Louise Hay’s initial success came from convincing AIDs and HIV patients that they could heal their illnesses using the mental processes that she herself had allegedly used to cure her vaginal cancer. Out of the many AIDs patients who have followed her over a span of nearly 30 years, it is remarkable that we have yet to hear of a documented case of someone who cured themselves of AIDs/HIV because of Hay’s materials.
Despite the lack of proof behind her work’s validity, Hay has managed to create a media empire, including a successful publishing house and online radio channel. Though the immense success of her business is unquestionable, the many authors she promotes are. She is the publisher of the notorious charlatan Sylvia Browne, former Amway star Jerry Hicks, plagiarist Neale Donald Walsch, and the bogus credentialed Caroline Myss and Doreen Virtue. Regardless of the dubious nature of their careers, she seems to be more concerned about their net worth than she is the authenticity of their teachings. In fact, when asked what she thought of the validity of Sylvia Browne by The New York Times, she even said, “Now don’t ask me that. She’s one of our most popular authors.” It is evident she isn’t willing to hop on Browne’s rocking boat, except to get a little commission out of the cash-cow Browne has created.
On top of her complete disregard for authenticity, she doesn’t even care that many of her author’s teachings do not agree with each other. Take Caroline Myss, for example, who regularly on her radio program dismisses the notion of doing things because they “feel good”. Yet this is a major principle in Jerry and Esther Hicks’ teachings. Myss and the Hickses are all top Hay House authors. Perhaps Hay is far too busy repeating affirmations for wealth and abundance to notice the discrepancy. On the other, more likely hand, she doesn’t care because she is just after a percentage of their sales. I would accuse Hay of being as irresponsible as Oprah Winfrey in her promotion of such garbage, but I actually give Oprah more credit than Hay, believe that she is foolishly buying into the validity of the authors she supports. Hay, on the other, in my opinion, is just after the money and is willing to let whoever manages to weasel their way to the top of the New Age circuit into her home.
With books leaping onto The New York Times Best Sellers list, people purchasing overpriced tickets to her I Can Do it! Conferences, and even more people tuning in to her online radio channel, Hay can easily retire from the responsibility of anyone’s problems that derive from following the pseudoscience of any of her authors’ materials. Now, she can sit back and let the wheels that she has set into motion continue to hypnotize people into believing the alleged validity of New Age philosophy, as borrowed from Dark Age woo. The more I look at Hay’s career, the more I become convinced that she is nothing more than a fragmented avatar of the equally inauthentic founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy.
xoxo
Kyra
Prior to reading Louise's books I had chronic migraines that the doctors failed to treat properly. After suffering for 10 years I read Louise's book "You Can Heal Your Life" and I cured my migraines. I went on to cure my acne, my acid re flux and a nail fungus that doctors could not assist me with. In fact, I was told by a Doctor my nail needed to be removed and that it may never grow back. You need to check your facts. There's too much scientific proof backing this for people to continue calling it a pseudo-science.
ReplyDelete" There's too much scientific proof backing this...."
DeleteProve it - post links and sources to peer reviewed scientific articles.
Kyra you're a miserable douche bag writing this bullshit. You're just jealous, such a hater
ReplyDeleteNobody is the end all be all, that's for sure. However, I find it comical that you beat up on her and others in this profession, as if they're doing something wrong. Actually, it is true that you put yourself into a state of feeling as good as possible so you can then have the ability to share or give to others. I guess this is garbage and "wrong" to do in your assessment. By the way, none of this is new age material anyways. If you read the bible, you can see the stories within the scriptures that mirror exactly what they are saying. Because it's said in a different light, or spin if you will, people like you choose to disregard it as nonsense. What these people are doing is trying to help provide value in other peoples lives, and they are simply rewarded for their services. The money is simply the pass through and who cares how much they do or don't make. Keep an open mind, these are people who care.
ReplyDeleteYou've obviously never read any of her books. Because if you did you'd know that she explicitly asserts that her teachings are not a replacement for conventional medicine, but are rather a supplement.
ReplyDeleteI've read Louise's "You Can Heal Your Life" and it helped me tremendously when I was being sucked in by the dark side of Corporate America. Through her help, I literally transformed my daily habit of negative thinking into *way* more positive thinking. That's the core of her teachings: think more positively, create better thinking habits. Today, I'm much happier and I'm no longer chained to a cubicle, and I'm way more successful and healthier than I've ever been. And I truly credit Louise for helping me get started on my new and better path.
So go ahead and be skeptical, but the truth of the matter is... you really don't know what you're talking about. I would recommend Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life" over and over and over to anyone experiencing any kind of mental anguish.
Hey Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteIt appears that it is actually you who have not read my work. I've never written that Louise Hay says that her teachings are a replacement for conventional medicine. Rather, I have explained the absurdity of her claims and ideas.
xoxo
Thank you for your good work here Kyra. Without appearing as self-serving as the Hick's are, I have written a fairly comprehensive book on why the so-called "law" of attraction is completely without merit in part by researching the historical roots of this concept, particularly those of William Atkinson in 1906. The title is "The Principle" by True Indigo and is available on Amazon. Where does the "it's just like gravity" mantra used by LoA cultists come from? Because William Atkinson said so. What evidence did he supply for this conclusion? None. Because he said so. Considering this magical new "law" that supposedly rules every single force in nature, including gravity, electromagnetism, nuclear forces, all force, all motion - everything - one would imagine at least one - just one - piece of physical evidence or mathematical equation would be required to assert its existence. None. By the way, I have offered a $1,000,000 payment to anyone - anyone - anywhere - who can produce one shred of evidence that this "law" exists. This offer is legally binding by the way. After one year, apparently no one is interested in "attracting" the money. Is this possibly because it is entirely invented?
ReplyDeleteits only magic in the way that electricity was magic before Tesla, what your looking for is the root of all physics & all spirituality, it is THE law that governs the "resonance" or "energy signature" of string theory. We have proven the probability of its existence mathematically to a degree of near certainty, yet the physical proof , and the ability to manipulate such power lies in the quantum realm, a realm of science so physically minute that even the known forces behave outside of the "laws" we normally observe them following. When we have unraveled this mystery your million dollar payment will have little comparative value to the worth of such an evolutionary leap in our understanding of reality and its infinite possible manifestations but I will gladly accept a cashiers check all the same. :)
DeleteI do not believe that most spiritualists in the self-help game have, or even want a clear understanding of the actual scientific premise of a the unified theory.
I do believe that if they were as committed to the altruistic ideals they preach that they would be writing books and giving seminars for free, but just because the messengers are flawed profiteers and their delivery is careless and clumsy that does not make science into magic.
The "Law of Attraction" has many proponents who don't all describe it the same way. Some make it seem that one can think visualize themselves driving a particular new car several times a day, and they will manifest it. Others say not to visualize a particular car, just allow the "Universe" to supply the best car for them because being too specific narrows the opportunities the "Universe has to manifest. Most say that just thinking about the car without feeling the emotional component won't be anything more than wishful thinking. Some say that if you "do the positive thinking/feeling work" a time or two during the day, but spend the rest of the day in negative thinking, you cancel out the positive. Some say that visualizing, affirming, and raising your emotional vibrations to the "correct" place must be accompanied by actual actions leading in the direction you wish to go.
ReplyDeleteBut really, isn't that people get dreams accomplished? By focusing on getting what they want/where they wish to go longer than they spend watching tv or grousing about others or their situation? Getting excited, passionate about it, and taking actions to accomplish the desire/goal? And changing one's thinking from blaming self or others, from feeling
not good enough, or not up to the talk is surely beneficial to reaching goals. Some people can figure this out for themselves, especially if they've been raised in negative environments where this kind of thinking wasn't modeled to them. So in that way all the Law of Attraction thinking can help people. So what if it's couched in metaphysical or "new physics" terminology? However people learn to change their thinking habits and action habits so they have more drive to accomplish their dreams is fine with me.
Kyra I agree...and I disagree. I disagree because what you universally label as "pseudo-science and other Woo" has, with the advent of new technologies and quantum theories a rapidly increasing basis in credible scientific proof (ie: "The Quantum Doctor" Amit Goswami). Almost without exception, the basic underlying premise behind all of these authors is one of spirituality and universal connection with whatever force it is that neither the scientist nor the mystic can explain but that both ultimately are trying to understand. It is "the universal force" in physics it is "God" or "Yahweh" or "the Great Mother" or so many other names in different faith traditions. Understanding this it is hard to deny that endeavoring to create a stronger faith or spiritual connection creates a less stressful and so more healthy state of mind. A healthy frame mind, by extension, is a powerful force indeed and countless studies prove its positive effect on peoples lives.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I haven't had much luck manifesting a Bentley just yet but I am open to the experience should it occur.
I AGREE with you that many of these self-styled, self-help gurus are primarily interested in helping themselves and find your cynicism well placed in that regard but ask "Aren't you preaching to the choir here? I mean, it is despicable for charlatans to raise false hope while divesting their followers but on the other hand if the undelying grain of truth that thees folks dress in all manner of hogwash is enough to pull a few tortured souls on to peace isn't it just as well to let them. The ones who believe wont stop on your word and the ones who already don't well they don't really need your help to see their point of view any clearer...do they?
Hey James Cook,
DeleteI appreciate your comment. I don't agree that what I label as pseudoscience has credible proof because of quantum physics. More often than not, new age charlatans and gurus fill the gaps of (the questions presented by) quantum physics with pseudoscientific answers. In other words, because quantum physics is a difficult concept for people to get, it's easy for them to spin people's heads around in circles by taking things we understand about quantum physics and perverting it to meet their mystical premise. Attempts like these are rampant with woo-docudramas like The Secret and What the Bleep Do We Know, where people mix quantum ideas with blatant nonsense.
You say countless studies prove that a healthy frame of mind is a powerful force. I have not disagreed that it is powerful. I certainly think it's beneficial to my life. I think a lot of people have achieved great things because they thought optimistically. But it's one thing to say it's powerful. It's another thing to say it cures cancer, AIDs, and Parkinson's. And studies are not showing that it does this. There are even studies showing that positive thinking doesn't have such a beneficial effect. Coyne's research on cancer survival and emotional states is interesting to note.
Regarding "preaching to the choir," I've answered this several times on the blog, but here I go again. I didn't create this blog to convert people who already followed these gurus. This blog is for people who are moving away from them and are looking for information like this, as I once was. It's also for people who've just heard about these gurus from friends or family and who want to find out if it's right for them. I want them to have another perspective available to them. I never have attempted or desired to pull someone out of their belief in this stuff because I've never believed that was possible.
Thanks again for the comment.
It is wonderful to find someone with a thoughtful mind! Keep up the good work Kyra!!
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