Harry Palmer claims to be a psychologist who "discovered" Avatar in a flotation tank. In reality, he is a former Scientologist who emulates L. Ron Hubbard's career and teachings.
July 6, 2005 (Press Release) --
ORLANDO, FL - Unlike Scientology, the Avatar movement has no celebrity following, and doesn't claim religious status. Star's Edge Inc. is a for-profit personal development enterprise that "contributes to an enlightened planetary civilization." (In Scientologese, "a cleared planet.")
But critics say Avatar is a cult, pointing out that founder Harry Palmer studied Scientology and headed a "mission" in upstate New York for nearly 15 years before being excommunicated in 1986. Then he had an epiphany: "If Ron [Hubbard] could do it, I can do it too!" he exclaimed, says a former staff member. Months later, Palmer introduced the Avatar Course to disaffected Scientologists, promising "the entire Scientology bridge, the Buddhic path and beyond." He claimed the techniques were "discovered" during sensory deprivation experiments in a flotation tank. To ensure "proper transmission" –and control -- he says the processes must be kept confidential and proprietary. Those who have analyzed the course say it's an amalgam of New Age affirmations, Scientology drills, autohypnosis and Tibetan mediation techniques.
The key process involves the "discreation" of negative beliefs, visualized in trance as thought-forms or "bubbles." After one vanishes, the vacuum in mental space can be replaced with a better belief. After the course, most students experience a strong euphoria that may last for weeks. Once the high wears off, some say they have experienced anxiety, obsessive thoughts, or deep depression resembling the downside of bipolar disorder. If they ask for advice, they're told to repeat the course and experience deeper levels-- or better yet, sign up for the next one.
The basic Avatar course is delivered by about 1,000 licensed "Masters" who pay a royalty of 15-25% of a prescribed course fee ($2,395 US). They in turn recruit their students to take the Master course. Once provisionally licensed, they pay "supervision fees" to intern under the original Master under a multi-level marketing arrangement.
Palmer now says he is an "educational psychologist," apparently to camouflage his history; but a public records reveal that he has never held a mental health credential. Despite the self-conferred title, some of his teachings express antipathy toward conventional health care. Avatar Masters have advised students with bipolar disorder to discontinue medication. The results weren't pretty.
At the annual Wizard Course ($7,500), students learn that drugs and surgery are misguided attempts at healing, because all human ills-- including AIDS and cancer-- are really caused by "entities," possessive spirits that are exorcised using telepathic commands similar to Scientology's techniques to eliminate "body thetans." There’s also outer space mythology: an intergalactic "blight bomb" caused by indoctrination experiments gone awry on the planet Karsak of Triton. Scientology's evil galactic overlord Xenu has not yet appeared.
Like Scientology's bizarre myths, these doctrines are kept secret until students are “prepared” -- or sufficiently indoctrinated to accept them. An even bigger secret may be that they're recycled from Scientology.
Star's Edge: www.avatarepc.com
An exposé: www.avatarscam.com
History: www.scientology-kills.org/avatar/avatar.htm
But critics say Avatar is a cult, pointing out that founder Harry Palmer studied Scientology and headed a "mission" in upstate New York for nearly 15 years before being excommunicated in 1986. Then he had an epiphany: "If Ron [Hubbard] could do it, I can do it too!" he exclaimed, says a former staff member. Months later, Palmer introduced the Avatar Course to disaffected Scientologists, promising "the entire Scientology bridge, the Buddhic path and beyond." He claimed the techniques were "discovered" during sensory deprivation experiments in a flotation tank. To ensure "proper transmission" –and control -- he says the processes must be kept confidential and proprietary. Those who have analyzed the course say it's an amalgam of New Age affirmations, Scientology drills, autohypnosis and Tibetan mediation techniques.
The key process involves the "discreation" of negative beliefs, visualized in trance as thought-forms or "bubbles." After one vanishes, the vacuum in mental space can be replaced with a better belief. After the course, most students experience a strong euphoria that may last for weeks. Once the high wears off, some say they have experienced anxiety, obsessive thoughts, or deep depression resembling the downside of bipolar disorder. If they ask for advice, they're told to repeat the course and experience deeper levels-- or better yet, sign up for the next one.
The basic Avatar course is delivered by about 1,000 licensed "Masters" who pay a royalty of 15-25% of a prescribed course fee ($2,395 US). They in turn recruit their students to take the Master course. Once provisionally licensed, they pay "supervision fees" to intern under the original Master under a multi-level marketing arrangement.
Palmer now says he is an "educational psychologist," apparently to camouflage his history; but a public records reveal that he has never held a mental health credential. Despite the self-conferred title, some of his teachings express antipathy toward conventional health care. Avatar Masters have advised students with bipolar disorder to discontinue medication. The results weren't pretty.
At the annual Wizard Course ($7,500), students learn that drugs and surgery are misguided attempts at healing, because all human ills-- including AIDS and cancer-- are really caused by "entities," possessive spirits that are exorcised using telepathic commands similar to Scientology's techniques to eliminate "body thetans." There’s also outer space mythology: an intergalactic "blight bomb" caused by indoctrination experiments gone awry on the planet Karsak of Triton. Scientology's evil galactic overlord Xenu has not yet appeared.
Like Scientology's bizarre myths, these doctrines are kept secret until students are “prepared” -- or sufficiently indoctrinated to accept them. An even bigger secret may be that they're recycled from Scientology.
Star's Edge: www.avatarepc.com
An exposé: www.avatarscam.com
History: www.scientology-kills.org/avatar/avatar.htm
Email
Print
SPAM
LEAVE A COMMENT
