Comments on: Making Sense of Sedona: Thoughts on James Ray http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/ Online Visibility, Social Media for Heart Based Entrepreneurs Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: NancyMarmolejo http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-9060 NancyMarmolejo Sun, 02 Jan 2011 04:34:31 +0000 http://vivavisibilityblog.com/?p=1407#comment-9060 Aho! You summed it all up so well and I appreciate your comment. Thank you for your respect and support of the Good Red Road, too. Your comment is exactly what I've been trying to explain to people- this spiritual path we've chosen is a lifelong commitment and develops in its own time. I'm like you- not forcing it and allowing the wisdom to be revealed. Tlazocomatli! on the go- sent from my mobile phone Aho!

You summed it all up so well and I appreciate your comment. Thank you for your respect and support of the Good Red Road, too.

Your comment is exactly what I've been trying to explain to people- this spiritual path we've chosen is a lifelong commitment and develops in its own time. I'm like you- not forcing it and allowing the wisdom to be revealed.

Tlazocomatli!

on the go- sent from my mobile phone

]]> By: Mike Savarese http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-9059 Mike Savarese Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:09:46 +0000 http://vivavisibilityblog.com/?p=1407#comment-9059 Great article Nancy. I have been involved in sweat lodge ceremonies for 30 years. I did not pour my first lodge until 7 years ago....and that was after I got permission from my Karuk teacher and elder (Northern California tribe). When the tragedy happened and I saw the airial view of the plastic covered lodge I anted to cry. Physically and spiritually you always want to cover a lodge with non-chemically treated fabrics that breathe like cotton and wool. No oxygen comes in and all the expelled CO2 stays in....not to mention the heat stays. On a spiritual level over the years I have gotten very selective who I choose to do ceremony with as it is very personal. I am involved with the Hoopa tribe in supporting sobriety for the many recovering natives that are making great positive changes in their lives for themselves and their families. We use the sweat ceremony to build support and teamship for ourselves and our people. This Ray tragedy really illustrates how much people want to have something inspiring in their lives but also shows how some folks intentions can be disguised and ill-conconcieved. I pray for the familys of the victims and for those who want to make make healthy changes in their lives. Your article was very well done. Great article Nancy. I have been involved in sweat lodge ceremonies for 30 years. I did not pour my first lodge until 7 years ago….and that was after I got permission from my Karuk teacher and elder (Northern California tribe). When the tragedy happened and I saw the airial view of the plastic covered lodge I anted to cry. Physically and spiritually you always want to cover a lodge with non-chemically treated fabrics that breathe like cotton and wool. No oxygen comes in and all the expelled CO2 stays in….not to mention the heat stays. On a spiritual level over the years I have gotten very selective who I choose to do ceremony with as it is very personal. I am involved with the Hoopa tribe in supporting sobriety for the many recovering natives that are making great positive changes in their lives for themselves and their families. We use the sweat ceremony to build support and teamship for ourselves and our people. This Ray tragedy really illustrates how much people want to have something inspiring in their lives but also shows how some folks intentions can be disguised and ill-conconcieved. I pray for the familys of the victims and for those who want to make make healthy changes in their lives. Your article was very well done.

]]> By: NancyMarmolejo http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-7993 NancyMarmolejo Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:32:21 +0000 http://vivavisibilityblog.com/?p=1407#comment-7993 THANK YOU!I really appreciate your insights here. THANK YOU!I really appreciate your insights here.

]]> By: Rich Broderick http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-7986 Rich Broderick Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:36:09 +0000 http://vivavisibilityblog.com/?p=1407#comment-7986 I just happened on this post, which was linked to an article about Ray's arrest.I live in Minnesota, home to the largest urban population of Native Americans as well as a large population of Indian people living on the White Earth, Red Lake and other reservations located around the state. We have our own representative group of white (and even some Native American) self-styled healers expropriating elements of Native American ceremony and ritual on a for-profit basis. The point you make about how money is never exchanged for prayers or healing in authentic Indian circles cannot be stressed enough, but does not go far enough. As I have been telling my New Age friends for several decades now, there is NO authentic spiritual tradition anywhere in the world where an upfront payment of cash is a requirement for entree. None. My advice, then, to anyone seeking spiritual enlightenment (as opposed to financial well-being, physical or mental health, or other forms of personal development) is that if you are required to pay cash -- as opposed to being encouraged to donate, make an offering, etc. -- run, don't walk, to the sweat lodge exit. This advice covers the contemporary breed of Elmer Gantry's riding the megachurch circuit as well as the likes of James Ray. One last point about this sad incident in Arizona: what does it say about American (and Western) culture that it produces so many people vulnerable to the appeal of a snake-oil salesman like James Ray? What is it about the combination affluence, cultural values, lifestyles, and whatever term we might use for "un-wisdom" that creates the kind of emptiness that opens the door to charlatans like this -- not to mention the cult-of-celebrity that elevates the likes of Oprah and Dr. Phil to the level of trusted friend and confidant to millions? Any ideas? Any solutions? I just happened on this post, which was linked to an article about Ray's arrest.I live in Minnesota, home to the largest urban population of Native Americans as well as a large population of Indian people living on the White Earth, Red Lake and other reservations located around the state. We have our own representative group of white (and even some Native American) self-styled healers expropriating elements of Native American ceremony and ritual on a for-profit basis. The point you make about how money is never exchanged for prayers or healing in authentic Indian circles cannot be stressed enough, but does not go far enough. As I have been telling my New Age friends for several decades now, there is NO authentic spiritual tradition anywhere in the world where an upfront payment of cash is a requirement for entree. None. My advice, then, to anyone seeking spiritual enlightenment (as opposed to financial well-being, physical or mental health, or other forms of personal development) is that if you are required to pay cash — as opposed to being encouraged to donate, make an offering, etc. — run, don't walk, to the sweat lodge exit. This advice covers the contemporary breed of Elmer Gantry's riding the megachurch circuit as well as the likes of James Ray. One last point about this sad incident in Arizona: what does it say about American (and Western) culture that it produces so many people vulnerable to the appeal of a snake-oil salesman like James Ray? What is it about the combination affluence, cultural values, lifestyles, and whatever term we might use for "un-wisdom" that creates the kind of emptiness that opens the door to charlatans like this — not to mention the cult-of-celebrity that elevates the likes of Oprah and Dr. Phil to the level of trusted friend and confidant to millions? Any ideas? Any solutions?

]]> By: DrJennifer http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-7919 DrJennifer Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:00:45 +0000 http://vivavisibilityblog.com/?p=1407#comment-7919 Thank you Nancy for provoking more thoughts and questions around the subject of the James Ray incident as well as give us the Native American perspective. I feel very strongly about this and have written more on my blog titled, Leadership and Guru Addiction. (see <a href="http://budurl.com/4rrv" rel="nofollow">http://budurl.com/4rrv</a> and <a href="http://budurl.com/pny7" rel="nofollow">http://budurl.com/pny7</a>). I did get inspired today to write some other thoughts…I want to say again how profoundly sorry I am for the friends and family of the people who died and those still injured.This event has given all of us a great opportunity to reevaluate and question ourselves as students and leaders. We have an opportunity here to help leadership development through authentic leadership. This could be a truly effective leadership that comes out of a commitment to authenticity.We can look at this from so many directions…(for more on this visit <a href="http://budurl.com/yf56" rel="nofollow">http://budurl.com/yf56</a>)Warmly,Dr. Jennifer Howard Thank you Nancy for provoking more thoughts and questions around the subject of the James Ray incident as well as give us the Native American perspective. I feel very strongly about this and have written more on my blog titled, Leadership and Guru Addiction. (see http://budurl.com/4rrv and http://budurl.com/pny7). I did get inspired today to write some other thoughts…I want to say again how profoundly sorry I am for the friends and family of the people who died and those still injured.This event has given all of us a great opportunity to reevaluate and question ourselves as students and leaders. We have an opportunity here to help leadership development through authentic leadership. This could be a truly effective leadership that comes out of a commitment to authenticity.We can look at this from so many directions…(for more on this visit http://budurl.com/yf56)Warmly,Dr. Jennifer Howard

]]> By: DrJennifer http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-7553 DrJennifer Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:45 +0000 http://vivavisibilityblog.com/?p=1407#comment-7553 Thank you Nancy for provoking more thoughts and questions around the subject of the James Ray incident as well as give us the Native American perspective. I feel very strongly about this and have written more on my blog titled, Leadership and Guru Addiction. (see <a href="http://budurl.com/4rrv" rel="nofollow">http://budurl.com/4rrv</a> and <a href="http://budurl.com/pny7" rel="nofollow">http://budurl.com/pny7</a>). I did get inspired today to write some other thoughts…I want to say again how profoundly sorry I am for the friends and family of the people who died and those still injured.This event has given all of us a great opportunity to reevaluate and question ourselves as students and leaders. We have an opportunity here to help leadership development through authentic leadership. This could be a truly effective leadership that comes out of a commitment to authenticity.We can look at this from so many directions…(for more on this visit <a href="http://budurl.com/yf56" rel="nofollow">http://budurl.com/yf56</a>)Warmly,Dr. Jennifer Howard Thank you Nancy for provoking more thoughts and questions around the subject of the James Ray incident as well as give us the Native American perspective. I feel very strongly about this and have written more on my blog titled, Leadership and Guru Addiction. (see http://budurl.com/4rrv and http://budurl.com/pny7). I did get inspired today to write some other thoughts…I want to say again how profoundly sorry I am for the friends and family of the people who died and those still injured.This event has given all of us a great opportunity to reevaluate and question ourselves as students and leaders. We have an opportunity here to help leadership development through authentic leadership. This could be a truly effective leadership that comes out of a commitment to authenticity.We can look at this from so many directions…(for more on this visit http://budurl.com/yf56)Warmly,Dr. Jennifer Howard

]]> By: Shelagh at Spiritus http://vivavisibilityblog.com/james-ray/comment-page-1/#comment-7549 Shelagh at Spiritus Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:23:11 +0000 http://vivavisibilityblog.com/?p=1407#comment-7549 Nancy, I think that "getting out of the way" is a great way of putting it.Spiritual Marketing is letting our purpose shine through.And it is applicable to every trade or profession. Nancy, I think that "getting out of the way" is a great way of putting it.Spiritual Marketing is letting our purpose shine through.And it is applicable to every trade or profession.

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