I believe that being green involves many different aspects. You have to love and respect the environment, animals, and other people, but to me, part of being green also involves taking care of yourself – both physically by eating better foods and trying to cut out bad habits like smoking and stressing. But, I believe you should also take care of yourself spiritually.
A lot of people look to Native Americans for healing ceremonies. One that has become popular is a sweat lodge. The sweat lodge is like a really intense sauna. While in the darkened sweat lodge, participants often participate in prayers and drumming and those that have participated in them often speak of an amazing spiritual experience that comes from this.
However, in October 2009, a sweat lodge retreat gone bad in Arizona resulted in three people dying and 21 more becoming ill. New Age guru James Arthur Ray sponsored the retreat and on February 3, he was arrested in connection with the deaths.
Of course, there are some risks with traditional sweat lodges. Due to the intense heat, some people may suffer from dehydration, smoke inhalation, or too much exposure to heat. But, there have been many successful sweat lodges for years. So what went wrong with this sweat lodge retreat?
Some people that were at the Arizona retreat (who paid up to $10,000 to attend) said that the sweat lodge was overcrowded. Others complained that they went without water for days before entering the tent. It is said that even though people began fainting and vomiting within the first hour of entering the tent, they were encouraged to stay inside.
In addition to the criminal charges, Ray, the state of Arizona, and the owners of the Angel Valley Retreat Center (where the sweat lodge is located) are being sued by the Lakota Nation. They are suing under the basis of the Sioux Treaty in 1868, saying that Ray, the state, and the center “violated peace between the United States and the Lakota Nation” by “desecration of our Sacred Oinikiga” ceremony.
Is this to say that all sweat lodge ceremonies are bad? Certainly not. But, if you are interested in attending a sweat lodge, check with your doctor first to make sure you won’t have any adverse reactions to the heat. Also, don’t be afraid to do some research on the organization holding the ceremony.
(This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.)