Kirby Brown and James Shore Are Dead Because of New Age Moonbattery
Noted Flim-Flam artist and New Age motivational speaker, James Ray, who is a pal of Oprah, was paid a total of a half million bucks by 60 people so he could starve them for three days and then attempt to kill them in a stupid home made “Indian Sweat Lodge” in the hot afternoon in Sedona, Arizona.
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The goal of this behavior? James Ray was promising that his suckers customers would “grow new neural pathways” to become enlightened in “harmonic wealth.”
Two people succumbed to their own stupidity inside the sweat lodge and croaked- Kirby Brown of Westtown, New York, and James Shore of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When I heard of James Shore, I was worried that it was the awesome artist who makes all of those painted Jim Shore creations. But no, it was the other Jim Shore, the dumbass marketing exec of Sunant, Interactive.
And amazingly, the press won’t question whether this new-age hokum is safe. In fact, they think it is an accident and go out of their way to point out that the dead moonbats were in good health and should be able to survive in a 140 degree dome without water for two hours crowded in with 60 other people after a three-day fast.
From the AP here:
A 38-year-old New York woman who died after sitting in a sauna-like sweat lodge at a scenic Arizona resort was an avid surfer and hiker who was “in top shape,” took self-improvement seriously and had a passion for art, a family spokesman said.
Kirby Brown of Westtown, N.Y., was one of two people who died Thursday evening after being overcome in the crudely built hut during a spiritual cleansing ceremony. Authorities on Saturday identified the other victim as 40-year-old James Shore of Milwaukee, who served as director of business development at an Internet marketing company in his hometown.
Nineteen other people were taken to hospitals, suffering from burns, dehydration, respiratory arrest, kidney failure or elevated body temperature. Most were soon released, but one remained in critical condition Saturday.
Brown had no pre-existing health conditions that would have kept her from participating in an otherwise safe activity, said cousin and family spokesman Tom McFeeley. That two people died and 19 others became ill at the Angel Valley Retreat Center indicates that “something went horribly wrong.”
Autopsies on Brown and Shore were conducted Friday, but the results weren’t disclosed pending additional tests. Authorities have ruled out carbon monoxide poising as the cause.
Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh is focusing on self-help expert and author James Arthur Ray and his staff as they try to determine if criminal negligence played a role. Waugh said Ray refused to speak with authorities and has since left the state.
The Angel Valley Retreat Center (where the deaths occured) was rented by Ray for a five-day “Spiritual Warrior” retreat that promised to “absolutely change your life.” The people at Ray’s retreat, whose ages ranged from 30 to the 60s, paid between $9,000 and $10,000 to attend.
Ray and his staff constructed the temporary sweat lodge with a wood frame and covered it with layers of tarps and blankets, Waugh said. The sweat lodge — a structure commonly used by American Indian tribes to cleanse the body and prepare for hunts, ceremonies and other events — was 53 inches high at the center and about 30 inches high around the outer edges.
Between 55 and 65 people were crowded into the 415-square-foot space during a two-hour period that included various spiritual exercises led by Ray. Every 15 minutes, a flap was raised to allow more volcanic rocks the size of cantaloupes to be brought inside.
The participants had fasted for 36 hours as part of a personal and spiritual quest in the wilderness, then ate a breakfast buffet Thursday morning. After various seminars, they entered the sweat lodge lightly dressed at 3 p.m.
Two hours later, a woman dialed 911 to say that two people, whom Waugh identified as Brown and Shore, did not have a pulse and weren’t breathing.
Kirby Brown, who grew up in Brooklyn and Westtown and spent time in Mexico, saw the outing as a chance to continue on a positive path in life.
And from the New York Times here:
The cost of the retreat was listed on Mr. Ray’s Web site as $9,695 per person. In it, he says its participants will “experience a new technologically-enhanced form of meditation that creates new neurological pathways.”
New-age religion claims two more stupid victims. James Ray should go to jail both for murdering these two people and for being a scam artist, as the only “harmonic wealth” that was being created in that sweat lodge was his own. And hey- James Ray the motivational speaker has already killed more people than James Earl Ray. How about that? For another story of a dead stupid woman/man on a quest for spiritual enlightenment and going about it the wrong way, click here.
This tragedy proves the point that non-Indians who do not know what they are doing, have no business trying to “imitate” Native ceremonies for their own profit and pleasure. Non-natives: stick to your own cultural inheritance!
I’m sorry but…you mean I can’t enter a sauna unless I’m Norwegian? I can’t enter a sweat lodge unless I’m Native American?
This has nothing to do with sticking to ones own “cultural heritage” as you put it. This is a case of stupidity…Chlorine for the Gene Pool if you will.
I’m Blackfoot and Irish. Does that mean that I can or can’t wear green on St.Patricks day? Does it mean I can only enter a sweat lodge halfway?
How about eating? I can’t have burritos or Chinese food? When the Native Alaskans here hold a “blanket toss”…I can’t participate?
yeah…you non-native Americans…stick to your own culture. No tobacco for you!
Jus’ sayin’…
you are welcome to your opinion, but please try and remember that these people have family and friends that are hurting right now. I knew James many years ago. He was niether “stupid” nor a “dumbass”. In fact he was a kind human being that was passionate about life. He loved his family and was a wonderful assistant instructor at my school. Try and remember that these are real people that you are passing judgement on. Truly in poor taste, truly classless.
as a close friend of James, i’m appalled at what has happened and furthermore of such language by this post imposed on a wonderful human being you did not know. he has left impressions on many people and we are deeply hurt by the negligence of this incident, losing a much loved friend. words cannot justly convey how much he is missed. his beliefs and personal ideas were indeed his and while his friends and family either shared in those beliefs, we respected the fact they were his and loved him for it. only a miserable person would post something as atrocious as this. you have no business passing judgement on a beautiful person you didn’t know and his beliefs.
Cass,
So, as a “friend,” you allowed this man to carry on in foolish new age beliefs that endangered and ultimately, ended his life? Some friend! Why didn’t you speak up when he talked about the cult-like behavior and the thousands of dollars he was wasting on it?
If he was going to Hawaii to make “lava-angels” at a volcano, that would be just fine with you, because as you said, “his beliefs were his own?”
Cass wrote: “and we are deeply hurt by the negligence of this incident, losing a much loved friend. ”
Uh…your much loved friend, James…is not dead. You didn’t lose a close personal friend, ‘cuz he didn’t die. In fact, the man you miss so much, didn’t even go to the hospital, and this wonderful, beautiful person refused to answer questions posed to him by cops investigating this tragedy.
new age shamans
$ and spirituality do not go together
if some one is charging they are not for real
contributions yes are important!!!
the problem is the plastic tarps, clear as day
Gregory – you should actually read the stories that you are commenting on. Maybe you missed it, but there are actually 2 people named James in this story. The one that Cass commented on did indeed pass away.
Pat – Really someone posts a comment as a personal friend of a man that just died asking for a little human decency on your part and your answer is to attack them?! You really are a sad and miserable individual. I can understand why you have such a negative attitude toward anyone that thinks differently than you. I would imagine that the only self awareness that you have ever experienced is masturbating in your bedroom at your parents house. I wonder what would be written about you under the same circumstances. Self important, narrow minded, pointless internet blogger died today, How or why?
Who cares, the world is better off with one less ignorant, intolorent, jerk. Really, think about it and ask yourself how many people will come to your defense in honor of your memory when you are gone. My guess is none.
Mich. You must be new to the internets.
The same fate would never happen to me because I am not a fool who believes in new age hokum, nor would I stuff myself into an unsafe space to be baked alive by a kook for 10,000 dollars.
Keep your fantasies of my sex life and demise to yourself, thank you.
And its funny. I don’t tolerate New Age gurus who kill the people they are trying to swindle, and somehow, I’m the jerk.
My comment was not about tolerence of New Age Gurus. Don’t twist my words. It was about you calling someone you did not know stupid and a dumb ass because he had beliefs that you do not agree with. Mostly though my comment was about your inability to show some common decency. You are my favorite kind of coward. Hiding behind your computer passing judgement on people you do not know and situations you have no understanding of. You are a hero to the voluntarily ignorant. How proud you must be.
People all up in arms over this stuff? Out here in sunny AZ, we tend to poke a lot of fun at Sedona because of all the stuff that goes on out there. Nobody was shocked at this stuff, either. It was only a matter of time before these guys cooked up something that got people killed. Fasting and then going into a sweat lodge like that? Gimme a break. I’m kinda shocked they haven’t slapped a murder charge on this guy yet. Apparently severe dehydration and the associated symptoms can be explained as ‘new neural pathways.’ New age religions are not a replacement for simple physiology and if people think they are, well I guess for $9500 you can come to Arizona and prove yourself wrong. I’ve got a metal shed out back I can rent out… But it’ll cost you!
I am appauled and disgusted at the ignorance represented on this post! Kirby is my cousin and I am mourning her accidental death. You people need to get a life and become productive members of society! Nothing else to do???
Sorry about your loss, but I fail to see any ignorance of the facts as you claim. I suppose that, instead of me writing about peoples’ foolish beliefs, which could get them killed, and thus be a warning to others, you would rather I be “productive?” Like… create a new line of authenic Indian sweat lodges? It could be coin operated. It would cost 100 dollars to get in and 9,400 bucks to get out.
Pat – If your words are meant to serve as a warning to people with foolish beliefs, then why are you not condemning skydivers, rock climbers,skiers or those that pay someone to paddle a giant rubber raft down a raging river. All of thse activities include an inherent risk of serious injury or death and most people will pay a significant amount of money to someone to teach them how to do it. Some people upon completion of these activities feel as though they have had a spiritual experience. Every year without fail many people die while involved in performing or learning these activities. I’m wondering where where your insulting and hateful public service message is for them.
Apples and oranges, Mich. There are huge distinctions here. You listed four activities- skydiving, rock climbing, skiing, and white water rafting. These are activities that require training and they do not provide a spiritual high- an adrenaline, one, yes.
Your buddy flew cross country (does he get the return trip refunded post-mortem I wonder?) to crawl into a stupid easy-bake oven. Not the same thing, Mich.
All of the activities you cited are strictly governed by local and state laws, and the instructors have licenses to be instructors and they also carry insurance.
Loopy cult leaders who bilk people out of thousands are not governed by law, don’t have a real license to practice anything, and they are not insured, as unfortunately, Shore’s family is finding out.
Clearly you do not know many people that involve themselves in these activities. Many of the people that I know participate in these sports both for the physical challange and the spiritual high that they get from it. Not everyone who claims to be a licensed instructor actually is and not everyone follows the rules and this is how tragic accidents happen. People put themselves in the hands of the so called experts expecting them to know what they are doing and to keep them safe. Tragically, many people from many different walks of life die or are injured while involoved in a variety of different activities while being supervised by so called experts every year. I don’t see you telling them or thier friends or families how stupid they were for engaging in those activities. You keep refering to this as a cult. It wasn’t. There are thousands of retreats like these every year. Some last a few days some last for a few weeks. Cults are quite different. If you do not know the distinction then I would suggest looking it up and educating yourself instead of just making shit up. Many of the afore mentioned retreats include sweat lodges. I would venture to guess that many of the people involoved in this retreat had been to a sweat lodge before as it is also a somewhat common practice. This is the first time I have heard of anything like this happening. Was this one handled properly? Probobly not and the organizers and supervisors of this event will have to answer for that.
The bottom line is that you are a hateful, ditasteful individual. I’m sure that when you wrote this nasty piece of trash you patted yourself on the back for being the clever literary giant that you so clearly think that you are, had a few laughs at the expense of some random dead people and then went on about your miserable mean spirited life.Unfortunatly for you, some of the friends and family of those random dead people saw your insensitive hateful remarks. Sorry to ruin your fun. Anyone with any deceny at all would have apologized for for thier nasty remarks and removed this piece of crap by now. It really just shows how very, very small you are.
If you don’t see how I lampoon other stupid people who died in foolish accidents, maybe you should try searching my site, Mich. I have people being eaten by their pets, people dying in other “spiritual” rituals, and lots more.
There is no spiritual high from exercise, Mich. And while people may use sweat lodges, I’m sure that they are governed by local laws and include things like oh, I dunno, a thermometer, water and an exit so you can get out. Don’t try to say everyone does what Kirby and James did. They don’t. They should have known better than to climb into that death trap, and you are not helping anyone by excusing their foolish behavior.
And you still don’t know whether or not the sweat lodge in Arizona was “properly handled?” This speaks quite loudly to your own ignorance and stupidity and beliefs in new age religious hokum.
To “lampoon” someone is not the same as being cruel and hurtful with your words. Once again if you do not understand the distinction then maybe you should educate yourself. I have absolutly no interest in searching your site or reading anymore of the heartless trash that you write. There is no spiritual high from excersice……according to you, and as we all know by all of your self important blabber, you are the leading expert on what is and what is not. Apparently no one is allowed to feel differently than you do. You have absolutly no clue what my beliefs are. They are none of your business and not the point of these comments. Unlike you, I prefer to wait until I have heard all of the details of a situation before offering my opinion. I actually like to know what I am saying before I open my mouth. You should try it sometime. As I write thse comments, I realize that I am wasting my time trying to appeal to the compassioante side of someone that does not possess commpassion only judgement and hatred. So I will not waste my time here anymore. I prefer to spend my time and energy with those invested in living life not someone who spends thier time hiding behind a computer maligning others.
Mich,
Seems I was right on James Ray being a cult leader. RickRoss forums have quite a lot of documented info on him, including how a woman committed suicide during one of this joker’s extended brainwashing sessions.
http://forum.rickross.com/read.php?12,77450,77608#msg-77608
But please, go right ahead and ignore what I’ve said here because it is “judgemental” which is a dirty word to liberals and New Agers like yourself. I’m not projecting a positive feeling about James Ray and his cultist activities, and that hurts you, apparently worse than the loss of a friend.
James Ray needs to go to prison for his neglect and carelessness.
He left the scene of the crime. He had no idea what was doing and cared little about his victims by fleeing the state. He needs to be made a example of. His gross money making ways in the name of self help has killed two. He had no permit for this sweat lodge and he didn’t hire an expert to carry out the task. More money in James Ray’s Pocket. HE FLEED THE SCENE…Talk about Hit and run !
ARREST JAMES RAY NOW ! HE SHOULD DO TIME IN PRISON !
pat, you need to stop this and quit acting like your somebody special.
Your attitude and comments are not acceptable.
watch your-self.
these family’s don’t need this!!!
Stop it NOW!!!
James Ray is a *sshole. I’ve seen him, he’s all about the $$. He is not a true great self-help person like Wayne Dyer or Louise Haye. It’s unbelievable he didn’t stay and speak to the police.
THE SECRET: is…. If you’re rich and famous you could get away with Murder or Manslaughter. Someone arrest him now !!
He had No Permit ! , He left the scene ! someone write Nancy Grace ! James Ray is responsible for those peoples deaths ! He could have hired qualified native americans or such, that knew what they doing. But NO ! RAY saved a little dough and made his own deathtrap sweat lodge. He has no clue how to do such a ceremony. He is responsible for those people deaths ! shut him down now !
The comment from mc above sounds like a threat to me. I would not take it lightly. You have the addy and such for this person. I would consider turning that email over to the authorities for investigation.
Funny how it’s always the left that “warns” people about their speech and the consequences thereof.
And you mc…your threats and intimidation is not acceptable. Please crawl back in to your cave and leave reasoning people alone.
Keep it up and the law will be watching you…you won’t have to “watch your-self”.
Twit….
AlaskaInfidel,
Thanks, I do take threats very seriously. That is why mitchellholmes62@yahoo.com, from IP 69.115.140.95, in Westtown, New York is getting his/her information published here.
Of course it is understandable that people are in pain, and also understandable that people don’t like to hear the truth that a friend died doing something incredibly stupid. But it is no reason to cast threats.
Hmmm. I just received an email from Tom McFeeley, the spokesperson for the Brown family, and Kirby’s cousin. Oddly, the IP address of the sender was the exact same as the Mitchellholmes62 address referenced above. So I was either threatened by Tom McFeeley or by someone else using his computer.
Here are the email header information, including the message ID, which is as good as a fingerprint.