James Ray: Spiritual Teachers Come In Many Forms

by Michelle Barr on August 7, 2010

in Uncategorized

Just the other day, one of my friends and colleagues posted a question on Facebook asking about how people are feeling about James Ray these days.  I almost answered, and then I realized that I could end up writing a small book and thought better of it. I read what everyone was saying, and it got me thinking again about James Ray and the events that we have been following related to him since late last year. I have some things I wanted to share with those friends on Facebook who were talking about it, and I have some things I want to share now with you.

I have a more personal connection to this particular story than some of those who were discussing it might. I was with James Ray in September at a Harmonic Wealth Weekend. I had manifested a free ticket to the event and had then manifested the money to cover my airfare and my hotel. That itself was a great story that people kept asking me to share again and again. I was meant to be at THAT workshop with James Ray.

Other than attending his introduction to his Harmonic Wealth Weekend when he was here in Dallas last summer, I had never been to any of his events. Several of my business partners had been studying with him, and I shared my desire to experience it for myself, which resulted in the manifestation of this incredible weekend.

I didn’t know at the time what was going to unfold for James Ray after leading this weekend workshop, and I could not begin to guess what was about to happen to me in the process.

What I know is that our intentions are very powerful. We get to send them out into the Universe, to place our order, and then a very complex series of energetic exchanges begins to take place, and we don’t get to control the How of our intention taking form. It doesn’t always look like we expect it to. This can be pure magic, and it can challenge us to the core.

That weekend, I was there when James Ray stood on the stage and declared with a passion that was palpable that he intended to become a spiritual teacher of such an expansive nature that he would reach and impact the world and beyond.

And he did.

For, a few short weeks later, his Spiritual Warrior retreat ended in the deaths of three people who were participating in a Sweat Lodge ceremony. This set off a chain of events beyond anything that James Ray could have or probably would have wanted to orchestrate. Suddenly, all eyes around the world were upon him. People were spending hours on Facebook forums and in their community gatherings talking about what had happened and how they were feeling about it. I participated in these discussions for quite a while, and I saw every range of human emotion that is possible being expressed. You could not find a consensus, and I certainly did not find many who did not have a strong opinion. If you followed this event at all, you know that it brought many issues to the surface that are major hot buttons and Shadow aspects that we refuse to fully address in our own lives, in our communities, in this industry and in the world.

The important thing here is to realize that, ultimately, this is not about James Ray at all. Your opinion and your strong feelings about this event are valuable to you in that they are all about you. Whatever was evoked in you about what you perceive James Ray did or did not do is about you. We will never, never be able to come to a conclusion that is “truth” about the right or wrong of James Ray regarding his actions and regarding him as a person. It’s all opinion, and none of it is objective.

I was not prepared for the charge within me that got ignited after this began to unfold and the pull in me to talk about it. I had to take a look at why I was being so charged, why I felt compelled to stay up all hours of the night engaged in dialogue that pushed my buttons, why I felt that I needed to speak up about how I was feeling and what I thought about it. When I was willing to take an honest look, I found the gold nuggets, and I began to share them with others. Some responded very positively to doing the same for themselves, and others just continued to lash out at or defend James Ray, missing the golden opportunity that was staring them right in the face.

Spiritual teachers come in many forms. Some of your greatest teachers are those who you believe have hurt you, disappointed you, betrayed you and made you feel bad.  They make you feel, and they make you think. I have had some of those in my life, and what a blessing when I could finally realize, again, the gift they brought to me.

What James Ray offered me during that Harmonic Wealth weekend was so powerful and life-changing.  What James Ray offered me beyond that and continues to offer me today is even greater and more valuable.

In that, I suggest to you that James Arthur Ray is a Spiritual Teacher and did, indeed, reach and impact the world and beyond.

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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Terry August 7, 2010 at 5:19 pm

Thank you for this discussion and sharing your insights. I appreciate you taking the time taken and the care you’ve given to invite us to consider the gems within ourselves that this event brings forth.

I am grateful to share the journey with you!
Terry
Terry recently posted..Friday Social Media success stories in Online Marketing- Visibility and Business Blogging Tips from Denise Wakeman blog – excellent resource for bloggers!

Glenda Finnegan August 7, 2010 at 7:37 pm

Intention is everything. If his intent was to be famous-he is. If it was to help people see their oneness with spirit-did he?

Michelle Barr August 7, 2010 at 10:18 pm

Glenda, I can’t speak of his true intention, of course. What it sounded and felt like to me was that he wanted to expand his work and do something bigger that would have a greater impact on the world.

Faith Barnard August 8, 2010 at 10:17 am

Hello Michelle,
What a beautiful post of your own journey through the unfolding story of what has taken place in reference to James Ray. I also had strong feelings. I know there are no accidents and on a soul level we enter into agreements for certain lessons and experiences on this plane of existence.
I knew James was offering great value for many but for myself I did not resonate with his approach or energy. I met James at several events and I felt his agenda was so strong there was no real chance for connection between us.

I also perceived a tremendous amount of ego tied into his work. It seem the work was more about show casing himself than simply being a channel for the work.

It may be my own ego’s perception of his ego however I must honor what my heart was saying for me. At the same time he was not my teacher, I knew he was serving others and I could appreciate his value from that perspective.

My husband Larry and I moved to Sedona two and half years ago. Needless to say the James Ray incident and the lives lost had a huge impact on our community.

Yes, there huge polarity created through this event. I found myself experiencing anger and frustration that people so easily give their power away.

Of course after the dust settled and I examined my own reactions I knew there was something bigger going on here.

For me spiritual awakening is an inside job and that no one outside myself can be nothing more than a guide or indicator of what is going on inside of myself.

James gave me yet another opportunity to look how my own ego has not served me and to put my own ego in its proper place and perspective.

It was also an opportunity for huge forgiveness. I forgive James Ray as I am forgiving myself. It is only through forgiveness that I can experience true freedom.

In this way James Ray truly did serve me. Given that this life is an illusion of my mind I can only know truth by accessing it at its source which is outside the realm of the dream.

Thank you for your thoughtful post and giving me yet another opportunity to examine my own place in this story.

I look forward to your future posts.
Here’s to the awakening.

Faith
Faith Barnard recently posted..What Not to Do in Network Marketing- I Laughed so Hard I Cried

Natasha Nassar August 10, 2010 at 11:44 pm

Wow! I must’ve been living under a rock- because I had to look up James Ray. Very interesting story and you’re totally right- just because something controversial came of him, doesn’t cheapen the impact he made on your life that weekend!

Natasha
Natasha Nassar recently posted..How To Create a Pop-Over

DeDe Murcer Moffett August 17, 2010 at 10:53 pm

Michelle – thank you for all your great teachings. I have watched you over the past 3 years and have seen that you do always look at yourself and learn what is going on with you in a situation.
Thanks for demonstrating what you teach in your everyday life!

silvia L September 23, 2010 at 7:04 am

I agree with you. Being part of the heated conversations in FB only knowing of him from The Secret, the one free seminar in NY (weeks before like you), & even have him comment to me answering my questions in his FB page..it was conflicting for me as I saw how if I didn’t know him a little…how easily I could have swayed against him especially when the media horribly twisted things plus seeing some family members of the three people who died against James.

I think James could of handled some things differently..it goes to show he is human even w the spiritual wisdome….plus who knows what the bigger picture is.

I still a little conflicted with James…I know it was an accident ..no question about that….it just made me think how important it was to strengthen my inner guidance and to listen and TRUST very well.

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