Comments on: Important Information for Sedona Spiritual Retreat

By: Juana

Juana — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:17:50 +0000

What about lodging? Is that included? I did not see mention of it. Thank you

By: Sheri Rosenthal

Sheri Rosenthal — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:59:52 +0000

Dear Jamie,
This is a long standing question – do we pay for spiritual teachings? In many countries a spiritual teacher is supported by donations from students like in India at an Ashram – but this is not how it works in the west. We have homes and families and we have to live, pay bills, raise children, etc. – our social structure is different here than in the east. Our Rabbis, Priests, and Ministers receive a salary from their Church or Temple. If we do not get paid for what we have to offer – how do we make our living? I suppose I could get secular job – but then I would not be able to run spiritual journeys and teach in this way. Then I am not sharing my passion and purpose in life and that goes against my heart and spiritual path.
Our Sedona trip includes a sweat lodge that we pay a Native American to run for us. I am not getting paid for that aspect of the trip – he is and I feel his time, effort and beautiful teachings are well worth the “donation” that we made. The money he made that evening pays his bills and allows him to further share himself. From my point of view – everything in life involves an exchange of energy and I feel that is fair. I am sorry you do not necessarily feel the same way I do – but I hear you and do acknowledge your point of view. Thank you for posting.
Blessings, Sheri

By: Jamie Hume

Jamie Hume — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:03:58 +0000

Even one cigarette or an offering of a package of tobacco should be more than enough to enter a Sweat lodge. I find it very interesting that this pay for spirituality in this manner has taken such a hold on the world. Your package seems so appealing yet, to compare it with the experiences I have earned and entered that did not require a fee of this kind only the courage, faith and what I could give… time, work, effort, a gift.. this strips away important teachings and meanings. The main discerning factor is if the person can pay you. What you do is not the same as how I learned. I do not understand how you justify using a Sweat lodge this way. Could you please explain? I am trying to understand how this works for you. It sure does not work for me. A lot of people feel very, very upset by this kind of use of Sweat from the First Nations tradition.
Peace and awareness.