- Spiritual Warrior experience
- October 4-8 at Angel Valley Retreat Center, Sedona, AZ
- $9695 per person
Leader:
- James Arthur Ray, 51, of Carlsbad, CA
- personal success strategist
- author of Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want
- featured in the film, The Secret
Tragedy:
- Thursday, Oct. 8, of the 55-65 participants, three killed and 19 hospitalized following two hours in a makeshift “sweat domeâ€
- Homicide investigation underway by Yavapai County (AZ) Sheriff’s Office after determining the deaths were not accidental
Deaths:
- Liz Neuman, 49, Prior Lake, MN
- Kirby Brown, 38, Westtown, NY
- James Shore, 40, Milwaukee, WI
About Liz Neuman:
- 1978 graduate of Prior Lake High School
- Mother of three children
- One of James Ray’s earliest followers
- Led James Ray’s “Journey Expansion Team†for Minneapolis area to meet and exchange ideas on Ray’s principles
- Coordinated James Ray events in the Twin Cities
- Enjoyed cooking, gardening, hiking, star gazing, bonfires, reading, listening and studying personal development material
- Favorite quotation: “You must constantly study, understand and immerse yourself in that which brings you power, and avoid all that weakens you.†– James Arthur Ray
Prior to “sweat dome†experience:
- Participants do 36-hour “vision quest†fast without food or water
- Breakfast buffet morning of the tragedy
- Entered “sweat dome†at 3 p.m.
“Sweat dome†construction:
- 415 square feet
- 53 inches high in the center
- 30 inches high on the edge
- Wood frame
- Covered by plastic tarps and blankets
Typical sweat lodge construction:
- Willow branches tied together
- Covered with canvas or other natural materials
- Large enough for no more than 12 people
Reaction by James Ray:
- On his website blog: “I am shocked and saddened by the tragedy that occurred at Spiritual Warrior in Sedona, (AZ) Thursday evening. I wish to express my deepest heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives, as well as offer my prayers for a speedy recovery for those who were taken ill.â€
- Five days later at seminar in Marina del Rey CA: “This is the most difficult time I’ve ever faced. I don’t know how to deal with it, really.â€
- Hired his own investigation team
Prior sweat lodge tragedies:
- One person found unconscious during James Ray event in October 2005 at same Sedona location.
- At least seven deaths since 1993 in United States, England and Australia
Sources: Facebook, Huffington Post, New York Times, The Arizona Republic, CNN.com
