Archive of the 2005
http://users.pandora.be/gohiyuhi/frauds/frd0050.htmBigheart, Carl
Date added to index: 30-10-2003
Names: Carl BigHeart, Bigheart
Real Name:
Carl GambaClaimed Tribal Affiliation: Claims to be Abenaki, but does follows plains traditions (?)
Current Website:
unknown unless you count
http://www.bigheart.nl/carl.html, a website in the Netherlands which promotes him.
Location:
Lives in Orleans, Vermont. Usually found selling sweats in Europe though. That is, when he's not at the Omega Institute Holistic Center in Rheinbeck, NY selling them.
Claims:
http://www.bigheart.nl/carl.html"Carl Big Heart's work and visions have been blessed and approved by Elders from the Abenaki, Muskogee Creek, and Iroquois Nations, as well as being accepted by recognized teachers in the Sufi, Buddhist and Hindu Traditions. He is considered a beloved teacher and medicine keeper in the Turtle Clan and is recognised by many Spiritual Leaders from the People of the First Nations as an Elder."
Turtle Clan of where? Abenaki? Muskogee? Creek? Iroquois? I have to wonder why people from these Nations would bless a man who obviously (since he's promoting sweats) is promoting bits of plains ndns religions. For people who still don't get it, that's like if the Cherokee Nation were to officiallly endorse the Pope. What do we know about Catholocism? Nothing. And the East Coast and Southeast Nations are not the same thing as plains people.
Qualifications:
Unknown. But he does get an endoresment from Eduardo Luna.
http://www.bigheart.nl/carl.html"Eduardo Luna, North America Ambassador for the Superior Council of Shamans whose family is caretaker for the Sacred Pyramids of Couchasui, carries this message from the Council: "The Shamans of Ecuador congratulate and bless the work of Carl Big Heart, Medicine Man. In our sacred ceremonies the Shamans of Ecuador are praying for his work."
Abassador for the Superior Council of Shamans? Caretaker of the Sacred Pyramids? Carlos Castenada anyone? Justs one more person trying to jump on the plastic medicine man boat. If this is the sort of "Elder" endorsing him, I have to wonder about all the supposed Abenaki and Creek singing his praises.
Comments:
http://elly.diaryland.com/020728_95.html"was more than sweating. carl bigheart threw water on the rocks and it was pitch black inside. i could see nothing, not my own hand in front of my face, only the redness of the stones. i was aware of the people near me, sometimes i felt their sweat drip onto me, or i felt a stray limb. carl bigheart beat the drum into the empty blackness and the stones glowed. in the comfort of the darkness i rocked and sweated. when time for praying came i whispered to myself, surrounded by others whispering to themselves. the sweat poured. it soaked my sarong entirely, it soaked the blanket floor, it dripped into my eyes and stung. "
You don't go into a sweatlodge or any other ceremony and come out and put it on your weblog, sorry. Both the participants and the person leading it would know better.
http://www.youthgrantmakers.org/Events_NI6212001.html"Youthstockers try a Native American Sweatlodge
With the Irish summer finally here, what better way to spend a cold grey evening than in a Sweatlodge. Using traditional Native American methods, Carl Bigheart and his dedicated team have created an experience that will be hard to beat. The sacred igloo like structure, heated by over 30 red-hot volcanic rocks, had peoples blood pumping and sweat pouring. "
Were these people prepared for this Ceremony? I really have to wonder. Could I just waltz into a Catholic Church in Ireland and (not being Catholic) go up to the priest and demand the Holy Sacrement? I doubt it. Do you think we take any less care with our spiritual practices?
Listed Because: He seems to be just one more phoney baloney touring Europe and ripping off ignorant people.
Links to suspected frauds: Unknown, possibly Eduardo Luna?
http://web.archive.org/web/20050304075400/http://users.pandora.be/gohiyuhi/frauds/frd0050.htm