For questions or comments e-mail me at: jim@wayofthepipe.com

If you find this blog helpful, pass the link on to your friends who might be interested. Wado!

 

I am not sure if this link will work, but this is just in time for the holidays.

 

 

 

The responsibility of dreaming.

By Jim Tree

 Many of you may have noticed you are dreaming a lot more recently. I want to explain a few things about dreaming that I have learned over the years as well as explain why so many of us are having more and stranger dreams than usual.

 First, I want to point out that in all the major prophecies about these times we are already well into, there is a universal prediction of an increase in both dreaming and visions. So, what are dreams?

 I know there are many learned studies on dreaming and what I have to say about it will not match up with the conclusions of the experts, but what I share here is based on my personal experiences with dreams and visions. I want to point out that the only credentials I have to be teaching about this is that the dreams and visions I have had have almost always come into practical reality in some form or another. Simply put, if my experience with dreams has a practical application to this physical life we all share, than perhaps the fruit of the tree gives credence to the teaching of the tree. (Love the metaphor!)

 As an example I had a dream of being in a powerful earthquake the morning that the first recent quake hit the Samoa area. That evening, after hearing all the news about the many other quakes, tsunamis and typhoons wreaking havoc around the globe, I was asking my council (Spirits that take care of me and guide me) why did I have the dream if I couldn’t do anything about the problems. They responded that I could do something about it and that the dream was to convince me that I had a direct connection to the events so far away. What was I to do? I asked, they said call for cooperate prayer from everyone I could reach with the request.

 I did send out the request and our few hundred prayers joined with the thousands already asking for assistance from the Great Mystery and answers began to appear in the headlines.

 I also received the message that these catastrophes would continue one right after another in order to get the attention of the world so we all would pay attention to the message.

 What message? The one we have been hearing for many years now, that we are doing er-repairable damage to our planet and to our relatives, of all kinds, that depend on mother earth to live and be well.

 The thing is that due to my dream I am convinced that it is important for me to share what I am being told. Because of the dream I feel a connection to those people and areas being hit so hard and repeatedly.

 But now back to dreams, what are they? I have found that dreams can be divided into 3 categories. The first I call recreational dreams. This is where your mind is just being reactive while on auto pilot while sleeping. These dreams are influenced by what we have experienced that day, watched on TV, what kind of pizza we had for dinner, etc. They can be kind of crazy, sometimes scary or just fun. It is your mind playing with the experiences of your life. I do not pay much attention to these kinds of dreams.

 The second type of dream is what I call solution solving dream. These are those dreams where we work out things that are bothering us, many times they are constantly repeated scenarios with a slightly different twist, but the theme is always the same.

 I used to have a recurring dream that my family was being attacked by a man and when I tried to defend them my kicks and punches (I studied Tye Kwon Do) were impotent. They lacked any real power; it was as if my arm would go limp when I hit the attacker.  This really bothered me and I finally realized that I had doubts of my own ability to defend my family based on guilt because I had not fought in the Viet Nam war. I was supposed to be drafted right near the wars end and some things got lost, so to speak and I never went into the service. I felt guilty for many of my friends had fought, some never to return.

 How did I resolve the problem revealed by my recurring dream? Not intentionally, but by coincidence, I started playing Paint ball wars when they first started to become popular. There were two Nam vets on my team who I really respected. Though I was never trained in combat, my lifetime of living in the woods, hunting and just plain having fun sneaking up on animals gave me the abilities to become one of the best players. I would sneak up on the top contenders and shoot them at point blank range with their never knowing I was there.

 As I became proud of my skills in the fake combat, my dreams changed. When I dreamed of someone attacking my family, I would literally beat the bejesus out of them. So, if you have recurring dreams pay attention to them, sit and ask yourself why they are there. You may be able to conquer a lifelong struggle with something that is at your very core.

 The 3^rd kind of dream is what I call a Devine message dream. These are the ones that give us instructions, warnings, information that is intended to lead us into being effective tools of the Devine.

 The dream about the earthquake was one of these. I have had dreams about people I was about to meet on several occasions. These were given to me to make sure I paid attention when these people came into my life and did not let them pass by without finding what the Mystery wanted of our connection. Every time the connection has been strong and beneficial to people and creation. Once it was to team up with another healer and provide almost miraculous healing and comfort to cancer patience, once it was to do several ceremonies where pollution and oil spills threatened to destroy our waters and land. Recently I dreamed of a woman that has proved instrumental in making my teachings available in audio form so the messages can reach further than my limited physical presents could do. I trust that our connection has brought equal blessing into her and her family’s life as well.

 So, what do I mean by "Responsible Dreaming"? When we dream we create, when we are given a dream we are given a responsibility to us it to benefit others. I have found that lately I am able to sort of direct my dreaming, it first comes to me as a dream from spirit, I then become aware tha6t I am dreaming and shift the direction or outcome of the dream. Even asleep I am able to consciously create a good outcome. I don't know how but I believe there are many of you that are experiencing this same thing. Now that you are aware of it, you will be able to be a co-creator with the Mystery.

 When you dream of a disaster or trouble, pray for the outcome to be good rather than destructive. The troubles with our weather and planet will continue and even get worse and more often, this is because a loving creator is speaking to our race and warning us to change. To those who listen and take action even being in an earthquake will become a blessing in its final outcome. I am not minimizing the pain or grief experienced by those who loose loved ones, but I have found that this Mystery is able to take the most negative event and bring amazing good from it. Many ask why does "God" cause these disasters, perhaps things happen or are caused but the action of the Mystery is to create good out of catastrophe.

 So, try to remember your dreams as if it is your spiritual responsibility. See if you can wake up during a dream and then go back to sleep creating a beautiful outcome for the rest of the dream. Share your dreams with others, it may be a very important message for them, you never know.

 Blue sky,

 Jim

 

 

 

Results from the 4 year anniversary Pipe ceremony at Stonemen Lake, Az.

  On Saturday the 16^th of November, about 35 people gathered at Stoneman Lake in Northern Arizona to hold a Sacred Pipe ceremony in honor of a ceremony held there four years ago on 11/11/05. As you may remember, the message that was received during the 2005 ceremony foretold of a global financial crisis three years in the future. True enough, last November the world fell into exactly that crisis. Also predicted were major disruption in technology, all which have come to pass. The importance of that ceremony was confirmed by amazing signs in the weather as well as in the reactions on several of the women attending. (Below this post is a copy of the description from the ceremony in 05.) The information given to us at that time needed to be put into action in order for people to be prepared for upcoming changes in our world and society. It is a loving Creator that informs it’s children of changes at hand so they may go through those changes in a good way.

 The instructions were to not depend on technology as it will fail to support us in more and more increasing ways. Instead, we should put our trust in the natural order of life. We were told to “Know your water, know your land, know your relationships and to walk humbly and in harmony with all of creation.” Many of us set out to find good land and water, but this was not the order in which we should have preceded. We have been told over this past year that the proper order was to know (find and build) our relationships and that the other three things would come about naturally from those relationships. Many of us are now in the process of building our personal circle of relationships. I strongly encourage you to do so as well. You have about a year to have this in place.

 I just finished recording a CD called “Lessons from the Sacred Circle” that explains how to go about doing this. How to find your place in the great circle of nature/life. If you are interested,   e-mail me to obtain a copy.

  At the ceremony this last Saturday, we received further instruction and predictions, along with very similar confirmations of the validity of the ceremony from nature.

 Just as with the 05 ceremony, we had wild weather that dramatically displayed the importance of the message received.

 There were five Pipes at the ceremony, the United Nations Turtle Pipe held by Reggie Boyd of the Keepers, the Black Thunder Pipe cared for by me, (both of which were used at the ceremony in 05) a addictions healing Pipe cared for by a brother named George, the Grandmother Moon Pipe cared for by Michelle Nilson and a very old platform Pipe cared for by Mary Brown of the Keepers from Texas. Many commented on the power of the Pipe Mary used after the ceremony.

 As we started the ceremony heavy clouds formed overhead, much like the 05 ceremony. Soon the temperature dropped rapidly and as the Pipes were going around the circle, small hail came down and covered everything in sight. Less than 10 minuets after we finished the ceremony the heavy cloud cover blew off and we were in warm sunshine again. It was weird to have very cold feet and be standing in the sun with the temp back up to the 60's when moments before it was freezing.

 So, once again nature confirmed the importance of the message given. The message was the same about building our circles, and that land and water, good life, would come from those relationships. We were told that in the next year many dramatic changes will take place on the earth. We were told to look at the lake, which is no longer there. Four years ago the lake was still there, but today there is a round field of lush grasses and rushes. Many new kinds of wildlife moved into the area that were not there before. The old group of wildlife had left. The few houses that had been built around the lake now overlooked prairie land. We were being shown that this was an example of what is going to happen over this next year. We were told to be very adaptable so we too could adjust and change like the wildlife. The weather, the type of plants and wildlife will all be shifting, adapting to the new earth. If you lived in one of the houses on the lake, I would imagine that you would be disappointed that it was no longer there. If you sit there in your boat waiting for the lake to come back, you may be in for a long wait. If, however, you adapted to the change, sold your boat and got some gardening equipment, you would be in great shape. The soil in the old lake bed is dark and rich.

 So, if you see changes where you live, and you will, think of how you can adjust your life to fit the new circumstances.

 While I was in Arizona two months ago, I had an amazing interaction with a young fox that I now realize was showing me this same message. I was in the forest at the base of Mt. Humphries near Flagstaff and saw a young fox hunting. I followed him at a distance and saw him climb, limb by limb, thirty feet up into a tall ponderosa pine tree. He then settled down to sleep the day away in an old crows nest. This fox had adapted to a different way of living, a better and more secure way than sleeping in a den. This is an example for you and me. As we adapt to new conditions, we can actually live a better life than we do today.

 So my friends, prepare for some dramatic changes in the earth and weather, change that will happen rather fast. In a year from now it will be interesting to see how we know our land and water, and how we have learned to walk humbly and in harmony with all of creation, starting with those in our own supportive sacred circle of “Oginali.” (Chosen family)

 It will also be interesting in what life is like for those of us who decide to ignore the message.

Recap of the Dual Pipe ceremony held in AZ. on Nov.11, 2005

Here is the background on the how, when and why of the ceremony took place.

The things that happened were dramatic, but with a purpose. First I tell you some of the things that happened during the ceremony, and then I will share with you the message that was received from the Pipes. Remember, the physical events were there to confirm the work the Pipes were doing, if the events had not been so dramatic, I do
not think I would be sharing the message with you all so boldly.

In many native traditions a ceremony like this is not held unless the vision/dream for it has been seen by three or four different people. This is not only for confirmation that the ceremony has been called for by the Great Mystery, but also holds egos in check as no
one person can claim it is "their" vision. We are all interdependent, all part of the great circle.

As many of you may know, there was a dual Pipe ceremony conducted at Stoneman Lake, Arizona the morning of 11/11/05. The ceremony was held after four separate individuals had dreams or visions calling them to go to the Camp Verdi area of Arizona on the 11th of Nov.
These people did not know each other prior to meeting in AZ. And came from different parts of the United States. These people were connected when a fifth party heard of the callings and introduce them to each other over the phone. As they communicated about the ceremony it became obvious that it was going to be concerning the rapidly changing weather, etc. on our earth.
It was also realized that this ceremony was a kind of graduation of human kind, to put into place a higher level of human co-existence with all of creation. I like to think of it as humankind rising to a higher octave of being.

The ceremony that was held was called a "Seven Direction Ceremony" and it is usually held to commemorate when someone is released by Elders to walk in "Medicine", i.e. some type of spiritual service for the people.
It is similar to someone receiving their diploma to practice medicine or be a counselor, etc. I believe that the ceremony marked a place in time where we as the human race have experienced a shift, as well as a gifting with the ability, to better fulfill our place
in the great circle of life, individually and corporately. This ability has been provided, it is up to you to access it and put it into practice.
The reason the ceremony had to be held on 11/11 has much to do with this, but I know little of numerology and the like. If any of you have knowledge of the meaning I hope you will share it with us.

The ceremony is held using two Pipes, one male and one female. Most of the time, but not always, the Pipes are held by a man and a woman respectively, but the more important thing is that both energies are represented by the Pipes themselves. The idea is wholeness and balance.

Each of the seven directions that are honored when filling the Pipes relate to human development. The infant/child, the adolescent, the adult, the Elder, then the spirit of the Grandmothers {Medicine Woman}, the spirit of the Grandfathers {Medicine Men} and finally the spirit of the person the ceremony is for. In this case the person was the entire human race, represented by those attending the ceremony.
It is significant to understand these directional relationships as there is a connection to the events that occurred during the ceremony, especially the fifth direction, the direction of the Grandmothers.

The day before the ceremony was to be held we went to a site chosen by one of the people who received the original vision. I had seen the place for the ceremony in my mind when I was praying about going to Arizona and what I had seen was a geological circle, a kind of bowl in the ground with lots of black rocks and water. The place
that had been found was a crater with a small lake in it, exactly as I had seen it while I was still in Montana. When we return from inspecting the site it was dark. As we got out
of the truck I looked up and saw a single small cloud in the moonlight. I thought about all the dry oak leaves I had seen at the place we were to hold the ceremony and sent up a prayer to the cloud. I asked that it bring rain to the crater so it would be safe
as far as fire goes. As in all good prayer there was a two way communication. The spirit
of the cloud spoke to me and said that it would bring rain, and that the rain would stop when all the people arrived at the ceremony and would resume heavily as soon as the ceremony was complete.

I was told to tell everyone these things so they would understand the reality of the results of the ceremony the next day, as well as reinforce the reality of the message we would receive from the Pipes. It is interesting to note that there were other participants
in the ceremony in many places around the world.
In every case I have heard about, the ceremony was accompanied by dramatic weather. Proof again that the Thunders were very active and this was not an isolated event. More reason to pay attention to the message.

The next morning the sky was clear and it was sunny. I started to prepare the Pipes for the ceremony around 8:30 and heard a rumble in the west. I went outside and saw a black storm bank rapidly coming our way. It rained steadily as everyone one gathered at the house to prepare for the ceremony. I told those there what the Cloud had said
about the rain but I don't think many paid much attention. Three of us left early to meet at the crater to set things up. It was raining steadily there and I reminded the others of what the Cloud had said. Sure enough it stopped raining as the caravan of participants arrived.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, I again reminded everyone to get into their cars because it was going to rain hard. I was the last one to get in and just as I did it started pouring. It rained hard for several hours, but as we pulled away from the area we left the
storm behind to spend the rest of the day in typical Arizona sunshine.

During the ceremony, as we were filling the Pipes during the 5^th direction, the direction of the Grandmothers, I called on Grandmother Lilly, who had passed over seven years earlier, to come and assist us. Just as I did there was a gentle breeze that came in
from the south and passed the Pipe stand, causing the spirit chasers on the Pipe bag to start chiming. Grandma's spirit hit a young girl who promptly passed out and fainted onto the ground.
The woman who was conducting the ceremony with me was standing next to the Pipe rack loading the United Nations Turtle Pipe when the spirit of Lilly hit her. She was almost overcome when another woman stepped up behind her and physically supported her through out the rest of the ceremony.
Grandma Lilly also overcame a third woman and her husband stepped to her aid and supported her. This was something I had seen happen before at Sundance and a few
other powerful ceremonies but not at a Pipe ceremony. Everyone there felt powerful effects of the event. Many spoke up at the end and shared their experiences. A Cherokee Elder and one time member of the Kutewa society, said that in 20 years of taking part in ceremonies he had never seen the medicine happen so quickly. As you can see the Great Mystery wanted us to pay attention.

Now, for the message given by the Pipes. Before I share these things I want to say that I am not talking about the end of the world or whatever. I am talking about very real and practical advice given by the Divine concerning what is going to be going on our planet over the next few years. These things are not intended to be a gloom and doom forecast, but instead are good advice from a loving Creator. All these things have been spoken of for many years; the only new thing is that we are in the midst of it all now.

The weather on earth is going to continue to get more dramatic. There are going to be bigger earthquakes and volcanic activity will increase. As I said, none of this is new information, but we have heard it for so long we may be dulled to it. We need to pay close attention now. The foretold times are today, not tomorrow.

In an agrarian society everyone knew you had to plan life around weather, today, and most people could not tell if a storm is coming or not. We need to be in tune with the cycles of nature in order to live a good life. Gone are the days of thinking we are independent or above the cycles of nature. We are not going to be able to ignore the earth, nature, or weather anymore. The days are now past when we could feel the false security of technology buffering the effects of the natural world on our daily lives. For the ones who do ignore the cycles of nature, they will be like the folks in New Orleans.
 
I want to point out that while it is a good idea to be prepared for emergency situations in the physical realm, the main message is that we need to prepare for the changes coming onto our world in a spiritual way. By this I mean we need to be well practiced at what
the old ones called "medicine". Medicine is a combination of "supernatural" gifts or abilities and being in harmony with the cycles of both spirit and nature. The way to be "fluent" in medicine is to cultivate your relationships with the spiritual dimension as
well as your relationship with nature. Remember the stories about the elephants and the native islanders during the recent tsunami? They new it was coming even when high technology didn't. We need to start developing these relationships now so we can respond well in the future, when everything will depend on it. We need to get on the bandwagon; we only have a little time to become proficient. As an example, you may need to know how to literally walk through fire without being burned.

The Pipe said that many of us need to be relocating in the next 3 years. It said that we need to be well situated before this time because in 5 years from now, we will not be able to move about as freely as we do today. Do you know where your place on the earth is?
If not, ask her. We need to have our gardens in place, to have water we can get without electricity.
It was emphasized that we should wean ourselves from dependency on wireless communication, municipally supplied food and water, heat, etc. There is nothing wrong with using these tools right now but their dependability is going to become increasingly more unstable.

This means cell phone and the internet is going to become increasingly undependable. It is fine to use these tools, but to depend on them as time goes by is going to be very unwise. The failures will be short at first, like warnings, but there will be major failures later with a big failure of the internet in three years. The world economy will be greatly affected. It will also be affected by the cost of the damage the weather brings to heavily
populated places. With the shift in money will also be shifts in world power.

Many of us have felt the urging to be self sufficient. The message from the Pipes is that now is the time for action. Not only is it wise due to the upcoming changes, but it is also just good stewardship of our earth. It is a good way to live. If you depend on water being piped into your area from a long ways away, move! If you live in an area where the weather causes devastation that will get worse….move! If you live in a flood plain…
yep, you guessed it, move. Do not continue to be dependant of food, water, heat, etc. that is dependant on trucking, pumping, or being on the "grid". It would be good to learn how to purify water as well.

The message all boils down to this. We have been given a wake up call. The things that we have all been warned of are here, today. The way to live with these changes is simple. In the words of the Hopi, simplify your life style, humbly build supportive relationships, know your water and know your land. Treat the living earth and all its children with respect and you will be likewise treated. Learn to operate at a spiritual/supernatural/multi-dimensional way.

Hi All,

 Please join us this weekend in ceremony that will be held around the world.

 I have pasted a statement about the ceremony we are doing this weekend in northern AZ. Mary Brow, myself, Cat Bastit, (hopefully) Reggie and Denise will be there. The interesting thing is there are indigenous leaders all over the world that have called for ceremonies for many different reasons this weekend as well. Coincidence?? Not! So, I encourage anyone who feels called to join in and pray in your own way. The purpose of some of the ceremonies I have heard of are for the Healing of human Kind....from South American Elders, Intervention it the new war between Columbia and Venezuela, Peace talks in Mid-east....spiritual leaders there, honoring of veterans of all countries....by the Native Youth Alliance, and many more. The ceremony in AZ. is to seek information and direction for the next few years, so we can be best prepared to "led a generation who has lost hope"....Crazy Horse.

 Hope to feel your prayers, Jim

 

You are invited to attend the 4 year anniversary ceremony

 of the Stoneman Lake Dual Sacred Pipe Ceremony

 Also a special invitation at the end of this announcement to practitioners of hands on therapies.

 

Four years ago, on 11/11/05, a powerful ceremony was held at Stoneman Lake, located between Flagstaff and Camp Verde. At the ceremony the Black Thunder Bird Pipe and the United Nations Turtle Pipe were used to request assistance in ending the 7 year drought.

 Many of you may have been there and witnessed the amazing power of these Pipes coming together by the dramatic effects seen instantly in the weather as well as the powerful physical effects on many of the participants, especially the woman.

 The Pipes gave predictions of upcoming events including one that predicted that in three years there would be a global financial crisis. (Attached to this e-mail is a file with the account of that ceremony including the predictions. You can also find out more information about these Pipes at this web site: www.wayofthepipe.com )

  The Pipes have once again called for this special ceremony four years later in order to give updated information about where we are in relationship to currant world situations and how to best prepare for the next few years.

 

 

 

 

 

Are you wondering why you are having so many dreams recently? I will post some information here soon about "Responsable Dreaming", dreamtime prophicies and why you are getting them.

 

 

With the Swine Flu coming around again I thought I would re-post the mix given to us during the ceremony we did about it a few months ago. Remember, this works best before you come down with it, if you have been exposed try this right away.

 

 

 

 

 

Click on this link to listen to the radio interview I gave about the Sedona Sweat Dome tragidy.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/shawnabowen

 

Here is a link to a good artical about sweats. You will have to cut and paste this to your browser window, the link does not work very well.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/freshliving/2009/10/interview-sweat-lodges-after-the-angel-valley-tragedy.html

 

 What went wrong in the Sedona sweat “dome.”?

 

By Jim Tree      10/13/09

 

 

 Please note: The information presented here is based on first hand accounts that have not been verified by the authorities. The opinions expressed are my own based on this information and not considered fact by any law enforcement body, yet.

 

  The recent tragedy in Sedona, in my opinion, was totally preventable and may end up being deemed prosecutable. Unfortunately the reporters in main stream media do not know what questions to ask to find out what really happened. It is not their fault; they just are not educated in the native mind/culture. I have spent the last few days asking questions of someone who was there and found to my disbelief the circumstances that lead up to the tragedy.

 

 I have been attending sweat lodges regularly for over 20 years and have had the responsibility to run lodges for about half of those years. I was given this responsibility by Elders who made sure I learned all that was needed to run a safe and successful ceremony.

 By successful I do not mean how many stones were used, how hot it was or if the songs were all done properly, but rather did the helping spirits show up and bring assistance to those attending. The old adage “you know the tree by its fruit” applies here. The fruit of a well run lodge is peace, rebirth, answers to prayer, healing, and restoration. In all my experience I have never felt sick or vomited as so many of the participants of this disastrous imitation of a sweat did.

 

 There are many simple, plain and practical things to know about running a lodge, hundreds of small details that have become tradition through the refinement of time tested experience. Things like not how much water to give to the Grandfather rocks. How to adjust the temperature inside the lodge to be of maximum benefit to those attending, how long to heat the rocks, what kind of stones they should be, what is the cover of the lodge made of. (If you look at some of the photos in the news you will see plastic tarps were used, this should never be done.) So many little things that if deviated from can affect the outcome of the ceremony, sometimes drastically.

 These things, not to mention the spiritual aspect of the training, can take years to learn.

 In the traditional way one learned these things because from birth they were a part of your daily life and you helped with the work of preparing and conducting ceremony. It often takes a lifetime to come to the place on so many levels where the Elders will release you to walk in that kind of medicine, also known as service. Running a sweat is not a title or office, it is a responsibility.

 

 So, here is what led to these horrible deaths. Yes, I said horrible because those who endured the fiasco that has been mislabeled a sweat lodge went through days of tortured humiliating (my view of their experience) before the final “ceremony” they called a lodge.

 It appears to me that the leader of this retreat had no real training in these ceremonies at all. He violated some of the most basic, fundamental rules of safety concerning running this type of ceremony. First, anyone who is pregnant, has high blood pressure or a heart condition should never attend a lodge. This is just plain common sense. When the paramedics arrived on the seen they tried to find files or records about the participants of the retreat, only to discover that not even the most basic background information concerning health and other important conditions had been gathered by the owners of the resort or the man who ran the event. It seems that all he had requested was their name, address and birth date. (Plus payment of up to $9,000.00 a head (X 64 = $576,000.00)

 

 Now comes the really sad part. This man used techniques that are considered common among those recruiting members into a cult. Sleep deprivation, brainwashing, personal humiliation and demands for a show of commitment beyond what would be reasonable for this type of experience.

 The attendees were told that if they wanted to show there commitment they had to “Play full on”, they were told shave their heads. Most of the 64 men and women did just that. (Note: the leader did not shave his head; it is still unclear if he went without food and water as well) He then put them on a two day fast from food and water on a “group” vision quest in the desert. This was followed by a small breakfast and a couple of hours to “hydrate” before entering the sweat “dome”.

  Most anyone knows it takes many hours for the human body to actually hydrate after water has been consumed, and then the amount is slowly built back up. There was a nurse hired by him to be on staff, why didn’t she speak up? They should have been re-hydrating the day before the supposed sweat.

 Instead in between 54 to 64 people went into the lodge totally dehydrated and during the first round, of which there were 6 rounds, some began to throw up.

 

  It was reported that later some began to pass out. It seems that the dome was about 30 ft in diameter and the door was very small, letting in very little air when opened in between rounds. The ones in the back were the hardest hit by this lack of oxygen. Headaches and dizziness, vomiting, kidney failure, burns, respiratory arrest, and passing out was their unfortunate experience.

 

 The man running the ceremony did not pour water from a dipper as is customary onto the stones, instead he poured buckets of water, and this causes uncontrollable steam and heat.

 Think of the closing round of a Lakota sweat where just the rest of the water in the bucket is poured onto the grandfathers. If you have experienced this you will understand why it is at the end of the lodge and the door is opened right away.

 It has been reported that during the 5^th round people outside the “dome” heard cries for help and pleas to be let out from inside. When the man leading the ceremony was asked to let them come out he replied “No, let them stay.”

 

 One man left after the 5^th round and felt he had failed because he did not “Play full on”. It was pointed out to him that thank God, by taking care of himself he was able to help tear the back wall off of the dome and rescue those suffering inside.

 While professional rescuers and volunteers worked in the mud and sand trying to resuscitate the first woman who had died, others from inside the lodge did all they could to help their stricken comrades.

 While all this was happening the owner of the resort and the leader of the retreat just stood by watching, not even offering to help anyone. One woman lay on the ground having seizures, foaming at the mouth and speaking gibberish while they looked on. Maybe that was a bit to messy for them to get involved in.

 

 I wonder if the leader of this disaster will be required to use some of the $576,000.00 he collected from the participants, all for the privilege of being humiliated, abused and even led to their death by him, to make some kind of restitution to his victims.

 

 I am sure more information will be forthcoming, but the real tragedy is that this man has been doing this for the last 7 years. The fruit of his “ceremonies” are people being physically trashed for days after the “sweat” ceremony, vomiting and passing out during them and when Tribal Elders came to him and asked him to stop holding them, he refused. He just ignored their requests and went on with his renegade ego trip of destruction. The result was that 18 people had to be medically helped during one of the next of these “ceremonies.”

 

 Here is a quote for his twitter posting about what happened: “"My deep heartfelt condolences to family and friends of those who lost their lives, I am spending the weekend in prayer and meditation for all involved in this difficult time; and I ask you to join me in doing the same."

 

 Now with all that said, I should mention a whole different aspect of what happened. We understand that the ones we refer to as the Thunder beings defend the abuse all things sacred. Things like the Sacred Pipe, the ceremonies such as the Sweat lodge and the sacred dances, etc.  I could write about the wild events at the “Rose” Sundance in Idaho or the one held against the Elders wishes near Yankton a few years ago. How the winds smashed the camp flat on tree day or so many other warnings to not abuse the ceremonies. One thing I know from experience, the Thunders give many warnings before bringing such harsh a discipline. This man must have refused to listen to their voice over those years as he did those of the Elders who came to him. So his resistance and pride led to this tragedy on an even deeper level then just the physical.

 

 One word used for a person who runs ceremony in Annishanobie is “Oshkoshbaywiss” translated “Servant” or better, “Slave.” (A servant would have rushed to assist those he led into suffering, don’t you think?)

 

What message am I getting from this disaster personally? This all happened because people were duped into thinking they were taking part in a real sacred ceremony that would bring blessings into their life. They believed a lie, so the liar is first to blame, but what about the rest of us? Not blame, but what could we have done to prevent this. I feel peop