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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 21242
[Religious]
Date Posted:
10/12/2009
3:01:56 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 2,910
RSS: 20,571
Comments: 7
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Deaths at Sweat Lodge Bring Soul-Searching
Author: John Dougherty Source: New York Times
Title: DEATHS AT SWEAT LODGE BRING SOUL-SEARCHING
Tucked into stunning red rock formations and canyons punctuated with splashes of green junipers, this town of about 11,500 has long been a high-end golf and tennis resort, the choice location for second homes of the well-to-do and a favorite destination for hikers, rock climbers, cyclists and sightseers.
It has also become world-renowned as a New Age metaphysical center, attracting seekers and followers of an assortment of spiritual pathways, many of whom believe healing energy is released from “vortexes” that are said to be scattered among the rock formations.
Scores of self-proclaimed mystics, healers, channelers of past life experiences (and aliens), sacred touch massage therapists, wind whisperers and vision quest guides offer their services, often for a hefty price. Many of these spiritual pathways are based somewhat loosely around Native American traditions, including the ceremonial sweat lodge.
But the deaths of two people in a sweat lodge last week at Angel Valley, a New Age spiritual retreat about six miles south of West Sedona, is causing more soul-searching among New Age practitioners and concern among town leaders.
Additional Article Link: [Click HERE]
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Community Thoughts: There are 7 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| That's An Interesting Link . . . | Oct 13th. at 2:26:26 pm EDT
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R. Cicero (Seattle, Washington) - Email Me
I actually sympathize with the disgust and outrage of Native Americans over the appropriation of some of their cultural traditions, and yet that has always been the way of the world, hasn't it?
Take Japan, for instance. They seem in no hurry to discard the MASSIVE influx of economic, political, and cultural philosophies of the West that were integrated into their culture in a very short span. They didn't just integrate it, they mastered it. Sure, they can suffer economic malaise just like us, but no one of sanity that lives there is interested in a return to feudalism, for instance.
I think the emphasis, especially in cases like this, should be on BAD PRACTICES that can get people killed. There is no guarantee that a somewhat undisciplined human of any ethnicity, even Native American, might find themselves making this same mistake from time to time.
If we wish to get in the business of hogging our more sacred cultural traditions, then I hope you won't mind if all Opera houses and Symphony concert halls of the world are allowed to exclude anyone lacking European ancestry--because that is the kind of slippery slope we'd find ourselves on.
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| Fortunes Of War | Oct 13th. at 6:14:50 am EDT
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Finn (San Marcos, Texas) - Email Me
It was only a matter of time before something like this happened. New Age spirituality has become very big business. Events like this are merely a symptom of the disease. Everytime something like this happens it reminds me of the following:
[Web LINK]
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| Soul-searching? | Oct 13th. at 5:55:31 am EDT
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R. Cicero (Seattle, Washington) - Email Me
More like an APB for the criminally negligent. And what an ethical man, to flee the state ASAP in the wake of death. He'd better have a hell of a lot of money, because I don't see the moron in chief and some of his cohorts walking away from THIS easily. No amount of sorry or community service will suffice. It's prison time, and an endless number of civil claims, too.
Of course I'm very, very disappointed to see so many otherwise smart (or at least thoughtful) people pressured into accepting such negligible choices. Can you imagine going into a trap like that for 9k? I wouldn't pay ANYTHING for a retreat like that. Find your own soul and visit a day spa for heaven's sake--you don't need a bloody guru.
But now people are dead, and sick (possibly brain-damaged) , and there is HELL to pay.
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| Another Predatory New Age Scam | Oct 13th. at 2:08:43 am EDT
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kenneth (Des Plaines, Illinois) - Email Me
No legitimate facilitator doing it for the right reasons would have been charging $9,000+ a head for this. It was too big and too crowded becaues it was nothing more than a money mill. Most of what is sold as "New Age" isn't pagan at all, it's just opportunism. They take concepts that are available to anywone willing to do a bit of homework, repackaged them and sell them to gullible people who want an instant experience from a guru. In a way, I feel bad that our community can't somehow reach these people and warn them off such foolishness and show them how to have a more authentic experience without getting ripped off.
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| Sweat Lodge "Ceremony" | Oct 13th. at 1:06:44 am EDT
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nasionnaich (Stanchfield, Minnesota) - Email Me
From everything I have so far learned about the Lakota Sweat Lodge Ceremony -- and I am STILL learning -- there is a resting period of at least one full day (usually two or more days) between any fasting (self-induced or otherwise) and the actual sweating. This is done for the exact reasons as outlined in a previous post -- i.e., to prevent injury and/or death.
I doubt the sweat ceremonies of other Nations would be much different, as the dangers are the same no matter what name the ceremonies are known by.
Holding that mass-sweat "ceremony" so soon after a 72-hour "vision quest" is not simple negligence. It is arrogant ignorance bordering on, at the very least, attempted manslaughter.
Mr. James Ray himself should be arrested immediately, since it is HE who is actually in charge of what goes on at HIS "events".
--nasionnaich
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| Near My Home... | Oct 12th. at 6:09:28 pm EDT
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Seleya (Prescott, Arizona) - Email Me
I have participeted in many sweat lodges. I can tell you honestly, if done right, they are a wonderful experience.
However, this was a real screw up on the part of the sweat lodge operator (water pourer in local speak) .
As you can see from the picture, the sweat lodge was way too big and too flat. Way to many people as well. And only one door.
The sweat lodge functions if done correctly. There are up to eight "rounds", with a period between each round when the door (or doors, as should have been in this case) are opened to allow fresh air and oxygen into the lodge. The flaps are then closed again, more water poured on the rocks to increase steam again.
The actual physical response goes like this: When the steam rises from the hot rocks, some of the oxygen is driven out of the lodge, causing the blood to dump toxins out and into your sweat, so it can absorb more oxygen. Then the door is opened allowing fresh air in to reoxygenates the air, causing the tissues cells to dump their toxins into the blood, to bring the oxygen levels back to normal. The door is then dropped, repeating this process. You come out with no body odor at all, your sweat sweet and clean, your body cleansed in a real physical sense from the inside out.
It is vital that enough air (and oxygen) be allowed to enter to replace what was removed with both the steam and the large number of people in the lodge.
I would guess that the people had oxygen deprevation, dramatically lowered electrolights, sodium, and potassium and extreme heat stroke.
And NO ONE should EVER be encouraged to remain in the lodge when they begin to feel sick, dizzy or lightheaded.
On top of all that, the participants were part of a 72 hour vision quest, that restricted food. After having only water for this period, their electrolights, sodium, and potassium were already lowered. Such an intense sweat lodge should never have been attempted.
The man running the lodge should be arrested for negligent homiside.
Seleya
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| Was Their Ignorance Negligent? | Oct 12th. at 3:38:08 pm EDT
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
"According to a family spokesperson, Brown was an avid surfer and hiker who was "in top shape," before the mysterious sweat lodge death. "
There was an aviator, who passed out under high G turns, and his R-IO had to bail them both. The Air Force went over this guy, with a fine tooth comb, and discovered that, for a High G Turn, pilots should not be aerobically fit. It could be, that some unusual material was used, and the aerobically fit served as Canaries.
Sauna is a tradition of Sweden and America, and has been done for some time. Is there an obligation to know, what hasn't yet been found out? Did he willfullyl disdain the service of an experienced sweat lodge operator? He should go back, to answer some questions, but it sounds like he's out of buisiness.
Harmonic Wealth? Nice, if he can get that beyond the dozen Great Progenitors the Hindus have spoken of.
Arawn Graalrd
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