Questions About 'Sweat Lodge' Rite Where 2 Died

Questions About 'Sweat Lodge' Rite Where 2 Died

By JOHN DOUGHERTY and GREGORY ROTH
Published: October 10, 2009
PRESCOTT, Ariz. — As Arizona authorities on Saturday investigated how two people died and more than a dozen others were overtaken during a ceremony at a New Age retreat near Sedona, questions arose about the circumstances surrounding the simulated Native American rite.

Another person who was at the sweat lodge at Angel Valley Spiritual Retreat, about six and a half miles from West Sedona, was listed in critical condition at Flagstaff Medical Center.

The two victims were identified on Saturday as James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee, and Kirby Brown, 38, who grew up in Westtown, N.Y., and lived part of the time in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Both had come to the retreat without family members, the authorities said.

The Yavapai County sheriff, Steve Waugh, said at a news conference on Saturday that his detectives were investigating the possibility of criminal negligence in connection with the incident. He said that from 55 to 65 people were gathered inside the lodge on Thursday afternoon for the purification ceremony.

Joseph Bruchac, an expert on Native American traditions and author of The Native American Sweat Lodge, said that number far surpassed the 8 to 12 typically present at such a rite. It means that all these people are fighting for the same oxygen, he said.

The lodge itself was only four and a half feet tall at its highest point, Mr. Waugh said.

A sweat lodge, similar to a sauna, is an enclosed space where water is poured on heated rocks. Such structures are often used in Native American ceremonies and are intended to cleanse the body. Traditional lodges are usually made of willow branches and covered in canvas or animal skins, and are not meant to be air-tight. The authorities said that the lodge at Angel Valley was covered in plastic and blankets.

The people, some of whom paid more than $9,000, were taking part in a program called "Spiritual Warrior, " which was being run by the self-help expert James Arthur Ray. They had been inside the lodge for more than two hours when emergency calls were made about 5 p.m. Friday, the Verde Valley Fire Department said.

Questions have also arisen about the length of time the people were in the lodge — about two hours. A ceremony usually lasts no more than an hour, Mr. Bruchac said.

Investigators said that a test for hazardous materials showed no evidence of carbon monoxide or other airborne poisons at the lodge, though they said they were still testing blood samples for evidence of toxic substances.

Dwight DEvelyn, a public information officer for the Yavapai County sheriffs office, said autopsies of the two victims had been conducted, but results had not yet been released.

Mr. Ray, who was in the sweat lodge for the ceremony and has been holding retreats there since 2003, has not yet commented on the incident.

The owners of the resort, identified as Michael and Amayra Hamilton, also declined to comment.

Mr. Ray has appeared on Oprah Winfreys television show and wrote a best-selling book, Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want.

A spokesman for Mr. Ray, Howard Bragman, told The Associated Press, We express our deepest condolences to those who lost friends and family, but we pray for a speedy recovery for those who took ill.

New Age programs like the ones Mr. Ray offers are common in Sedona. Anna Lisa Brown, a resident, told the Phoenix television station KNXV that people are always coming to the area for such retreats.

I was surprised that people would put themselves in that situation, but not surprised, because people are looking for things to fulfill themselves and give themselves purpose, Ms. Brown said.

The cost of the retreat was listed on Mr. Rays Web site as $9,695 per person. In it, he says its participants will experience a new technologically-enhanced form of meditation that creates new neurological pathways.

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[mayatratar]

THIS WAS NOT A CEREMONY,this was a ROBBERY,MURDER AND STEALING.get your story right.

[mattnmac]

Ray should be held for manslaughter for taking $9,000 from these people and not providing the service of sweatlodge that is safe. His cheap makeshift lodge is a disgrace.

[parafleet]

There is something idiotic about new-age "seekers" forgetting that human beings are, in essence, cagey self-centered opportunists who will take any advantage of you they can to make cash and gain power. "Seeking" isn't airy-fairy acceptance of a knife in your gut. "Seeking" is trying to figure out this world we live in. Basically, new-age "seekers," if a stranger offers you candy, don't take it just because they are smiling and will take your money for it.

[trulychloe]

those things are deathtraps with bags on it!

[cavallo2012]

Look, im very offended and very sad at the same time. What is wrong with this picture. Anglos need to find their own way of communicating to spirit, I find it appaling that they feel native, your not. I was invited to a pipe ceremony and was shocked because the pipe ceremony was being done by anglos,happy to say I walked out.I will not dis honor my brothers. GET YOUR OWN CULTURE NOT OURS.U STOLE R LAND KILLED ARE PEOPLE NOW YOU WANT TO PLAY INDIAN WAKE UP. LONE WOLF/AZTECA

[dsspiritwalker]

I feel sadness for the people that lost their lives. I would like to state that one does not charge for a sweat lodge, if fee is mentioned run even if it is a native. That would be like me standing in front of a church and charging a entrance fee and a bible fee to all church members. This man made a mockery of our people and added more shame to charge for this ceremony that has been done for years by my native people!

[thoostorm4]

@mattnmac IHOPE HEROTS IN  PRISON

[lamardarren]

I do not feel so sorry for the idiots that followed this Con Man James Arthur Ray and died in a Sweat Lodge Ceremony. I feel sorry for their Families who have to pick up the pieces.

.

James Arthur Ray promised better careers, more money, success, influence with people, and a selfish Self Centered way to expand ones life. The people who died wanted MORE MORE MORE out of life instead of being happy with what they had. ERGO...they died for their own GREED of "getting ahead".

Sad and pathetic.

[zhoni2004]

i dont get why he was doing this ceremony because he is not native american wish there will be a law that prohibets nonatives from having these ceremonys be cause they do not do this the right way a seatlodge is only suposed to hold from 15 to 12 people not 65 and our materials are coth and blankets while his was tarp and plasite so plez respect my peoples culture so it dont get taken away.

[martinal99]

I heard he killed some people!

[ApacheLife5465]

I'm full blooded Native. I come from a family thats traditional spiritually and culturally. I was taught from my elders that when you mess with sacred things in a unsacred way it will bite back at you just the same when you mess with a rattle snake it will bite at you and even kill you. James Ray has whats coming to him. Them "new age" spiritual ppl need to understand what they're getting themselves into.