More on Abraham's Bogus Predictions

At the beginning of Esther Hicks' channeling career, she predicted (via Abraham) a great realignment or "shift" that would cause abrupt changes in various parts of the world.

"…volcanic ash will be experienced in all parts of your world as the volcanoes around your earth are simultaneously activated. Face masks and goggles will be of great value."
        - Esther Hicks (A New Beginning I, 2002 edition)

Abraham provided specifics about where earthquakes and water-damage were to occur. In a 1993 workshop (05/16/1993), they (through Esther) said they'd believed these changes would occur in 1988. When they hadn't, they'd modified the timing to 1990. Again, no realignment. They excused this, stating that the energy had dispersed and subsided, but warned that realignment was still coming.

The Hickses no longer sell A New Beginning I or the Joyous Survival tape, two publications that discuss the realignment. Esther, as Abraham, no longer suggests that they were wrong about the timing of this event. It seems to me to be a not-so-clever attempt at hiding one of Esther's greatest channeling blunders.

Recently, I decided to dig up an older edition of A New Beginning I. I had this hunch that the Hickses might have tailored the text to downplay this great-realignment-that-never-happened. My hunch paid off. Various discussions (pages worth) about the great realignment have been removed from the most recent edition, 2002. Others have been altered. In one telling omission, the following discussion transpires between Abraham and a workshop attendee:

(From a 1988 workshop, as indicated in the 1994 edition of A New Beginning I)

COMMENT: The last time I was here, we were asking about the time narrowed down with the earth shift, and you were telling us early summer, which is June.

ABRAHAM: And now we tell you to receive it yourself.

To say the least, I find the Hickses revisions of A New Beginning I incredibly suspicious.

*I just realized via Twitter that today is Esther Hicks' birthday. Happy birthday, Esther!

Abraham Hicks Cracks Down on Copyright Infringement

"And if you find a way to come into alignment then your good will come to you with or without the copyright protection. Protection is always upstream. Every single time. There is no possible way to make protection turn downstream because in every case you're focused on what you're protecting yourself from and it's an upstream thought."                                                                                            - Abraham Hicks (01/20/2007)

If you're thinking about sharing your favorite Abraham Hicks clip online, think again. The past few days, Abraham Hicks Publications has been cracking down on Youtube users and torrent groups that make copyrighted Abraham materials available online. One Youtube poster that received a ceased and desist from Abraham Hicks Publications wrote:

"Hello to my visitors and subscribers. I have received a notice from Abraham Hicks to cease posting videos, to which I am complying with. Also, any multi part video must be deleted, which will also be done immediately. The Abraham Hicks folks have been very kind in allowing all of us to share their information freely, and we thank them very much for that, as it has changed many peoples lives. We will still have many of the other videos available, until further notice. Thank you for visiting." - homebuiltindoorplane

Another Youtube user wrote:

"The original video was more than 17 minutes long and I was "advised" to take it down as it was in violation of the Abraham-Hicks copywrite policies." - ProjectMNow

In a separate community, a commenter posted that a recent torrent had been removed at Abraham Hicks Publications request:

"One of our members in our “Abraham-Hicks Sharing Community” has received “Copyright Infringement Notification” from SugarSync. That account has been disabled."

Members of this group also received notices from an Abraham Hicks Publications' employee who requested that they remove Abraham recordings from their site.

In past years, Abraham Hicks Publications has occasionally shut down Youtube videos and torrent sites that pirated their recordings, but it seems that their attempts at controlling their content has increased since Jerry Hicks' death in November of this year. Abraham even made sure to remind one hotseater of their copyright in their most recent workshop:

In a 2002 recording (08/18/2002), Esther (as Abraham) explained that the reason Jerry and Esther copyright their materials is because "they are wanting people to be able to find them and us through them." However, most internet users who have shared their content via Youtube and torrent sites have credited Abraham Hicks and even included links to Abraham Hicks' website.

I don't have any problem with people copyrighting their material. I also think that if they want to police and control their material because they want to protect their financial interests, that is perfectly acceptable. But Esther, Jerry, and "Abraham" have always given the impression that their only interest is in sharing the information. Clearly, there's more to the story.

For more on this development, check out Cosmic Connie's Beautiful Daze in the Aber Hood.


**To view more comments on this post, hit the "Load More" button at the bottom of the page.
*In case anyone is wondering, the clip I use in this post is used within fair use guidelines for purposes of commentary and criticism.

Abraham LIVE Highlights (Dec 10th, 2011)

I don't normally give workshop highlights, but since this workshop was special (as it was the first since Jerry croaked), I decided to provide some coverage. Like most Abraham workshops, it was jam-packed with appeals to authority and circular reasoning, but there were also some other moments worth noting. To stay within the limits of fair use guidelines, I have only used small portions of the LIVE event for purposes of criticism and commentary. Also, I recommend checking out Dave Stone's new post on this, Jerry Hicks Died But Guess What? He's Back!

Abraham Struggles to Remember

Well, as I mentioned in Abraham Hicks' Memory Lapse, Abraham isn't very good at recalling events:

In this workshop, Abraham struggles to remember one of Esther's articles of clothing:

Their supposedly infinite wisdom is clearly restricted to the workings of the entire universe and not to the contents of Esther's closet.

Esther Stumbles When Discussing Jerry's Transition

One of the more interesting parts of the workshop was when Esther was discussing Jerry's transition with a workshop guest. She was in the middle of an idea when she suddenly lost focus. The first part of this video is Esther losing focus. The next is the guest trying to understand what was going on.

Abraham vs. Evolution (continued...)

In Abraham vs. Evolution, I mentioned my issue with Abraham's ignorance of evolution. In this clip from yesterday's workshop, Esther says, "Yes, man was here with the dinosaur."

Dinosaurs lived up to the Cretaceous period...65 million years ago. The genus of homo is less than 2 1/2 million years old. That isn't even taking into account the major differences between a millions of years old homo and the modern homo sapien. So needless to say, it's hard to see how these species could have co-existed. (UPDATE: Make sure to check out Cosmic Connie's Post. It includes a pic of a very Flintstones Esther).

I will be posting more later.

On the Latest News from Abraham Hicks

Hello all,

After the latest mass email from Abraham Hicks Publications went out, visits to my site exponentially increased, and I have received a plethora of correspondence from people asking for my take on the situation. My only response right now is that I would prefer to delay commenting until the news has settled and we have more information. Anyone who wishes to comment on the situation may feel free to do so here. In the meantime, Cosmic Connie has written a great post, Has Anybody Here Seen My Old Friend Abrascam? As always, she is brilliant. There is also a conversation going on at Dave Stone's Does the Death of Jerry Hicks From Cancer Mean the End of Abraham Hicks?, and you should check out ex-Aber Mariah's Jerry Hicks' Death Raises Some Questions.

Also, here is a quote from Abe that is appropriate for the situation:

"We don't think that death is a bad thing, but we think getting sick before you die is really pointless. We think that is a real waste of life."                                                                                - Abraham Hicks (3/15/1997 Part 2)

And from Jerry:

"I've always believed in judging the tree by its fruits..."                                                                                         - Jerry Hicks (The Law of Attraction pg. 8)

Thank you for all the support and appreciation.

Kyra

Guest Post: The Road I Traveled with Abraham Hicks

The following post was contributed by Ahnalira Koan. Koan worked for Abraham Hicks Publications for 6 years as a web developer. She played a major role in the creation and upkeep of the current Abraham Hicks website and knew the Hickses professionally and personally. She is also the author of the book The Care and Feeding of Dragons: Confession of a Diabetic: Beyond Law of Attraction to Align Within.

Thank you, Ahnalira Koan, for being willing to share your experiences and perspective with us.

The Road I Traveled with Abraham-Hicks

by Ahnalira Koan

I came to the Abraham teachings already having experience with the concepts. Throughout my childhood, I had dreams that came true and other inexplicable experiences that proved to me there was more to Life than what I could see, feel, taste, touch, and hear. From my early twenties on, I read everything I could find on different spiritual paths – including The Urantia Book (from cover to cover:P), The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes, and A Course in Miracles. As a result, I was familiar and comfortable with the idea of wisdom coming from a 'channeled' source. In 1983, I was in a high-speed, head-on automobile collision that left my physical body with no vital signs for a minute or so, and – during that moment – I had a direct experience with Nonphysical awareness (see When I Died - A Story of Awakening for more on this) that opened me to a personal connection with Guidance from a nonphysical Source. In my professional life as a Jungian psychotherapist and meditation teacher (see Ahnalira-Connected Counsel for more about my background), I tapped into this connection often.

This is who I was as I came to the Abraham Teachings in the fall of 1997. I was drawn to the simplicity of an organization where the friendly couple who did the seminar also did their own registration. I enjoyed the way their lives were used as examples of the teaching, bringing abstract concepts into concrete application. I liked the informal atmosphere and the proclaimed statement that Jerry and Esther were all about having fun, and any question brought to the table would be answered. I appreciated the inclusive quality of that statement. And, whether or not Esther was translating Nonphysical Entities or doing a masterful performance didn’t matter to me; the answers “Abraham” gave resonated for me and sparked insight and clarity that I used successfully in my own process of evolution.

We developed a friendship with Jerry and Esther over the years, and – in 2005, when they were in an emergent situation with their website – we offered to step in and help. We became their web developers. Esther told us at the outset that they weren’t easy people to work for, and she proved her statement accurate many times.

Within the first 9 months, this we knew about the organization:

• Esther is emotionally volatile and quick to blame. As a result, the office culture was set up to point the finger of blame towards someone else, and everyone scurried for cover when Esther got upset, hoping no ill will fell towards them. Jerry is mistrustful and controlling; he’s not one to get openly upset, but he carries a grudge for months at a time.

• The prime directive is keep Jerry and Esther happy. Hide facts, if necessary. Give the 'right' answer, and do whatever is asked without question. Early on, Esther 'laughingly' dubbed me a "mayhemer" because of my propensity to be forthright and authentic in the expression of my opinions.

• Because Jerry and Esther are prone to changing their minds capriciously, the office politics revolve around who can get their ear. Whoever is talking to them most often is best positioned for power and getting what they want. Jerry and Esther promote this competition by discussing their dissatisfactions with staff to the staff who is currently their favorite and encourage staff bring them information about other staff. Indeed, very rarely do Jerry and Esther speak directly with an associate about a problem or dissatisfaction. I realized early on that – since they were criticizing other staff with me (and not saying anything to the person directly) – that it was probable they complained about me to other staff. I learned to read between the lines of the jokes and side comments they made and take it as feedback.

• While a pretense of friendliness is maintained (and expected) amongst works associates, it is pretense; the norm is for people to speak negatively about each other; and competition rather than support is the status quo.

We knew these things, and we chose to stay. We felt a commitment to do the best we could do for them; they had our unconditional loyalty. So we built them the website they have now, giving them functionality they’d never had before, like the ability to provide digital downloads and subscriptions as well as register online for workshops. They expected us to be available 7 days a week/ 24 hours per day, and we were. They expected us to drop whatever project we were working on when they wanted something from us, and we did – 365 days a year. Still, though, Jerry and Esther were intermittently unhappy with us; sometimes because of my forthright style of communication; sometimes because someone who had their ear in the office political dynamic saw advantage in making us look bad, and sometimes because they just thought we charged too much. And I will say this: I do tell people what I think whether it makes them happy or not and we aren’t very good at political maneuvering and we do charge a healthy rate for our expertise. Still, our commitment held, and we chose to stay. We chose to use the experience as a workshop – an opportunity to refine our ability to maintain a professional integrity with the work independent from the experiences that were less than ideal for us. We chose to develop our skill at setting our vibrational tone internally rather than in reaction to events and circumstances outside our control.

As our understanding of the internal organization dynamics deepened, it also became apparent to us that – on occasion – Abraham’s responses to questions reflected Jerry and Esther’s opinion more than the pure concepts of the teaching. This, however, wasn’t an issue for us as we always believed our internal guidance system trumped anything Abraham spoke. As a result, we didn’t take anything at face value, instead feeling for the resonance within that sparked an insight to further our personal process of evolution. As an insert, may I add: I listen to a lot of recordings (still do), and it would be impossible for me, I think, to not find discrepancies...as I do in all communications over time. I note it and discern accordingly.

In February, 2011, we made our first visit to Abadiania to experience John of God. I had a direct experience with Nonphysical Entities that shifted my awareness dramatically and influenced my thinking about law of attraction and how it works (see John of God Experience to read more). I realized that simply turning away from an uncomfortable pattern and towards a happier thought did not shift the dissonance within; those energies remained in the background as a subtext in my Being and continued to influence my Life from behind the scenes. In other words, they continued as part of the mix in my vibration, effecting my experience – albeit less consciously. I started using Ho oponopono (see Ho oponopono Made Simple) whenever I discovered a pocket of unease within myself. I found the process to give me a sense of Grace, and the abiding peace within as a result led me into a richer, more vibrant happiness. In the process, my set points shifted as did my response to the Abraham-Hicks experience.

Everything came to a head around the Panama cruise.

A week before the Abraham-Hicks Panama Cruise, the hard drive on the main AHP server crashed. We, of course, stopped what we were doing to figure out what happened and fix it (part of our responsibility). What we discovered was that the office team had uploaded – without telling us – so many large digital masters files in so fast a time that it filled and crashed the hard drive. When we suggested that we needed to be kept appraised of what was being put onto the server hard drive in order to effectively monitor the server, Esther (by way of the information she got from the office staff person who had her ear) told us we were to blame, irrespective of whether we were kept informed. It was not a ‘happy’ communication for us, but we did our best to respond professionally by offering a solution that would allow them to upload to a media service without impairing the functionality of the server. We dropped the other projects we were working on and spent the 48 hours before the cruise working 12 – 13 hours per day on the fix…feeling all the while that – if we’d been included in the decision making process – we could have prevented the emergency and provided the solution in a more gracious timeline. Primarily, I think, the reason we weren’t included is because Jerry and Esther didn’t want to pay our rate if they could avoid it.

So, we got on the cruise – doing ho’oponopono and looking for ways to feel the love. However, once on the ship I found myself responding to the experience differently than ever before. I looked around me and saw a cult of 'group thinkers' ('group think' is a psychological term for groups of people who take on a group opinion without personally evaluating for themselves the ideas and concepts) parroting the 'vortex' phraseology and doing their best to look happy (even though as often as not there were undertones that felt very different than happiness to me). I saw people stampeding each other to get into the workshop sessions without consideration for the slower moving people amongst them; I saw one elderly person go down on the stairs with people running over him. It was disturbing to me. Our personal experiences with Jerry and Esther were awkward as well; they were obviously uncomfortable and evasive, and I wondered what was up for them that they opted for behavior verging on rude rather than be authentic with us about what was going on for them. Afterward, we likened the cruise to a workshop on how to feel good while walking over hot coals.

Clearly, the scales had tipped. Our personal evolution brought us to a fork in the road, and we discovered our priorities had shifted along with our set points. It no longer seemed relevant to stand loyally by Jerry and Esther irrespective of their behavior; rather it felt like it was time to stand loyally by our values. It no longer made sense to use the contrast of working in the AHP organization as our workshop; rather it made sense to let ourselves shine in venues where we could use our skills effectively. As much as we appreciated the value of where we had come over the past 14 years, it was clearly time for us to make some changes. We resigned in early April.

We came out from behind the curtain of Jerry and Esther’s manifestation to create our own. I started counseling again and writing (see Ahnalira-Connected Counsel), and we started an App Development company, Laughing Place Apps, where one of the first sets of Apps we made were a series of Meditation recordings from my days as a Meditation teacher: Meditations of Awakening.

I have no regrets, and – if Jerry and Esther came to us needing our help because they didn’t have a staff person with the technical skill to fix something we built for them – we would help them because that’s how we roll, and it’s the type of standard we value. I never expected them to be perfect; if anything, I wish that I had stood for my principles around communication and professional integrity sooner. I don’t blame them for being who they are. I am always responsible for my choices and how I engage. I learned much and evolved my understandings and, as a result, of these experiences, I am significantly more adept in my practices professionally and personally. Ultimately, both my partner and I would rather be enjoying our creative productivity more than anything, and that is why we left an environment fraught with hot coals.

As I continue on the adventure of my life’s journey, I know I will continue to integrate this experience. Jerry and Esther and Abraham may not have always taught me what they thought were the teachings, but I was (and am always) learning how to be more fully All I Am through my association with them. I’ll take that.

Source Says: Jerry Hicks has Leukemia!

Sick and tired of the gossip and speculation surrounding Jerry Hicks' illness, a reliable source revealed to me that Jerry has been receiving his chemotherapy treatment for leukemia.


**This information was reported here 4 months before Abraham Hicks confirmed my source's intel.

Several weeks ago, Abraham Hicks released a letter from Jerry and Esther, stating that they were cancelling various workshops for reasons involving a "spider bite that Jerry got in Florida." Later, in another letter, the Hickses wrote that Jerry was undergoing "heavy chemo," but never explained what for. The intentional vagueness of these letters left many wondering what Jerry's mystery illness could be. Today, I was informed by a source close to the Hickses that Jerry has been receiving his chemo treatments for leukemia.

For over 25 years, Jerry has traveled the country, promoting the Teachings of Abraham, which advocate a person's ability to prevent and cure disease solely by changing one's thoughts. Regardless of these claims, it appears the teachings have been useless in helping Jerry prevent himself from attracting leukemia. And rather than exclusively using the ideas that the Teachings of Abraham claim can bring the body into perfect alignment from any illness, Jerry has opted to treat his leukemia with conventional medicine.

This should come as some surprise to fans of the teachings, many who are purchasing them in hopes of attracting wellness and perfect health into their own lives. One would think that Jerry's situation would leave them wondering: can these teachings really create perfect health, or is it all a sham?

Dave Stone is discussing this @ Jerry Hicks Cancer Confirmed as Leukemia and Does Jerry Hicks Cancer Mean the end of Abraham-Hicks?

UPDATE: Jerry and Esther finally discuss this in their recent blog post, making plenty of excuses to satisfy any discomfort their fans may feel. 

Jerry Hicks Undergoing Chemotherapy

"In reality, we have never encouraged Jerry or Esther to take any sort of medication or medical treatment because we know it is easier to teach them with what they know how to find their vibrational harmony with energy." - Abraham Hicks 03/02/1997 San Francisco, CA

Over the past few weeks, Esther and Jerry have had to cancel several workshops, including ones in Atlanta, Boston, and Kansas City. Initially, a brief letter on the Abraham Hicks website reported that the cancellations involved a "a spider bite that Jerry got in Florida." The latest update reveals that Jerry has been undergoing a 28-day chemotherapy treatment. In Jerry's letter, he says this had something to do with blood tests that showed his "white blood cell count was extremely exaggerated." He does not confirm whether this was related to the spider bite he initially believed he had or if the supposed bite was just his reason for performing the blood tests.

Some—but certainly not all—Abraham Hicks supporters will be put-off by this. After all, Abraham has been telling Esther and Jerry (and everyone else) for years that they can achieve perfect physical well-being by aligning their thoughts with their desire to be well. They have even purported, "You could have every deadly disease known to man, within you, today, and if you chose different feeling thoughts tomorrow, they would all leave your body." Despite over 25 years of actively promoting this idea of being able to align one's body solely through changing the way you think, Jerry was unable to utilize Abraham's advice and processes to transform this situation overnight or even to come back into alignment without the assistance of conventional medicine. Though Jerry chose to receive conventional medical treatment, he is doing his best to make his situation appear to match Abraham’s victim-blaming philosophy by accepting his part in attracting the experience. In his letter, he writes, "Abraham and I have discussed the chain of thought that brought this about and I’m satisfied that I’m not going to do that again." He also works to downplay what he refers to as “heavy chemotherapy” by calling it the “big guns” and suggesting it is a part of his “path of least resistance.”

As far as we know, he still only has 10 days of chemotherapy remaining. While he's recovering, Esther plans to continue the Abraham Hicks Vortex of Attraction Live Stamford, CT workshop solo. This will be the first time I've heard Esther on her own since her interview with Oprah Winfrey. In the meantime, this will hopefully convince those who listen to Abraham that the Abraham materials are not good alternatives to conventional medicine.

* My friend Dave Stone covers this latest news in his article Death of Abraham Hicks, Esther and Jerry Hicks' Creation. And Cosmic Connie has a brilliant article on it entitled Jerry Hicks on chemo: Abrahamscam gets a little help from Western medicine.
* CORRECTION: Initially when I posted this, I referred to conventional medicine as traditional medicine. To my shame and embarassment, these are two different things. Traditional medicine refers to things like acupuncture, chiropractice, and things of that nature. Conventional medicine refers to modern, western medicine. I was meaning to refer to conventional medicine (not traditional medicine). My comments below reflect the error, so please replace instances of "traditional" with "conventional" and properly shame me for this instance of clear stupidity. Thank you, xoxo kyra

Abraham Hicks Sells Used Thought

Esther and Jerry Hicks

In Part 3 of Oprah's XM interview with Esther Hicks, Esther claims that she'd never heard of the "Law of Attraction" till her interaction with Abraham. Similarly, her husband Jerry says in The Law of Attraction (a New York Times best-selling title that reworks 1988 recordings with Abraham), that he had never heard the words "Law of Attraction" prior to he and Esther's Abraham experience. In their 2006 attempt to trademark the phrase, they even included a statement from the Project Coordinator of Abraham-Hicks Publications, who writes that Esther and Jerry “arbitrarily” created the term.

Despite their alleged ignorance of the so-called “Law of Attraction,” their version of the “law” bares a remarkable resemblance to the same “Law of Attraction” discussed during the early 1900s New Thought movement, pioneered by authors such as Thomas Troward, William Walker Atkinson, Ernest Holmes, Charles Fillmore, William Juvenal Colville, and Elizabeth Towne. In Glints of Wisdom by William Juvenal Colville, Colville explains the New Thought “Law of Attraction” by stating, “Everything is a link to attract that which is like itself.” In John Benjamin Anderson’s analysis of the New Thought movement, New Thought: Its Lights and Shadows, he summarizes various authors’ definitions, saying, “It [thought force] draws to itself or to its thinker…that which is like unto itself.” Esther and Jerry’s definition--“That which is like unto itself is drawn”--is incredibly similar to Anderson and Colville's. In fact, the major difference between theirs and Anderson's definition is that “like unto itself” and a different tense of “draw” are rearranged. Anderson's book also discusses popular New Thought examples that were used to illustrate the metaphysical law. For instance, New Thought authors used the phrase "birds of a feather flock together" and described thoughts as being like magnets. Esther and Jerry's materials use these same examples.

(left to right) Fillmore, Atkinson, Hill

More interesting than these similarities, though, is Jerry’s self-admitted exposure to New Thought authors, such as Ernest Holmes and Charles Fillmore, whom Jerry praises as his early mentors in he and Esther’s first book, A New Beginning I. Holmes and Fillmore were highly influential figures in the New Thought movement, and both discussed the “Law of Attraction.” Unity: Volume 108, Issue 1, an early Fillmore publication, says, "We attract to ourselves that to which we give our attention." A Synopsis of the Teachings of Abraham, on Abraham-Hicks' website, more-than-similarly says, "you are attracting the essence of whatever you are choosing to give your attention to." Esther and Jerry's book The Law of Attraction restates this as, "That which you give your attention to...is that which you draw into your experience." Jerry also praises the work of Napoleon Hill, who authored The Law of Success—a book that discusses the “Law of Attraction” by name and in detail. Through these authors alone, Jerry had easy access to materials on the New Thought “law."

These authors are not the only way Jerry could have been exposed to the “Law of Attraction,” however. He was also a top Amway distributor. Amway distributors are known for their promotion and marketing of motivational, New Thought concepts from authors like Napoleon Hill, Norman Vincent Peale, and Charles F. Haanel (all of whom discussed the “Law of Attraction”). Robert Fitzpatrick and Joyce K. Reynold’s book, False Profits, discusses the importance of New Thought concepts to Amway's motivational materials, and in Barbara Ehrenreich’s condemnation of the current positive thinking movement, Bright Sided, she writes that "in the early 1980s" (Jerry was still with Amway then) distributors were even “expected to buy a book a month” from authors who promoted and perpetuated New Thought teachings. Jerry, having been a top distributor, would have been subjected to this same New Thought literature—much of which discusses the “Law of Attraction.”

With Jerry’s Amway past and his self-admitted study of various New Thought authors, it’s easy to see how he could have encountered the New Thought concept “Law of Attraction” prior to he and Esther’s experience with Abraham. It's also likely that he would have been exposed to other New Thought ideas. In Richard Weiss’ 1988 book, The American Myth of Success, Weiss writes, "New Thought further encouraged a “take-it-easy" approach to life with its principle of non-resistance.” Weiss says that the “Law of Attraction” and the principle of non-resistance (sometimes referred to as the "Law of Non-resistance") were usually taught in conjunction with one another. He explains that the principle of non-resistance was about not forcing things to happen. “Receptivity rather than struggle,” he writes. In William Walker Atkinson's 1911 book, Practical New Thought, he gives the analogy of life being like a stream. He explains that rather than rowing upstream and struggling against the current, people should let the current carry them--or even row with it. Esther and Jerry use this same analogy to discuss their version of the "Law of Non-resistance," which they call the "Law of Allowing." Like the "Law of Non-resistance," the "Law of Allowing" encourages Weiss’ statement about “receptivity rather than struggle.” Florence Scovel Shinn, a very successful advocate of New Thought ideas in the early 1900s, said in her book The Secret Door to Success, “the law of non-resistance is an art.” Coincidentally, Jerry and Esther’s "Law of Allowing" is sometimes referred to as the “Art of Allowing.” This concept of the principle (or law) of non-resistance is also discussed by one Jerry’s mentors, Ernest Holmes.

Jerry and Esther claim that they had never heard of the “Law of Attraction” pre-Abraham, but it is clear that Jerry had easy exposure to these words via his favorite authors--Ernest Holmes, Napoleon Hill, and Charles Fillmore--and his past with Amway, a major proponent of New Thought materials. He and Esther’s (or Abraham's) “Law of Attraction” and “Art of Allowing” are indiscernible from the New Thought ideas of “Law of Attraction” and the "Law of Non-resistance." Their materials also incorporate popular examples and analogies from the New Thought movement. However, they continue to claim these ideas were inspired via some means other than the authors who made them famous nearly a hundred years before Jerry and Esther were even around. If Esther has received this wisdom from the nonphysical perspective known as Abraham, it is interesting that they are regurgitating (and seemingly plagiarizing) the very old ideas of the New Thought movement.

References

Anderson, John Benjamin. New Thought, Its Lights and Shadows; an Appreciation and a Criticism. Boston: Sherman, French &, 1911. 42.

Atkinson, William Walker. Practical New Thought; Several Things That Have Helped People ... Chicago: A.C. McClurg &, 1911.

Colville, W. J. Glints of Wisdom, Or, Helpful Sayings for Busy Moments: Being Abstract from Lectures with Reflections, Statements, Meditations, and Mottoes. New York, U. S. A.: Macoy and Masonic Supply, 1910.

Ehrenreich, Barbara. Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. New York: Metropolitan, 2009.

Fitzpatrick, Robert L., and Joyce K. Reynolds. False Profits: Seeking Financial and Spiritual Deliverance in Multi-level Marketing and Pyramid Schemes. Charlotte, NC: Herald, 1997.

Hicks, Esther, and Jerry Hicks. "About Jerry and Esther Hicks and the Law of Attraction." Home of Abraham-Hicks Law of Attraction -- It All Started Here! Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.abraham-hicks.com/lawofattractionsource/about_hicks.php>.

Hicks, Esther, and Jerry Hicks. Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2004.

Hicks, Esther, and Jerry Hicks. The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2006. 133, 137.

Hicks, Jerry, and Esther Hicks. A New Beginning I: Handbook for Joyous Survival. San Antonio, Texas: Abraham-Hicks Publications, 1996.

Hill, Napoleon. The Law of Success. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2008.

Shinn, Florence Scovel. The Secret Door to Success. Radford, VA: Wilder Publications, 2007.

Weiss, Richard. The American Myth of Success; from Horatio Alger to Norman Vincent Peale. New York: Basic, 1969.

Abraham Borrows Esther's Body and Prentice Mulford's Words...

*Bolding in quotes is always Kyra's emphasis

Esther (doctored) and Prentice Mulford

Abraham Hicks' 2011 audiences are eagerly welcoming Abraham's latest catch phrase--"constructing thought-ways." In recent workshops, Abraham preaches that when we think thoughts, we are constructing thought-ways that will play into our future experience. Simply put, when you are thinking thoughts on things you want or don't want, "that's the construction of thought-ways that can ultimately lead you to something more"  because "your thoughts are constructing" and  "manifestation follows them" (West Los Angeles, CA 01/29/2011). The new phraseology has thrilled many self-professed Abers. Abraham Hicks discussion forums have lit up with excitement as Abers express their enthusiasm about the new clarity that the concept presents about how they can create their own reality.

This is not the first time Abraham has used new vocabulary to express their archaic message, which dates back to the early 1900s New Thought movement. In recent years, a passé Abraham Hicks concept known by Abers as "vibrational escrow" evolved into "the vortex." At the same time, Abraham Hicks' Art of Allowing (a re-vamped version of the New Thought concept "the principle of nonresistance") workshops began using the analogy of a "stream" and pushing against or going with the current to represent when you are resisting or allowing things you want. Words like "upstream" and "downstream" became norms for Abraham listeners. Now, Abraham has added the idea of "constructing thought-ways" to the mix. Abers enjoy the analogy, but did it spring into Esther's mind via Abraham, or via an accomplished New Thought author from the early 1900s?

For those who don't know, Abraham Hicks' claim to fame, the "Law of Attraction," was a wildly popular New Thought concept, discussed by many many authors from the early 1900s to present. Authors such as Napoleon Hill, William Walker Atkinson, and Charles Fillmore cited the "Law of Attraction", by name, in many of their materials. Esther, Jerry, and Abraham do not give any of these authors credit for inspiring them with the words. Despite Jerry's self-professed familiarity with Ernest Holmes, Charles Fillmore, and Napoleon Hill (all who wrote extensively on the subject), he clearly states in he and Esther's New York Times Bestselling book The Law of Attraction (a transcription of audio recordings from 1988/1989) that he had never heard the words "Law of Attraction" before Abraham.

On top of this, various Abraham analogies about the supposed "law" have clearly been borrowed from past New Thought authors. These include the notion of our minds being like radio transmitters/receivers, our thoughts being like magnets, the principle of nonresistance (called Law of Allowing by Abraham), "birds of a feather," and more. With Jerry's self-admitted exposure to materials that would have discussed all these things, it is a little difficult to believe that Esther divined this information via Abraham. It is equally difficult to believe that Abraham's latest "constructing thought-ways" analogy was not borrowed from Prentice Mulford's 1889 book, Thoughts are Things.

In Mulford's book, he explains, "Of whatever possible thing we think, we are building, in unseen substance, a construction which will draw to us forces or elements to aid or hurt us, according to the character of the thought we think or put out." He goes on to write, "When we dread a misfortune, or live in fear of any ill, or expect ill luck, we make also a construction of unseen element, thought,--which by the same law of attraction, draws to it destructive, and to you damaging forces or elements." Now, Abraham, via Esther, expresses this same message to packed audiences.

If Abraham has really delivered the "constructing thought-ways" analogy to Esther via blocks of thought, one can only speculate as to why their "leading edge" workshops are so jam-packed with late 1800s/early 1900s terminology. To many, the answer is simple. There is no Abraham; never was. To Abers, there is an endless list of excuses to explain away the similarity. Regardless of the origins of Abraham's phraseology, Esther and Jerry will continue to reap massive profits off of packaging old wine into new bottles.

Did Jerry Hicks already know about The Law of Attraction?

Jerry Hicks, Napoleon Hill

In Esther and Jerry Hicks' New York Times Bestselling book The Law of Attraction, Jerry claims he'd never heard the words "Law of Attraction" before Abraham. He writes, "Because I was expecting (although I'd never heard the words before) the Law of Attraction and the Deliberate Creation Process to work..."

Despite his alleged ignorance, it would have actually been easy for Jerry to have been aware of the Law of Attraction prior to he and Esther's experience with Abraham. As a self-professed fan of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, it is likely that Jerry would have been exposed to Napoleon Hill's other bestseller, The Law of Success (1928), which repeatedly references the "Law of Attraction." Here are some quotes from The Law of Success:

"Remember that which was said about the Law of Attraction through the operation of which 'like attracts like.'"

"It is believed by men who have devoted years of research to the subject, that all energy and matter throughout the universe respond to and are controlled by the Law of Attraction which causes elements and forces of a similar nature to gather around certain centers of attraction. It is through the operation of this same universal Law of Attraction that constant, deeply seated, strong DESIRE attracts the physical equivalent or counterpart of the thing desired, or the means of securing it."

"Through the operation of this same eternal Law of Attraction he draws to himself the attention of people whose attitude toward life and whose dominating thoughts harmonize with his own."

In Esther and Jerry's 1989 book A New Beginning I, Jerry also admits that he was a fan of the work of Ernest Holmes and Charles Fillmore. Both authors discuss the Law of Attraction, by name, in their materials.

A Delicious Contradiction

It's humorous to see how Abraham's answers have evolved over the years. Take a look at these conflicting responses. In a 1990 workshop (09/23/1990), a guest asked Abraham about crop circles. Abraham said that extraterrestrial beings were coming to earth and that "their intent is to interact with your planet in a way that they can glean some information. In other words, they are sensing from the very core of your planet as they sit upon it. They have chosen to set down in areas where they are not disruptive. And so their mission has many intentions all of it information gleaning and none of it intending to interfere or hinder your life experience whatsoever." They went on to say that the aliens were here to collect data, "of a seismic nature."

This answer was given in 1990, before Doug Bower and Dave Chorley came forward in 1991 and took credit for starting the crop circle hoax. Regardless of the validity of crop circles, Abraham has backed off their statement regarding alien visitors. In a 2004 workshop (07/03/2004 Alaska), they were asked again about crop circles. They made it perfectly clear that they were all "man made," without exception.

Almost as amusing as listening to Abraham's conflicting answers about things like crop circles, is listening to the excuses Abers use to justify these contradictions. They usually just blame the listener or questioner, as is appropriate in their victim-blaming philosophy. Because, of course, Abraham is infallible.

5 Fun Facts About Esther and Jerry Hicks

For simplicity, I went through and picked my favorite fun facts about Esther and Jerry. I hope that you will go beyond these short points and research them for yourselves.

1. Jerry Hicks was a top distributor at Amway in the 70s. See more...

2. Pre-Abraham, Esther and Jerry traveled the country in a motor home and went on cruises, giving presentations on Think and Grow Rich. See more...

3. The woman who led Esther to interact with “Abraham,” Sheila Gillette, also claims she can bend spoons, levitate, and automatically write in languages she doesn’t know. See more...

4. Abraham’s first words have been altered since their first book. Esther and Jerry’s account of their initial interactions have also been revised. See more...

5. Jerry and Esther failed in their attempt to trademark “Law of Attraction” in 2006, because it isn’t theirs, and was used in the same context in 1906 by William Walker Atkinson in his book Thought Vibration or Law of Attraction in the Thought World. See more...

Abraham vs Evolution

This comes from the 04/19/1997 Silver Spring, MD workshop. The question was, “Are we descended from apes?”

ABRAHAM: Is that which is now human an extension of that which was now ape? No. Did the human experience evolve as a result of the experience of the ape? Yes.

QUESTIONER: Is there a link between the two of them?

ABRAHAM: Vibrationally, yes. Physically, no.

No link, Abraham? Really?

The correct answer is that there is a physical link between apes and humans. In fact, the family Hominidae (aka “great apes”) includes humans, chimps, and gorillas. DNA clearly reveals that we (chimps, gorillas, humans) are all close cousins and share a common ancestor.

Abraham adds to their nonsense with this statement: "All of the species upon the planet, without exception, come forth complete and independent as perceived...You are physical embodiments of intentions that have been set forth in completion."

This suggests that chimpanzees were always chimpanzees, humans were always humans, and deer were always deer. Yet there is overwhelming evidence (DNA, fossils, bacteria) showing us that every species that exists today is a mutation of its ancestors and that they did not come forth complete and independent in any way, shape, or form. And that is a fact.

Abraham's Hypocrisy

The other day I ran across this quote, from Orlando, FL workshop 11/10/2007

ABRAHAM: We are suggesting that when you are receiving from source energy, you are not finding the words that have already been written. You are finding new explanation of it....Don't go back and regurgitate what has already been written.

And yet, they are regurgitating the words of William Walker Atkinson's Thought Vibration or Law of Attraction in the Thought World (1906), Napoleon Hill's The Law of Success, and Prentice Mulford's Thoughts are Things. Not only that, but they continually regurgitate catch phrases that have been around since the dawn of the New Age movement (ie you create your own reality [Jane Roberts]). Truly Abraham is a collective group of the greatest hypocrites in all the universe.

xoxo
Kyra

Louise Hay: You Disgust Me! (a review of You Can Heal Your Life)

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I once held a great respect for Louise Hay, but in her recent publishing years, she has proven herself to be as much of a fraud as the authors she promotes, including the charlatan Sylvia Browne, former Amway star Jerry Hicks (with his wife Esther who speaks for "nonphysical"), plagiarist Neale Donald Walsch, and phony PhDs Doreen Virtue and Caroline Myss. This book, though including some practical advice that she has pulled from Aaron Beck's work in cognitive therapy, contains an overwhelming amount of woo that makes outrageous claims regarding the power of mind. She disregards science and logic in exchange for dubious pseudoscience that encourages self-blame and guilt regarding disease. This wouldn't bother me so much had the dawn of her career not been acquired through her claim to AIDs patients that they too could heal themselves if they got rid of their "bad thinking". Nowhere in these books does she speak of any AIDs patient's miraculous cure due to her work. And since this book, she has yet to offer any credible evidence that it can do this.

I am appalled by this, not because it offers false hope, but because she is preying on a demographic of desperate people who are looking for answers. She claims to have these answers, but offers no proof beyond anecdotes and testimonials. This is no greater than the testimonials of Christian Science (incidentally their leader Mary Baker Eddy was known for having kidney stones in her old age and relying on morphine to ease the pain even though her text claimed they should rely solely on God for relief). This is one of the most irresponsible feats that has ever been accomplished in publishing, and though I believe it could bring many some emotional relief as they use the processes that have been sampled from cognitive therapy, I also believe that it will and has brought to many a sense of guilt and self-blame regarding the tragedies of their lives.

This book will claim a science to healing, but there is no institution (including Hay's) that offers hard proof of these facts. And if you will read the disclaimer in the beginning, you will be reminded that this author is not to be held accountable to your failure in using these principles.

Due to this book, Louise Hay has now created one of the largest New Age publishing houses in the world. And she has made it clear through the authors she publishes that she is more concerned about the bottom line of her company than she is people's well being. It is a shame to say that this modern Mary Baker Eddy, known as the affirmations guru, is nothing more than a charismatic charlatan.

If you do decide to venture into this book, do so with critical thinking skills and remember that this author will take on no responsibility for your success or failings in these teachings. Also look at the credibility of her own healing, which can be explained as a lie, misdiagnosis, and perhaps, if she is correct, divine healing. Her words will likely validate you, send you swooning into good feelings, and overwhelm you with the presence of love as she constructs an imaginary world where you create your reality through your thoughts. Just make sure when you set this book down to leave that world behind as well.
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xoxo
Kyra

Genesis of Abraham: Sheila Gillette and Esther Hicks

*Those who do not like the term channeling can substitute it with “receiving from nonphysical” wherever you see fit.

Esther Hicks explains in several interviews and books that she was encouraged to meditate by Theo, a group of archangels channeled by Sheila Gillette. This, in turn, she alleges, led her to her own experience with Abraham. I find it interesting that Esther’s own group was encouraged by a channeler who seems as suspicious as she does.

Gillette claims that Theo was the first to be talking about 2012 and the earth changes in her youtube interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5LIXft1ff8. I don’t think that Edgar Cayce would appreciate that claim, but nevertheless, I listened to a podcast interview with Gillette and Theo at http://www.speakingmetaphysically.com/speakingmetaphysically/Sheila_Gillette/rss.xml and was not impressed. In this interview, Gillette claims:

-she can move objects with her mind (even spoon bending!).

-she has experienced levitation. The angels levitated her bed one night.

-she automatic wrote prose in 15th Century Castilian Spanish.

With regards to the spoon bending and moving objects, Gillette explains, "I don't do that anymore. To me that--that takes it to a different place.” This interests me because earlier in the interview, Gillette says that she was a very analytical person and that these sorts of experiences occurred to prove to her that what was happening was real. And yet, why does she think that others would not need those sorts of proofs to be convinced of all this? If her experience is genuine, why is she not, like a scientist, doing her best to prove it? She claims that she is just trying to spread her message. Would not scientific validity spread her message worldwide—rather than just to the comparatively insignificant number that attend her seminars and ask for phone readings?

Einstein, Newton, Bohr, and Darwin didn't shy away from proving their theories. They didn't think that offering proof would take it to "a different place." Yet, this whole disinterest in providing evidence runs rampant in the world of channeling. Neither Gillette nor Esther Hicks feel compelled to prove anything to anyone. We just have to take their word for it.

xoxo
Kyra

My Reviews of Abraham Hicks Books now on Goodreads

Very pleased to announce that I have completed many reviews on Abraham Hicks' books on Goodreads. It was an intense project, but I'm glad that I did it. You can check out my reviews at http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4476369.

I try to make them entertaining, fun, and informative. Here is a sample: My review of Ask and It is Given, by our favorite authors:

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Jerry Hicks

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Esther Hicks writes for a "nonphysical intelligence" known as Abraham in this former New York Times Best Seller, Ask and It is Given. What I found most interesting in Ask were the deviations from Esther and Jerry (her husband) Hicks' 1989 book A New Beginning I, which predicted various "earth changes" that were on the brink of occurring in 1989, including simultaneous volcanic eruptions that would cover the earth's air with ash. In Ask, these revelations of turbulence are not even touched upon. There are also various inconsistencies within Ask regarding Jerry and Esther's initial encounters with Abraham, including an altered-or cleverly tailored version-of Abraham's first words.

As for the "biographical sketch" provided in Ask about Jerry and Esther's life pre-Abraham, it is incredibly vague. It tells us that Jerry was very successful before Abraham, but does not mention that Jerry Hicks was a Crown level distributor at Amway, who was giving seminars about positive thinking and motivation. Only instead of using the Abraham works, he was using those of Napoleon Hill. Dateline did a wonderful expose on Amway, revealing a major business within Amway that was not in selling various appliances/supplies, but in selling motivational courses and materials within the company. It is clear that Jerry was involved in this sort of motivational selling with Think and Grow Rich before his Abraham work. While the effect of Think and Grow Rich on Jerry's life is mentioned in Ask, the Amway link is never made, though it is touched on in various interviews with the Hickses. Of course, this seems to be irrelevant to most readers of the Abraham materials. To me, this was an important fact that made Jerry and Esther appear less like sincere messengers of positive thinking and more like pious frauds for Napoleon Hill.

The chapters in Ask offer an emotional guidance scale to let you know where you are and some 22 processes to help you reach a better feeling place to help you align with those things that you are wanting. The 22 processes include an interesting combination of cognitive therapy, visualization, and New Age woo. Though some of them seem very helpful, there does seem to be some undermining as the processes and rhetoric ask you to set aside critical thinking and replace it with emotional guidance. Also, for the entities that have claimed to not wish to alter our beliefs, these processes suggest otherwise, as they are designed to assist us in altering our beliefs. Various emotional appeals, combined with validation for whatever you want to believe in, make this book very appealing to anyone who wants approval or to believe that they can be, do, or have anything they want. This book operates under the claim that it will help you manifest your desires. But buyers beware, the authors take no responsibility for anything you are unable to manifest using their processes and there are no objective means for testing how well you are doing. And based on the logic presented within the book, even if you are unable to manifest something: All is well. I do not recommend this book to someone trying to manifest something, but rather to someone who wants to become a devotee of one of the most popular channels of our time. When you find yourself needing to listen to their CDs and watch their youtube videos more than anything else, that's when you know you've found a friend.
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xoxo
Kyra