Updated 2/24/2010
By now you may be aware of the tragedy in Arizona. If not ... click here or Google "James Arthur Ray Sweat Lodge", and you'll find many stories about it.
Three people have died, 19 have been hospitalized, and the police are considering criminal charges. Ray has been arrested and charged. The allegation is that an unsafe number of people were jammed into the sweat lodge for an unsafe period of time.
Ray was charging $9,695 for this intensive. If you can manifest that kind of money for any purpose, never mind a retreat whose purpose is to learn how to manifest your intentions ... then I don't know what this guy can possibly teach you. You already know "The Secret". Furthermore, in the native traditions, sweat lodges are often free of charge. There is a custom that you can give a gift to the keeper of the waters, but no set fee. I do understand that these kinds of things can be costly to put on. Working with Quinn, I know what the costs can be, and what is reasonable or not. At the most, I can see charging a grand or two for a week-long retreat. If you are considering taking one of these classes, I suggest you investigate some of the lesser-known teachers available. You may be able to get a lot more bang for your bucks.
Before you let anyone make you fast for 36 hours, stuff you at a buffet, then stick you into a crowded room full of hot rocks and insist you spend more than 20 minutes there without water (as has been alleged took place in Arizona), refer to this article on sauna safety ("Stay inside the sauna for no more than 30 minutes at a time" ) or this one on sweat lodges.
At any class of this kind you have the right to say NO if someone insists you do something unsafe. I have a friend in Toronto who hosts firewalks. I'd never go, honestly. But she's very clear up front that actually walking ISN'T the point of the class. It's not about proving your courage to others. It's about testing your limits, but not in an unsafe way. Many people in her classes do not walk, and that is fine with her. I took one of Ross Quinn's "Leadership Retreats" that involves rock climbing and high-wire walking, and I was forced to opt out of certain activities because of my physical limitations. At NO time was I made to feel like I was failing or letting myself down. I felt fully supported all the way. People cheered me for making the right choice for me - they recognized it wasn't easy for me to decline these activities. Leadership was there to slow me down when I pushed myself too hard. I got a huge benefit out of the class. If the class is well managed it's not necessary to do all the physical challenges if that's not possible. If you are in a class feeling pushed to do something you know is unsafe, then maybe the personal growth lesson you are there to learn is how to say NO.
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Brandi Jasmine
Living With Your Psychic Gifts
