The Lake

One of the things that shook me up when I was a student of Andrew's, was when I heard Andrew had had his formal women students do an hour of prostrations in October in the lake. It was close to freezing and I remembered being told how they turned blue, and had to be helped into the hot showers. At the time I rationalized it to myself. I told myself it was undoubtedly done with great care for all involved. Surely a physician had been consulted to ensure it wasn't at all physically dangerous as it sounded, and they were carefully monitored. Still, the idea terrified me, and afterwards when the formal men were in trouble, I lived in fear our turn would come.

Years later, and I learned there was no care involved for those doing the prostrations in the icy water at all. At least one woman who did the prostrations in the lake when it was icy cold was directed to do them alone. This was a few months after she was made a formal student, shortly after her arrival in Foxhollow. It was definitely not her idea. She was sent out to chant “Pride is vicious” 600 times, immersing herself in the icy water each time. This was due, she was told, for her outrageous betrayal of Andrew, for which she was also in silence at the time. She did the prostrations as directed. Towards the end of it her skin turned blue, her jaw locked up, and she was unable to speak. She was only able to stand by clinging to a boat dock, and she was swimming in and out of consciousness, hoping someone would show up to retrieve her. She was frightened she might drown, but could only conclude if she did, it would only be appropriate given her outrageous betrayal. Eventually a student arrived to fetch her, and discovered her clinging to the dock. She had to pull her out of the water and carry her to a car, shaking uncontrollably, unable to stand, almost unconscious. The student who fetched her was freaked out and wanted to call an ambulance, but was admonished for not trusting Andrew. She placed her in a hot bath, blue, traumatized, and quivering. The woman who’d done the prostrations received no attention from a medically trained individual. Years later she spoke to a doctor who told her she had had moderate to severe hypothermia. A hot bath is definitely not the appropriate treatment for that condition by the way, it can be dangerous. But the student who helped her had no medical training and was on her own.

The prostrations the women did in the lake as a group were not as bad. At least they were watched by someone not doing the practice, though they were still not monitored by anyone medically trained.. Towards the end some of the women started experiencing similar symptoms, having trouble standing, turning blue, even hallucinating. A women who was doing the practice called an end to it, not for her own sake, but because people were collapsing around her, and she was frightened someone might drown. For this, she was later strongly condemned for betraying Andrew’s revolution. They didn’t receive any medical attention. They were taken, some had to be carried and still have no memory of that, and were given hot baths and tea.

So, to any women who did those prostrations in icy water and who I haven't addressed concerning this before, I personally apologize. I knew, or at least should have known something was wrong, and  I regret remaining silent; I should have spoken up.

Finally,perhaps what is most disturbing, several of the woman have told me that as bad as the lake was, the psychological abuse they endured with Andrew over years was worse.

==================================================


The mayo clinic website describes hypothermia as, "a medical emergency," and warns that, "Left untreated, hypothermia can eventually lead to complete failure of your heart and respiratory system and to death." It advises that one should "Call 911 or your local emergency number if you see someone with signs of hypothermia. . ."

The NHS website of the UK states that, "Trying to warm someone up yourself with hot water, massages, heat pads and heat lamps can cause the blood vessels in the arms and legs to open up too quickly. . . If this happens, it can lead to a dramatic fall in blood pressure to the vital organs such as the brain, heart, lungs and kidneys, potentially resulting in cardiac arrest and death."