James Arthur Ray “Sweatbox”” Ceremony Leaves Two Dead
Posted on Oct 10, 2009 @ 07:22AM
He’s a regular contributor on Today and a frequent guest on Oprah and Larry King Live. He was featured in the movie version of The Secret.
Thursday night, best-selling author James Arthur Ray was in Arizona, leading a ceremony in a sweatbox. Now two of his “followers” are dead and another 19 are injured, one critically.
Ray, a self-proclaimed “philosopher,” is the author of Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want. “I guarantee that anything you desire is possible,” Ray states on his website, which also advertised Harmonic Weekend events.
The horrific incident occurred at the Angel Valley Resort about 20 minutes outside Sedona.
Sweatboxes are traditionally used by several Native American tribes for physical and spiritual cleansing. They’re small structures made from willow branches covered in canvas. Water is poured over a small pile of heated rocks to create steam. Typically, they hold no more than a dozen participants and often they are used by a single individual.
Ray’s sweatbox looked more like a small circus tent. More than 50 people had been in the structure for more than two hours when 911 calls began coming into the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, a criminal investigation has now been opened into the matter.
RadarOnline.com has not yet been able to reach Ray. His next event is scheduled for Los Angeles October 13.
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Comments
Could be that the branches they used might of been exposed to pesticides during growth which would turn into airborne toxins if there happened to be any residule accumalation of pesticides remaining
Posted Sun, 10/11/2009 - 7:39am
I agree. Another disaster by a quack hyped by Oprah. Oprah lacks discernment. She puts on all kinds of kooks, like this.
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 9:39pm
yeah ... now THERE'S a face you can trust )o;
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 9:19pm
This isn't shocking... this CULT is so much like SCIENTOLOGY... what did you expect?
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 6:50pm
Another one of Oprah's qwacks.
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 6:03pm
says they used willow branches. If someone threw oleander branches on the pile everyone would get sick. It's a big toxic thing and it can kill you. Desert people know this and would never use Oleander for anything.
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 2:59pm
If someone has a serious health condition, the lodge is not a place for them to be in. If someone has a mental health condition, i.e., claustrophobia, anxiety disorder, the lodge is not a place for them to be in.
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 2:36pm
Participants are responsible to disclose if they have any pre-existing health conditions both physical & mental. The lodges are enclosed & heated to high temperatures.
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 2:35pm
Correction, itt's called a "SWEAT LODGE," NOT a 'sweat box.' Get the facts correct. Do your research about the sweat lodge. Structures can be small or large. I participated in a sweat lodge many years ago that held 50 people.
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 2:32pm
Two people are dead, you idiot. Is that fact enough for you? Geez, I'm sure the families of these people won't feel much better after your "correction".
Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 3:59pm