took the lives of two people. (A third is in critical, another two are still in hospital.) A total of 21 people had to be transported in an area that is sparsely settled and not exactly packed with emergency facilities. It should be noted that James Arthur Ray has spread his crapzilla around all over the place, including on Oprah Winfrey's show.
While this has made national and international news, the most local newspaper, the Verde News, has been providing the best coverage of this tragic event. Here are two articles:
Basically, this is what happened. Participants paid $9,000 to James Arthur Ray for several days of spiritual enlightenment in the lovely red rocks of Sedona. Additionally, they paid $1,600 to the owners of Angel Valley Ranch, which rented the place out. Apparently there were 50 paying participants, for a cool take of $450,000 to Ray. However, based on the information in the "Spiritual Warrior Participant Guide" (which has now disappeared from Ray's website, but which I saved copies of), in addition to the usual clothes and suchlike, the following were required items. (Typed from the PDF. Don't lock these things down, I can type 100 wpm.)
An integral element of the program will rely upon group use of Holosync technology. If you would like to learn more about this technology, please visit the Centerpointe Research Institute website at www.centerpointe.com. If you have not yet invested in this technology, you will need to do so prior to Spiritual Warrior. The first program, Awakening Prologue, is available for purchase through the Centerpointe Research Institute website at www.centerpointe.com/links.php?ad=30830.If you have already attended Quantum Leap, you will also need to bring your Power Generator, Wealth Ignition, and Reclaiming Your Full Energy and Vitality CD programs. If you have attended Quantum Leap and you have not yet invested in these programs, you may do so at Spiritual Warrior. We will have copies available for purchase at the event.
So far, we have this for costs:
- $9,000.00 for Spiritual Warrior
- 1,600.00 for Angel Valley, which provided food and lodging
- 179.00 for Holosync Awakening Prologue
- ?????.?? for Power Generator, Wealth Ignition, and Reclaiming Your Full Energy, but Quantum Leap costs $3,995.00
That comes to $10,779.00 (not including airfare or any other junk you've previously purchased from James, etc., etc.)
There are also these somewhat bizarre items (from page 7):
- Bag of chewing tobacco
- Six feet of string (approximately dress shoe lace size, preferably red, but color not critical)
- Seven 3" x 3" squares of fabric
And, even though you're paying $1,600 for board and lodging, you should bring "Toilet paper (1 roll)."
Pages 11-14 are two releases. The first is a "hold harmless," basically, "if anything baaaad happens to you, you're screwed." Oh yeah, and while YOU can't tape or film yourself, the second release is a waiver of your right of publicity and compensation. So undoubtedly James Arthur Ray was filming or taping at least some of this.
So after getting together your supplies and getting to Angel Valley, there are several days of various Noo Agey type things, including a "vision quest" and, finally, a "sweat lodge." It's here that the incident occurred.
The lodge was, according to the Verde News, approximately 415 feet square. But it was also not very high, in that it was 30 inches on the side and 53 inches in the center. So nobody, unless you happen to be a child or short-statured, could actually stand up in this thing. It was covered by blankets, comforters and tarps. And, apparently, there were 50 participants, plus assistants and Ray himself. There may have been up to 68 people in the "lodge." Along with 58 rocks, some of which were described as "cantaloupe-sized." These were put on the fire. Oh yeah, there was a fire.
Let's assume that there were 55 people in the"lodge." According to my calculations, that works out to 7.5 square feet for every participant, not including any space taken out for the fire, the "cantaloupe-sized" rocks and so on. This is less than a three foot by three foot area (nine square feet). People were crammed into that thing like sardines. Because you couldn't STAND UP. You had to sit down or kneel. I have claustrophobia, and I can just about guarantee you I would have been out of there in no time flat.
(Fair Use picture from KNXV to illustrate. Just look at how small that thing was and then imagine 50-60 people in it.)So, there were all these people in this "lodge," it was hot, there was a fire going, they were all crammed in there, no idea what was happening inside...my guess is that extreme hypoxia or anoxia set in. They ran out of oxygen and their bodies started shutting down. But the autopsies will tell us with more certainty.
I can't stop shaking my head.
Except for this. F****** New Age WooMeisters. Some dimwitted "Law of Attraction" nutbar named Giovani had this to say on the Positive Intentions forum:
Hi!
Thanks, for the opportunity to send some good vibes to some people who'll appreciate them! :O)
Aw, come on, though! "Scam?" How does one figure? Isn't it interesting how much people value a means of coming together with spiritual intent? Didn't everybody know there were risks in this, as with all else?
I prefer outright steam baths to saunas of any kind, but the sweat lodge is an ancient & honorable practice. What a wonderful way to go, if you ask me! In the midst of blissful open focus in the company of others who value this, as well. How powerful those two are!
More ventillation? Good idea. That way, those who intend to live through this will be a bit more comfortable--notice how eight out of the ten intended to live. Clearly, their will means they'll be fine in no time. I recognize the freshness within them. Let's not be like those who know nothing of the Law Of Attraction & who morn and panic over such a thing.
All is clearly well with the Universe--this not even resembling an exception! :D
Sunshine & Blessings,
Giovani
Oh yeah, I'm sure the families of the two dead people are so thrilled their loved ones are dead. And what a way to go...dying of oxygen starvation. FAIL.
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