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Francis Talbot

2017-07-17T09:33:52Z

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[[image:Manitonquat2.png|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies. Despite having a completely Euro-American ancestry, Talbot claims to be a member and even a medicine person, resp. "ceremonial medicine man" of the Wampanoag nation. His clientele are mainly affluent white middle-class Euro-Americans and Europeans with whom he previously also meant to initiate a new „tribe“ on his premises in New England.

==Biography==
Talbot was born into a family of entrepreneurs with him as well his ancestors all being listed as „white“ in past census records dating back into the 1840ies.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610 </ref> He did a course of studies at Cornell University and became a playwright under the names of „Story Talbot“ and „F. Story Talbot“ and further claims to have been an actor and theatre director, too.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> He is also apostrophied as a founder, co-founder, resp. early member of the Rainbow Gatherings.

===Claims of being Indigenous===
[[image:Manitonquat3.jpg|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
Most biographical information available online apparently copies Talbot's various claims of being a member of the Wampanoag of Massachusetts. Later on, affiliation claims changed to the Mashpee Wampanoag, then Gay Head Wampanoag, both federally recognised since the 1970ies<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashpee_Wampanoag_Tribe</ref> and as of 1987 respectively.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_Tribe_of_Gay_Head </ref> Finally, Talbot now claims to be an enrolled member of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5169#msg5169 </ref> who received recognition by the state of Massachusetts as recent as 1990 and who are not federally recognised.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_people#Assonet_Band_of_the_Wampanoag_Nation </ref> Several websites and also books contend that Talbot was ''"the powwah, or spiritual leader, and the minatou, or keeper of the lore"'' of the Assonet Band, a claim which has particularly been brought forward in two books by Newage author Steve McFadden.<ref>Profiles in Wisdom: Steve McFadden: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.) and Legend of the Rainbow Warriors, 1989, 2001, 2005 Lincoln NE (portions originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co. Of Santa Fe NM under the title „Ancient Voices, Current Affairs: The Legend of the Rainbow Warriors“)</ref>

Facts notwithstanding, Talbot continues to claim an indigenous state and e.g. in his 2015 schedule announces his participation in an alleged "Annual Sequanakeeswash in Assonet MA"<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> which gets described as the beginning of the new year in Wampanoag culture.<ref>see e.g. http://webspacero.bplaced.net/Thema/spiritual/Manitonquat%20%96%20What%20is%20a%20tribe_3.pdf </ref> It is therefore to be noticed that a Google search for this term yields a mere five results, all of whom are in connection to Talbot, with most of them on sites run by him.

Talbot also claims to have been „part of the North American Indian Spiritual Unity Movement“<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> and a co-founder of a Tribal-Healing Council. However, Google results for both organisations mainly yield websites copying Talbot's biographical information, so their existence in former years up until today cannot be verified independently.

====Akwesasne Notes====
Further claims include Talbot used to be the editor, resp. the editor responsible for poetry and politics, resp. the columnist, resp. a „writer and poet“ for the internationally well-known journal ''Akwesasne Notes''. However, the information available on the journal does not verify such claims. The journal was founded by Kaientaronkwen Ernie Benedict in 1968, with its first editor a non-indigenous Canadian, Jerry Gambill, who received the Mohawk name of Rarihokwats. ''Akwesasne Notes'' covered many indigenous issues not restricted to the Americas, but also of Australia, Tibet, and China.<ref>http://www.historyandtheheadlines.abc-clio.com/contentpages/ContentPage.aspx?entryId=1171842&currentSection=1161468&productid=5</ref> The editors following Gambill were all from the Iroqois Nation: Professor John Mohawk, Peter Blue Cloud, Doug George-Kanentiio<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 9ff</ref>, and finally from 1992-1998 Darren Bonaparte and Salli Benedict.<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 11</ref> It seems highly probable that Talbot upholds this claim in order to exploit the reputation this publication built up particularly in Europe, while at the same time using its reputation to provide himself with an air of authenticity.

===Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims===
Talbot's claims of an indigenous status have also been discussed publically on internet forums, as they e.g. were repeated in several articles in the English and German Wikipedias. The English Wikipedia still carries an article on "Manitonquat"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitonquat </ref>, despite publically accessible information about Talbot's true background. The German Wikipedia runs an article on the "Talking Stick" used by Talbot, with the article completely lacking quotations but recommending one of Talbot's books as information material.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redestab </ref> Quite in line with Talbot's presentation, the German language article apparently views Talking Sticks as generically indigenous, while the English Wikipedia<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_stick </ref> correctly places them within the context of the North-West cultural region of North America.

Up until December 2006, German Wikipedia mentioned Talbot in their article on the Wampanoag Nation, characterising him as an outstanding member of the nation. Due to discussions in other internet forums that year, a Wikipedia user raised the issue in the article's talk section, providing a link to a post submitted by a member of the organisation team of the German summer camp. In this post, the team member stated that many persons coming to the camp in fact knew that Talbot was not indigenous but white, and that Talbot freely admitted this fact upon inquiry, which the team member apparently viewed positively. Due to this information, Talbot was deleted from the article, which in turn caused the team member to try and intervene with Wikipedia, contending that he should have phrased his post somewhat differently, had he known it was going to be used as a reference by Wikipedia.<ref>http://www.newikis.com/de/wiki/Diskussion:Wampanoag#Manitonquat </ref>

==Projects and Activities==
Since Talbot has been active as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies, he has engaged in various activities both in the USA and in Europe, like working with prisoners and youths, alleged drug counseling, and of course selling seminars and workshops as well as doing so-called summer camps in various European countries.

===Co-Counseling===
Talbot also practices and teaches [[Re-evaluation Counselling|Co-Counseling]], a dubious psychothereapeutic method which is not recognised academically. Co-Counselling is a stable part of all of Talbot's summer camps.

This method was founded by Harvey Jackins during the 1950ies and 1960ies who at that time was considerably influenced by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s Dianetics which he had joined as a member and auditor. RC resp. Co-Counseling is based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and [[Scientology]] to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Its target audience is a broad political left, particularly anti-racist, feminist, or environmentally minded movements. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

===Prison Work and Counseling===
Talbot has been active as an alleged medicine person providing spiritual aid to Native prison inmates in several jails in the New England area via „Mettanokit Outreach“, an organisation founded by himself. Talbot himself mentions prisons in two federal states, Massachussetts and Connecticut, while another website claims "[o]ffering Native American circles in 7 New England prisons for 25 years, with sweat lodge, circles, and counseling"<ref>http://www.oneheartfestival.se/index.php/workshop-leaders/event/Guides?layout=tiles</ref>, but providing no information regarding the prisons served or the number of prisoners served presently.

There are reports of Talbot actively discouraging enrolled indigenous persons from participating in the meetings and ceremonies organised by him while instead encouraging so-called „Pretendians“<ref>This term characterises ethnically white persons falsely claiming indigenous descent and aculturation.</ref> and other non-indigenous persons.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272</ref> There are also accounts of Talbot showing nude photos of his wife to the inmates he was supposed to give spiritual care to, to a group of prisoners his wife was also working with.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272 </ref>

As of 2015, the organisation "Mettanokit Outreach" is still listed on various sites as an association working with prisoners, but links provided do no longer work. It is therefore not quite clear whether the organisation still exists or may have been dissolved, with Talbot continuing to offer services as an alleged medicine person to the Bureau of Prisons.

Although some publications and biographical notes mention Talbot offering counseling work „for native families, alcohol & drug abuse counseling“<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt</ref>, this cannot be verified from neutral sources but is mentioned on his own resp. sites and publications repeating his claims. Having studied theatre and been a playwright and actor previously, Talbot does not qualify for such counseling work, and his claim of being a Re-evalutation Counseller also will not qualify him for such services. The aforementioned text, an advertising piece published in the usenet group „alt.gathering.rainbow“ in 1993, also seeks to attract funding for the alleged counseling programmes, as well as for an „Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council", or the "Wampanoag Reservation Improvement Fund“.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref> The same text, with just a few adjustments, is also published on German Amazon in the way of „product information“ for a 2009 publication by Talbot.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/RETURN-TO-CREATION-Manitonquat/dp/143634705X </ref> It is perhaps noteworthy that one of the two previously mentioned indigenous non-profit organisations for whom donations were also asked in the 1993 text had meanwhile been omitted, although still existing, and replaced by another Talbot project, „The Nature School Foundation“.

===Mettanokit compound and The Nature School Foundation===
Originally, the name Mettanokit was applied to the premises in Greenville, New Hampshire owned by Talbot, which was described as ''„a non-profit learning center and service organization working for a more human society based on the old values of cooperation and equality and the closeness and caring found in our elder tribal societies“''.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> In earlier publications, the community also got described as an ''„intentional community of people learning to retribalize“'', thus indicating its participants as non-indigenous, even if the text ambiguously continues that Mettanokit ''„serves as a model for self-sufficient living, and is also a learning experience for people removed from their tribal roots“''.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref>

According to information provided by Talbot, the community was founded in 1978, when some 50 persons gathered in response to rallying posters reading „Have you lost your tribe“ in the New England area. Talbot claims to have founded the „small tribe“ according to a dream he had in the night of this first gathering, with its name Mettanokit allegedly meaning „Our Mother Earth“. The group establishing their residence at the premises apparently also joined structures like the „Federation of Egalitarian Communities“ and the annual „Northeastern Communities Conference“. Although Talbot does not provide any exact dates or years, he seems to have sought access to organisations representing so-called intentional communities and ecovillages fairly early, and it also seems he likewise established access to Newage events like the „New England Healing Arts Fair“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the place's history reports a subsequent further land purchase of an allegedly highly indebted neighbouring compound and that the community managed to pay off mortgage plus debts within ten years. The premises then seem to have suffered badly in a fire during the 1990ies which destroyed the main building, and the community was not able to rebuild the house since their fire insurance showed deficient coverage. The community therefore disbanded, with only Talbot and wife remaining on the compound. He claims the premises were later on sold to „The Nature School of Massachusetts“, agreeing to grant Talbot continuing use of the house he inhabited. Later on, another adjacent property seems to have been bought and according to Talbot's account, they immediately began operating as „an educational-healing retreat center“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the earlier history of his premises and the newly founded tribe furthermore is somewhat countered by an article published by the ''Boston Globe'' in 1992 mentioning rather modest numbers of participants:
:''"F. Story Talbot, Cornell '54, lived in New York City, writing and producing plays off-off Broadway for 12 years until he looked about him and saw the city as it was, crime and fear of crime, dirt and death, and decided he was not prepared to stay in that place. [...] He lives in a house trailer in the woods of this town, on 15 acres of what had been a community of 15 like souls now reduced to four people, including himself and his Swedish wife, Ellika."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604</ref>

When the Nature School project allegedly ran into financial problems, Talbot – still living on the premises – is said to have taken over the land onto his name, which suggests another purchase having taken place.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg15574#msg15574 </ref> Although various advertisements for a „Nature School Foundation“ based in Greenville, New Hampshire are still to be found online<ref>see e.g. http://www.idealist.org/view/org/XmzDTFx6mDbD/?orgs_view=funders&orgs_page=1 </ref>, the foundation's website is no longer existent and on an official website, the foundation is characterised as „not in good standing“, presumably for failing to hand in necessary documentation.<ref>https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?894451 </ref>

Additionally, a person by the name of Donna Dills continues a LinkedIn profile announcing her as the „owner“ of „The Nature School Foundation, Inc.“ since 2002<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/13/557/5a1 </ref>, while in another LinkedIn profile, Dills claims to be the foundation's CEO.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/3/971/bb8 </ref> In a document found online, Talbot mentions his "daughter Donna"<ref>http://www.freemitchellstein.com/Decl.Talbot_ReplyRelease.pdf </ref>, although it does not get specified whether Ms Dills is in fact a biological daughter or whether this was an honorary form of addressing her.

The project apparently suffered some financial problems in 2006, when Talbot appealed to European supporters for donations to be able to meet mortgage instalments, as he claimed to have run up arrears amounting to $ 6,400.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5086#msg5086 </ref> A few years later in 2012, the project once again faced dire straits and donations for an overall amount of $ 75,000 were asked this time, allegedly to be able to make a final payment for the premises, raising pressure on potential donours employing the claim the amount had to be raised within less than two weeks.<ref>http://www.sabine-lichtenfels.com/en/Ring_of_Power_Feedback.html</ref> Talbot contended the mortgage had been bought by a locust bank who nevertheless had agreed to settle the matter at a payment of $ 75,000, although the compound had been estimated at some $ 250,000.<ref>http://www.circleway.de/emergency.html </ref> The appeal, however, does not quite specify the original amount of the mortgage nor the amount still outstanding at that particular point in time, and there is no update regarding whether Talbot had been able to raise a sufficient amount.

The premise's finances still seemed in danger two years later though, as there were follow-up appeals asking for donations with deadlines being extended several times still in April 2014 published on Talbot's blog, <ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref> and e.g. on mailing lists organising so-called eco-villages<ref>http://lists.europe.ecovillage.org/pipermail/general/2014-February/000064.html </ref>, with again no further information provided whether deadlines were met successfully or not. The compound probably remains a potential fundraising object.

===Summer Camps===
Annual summer camps with Talbot offering so-called teachings, complemented by co-counseling, have been established in several European countries. Although places may vary from year to year, camps as well as other events are more or less organised regularly in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark, with the most stable ones in Germany and Austria. In 2015, there is also one camp advertised in Alfriston, GB.<ref>http://englandevents.co.uk/alfriston-circle-way-camp-with-manitonquat-amp-ellika-8-12/352771 </ref> Additionally, Talbot also regularly takes part in camps organised by other vendors, like ZEGG resp. GEN-Europe in 2014<ref>http://www.circleway.de/ </ref> or in the camp organised by German Bear Tribe in 2015.<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> Another camp Talbot participated in during the 2015 season was the Austrian Roots Camp whose organisers are apparently recognised as a non-profit association and do not only sell seminars, camps etc. on the Newage market, but also for Austrian youths and for adolescent refugees, with camps for the latter group most probably financed with public monies.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROOTS-Camp/331002428312?fref=photo&ref=stream </ref> Roots Camp seems to be working according to Talbot's so-called teachings and also publishes donation requests on behalf of Talbot.

In Germany, three camps with Talbot are being organised on a regular basis. One summer camp in Bavaria, another one in Oelde, and a "Circle Way Leadership Camp" which also takes place in Bavaria. Additionally, workshops and seminars are being offered by varying organisers. In 2015, a particular effort apparently took place in Italy, with one camp, one seminar, one workshop being organised, plus an event for solstice and one at an Elfin community<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref>, although the latter event only gets mentioned at Talbot's own website.

The camps taking place in Bavaria since several years are organised by a "Light on Earth Institute" run by Stefan and Julia Mandel. Stefan Mandel is an alternative practitioner, but also sells various indigenous ceremonies. Besides Talbot, he also cooperates with the so-called council of "13 grandmothers", with [[Jens Lyberth]] aka Angaangaq, and organises travels to [[Joao de Deus]]. Furthermore he claims to be a "pipe carrier". Apart from the camps with Talbot, the Mandels also organise an annual "Pacha Mama Camp" promoting varying plastic shamans active on a national level as well as internationally. The camp in Oelde also has been organised since years, although the organising committee seems to have replaced.

====Camp Fees====
Prices asked for participation in a camp may vary somewhat, also in accordance with the length of the respective camp. It has to be noted that the amounts asked in the way of camp fees will mainly cover "teachings" provided by Talbot, and at least used to cover costs occuring to the organising team in the way of preparatory meetings and other expenses.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5080#msg5080 </ref>

The Austrian Circle Way Camp lasts for five days. Early bookers will receive a substantial rebate with the price of €270, while regular prices are €310 (low income), €350 (normal income), and €390 (including a solidarity amount to make up for losses on low income participants' rebates). Children between the ages of 6 to 18 will pay €77, while persons brought along by participants to facilitate childcare during the "teachings" will pay €140. Accomodation in participants' own tent or camper is included, as is accomodation in a communal dormitory.<ref>http://nahopra.synology.me/wordpress/ </ref>

The Bavarian camp, lasting nine days, differentiates prices for early bookers (€330, €410, €499 for low, normal, and high income tariffs) with prices later on rising to €390, €499, and €590 respectively. Children between 5 and 8 will be charged €90. Accomodation in participants' own tent will be charged with €6 per night, a double room amounts to €50, a single room to €35 which will have to be paid additionally to the aforementioned amount. Meals are charged at €77 for eleven lunches, while all other meals will have to be provided and paid for by participants themselves. A price of €7 per vegetarian or vegan lunch suggests that this amount is above cost price.<ref>http://www.light-on-earth.com/camp-mit-manitonquat.html </ref>

For the 2014 five-day camp in Sweden, fees asked of adult participants were SEK 3,750 (€397) and SEK 3,200 (€339), with age groups 15-25 paying SEK 2,050 resp. SEK 1,300 (€ 219 and € 139 ) and 4-14 paying SEK 1,000 resp. SEK 900 (€ 107 and € 96).<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref> Accomodation on a mattress in a dormitory was charged with SEK 100 (€10) per night resp. SEK 200 (€ 21) per person and night in a double room resp. SEK350 (€37) for a double room with own bath, and SEK500 (€53) in a single room.<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref>

===Sales of Indigenous Ceremonies===
At least in Germany, Talbot also seems to have sold indigenous ceremonies resp. to have "initiated" students and "authorised" them to offer respective services. One student of Talbot's mentions: ''"With Manitonquat (Medicine Story), an Elder of the Wampanoag Indians, I have participated in a workshop to become a sweatlodge leader in 1998."''<ref>http://www.kristallfamilie.de/index.php/gerold-vo%C3%9F.html </ref> Another client from Austria claims to have received an ''"initiation into Northern Indian'' [sic] ''way of life and to "Life in a Circle" by Manitonquat-Medicine Story"''.<ref>http://evaauerfillafer.wix.com/neuesbewusstsein#!eva-auer-fillafer/c16fm</ref>

The aforementioned 1992 article in the ''Boston Globe'' confirms Talbot exploiting indigenous spirituality:
:''"He ... does a one-man show based on the life of Black Elk, a Sioux holy man. [...]
:''He conducts spiritual circles in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki and returns to those cities "over and over." Where there is a suitable place, he constructs a sweat lodge."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604 </ref>

Although the scarcity of Google results in this respect suggests Talbot meanwhile may have stopped these alleged initiations, there still are persons claiming him as their teacher in this field and there was online evidence of his still selling sweatlodges in 2006.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256 </ref>

====Talking Sticks and Clans====
Talbot however still uses components of indigenous cultures and social organisation in his teachings and during his summer camps. One of these is the promotion of using Talking Sticks which he apparently introduces as more or less generically indigenous. Talking Sticks were e.g. used throughout the cultural region of the North-West, but not in the North-Eastern Woodland cultural region, to which the Wampanoag will belong, therefore it seems that Talbot is mixing traditions. His making use of Talking Sticks and clan organisation patterns also suggest that he views these aspects as a sales pitch granting him more authenticity.

Another aspect is his practice of arranging participants of his summer camps in so-called "clans" of some six to eight persons. Although some indigenous nations were organised in clans, this is not true for all of them. Generally speaking a clan is a sub-unit of an ethnic entity whose members share an actual or perceived kinship and descent<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan</ref>, which is certainly not the case with camp participants. The rather limited number of clan members in these camps is likewise ridiculous and does in no way reflect indigenous customs.

However, as of 2015, more organisations in contact with Talbot seem inclined to take up this practice, as meanwhile German [[Calumed e.V.]] introduces a "Medicine Clan" on their website which apparenly also employs Talking Sticks as well as pipe ceremonies, medicine wheel ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.calumed.de/seminare-und-veranstaltungen/medicine-clan.php </ref>

The 2015 [[ZEGG]] summer camp, in which Talbot will appear as a lecturer, also announces to organise participants in "clans" of some twenty to thirty persons.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/summercamp-at-zegg.phtml </ref>

==Cooperation with other plastic shamans and vendors on the Newage Market==

Due to his being active since the 1970ies, Talbot has associated with various Newage projects and groups over the years.

===Rainbow Gatherings===
Apparently, Talbot participated in the Rainbow Gatherings already fairly early, according to an account rendered in a publication from the first gathering in 1972.<ref>Steve McFadden: Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.)</ref> The Rainbow Gatherings, however, are no indigenous meetings but attract a largely white clientele from the hippie subculture and from counterculture environments. They organise annual meetings at differing locations in the USA, usually on land in federal ownership and very often at or close to sites sacred to one or more indigenous nations.<ref>The main 2015 US meeting was scheduled to take place in the Black Hills which are held sacred by several indigenous nations who strongly objected the meeting and particularly opposed drug abuse there as well as free sexuality taking place in areas sacred to them. Part of the Rainbow Gathering clientele then withdrew from the plan to gather in the Black Hills, while another part, not bothered by facts, insisted they were welcomed by the indigenous nations and had their permission. Another smaller meeting organised at Mount Shasta, California in July 2015 was closed down by a cease and desist order effected by the Winnemem Wintu Nation.</ref> <ref>http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/14/protect-he-sapa-stop-cultural-exploitation</ref> <ref>http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/winnemem-wintu-tribe-gives-cease-desist-order-to-rainbow-family/</ref> As of late, Talbot seems no longer actively participating in these events, presumably since they are scheduled at the beginning of July annually, at which time Talbot will usually stay in Europe for seminars and camps.

===Bear Tribe===
This organisation was founded by Vincent LaDuke a.k.a. "Sun Bear", who was enrolled Ojibway. However, LaDuke was no medicine person and had no respective training but sold a spirituality and ceremonies tailored to attract an affluent white clientele. The range of commerce e.g. included an alleged traditional "Indian astrology" which based on the usual system, simply replacing the terms used for the signs of the zodiac with alleged indigenous terms (so e.g. "Aquarius" becomes "Otter").

Cooperation between Talbot and LaDuke resp. the Bear Tribe already began in the 1970ies. Talbot's earlier books were published by the Bear Tribe. Presumably, both Talbot and LaDuke sought to further promote themselves by cooperating with another plastic shaman well established with their white clientele.

In 2015, Talbot participated as a lecturer in the annual "Medicine Wheel" camp organised by the German Bear Tribe and made an appearance alongside persons from the US Bear Tribe as well as Brooke "Medicine Eagle" Edwards<ref>https://blog.psiram.com/2015/04/brooke-medicine-eagle-edwards-plastic-shaman-with-some-40-years-of-experience-in-fleecing/ </ref>, another plastic shaman active since the 1970ies who has also cooperated with Bear Tribe for several decades.

===Calumed e.V.===
Calumed e.V. is a German non-profit association active on the Newage market since the 1980ies in various ways. One part of their activities is selling a course in self-management, while another main pillar has been engaging in and selling indigenous spirituality. Their name indicates both fields by employing a pun including both the term "calumet" for a pipe, adding "med" for alternative medicine. However, Calumed e.V. also includes sexuality into the spiritual mix they teach, which is not in accordance with indigenous practice.

The association has been working with [[Larson Medicinehorse]] since at least the end of the 1980ies. Medicinehorse was a regular lecturer at Calumed summer camps, while Calumed members were resp. still are participating in the Sun Dances organised by Medicinehorse. They, too, organise an annual summer camp, for which Talbot at least made an appearance as a lecturer in one year, and one of the German camps of Talbot saw visitors from Calumed e.V., e.g. their founder and president at that point in time, Dieter Jarzombek.

===Intentional Communities and Ecovillages===
These umbrella organisations do not only include projects exploiting and/or selling indigenous spirituality and do not seem to pay much attention to indications that a particular member community may be influenced or even dominated by a cult or cult-like organisation, so that GEN-Europe, as one example, also accept as members eco-villages like "Krishna Valley" from Hungary who are also organised in [[ISKCON]] which is viewed as a cult, or Italian Damanhur, Tamera from Portugal, and [[ZEGG]] from Germany. Another dubious member is "Stamm der Likatier" [Tribe of Licatians, formerly "Stamm Füssen, i.e. "Füssen Tribe"] in Germany which gained some notoriety for having given reason for investigations due to sexual abuse of children, but also managed to raise enough money from their membership to have secretly bought much of the real estate in their home town. The „tribe“ also owns and runs two shops selling Newage gadgets, a publishing house, a real estate company, a health food shop, and its vice president owns a company organising Newage fairs.<ref>https://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php/Stamm_der_Likatier</ref>

In the case of GEN-Europe, it is perhaps not very likely they may detect such influences or view them as problematic, since their council consists of a member of Damanhur (council president), as well as one member each of ZEGG, Tamera, Krishna Valley, and LaBase/Spain (they sell e.g. sweat lodges).<ref>http://gen-europe.org/about-us/gen-europe-council/gen-europe-council/index.htm</ref>

The entry on Talbot published by the Wiki of Intentional Communities again repeats Talbot's claim of being the "ceremonial medicine man of the Assonet Band" as well as other aforementioned claims, although they do include two sources critical of Talbot.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> Over all, the ICWiki views Talbot positively and indicates a far more intense commitment in this environment:
:''"Manitonquat has also spent over forty years with various intentional communities around the world — as founder, participant, and observer — and so has gathered a wealth of intimate knowledge about their various strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective techniques in communal living."''<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/</ref>

According to the ICWiki, Talbot allegedly claims "mixed heritage" with his father having been Wampanoag. They also reconfirm his alleged right to teach indigenous, or indigenous-inspired content, comparing Talbot's efforts to that of the Grimm brothers collecting fairy tales.
At the same time, they aim at minimising criticism raised due to Talbot's cooperation with projects like ZEGG and Tamera. The reliablity of such tactics is somewhat hampered by the fact that the aforementioned projects are also members of the Intentional Community movement, as becomes apparent from a look at their directory<ref>http://www.ic.org/directory/listings/?cmty-country=Germany </ref>: ZEGG, as one example, has been a member since 1999, "Stamm der Likatier" since March 2005. Another dubious member is a project "12 Tribes Klosterzimmern"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities </ref> <ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zw%C3%B6lf_St%C3%A4mme_%28Glaubensgemeinschaft%29 </ref> which gained notoriety recently for denying their children access to medical care and for practicing continued severe corporal punishment on children of all age groups. This project joined in May 2005.

Talbot has made regular appearances as a lecturer at ZEGG summer camps and at the so-called "Summer University" organised by Tamera. He furthermore seems to have been granted the honour of being "the only honorary citizen of ZEGG", as is announced on their Facebook site.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/zegg.gemeinschaft/posts/10152006759952433 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Francis Talbot}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Talbot, Francis}}

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

Water-fuelled car

2017-07-17T09:28:38Z

Omikronn: Rejected the last text change (by 127.0.0.1) and restored revision 2785 by WikiSysop

<pre>Article is in translation and unfinished</pre>
[[image:wasserauto.jpg|200px|thumb]]
According to supporters of [[Free Energy|free energy]], a '''water-fuelled car''' is a hypothetical car using just water for fuel. There are no serious reports known of concept of a successful water-fuelled car.
A water-fuelled car must not be confused with hydrogen vehicles which carry tanks of hydrogen to burn with oxygen as fuel.

==Alleged functional principle==
[[image:wasserauto2.jpg|thumb]]
All water-fuelled car models discussed so far "work" on the same principle: By electrolysis, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen under energy consumption and a normal internal combustion engine is then run on oxyhydrogen. The necessary electrical energy to create the oxyhydrogen with a small electrolysis cell is taken from the alternator and/or a car battery. Such a construction can work for a limited span of time – i.e. until the car battery has been emptied and all [[HHO|oxyhydrogen]] is used up.

Since the electrical energy taken from the alternator would have to surpass the engine output, the missing energy to keep the engine running for a long time has to be supplied by ways based on [[Esotericism|esoteric]] hypotheses lacking scientific recognition. Further concepts discussed by supporters of such concepts are [[Space Energy]] and neutrinos (Neutrinolysis).

==Refitting kits for regular engines==
[[image:wasserauto3.jpg|Refitting kit|thumb]]
[[image:FISS2.jpg|Elektrolysis of the company FISS|thumb]]
Shady profiteers sell refitting kits (e.g. at eBay) which are allegedly enables the conversion of a car with a regular combustion engine into a water-fuelled car. A chemical agent necessary to allow electrolysis, e.g. baking powder, is added.

The company Fiss-Management from Erfurt, Germany (enjoying a rather damaged reputation because of a warning by the Federal Agency for Financial Market Supervision and by "Test" magazine and probably not more than a one-man-show) offers an on-board-electrolysis cell for passenger cars (2,260 €) and trucks (9,520 €). See also: [[Spritsparkarte]] 

==Power efficiency of on-board electrolysis==
The efficiency of an alternator is usually clearly lower than the efficiency of optimized generators; additionally, alternators have to provide electrical output at various and often unfavourable rotational speeds. The efficiency ranges between 50 to 62 percent.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternator#Automotive_alternators</ref> Optimal electrolysis at room temperature (platinum electrodes and optimal potential but not more than 14V) has a maximal efficiency of ≈60%. Appliance of special high temperature electrolysis at about 800 degrees allows to achieve an efficiency of up to 98%. For simple electrolysis cells, sold as extensions, this rate is about a mere 30%. The efficiency of creating hydrogen with gasoline as a fuel is therefore approximately 8%-20%. Using oxyhydrogen as fuel (Brown's Gas) for the engine does not provide 100% either, but is similar to the efficiency of using gasoline. Otto engines only achieve an efficiency of about 30-40%. Moreover, further problems arise due to a higher combustion temperature of hydrogen and result in a higher emission of nitric oxides.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasserstoffwirtschaft</ref>.

The higher temperature also causes a higher abrasion of the engine and a higher load for the cooling system; the increased need for repairs and spare parts has a negative impact on the environmental record of the system.

Conclusion: To try and operate an internal combustion engine with extra oxyhydrogen which is created on-board through electrolysis leads to a higher consumption of fuel. The more oxyhydrogen is created, the more expensive the system will be. Running a car just with oxyhydrogen created by above device leads to 4-5 times more fuel consumption:

* Kinetic energy created by gasoline combustion has an efficiency < 40 %
* The rotating alternator has an efficiency of less than 62%
* Creating hydrogen through electrolysis has an efficiency of about 60% (special optimized electrolysis cell)
* Burning hydrogen with oxygen results in an efficiency of < 40 %

Only about 0,4 x 0,62 x 0,6 x 0,4 = 6% (perhaps 10% at max.) of the gasoline's energy is used. Combustion of just gasoline results in an efficiency of 40% at max. Operating a car only with oxyhydrogen from the on-board electrolysis consumes at least 4 to 5 times as much. Massive usage of this principle (even mixed) would have catastrophic impacts from an ecological point of view due to higher CO2 emissions and result in much higher costs.

Achieving a pure hydrogen operation with the kits offered is illusory since a usual alternator is in no way constructed to provide enough output even for a small car: The maximum output of an alternator (for large executive cars) is about 3,000 W which corresponds roughly to the drive train of a small scooter.

Producing hydrogen gas externally in industrial electrolysis facilities to supply all cars would please only the industries producing nuclear energy and brown coal since the additional huge amounts of electrical energy necessary cannot be provided by renewable energy sources. Additionally, further problems storing hydrogen and high losses would have to be addressed: Unlike gasoline, hydrogen will diffuse through the walls of usual storage tanks, so after some time, the tank will be empty...

Research done in USA proved that such an onboard water electrolysis does not make sense since fuel consumption increases, it does not decrease as claimed.<ref>[http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/how_to/4276846.html?series=19 Popular Mechanics, Artikel ''Water-Powered Cars: Hydrogen Electrolyzer Mod Can't Up MPGs'']</ref><ref>[http://www.wyff4.com/news/17036761/detail.html Greenville News Looking Out 4 You: ''Water 4 Gas Fails to Boost Mileage'']</ref><ref>[http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/CampbellLive/tabid/367/articleID/64717/cat/84/Default.aspx Hydrogen conversion claims put to the test]</ref><ref>http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/07/water4gas.html Consumer Affairs Water4gas</ref>

==Clean World Energies and their H-Reactor==
A company named [[Clean World Energies GmbH]] from the town of Jülich (Germany) advertises their so-called "H-Reactors" and "Super-Cubes" on the German market. The divices are said to decrease fuel consumption and pollution by engines by adding hydrogen. The electrical energy to power their "Electrolyser" is generated by the on-board car battery.

==Ronn Motor Company==
[[image:Ronnscorpion.jpg|left|300px|thumb]]
''Ronn Motor Company'' from Texas<ref>http://www.ronnmotors.com/cms/</ref> sells the ''Scorpion'', a sports car with an alleged consumption of 6 l/100 km (40 miles per gallon) for 150,000 US-Dollars.<ref>http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/auto_-_produkte/hxcms_article_513137_13987.hbs</ref> Manufacturers claim this was due to using the energy of the alternator to produce hydrogen which is then added to the air/fuel mixture and causes the alleged high mileage. The method is called H2GO.

The hydrogen used, created with low efficiency through electrolysis from a small water tank of eleven liters, has to be produced while driving, increasing the consumption. Ronn Motor Company announced it will offer an H2GO Hydrogen-On-Demand (HOD) system for other vehicles allowing to convert existing vehicles for 999 USD to decrease consumption and emissions. Ronn claims consumption was reduced by 20% to 25% and CO2-emission was reduced by 90%. 

A toy car powered by a small fuel cell is marketed with the brand name of H2GO, too. 

==Genepax==
[[image:genepax.jpg|Genepax-Auto|thumb]][[image:haug_genepax.jpg|thumb]]
In June 2008, a Japanese company by the name of ''Genepax Water Energy System'' presented an electric ''water-fuel car'' (Reva) claiming it could be operated by water and air only and needed no more than one litre of water from any water source for a one hour drive at 80 kms/h. Genepax did not reveal the exact nature of the energy source and manufacturers just refer to an unspecified "energy generator" for its Water Energy System (WES), which allegedly is able to split hydrogen from water using some kind of metal hydride and a "chemical reaction". Hydrogen gas is then used as fuel.

The product of the reaction is again water. This principle makes it a [[Perpetual Motion|perpetual motion]] device. With alkali metals (sodium), hydrogen may be won from water: Unfortunately, this would not only set free hydrogen; but oxygen will be bound to the metal and cannot be used. During operation, the metal hydrid will be used up and serve as the actual energy source. It has to be created by using energy. The car therefore is not powered by some miraculous energy from water, it is powered by a primary battery.<ref>http://www.inteldaily.com/?c=120&a=7157</ref> Professional journals like ''Popular Mechanics'' commented upon the alleged miracle car with "rubbish"<ref>http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4271579.html</ref>, while scientific circles ignored it. The website genepax.co.jp was abandoned in February 2009. [[Matthes Haug]] still advertises Genepax as a car which ''runs with water''.

==Water-powered car by Daniel Dingel==
[[image:Dingel1.jpg|Auto-Bild-Article on Dingel|thumb]]
A tinkerer and con man named Daniel Dingel from Manila [http://danieldingel.com/] received worldwide attention when he brought up a "water-powered" car. Dingel claimed his Toyota Corolla was powered by the energy of imploding compressed ether energy. As a result, even reporters of journal Auto-Bild (a German car journal) travelled to the Philippines to report on the scam.

In December 2008 news reports announced Dingel, by now 82 year old, had been sentenced to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment by Parañaque City Regional Trial Court for fraud (''estafa''). He was also sentenced to pay 380.000 Dollars in damages.<ref>http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081220-179008/Inventor-82-gets-20-years-for-estafa</ref> Dingel, who claimed he was not interested in money, had taken 410.000 Dollars from a Dr. John Ding Young of Taiwanese Formosa Plastics Group in 2000, allegedly to continue research on his method. But Dingel was not able to present a "hydrogen generator" and three working cars. After receiving the money, Dingel no longer responded to emails but presented alleged higher offers from competing companies. He claimed he did not want to cooperate with Formosa Plastics Group anymore since he feared for his life. He referred to an inventor named Stan Meyer who was allegedly poisoned by the oil industry in 1998. When the charges against him became known publically, he drew 375.603 Dollar from the bank account opnened for the deposits. The Philippine ''Department of Science and Technology'' called his alleged invention a ''hoax''.<ref>[...]The Department of Science and Technology has dismissed Dingel’s invention as a hoax. Source: INQUIRER, [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081220-179008/Inventor-82-gets-20-years-for-estafa]</ref>

==Weblinks==
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water-fuelled_car
* [http://www.xy44.de/skalar/wasserauto.htm Water-fueled car and [[Konstantin Meyl]]]
* http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/04/why-on-board-hydrogen-generators-wont-boost-your-mileage/

==Quellennachweise==
<references/>

[[category:Free Energy]]
[[category:Pseudoscience]]
[[category:Water]]

Main Page

2017-02-01T11:27:16Z

Omikronn: Undo revision 2791 by 127.0.0.1 (talk)

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Francis Talbot

2015-09-28T23:32:49Z

Omikronn: /* Biography */

[[image:Manitonquat2.png|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies. Despite having a completely Euro-American ancestry, Talbot claims to be a member and even a medicine person, resp. "ceremonial medicine man" of the Wampanoag nation. His clientele are mainly affluent white middle-class Euro-Americans and Europeans with whom he previously also meant to initiate a new „tribe“ on his premises in New England.

==Biography==
Talbot was born into a family of entrepreneurs with him as well his ancestors all being listed as „white“ in past census records dating back into the 1840ies.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610 </ref> He did a course of studies at Cornell University and became a playwright under the names of „Story Talbot“ and „F. Story Talbot“ and further claims to have been an actor and theatre director, too.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> He is also apostrophied as a founder, co-founder, resp. early member of the Rainbow Gatherings.

===Claims of being Indigenous===
[[image:Manitonquat3.jpg|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
Most biographical information available online apparently copies Talbot's various claims of being a member of the Wampanoag of Massachusetts. Later on, affiliation claims changed to the Mashpee Wampanoag, then Gay Head Wampanoag, both federally recognised since the 1970ies<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashpee_Wampanoag_Tribe</ref> and as of 1987 respectively.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_Tribe_of_Gay_Head </ref> Finally, Talbot now claims to be an enrolled member of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5169#msg5169 </ref> who received recognition by the state of Massachusetts as recent as 1990 and who are not federally recognised.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_people#Assonet_Band_of_the_Wampanoag_Nation </ref> Several websites and also books contend that Talbot was ''"the powwah, or spiritual leader, and the minatou, or keeper of the lore"'' of the Assonet Band, a claim which has particularly been brought forward in two books by Newage author Steve McFadden.<ref>Profiles in Wisdom: Steve McFadden: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.) and Legend of the Rainbow Warriors, 1989, 2001, 2005 Lincoln NE (portions originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co. Of Santa Fe NM under the title „Ancient Voices, Current Affairs: The Legend of the Rainbow Warriors“)</ref>

Facts notwithstanding, Talbot continues to claim an indigenous state and e.g. in his 2015 schedule announces his participation in an alleged "Annual Sequanakeeswash in Assonet MA"<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> which gets described as the beginning of the new year in Wampanoag culture.<ref>see e.g. http://webspacero.bplaced.net/Thema/spiritual/Manitonquat%20%96%20What%20is%20a%20tribe_3.pdf </ref> It is therefore to be noticed that a Google search for this term yields a mere five results, all of whom are in connection to Talbot, with most of them on sites run by him.

Talbot also claims to have been „part of the North American Indian Spiritual Unity Movement“<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> and a co-founder of a Tribal-Healing Council. However, Google results for both organisations mainly yield websites copying Talbot's biographical information, so their existence in former years up until today cannot be verified independently.

====Akwesasne Notes====
Further claims include Talbot used to be the editor, resp. the editor responsible for poetry and politics, resp. the columnist, resp. a „writer and poet“ for the internationally well-known journal ''Akwesasne Notes''. However, the information available on the journal does not verify such claims. The journal was founded by Kaientaronkwen Ernie Benedict in 1968, with its first editor a non-indigenous Canadian, Jerry Gambill, who received the Mohawk name of Rarihokwats. ''Akwesasne Notes'' covered many indigenous issues not restricted to the Americas, but also of Australia, Tibet, and China.<ref>http://www.historyandtheheadlines.abc-clio.com/contentpages/ContentPage.aspx?entryId=1171842&currentSection=1161468&productid=5</ref> The editors following Gambill were all from the Iroqois Nation: Professor John Mohawk, Peter Blue Cloud, Doug George-Kanentiio<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 9ff</ref>, and finally from 1992-1998 Darren Bonaparte and Salli Benedict.<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 11</ref> It seems highly probable that Talbot upholds this claim in order to exploit the reputation this publication built up particularly in Europe, while at the same time using its reputation to provide himself with an air of authenticity.

===Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims===
Talbot's claims of an indigenous status have also been discussed publically on internet forums, as they e.g. were repeated in several articles in the English and German Wikipedias. The English Wikipedia still carries an article on "Manitonquat"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitonquat </ref>, despite publically accessible information about Talbot's true background. The German Wikipedia runs an article on the "Talking Stick" which is used by Talbot, with the article completely lacking quotations but recommending one of Talbot's books as information material.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redestab </ref> Quite in line with Talbot's presentation, the German language article apparently views Talking Sticks as generically indigenous, while the English Wikipedia<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_stick </ref> correctly places them within the context of the North-West cultural region of North America.

Up until December 2006, German Wikipedia mentioned Talbot in their article on the Wampanoag Nation, characterising him as an outstanding member of the nation. Due to discussions in other internet forums that year, a Wikipedia user raised the issue in the article's talk section, providing a link to a post submitted by a member of the organisation team of the German summer camp. In this post, the team member stated that many persons coming to the camp in fact knew that Talbot was not indigenous but white, and that Talbot freely admitted this fact upon inquiry, which the team member apparently viewed positively. Due to this information, Talbot was deleted from the article, which in turn caused the team member to try and intervene with Wikipedia, contending that he should have phrased his post somewhat differently, had he known it was going to be used as a reference by Wikipedia.<ref>http://www.newikis.com/de/wiki/Diskussion:Wampanoag#Manitonquat </ref>

==Projects and Activities==
Since Talbot has been active as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies, he has engaged in various activities both in the USA and in Europe, like working with prisoners and youths, alleged drug counseling, and of course selling seminars and workshops as well as doing so-called summer camps in various European countries.

===Co-Counseling===
Talbot also practices and teaches [[Re-evaluation Counselling|Co-Counseling]], a dubious psychothereapeutic method which is not recognised academically. Co-Counselling is a stable part of all of Talbot's summer camps.

This method was founded by Harvey Jackins during the 1950ies and 1960ies who at that time was considerably influenced by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s Dianetics which he had joined as a member and auditor. RC resp. Co-Counseling is based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and [[Scientology]] to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Its target audience is a broad political left, particularly anti-racist, feminist, or environmentally minded movements. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

===Prison Work and Counseling===
Talbot has been active as an alleged medicine person providing spiritual aid to Native prison inmates in several jails in the New England area via „Mettanokit Outreach“, an organisation founded by himself. Talbot himself mentions prisons in two federal states, Massachussetts and Connecticut, while another website claims "[o]ffering Native American circles in 7 New England prisons for 25 years, with sweat lodge, circles, and counseling"<ref>http://www.oneheartfestival.se/index.php/workshop-leaders/event/Guides?layout=tiles</ref>, but providing no information regarding the prisons served or the number of prisoners served presently.

There are reports of Talbot actively discouraging enrolled indigenous persons from participating in the meetings and ceremonies organised by him while instead encouraging so-called „Pretendians“<ref>This term characterises ethnically white persons falsely claiming indigenous descent and aculturation.</ref> and other non-indigenous persons.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272</ref> There are also accounts of Talbot showing nude photos of his wife to the inmates he was supposed to give spiritual care to, to a group of prisoners his wife was also working with.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272 </ref>

As of 2015, the organisation "Mettanokit Outreach" is still listed on various sites as an association working with prisoners, but links provided do no longer work. It is therefore not quite clear whether the organisation still exists or may have been dissolved, with Talbot continuing to offer services as an alleged medicine person to the Bureau of Prisons.

Although some publications and biographical notes mention Talbot offering counseling work „for native families, alcohol & drug abuse counseling“<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt</ref>, this cannot be verified from neutral sources but is mentioned on his own resp. sites and publications repeating his claims. Having studied theatre and been a playwright and actor previously, Talbot does not qualify for such counseling work, and his claim of being a Re-evalutation Counseller also will not qualify him for such services. The aforementioned text, an advertising piece published in the usenet group „alt.gathering.rainbow“ in 1993, also seeks to attract funding for the alleged counseling programmes, as well as for an „Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council", or the "Wampanoag Reservation Improvement Fund“.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref> The same text, with just a few adjustments, is also published on German Amazon in the way of „product information“ for a 2009 publication by Talbot.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/RETURN-TO-CREATION-Manitonquat/dp/143634705X </ref> It is perhaps noteworthy that one of the two previously mentioned indigenous non-profit organisations for whom donations were also asked in the 1993 text had meanwhile been omitted, although still existing, and replaced by another Talbot project, „The Nature School Foundation“.

===Mettanokit compound and The Nature School Foundation===
Originally, the name Mettanokit was applied to the premises in Greenville, New Hampshire owned by Talbot, which was described as ''„a non-profit learning center and service organization working for a more human society based on the old values of cooperation and equality and the closeness and caring found in our elder tribal societies“''.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> In earlier publications, the community also got described as an ''„intentional community of people learning to retribalize“'', thus indicating its participants as non-indigenous, even if the text ambiguously continues that Mettanokit ''„serves as a model for self-sufficient living, and is also a learning experience for people removed from their tribal roots“''.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref>

According to information provided by Talbot, the community was founded in 1978, when some 50 persons gathered in response to rallying posters reading „Have you lost your tribe“ in the New England area. Talbot claims to have founded the „small tribe“ according to a dream he had in the night of this first gathering, with its name Mettanokit allegedly meaning „Our Mother Earth“. The group establishing their residence at the premises apparently also joined structures like the „Federation of Egalitarian Communities“ and the annual „Northeastern Communities Conference“. Although Talbot does not provide any exact dates or years, he seems to have sought access to organisations representing so-called intentional communities and ecovillages fairly early, and it also seems he likewise established access to Newage events like the „New England Healing Arts Fair“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the place's history reports a subsequent further land purchase of an allegedly highly indebted neighbouring compound and that the community managed to pay off mortgage plus debts within ten years. The premises then seem to have suffered badly in a fire during the 1990ies which destroyed the main building, and the community was not able to rebuild the house since their fire insurance showed deficient coverage. The community therefore disbanded, with only Talbot and wife remaining on the compound. He claims the premises were later on sold to „The Nature School of Massachusetts“, agreeing to grant Talbot continuing use of the house he inhabited. Later on, another adjacent property seems to have been bought and according to Talbot's account, they immediately began operating as „an educational-healing retreat center“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the earlier history of his premises and the newly founded tribe furthermore is somewhat countered by an article published by the ''Boston Globe'' in 1992 mentioning rather modest numbers of participants:
:''"F. Story Talbot, Cornell '54, lived in New York City, writing and producing plays off-off Broadway for 12 years until he looked about him and saw the city as it was, crime and fear of crime, dirt and death, and decided he was not prepared to stay in that place. [...] He lives in a house trailer in the woods of this town, on 15 acres of what had been a community of 15 like souls now reduced to four people, including himself and his Swedish wife, Ellika."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604</ref>

When the Nature School project allegedly ran into financial problems, Talbot – still living on the premises – is said to have taken over the land onto his name, which suggests another purchase having taken place.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg15574#msg15574 </ref> Although various advertisements for a „Nature School Foundation“ based in Greenville, New Hampshire are still to be found online<ref>see e.g. http://www.idealist.org/view/org/XmzDTFx6mDbD/?orgs_view=funders&orgs_page=1 </ref>, the foundation's website is no longer existent and on an official website, the foundation is characterised as „not in good standing“, presumably for failing to hand in necessary documentation.<ref>https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?894451 </ref>

Additionally, a person by the name of Donna Dills continues a LinkedIn profile announcing her as the „owner“ of „The Nature School Foundation, Inc.“ since 2002<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/13/557/5a1 </ref>, while in another LinkedIn profile, Dills claims to be the foundation's CEO.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/3/971/bb8 </ref> In a document found online, Talbot mentions his "daughter Donna"<ref>http://www.freemitchellstein.com/Decl.Talbot_ReplyRelease.pdf </ref>, although it does not get specified whether Ms Dills is in fact a biological daughter or whether this was an honorary form of addressing her.

The project apparently suffered some financial problems in 2006, when Talbot appealed to European supporters for donations to be able to meet mortgage instalments, as he claimed to have run up arrears amounting to $ 6,400.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5086#msg5086 </ref> A few years later in 2012, the project once again faced dire straits and donations for an overall amount of $ 75,000 were asked this time, allegedly to be able to make a final payment for the premises, raising pressure on potential donours employing the claim the amount had to be raised within less than two weeks.<ref>http://www.sabine-lichtenfels.com/en/Ring_of_Power_Feedback.html</ref> Talbot contended the mortgage had been bought by a locust bank who nevertheless had agreed to settle the matter at a payment of $ 75,000, although the compound had been estimated at some $ 250,000.<ref>http://www.circleway.de/emergency.html </ref> The appeal, however, does not quite specify the original amount of the mortgage nor the amount still outstanding at that particular point in time, and there is no update regarding whether Talbot had been able to raise a sufficient amount.

The premise's finances still seemed in danger two years later though, as there were follow-up appeals asking for donations with deadlines being extended several times still in April 2014 published on Talbot's blog, <ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref> and e.g. on mailing lists organising so-called eco-villages<ref>http://lists.europe.ecovillage.org/pipermail/general/2014-February/000064.html </ref>, with again no further information provided whether deadlines were met successfully or not. The compound probably remains a potential fundraising object.

===Summer Camps===
Annual summer camps with Talbot offering so-called teachings, complemented by co-counseling, have been established in several European countries. Although places may vary from year to year, camps as well as other events are more or less organised regularly in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark, with the most stable ones in Germany and Austria. In 2015, there is also one camp advertised in Alfriston, GB.<ref>http://englandevents.co.uk/alfriston-circle-way-camp-with-manitonquat-amp-ellika-8-12/352771 </ref> Additionally, Talbot also regularly takes part in camps organised by other vendors, like ZEGG resp. GEN-Europe in 2014<ref>http://www.circleway.de/ </ref> or in the camp organised by German Bear Tribe in 2015.<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> Another camp Talbot participated in during the 2015 season was the Austrian Roots Camp whose organisers are apparently recognised as a non-profit association and do not only sell seminars, camps etc. on the Newage market, but also for Austrian youths and for adolescent refugees, with camps for the latter group most probably financed with public monies.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROOTS-Camp/331002428312?fref=photo&ref=stream </ref> Roots Camp seems to be working according to Talbot's so-called teachings and also publishes donation requests on behalf of Talbot.

In Germany, three camps with Talbot are being organised on a regular basis. One summer camp in Bavaria, another one in Oelde, and a "Circle Way Leadership Camp" which also takes place in Bavaria. Additionally, workshops and seminars are being offered by varying organisers. In 2015, a particular effort apparently took place in Italy, with one camp, one seminar, one workshop being organised, plus an event for solstice and one at an Elfin community<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref>, although the latter event only gets mentioned at Talbot's own website.

The camps taking place in Bavaria since several years are organised by a "Light on Earth Institute" run by Stefan and Julia Mandel. Stefan Mandel is an alternative practitioner, but also sells various indigenous ceremonies. Besides Talbot, he also cooperates with the so-called council of "13 grandmothers", with [[Jens Lyberth]] aka Angaangaq, and organises travels to [[Joao de Deus]]. Furthermore he claims to be a "pipe carrier". Apart from the camps with Talbot, the Mandels also organise an annual "Pacha Mama Camp" promoting varying plastic shamans active on a national level as well as internationally. The camp in Oelde also has been organised since years, although the organising committee seems to have replaced.

====Camp Fees====
Prices asked for participation in a camp may vary somewhat, also in accordance with the length of the respective camp. It has to be noted that the amounts asked in the way of camp fees will mainly cover "teachings" provided by Talbot, and at least used to cover costs occuring to the organising team in the way of preparatory meetings and other expenses.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5080#msg5080 </ref>

The Austrian Circle Way Camp lasts for five days. Early bookers will receive a substantial rebate with the price of €270, while regular prices are €310 (low income), €350 (normal income), and €390 (including a solidarity amount to make up for losses on low income participants' rebates). Children between the ages of 6 to 18 will pay €77, while persons brought along by participants to facilitate childcare during the "teachings" will pay €140. Accomodation in participants' own tent or camper is included, as is accomodation in a communal dormitory.<ref>http://nahopra.synology.me/wordpress/ </ref>

The Bavarian camp, lasting nine days, differentiates prices for early bookers (€330, €410, €499 for low, normal, and high income tariffs) with prices later on rising to €390, €499, and €590 respectively. Children between 5 and 8 will be charged €90. Accomodation in participants' own tent will be charged with €6 per night, a double room amounts to €50, a single room to €35 which will have to be paid additionally to the aforementioned amount. Meals are charged at €77 for eleven lunches, while all other meals will have to be provided and paid for by participants themselves. A price of €7 per vegetarian or vegan lunch suggests that this amount is above cost price.<ref>http://www.light-on-earth.com/camp-mit-manitonquat.html </ref>

For the 2014 five-day camp in Sweden, fees asked of adult participants were SEK3,750 (€397) and SEK3,200 (€339), with age groups 15-25 paying SEK2,050 resp. SEK1,300 (€ and € ) and 4-14 paying SEK1,000 resp. SEK900 (€ and €).<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref> Accomodation on a mattress in a dormitory was charged with SEK100 (€10) per night resp. SEK200 (€ 21) per person and night in a double room resp. SEK350 (€37) for a double room with own bath, and SEK500 (€53) in a single room.<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref>

===Sales of Indigenous Ceremonies===
At least in Germany, Talbot also seems to have sold indigenous ceremonies resp. to have "initiated" students and "authorised" them to offer respective services. One student of Talbot's mentions: ''"With Manitonquat (Medicine Story), an Elder of the Wampanoag Indians, I have participated in a workshop to become a sweatlodge leader in 1998."''<ref>http://www.kristallfamilie.de/index.php/gerold-vo%C3%9F.html </ref> Another client from Austria claims to have received an ''"initiation into Northern Indian'' [sic] ''way of life and to "Life in a Circle" by Manitonquat-Medicine Story"''.<ref>http://evaauerfillafer.wix.com/neuesbewusstsein#!eva-auer-fillafer/c16fm</ref>

The aforementioned 1992 article in the ''Boston Globe'' confirms Talbot exploiting indigenous spirituality:
:''"He ... does a one-man show based on the life of Black Elk, a Sioux holy man. [...]
:''He conducts spiritual circles in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki and returns to those cities "over and over." Where there is a suitable place, he constructs a sweat lodge."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604 </ref>

Although the scarcity of Google results in this respect suggests Talbot meanwhile may have stopped these alleged initiations, there still are persons claiming him as their teacher in this field and there was online evidence of his still selling sweatlodges in 2006.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256 </ref>

====Talking Sticks and Clans====
Talbot however still uses components of indigenous cultures and social organisation in his teachings and during his summer camps. One of these is the promotion of using Talking Sticks which he apparently introduces as more or less generically indigenous. Talking Sticks were e.g. used throughout the cultural region of the North-West, but not in the North-Eastern Woodland cultural region, to which the Wampanoag will belong, therefore it seems that Talbot is mixing traditions. His making use of Talking Sticks and clan organisation patterns also suggest that he views these aspects as a sales pitch granting him more authenticity.

Another aspect is his practice of arranging participants of his summer camps in so-called "clans" of some six to eight persons. Although some indigenous nations were organised in clans, this is not true for all of them. Generally speaking a clan is a sub-unit of an ethnic entity whose members share an actual or perceived kinship and descent<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan</ref>, which is certainly not the case with camp participants. The rather limited number of clan members in these camps is likewise ridiculous and does in no way reflect indigenous customs.

However, as of 2015, more organisations in contact with Talbot seem inclined to take up this practice, as meanwhile German [[Calumed e.V.]] introduces a "Medicine Clan" on their website which apparenly also employs Talking Sticks as well as pipe ceremonies, medicine wheel ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.calumed.de/seminare-und-veranstaltungen/medicine-clan.php </ref>

The 2015 [[ZEGG]] summer camp, in which Talbot will appear as a lecturer, also announces to organise participants in "clans" of some twenty to thirty persons.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/summercamp-at-zegg.phtml </ref>

==Cooperation with other plastic shamans and vendors on the Newage Market==

Due to his being active since the 1970ies, Talbot has associated with various Newage projects and groups over the years.

===Rainbow Gatherings===
Apparently, Talbot participated in the Rainbow Gatherings already fairly early, according to an account rendered in a publication from the first gathering in 1972.<ref>Steve McFadden: Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.)</ref> The Rainbow Gatherings, however, are no indigenous meetings but attract a largely white clientele from the hippie subculture and from counterculture environments. They organise annual meetings at differing locations in the USA, usually on land in federal ownership and very often at or close to sites sacred to one or more indigenous nations.<ref>The main 2015 US meeting was scheduled to take place in the Black Hills which are held sacred by several indigenous nations who strongly objected the meeting and particularly opposed drug abuse there as well as free sexuality taking place in areas sacred to them. Part of the Rainbow Gathering clientele then withdrew from the plan to gather in the Black Hills, while another part, not bothered by facts, insisted they were welcomed by the indigenous nations and had their permission. Another smaller meeting organised at Mount Shasta, California in July 2015 was closed down by a cease and desist order effected by the Winnemem Wintu Nation.</ref> <ref>http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/14/protect-he-sapa-stop-cultural-exploitation</ref> <ref>http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/winnemem-wintu-tribe-gives-cease-desist-order-to-rainbow-family/</ref> As of late, Talbot seems no longer actively participating in these events, presumably since they are scheduled at the beginning of July annually, at which time Talbot will usually stay in Europe for seminars and camps.

===Bear Tribe===
This organisation was founded by Vincent LaDuke a.k.a. "Sun Bear", who was enrolled Ojibway. However, LaDuke was no medicine person and had no respective training but sold a spirituality and ceremonies tailored to attract an affluent white clientele. The range of commerce e.g. included an alleged traditional "Indian astrology" which based on the usual system, simply replacing the terms used for the signs of the zodiac with alleged indigenous terms (so e.g. "Aquarius" becomes "Otter").

Cooperation between Talbot and LaDuke resp. the Bear Tribe already began in the 1970ies. Talbot's earlier books were published by the Bear Tribe. Presumably, both Talbot and LaDuke sought to further promote themselves by cooperating with another plastic shaman well established with their white clientele.

In 2015, Talbot participated as a lecturer in the annual "Medicine Wheel" camp organised by the German Bear Tribe and made an appearance alongside persons from the US Bear Tribe as well as Brooke "Medicine Eagle" Edwards<ref>https://blog.psiram.com/2015/04/brooke-medicine-eagle-edwards-plastic-shaman-with-some-40-years-of-experience-in-fleecing/ </ref>, another plastic shaman active since the 1970ies who has also cooperated with Bear Tribe for several decades.

===Calumed e.V.===
Calumed e.V. is a German non-profit association active on the Newage market since the 1980ies in various ways. One part of their activities is selling a course in self-management, while another main pillar has been engaging in and selling indigenous spirituality. Their name indicates both fields by employing a pun including both the term "calumet" for a pipe, adding "med" for alternative medicine. However, Calumed e.V. also includes sexuality into the spiritual mix they teach, which is not in accordance with indigenous practice.

The association has been working with [[Larson Medicinehorse]] since at least the end of the 1980ies. Medicinehorse was a regular lecturer at Calumed summer camps, while Calumed members were resp. still are participating in the Sun Dances organised by Medicinehorse. They, too, organise an annual summer camp, for which Talbot at least made an appearance as a lecturer in one year, and one of the German camps of Talbot saw visitors from Calumed e.V., e.g. their founder and president at that point in time, Dieter Jarzombek.

===Intentional Communities and Ecovillages===
These umbrella organisations do not only include projects exploiting and/or selling indigenous spirituality and do not seem to pay much attention to indications that a particular member community may be influenced or even dominated by a cult or cult-like organisation, so that GEN-Europe, as one example, also accept as members eco-villages like "Krishna Valley" from Hungary who are also organised in [[ISKCON]] which is viewed as a cult, or Italian Damanhur, Tamera from Portugal, and [[ZEGG]] from Germany. Another dubious member is "Stamm der Likatier" [Tribe of Licatians, formerly "Stamm Füssen, i.e. "Füssen Tribe"] in Germany which gained some notoriety for having given reason for investigations due to sexual abuse of children, but also managed to raise enough money from their membership to have secretly bought much of the real estate in their home town. The „tribe“ also owns and runs two shops selling Newage gadgets, a publishing house, a real estate company, a health food shop, and its vice president owns a company organising Newage fairs.<ref>https://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php/Stamm_der_Likatier</ref>

In the case of GEN-Europe, it is perhaps not very likely they may detect such influences or view them as problematic, since their council consists of a member of Damanhur (council president), as well as one member each of ZEGG, Tamera, Krishna Valley, and LaBase/Spain (they sell e.g. sweat lodges).<ref>http://gen-europe.org/about-us/gen-europe-council/gen-europe-council/index.htm</ref>

The entry on Talbot published by the Wiki of Intentional Communities again repeats Talbot's claim of being the "ceremonial medicine man of the Assonet Band" as well as other aforementioned claims, although they do include two sources critical of Talbot.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> Over all, the ICWiki views Talbot positively and indicates a far more intense commitment in this environment:
:''"Manitonquat has also spent over forty years with various intentional communities around the world — as founder, participant, and observer — and so has gathered a wealth of intimate knowledge about their various strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective techniques in communal living."''<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/</ref>

According to the ICWiki, Talbot allegedly claims "mixed heritage" with his father having been Wampanoag. They also reconfirm his alleged right to teach indigenous, or indigenous-inspired content, comparing Talbot's efforts to that of the Grimm brothers collecting fairy tales.
At the same time, they aim at minimising criticism raised due to Talbot's cooperation with projects like ZEGG and Tamera. The reliablity of such tactics is somewhat hampered by the fact that the aforementioned projects are also members of the Intentional Community movement, as becomes apparent from a look at their directory<ref>http://www.ic.org/directory/listings/?cmty-country=Germany </ref>: ZEGG, as one example, has been a member since 1999, "Stamm der Likatier" since March 2005. Another dubious member is a project "12 Tribes Klosterzimmern"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities </ref> <ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zw%C3%B6lf_St%C3%A4mme_%28Glaubensgemeinschaft%29 </ref> which gained notoriety recently for denying their children access to medical care and for practicing continued severe corporal punishment on children of all age groups. This project joined in May 2005.

Talbot has made regular appearances as a lecturer at ZEGG summer camps and at the so-called "Summer University" organised by Tamera. He furthermore seems to have been granted the honour of being "the only honorary citizen of ZEGG", as is announced on their Facebook site.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/zegg.gemeinschaft/posts/10152006759952433 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Francis Talbot}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Talbot, Francis}}

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

Francis Talbot

2015-09-28T23:31:12Z

Omikronn:

[[image:Manitonquat2.png|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies. Despite having a completely Euro-American ancestry, Talbot claims to be a member and even a medicine person, resp. "ceremonial medicine man" of the Wampanoag nation. His clientele are mainly affluent white middle-class Euro-Americans and Europeans with whom he previously also meant to initiate a new „tribe“ on his premises in New England.

==Biography==
[[image:Manitonquat3.jpg|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
Talbot was born into a family of entrepreneurs with him as well his ancestors all being listed as „white“ in past census records dating back into the 1840ies.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610 </ref> He did a course of studies at Cornell University and became a playwright under the names of „Story Talbot“ and „F. Story Talbot“ and further claims to have been an actor and theatre director, too.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> He is also apostrophied as a founder, co-founder, resp. early member of the Rainbow Gatherings.

===Claims of being Indigenous===
Most biographical information available online apparently copies Talbot's various claims of being a member of the Wampanoag of Massachusetts. Later on, affiliation claims changed to the Mashpee Wampanoag, then Gay Head Wampanoag, both federally recognised since the 1970ies<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashpee_Wampanoag_Tribe</ref> and as of 1987 respectively.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_Tribe_of_Gay_Head </ref> Finally, Talbot now claims to be an enrolled member of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5169#msg5169 </ref> who received recognition by the state of Massachusetts as recent as 1990 and who are not federally recognised.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_people#Assonet_Band_of_the_Wampanoag_Nation </ref> Several websites and also books contend that Talbot was ''"the powwah, or spiritual leader, and the minatou, or keeper of the lore"'' of the Assonet Band, a claim which has particularly been brought forward in two books by Newage author Steve McFadden.<ref>Profiles in Wisdom: Steve McFadden: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.) and Legend of the Rainbow Warriors, 1989, 2001, 2005 Lincoln NE (portions originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co. Of Santa Fe NM under the title „Ancient Voices, Current Affairs: The Legend of the Rainbow Warriors“)</ref>

Facts notwithstanding, Talbot continues to claim an indigenous state and e.g. in his 2015 schedule announces his participation in an alleged "Annual Sequanakeeswash in Assonet MA"<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> which gets described as the beginning of the new year in Wampanoag culture.<ref>see e.g. http://webspacero.bplaced.net/Thema/spiritual/Manitonquat%20%96%20What%20is%20a%20tribe_3.pdf </ref> It is therefore to be noticed that a Google search for this term yields a mere five results, all of whom are in connection to Talbot, with most of them on sites run by him.

Talbot also claims to have been „part of the North American Indian Spiritual Unity Movement“<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> and a co-founder of a Tribal-Healing Council. However, Google results for both organisations mainly yield websites copying Talbot's biographical information, so their existence in former years up until today cannot be verified independently.

====Akwesasne Notes====
Further claims include Talbot used to be the editor, resp. the editor responsible for poetry and politics, resp. the columnist, resp. a „writer and poet“ for the internationally well-known journal ''Akwesasne Notes''. However, the information available on the journal does not verify such claims. The journal was founded by Kaientaronkwen Ernie Benedict in 1968, with its first editor a non-indigenous Canadian, Jerry Gambill, who received the Mohawk name of Rarihokwats. ''Akwesasne Notes'' covered many indigenous issues not restricted to the Americas, but also of Australia, Tibet, and China.<ref>http://www.historyandtheheadlines.abc-clio.com/contentpages/ContentPage.aspx?entryId=1171842&currentSection=1161468&productid=5</ref> The editors following Gambill were all from the Iroqois Nation: Professor John Mohawk, Peter Blue Cloud, Doug George-Kanentiio<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 9ff</ref>, and finally from 1992-1998 Darren Bonaparte and Salli Benedict.<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 11</ref> It seems highly probable that Talbot upholds this claim in order to exploit the reputation this publication built up particularly in Europe, while at the same time using its reputation to provide himself with an air of authenticity.

===Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims===
Talbot's claims of an indigenous status have also been discussed publically on internet forums, as they e.g. were repeated in several articles in the English and German Wikipedias. The English Wikipedia still carries an article on "Manitonquat"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitonquat </ref>, despite publically accessible information about Talbot's true background. The German Wikipedia runs an article on the "Talking Stick" which is used by Talbot, with the article completely lacking quotations but recommending one of Talbot's books as information material.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redestab </ref> Quite in line with Talbot's presentation, the German language article apparently views Talking Sticks as generically indigenous, while the English Wikipedia<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_stick </ref> correctly places them within the context of the North-West cultural region of North America.

Up until December 2006, German Wikipedia mentioned Talbot in their article on the Wampanoag Nation, characterising him as an outstanding member of the nation. Due to discussions in other internet forums that year, a Wikipedia user raised the issue in the article's talk section, providing a link to a post submitted by a member of the organisation team of the German summer camp. In this post, the team member stated that many persons coming to the camp in fact knew that Talbot was not indigenous but white, and that Talbot freely admitted this fact upon inquiry, which the team member apparently viewed positively. Due to this information, Talbot was deleted from the article, which in turn caused the team member to try and intervene with Wikipedia, contending that he should have phrased his post somewhat differently, had he known it was going to be used as a reference by Wikipedia.<ref>http://www.newikis.com/de/wiki/Diskussion:Wampanoag#Manitonquat </ref>

==Projects and Activities==
Since Talbot has been active as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies, he has engaged in various activities both in the USA and in Europe, like working with prisoners and youths, alleged drug counseling, and of course selling seminars and workshops as well as doing so-called summer camps in various European countries.

===Co-Counseling===
Talbot also practices and teaches [[Re-evaluation Counselling|Co-Counseling]], a dubious psychothereapeutic method which is not recognised academically. Co-Counselling is a stable part of all of Talbot's summer camps.

This method was founded by Harvey Jackins during the 1950ies and 1960ies who at that time was considerably influenced by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s Dianetics which he had joined as a member and auditor. RC resp. Co-Counseling is based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and [[Scientology]] to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Its target audience is a broad political left, particularly anti-racist, feminist, or environmentally minded movements. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

===Prison Work and Counseling===
Talbot has been active as an alleged medicine person providing spiritual aid to Native prison inmates in several jails in the New England area via „Mettanokit Outreach“, an organisation founded by himself. Talbot himself mentions prisons in two federal states, Massachussetts and Connecticut, while another website claims "[o]ffering Native American circles in 7 New England prisons for 25 years, with sweat lodge, circles, and counseling"<ref>http://www.oneheartfestival.se/index.php/workshop-leaders/event/Guides?layout=tiles</ref>, but providing no information regarding the prisons served or the number of prisoners served presently.

There are reports of Talbot actively discouraging enrolled indigenous persons from participating in the meetings and ceremonies organised by him while instead encouraging so-called „Pretendians“<ref>This term characterises ethnically white persons falsely claiming indigenous descent and aculturation.</ref> and other non-indigenous persons.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272</ref> There are also accounts of Talbot showing nude photos of his wife to the inmates he was supposed to give spiritual care to, to a group of prisoners his wife was also working with.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272 </ref>

As of 2015, the organisation "Mettanokit Outreach" is still listed on various sites as an association working with prisoners, but links provided do no longer work. It is therefore not quite clear whether the organisation still exists or may have been dissolved, with Talbot continuing to offer services as an alleged medicine person to the Bureau of Prisons.

Although some publications and biographical notes mention Talbot offering counseling work „for native families, alcohol & drug abuse counseling“<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt</ref>, this cannot be verified from neutral sources but is mentioned on his own resp. sites and publications repeating his claims. Having studied theatre and been a playwright and actor previously, Talbot does not qualify for such counseling work, and his claim of being a Re-evalutation Counseller also will not qualify him for such services. The aforementioned text, an advertising piece published in the usenet group „alt.gathering.rainbow“ in 1993, also seeks to attract funding for the alleged counseling programmes, as well as for an „Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council", or the "Wampanoag Reservation Improvement Fund“.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref> The same text, with just a few adjustments, is also published on German Amazon in the way of „product information“ for a 2009 publication by Talbot.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/RETURN-TO-CREATION-Manitonquat/dp/143634705X </ref> It is perhaps noteworthy that one of the two previously mentioned indigenous non-profit organisations for whom donations were also asked in the 1993 text had meanwhile been omitted, although still existing, and replaced by another Talbot project, „The Nature School Foundation“.

===Mettanokit compound and The Nature School Foundation===
Originally, the name Mettanokit was applied to the premises in Greenville, New Hampshire owned by Talbot, which was described as ''„a non-profit learning center and service organization working for a more human society based on the old values of cooperation and equality and the closeness and caring found in our elder tribal societies“''.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> In earlier publications, the community also got described as an ''„intentional community of people learning to retribalize“'', thus indicating its participants as non-indigenous, even if the text ambiguously continues that Mettanokit ''„serves as a model for self-sufficient living, and is also a learning experience for people removed from their tribal roots“''.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref>

According to information provided by Talbot, the community was founded in 1978, when some 50 persons gathered in response to rallying posters reading „Have you lost your tribe“ in the New England area. Talbot claims to have founded the „small tribe“ according to a dream he had in the night of this first gathering, with its name Mettanokit allegedly meaning „Our Mother Earth“. The group establishing their residence at the premises apparently also joined structures like the „Federation of Egalitarian Communities“ and the annual „Northeastern Communities Conference“. Although Talbot does not provide any exact dates or years, he seems to have sought access to organisations representing so-called intentional communities and ecovillages fairly early, and it also seems he likewise established access to Newage events like the „New England Healing Arts Fair“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the place's history reports a subsequent further land purchase of an allegedly highly indebted neighbouring compound and that the community managed to pay off mortgage plus debts within ten years. The premises then seem to have suffered badly in a fire during the 1990ies which destroyed the main building, and the community was not able to rebuild the house since their fire insurance showed deficient coverage. The community therefore disbanded, with only Talbot and wife remaining on the compound. He claims the premises were later on sold to „The Nature School of Massachusetts“, agreeing to grant Talbot continuing use of the house he inhabited. Later on, another adjacent property seems to have been bought and according to Talbot's account, they immediately began operating as „an educational-healing retreat center“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the earlier history of his premises and the newly founded tribe furthermore is somewhat countered by an article published by the ''Boston Globe'' in 1992 mentioning rather modest numbers of participants:
:''"F. Story Talbot, Cornell '54, lived in New York City, writing and producing plays off-off Broadway for 12 years until he looked about him and saw the city as it was, crime and fear of crime, dirt and death, and decided he was not prepared to stay in that place. [...] He lives in a house trailer in the woods of this town, on 15 acres of what had been a community of 15 like souls now reduced to four people, including himself and his Swedish wife, Ellika."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604</ref>

When the Nature School project allegedly ran into financial problems, Talbot – still living on the premises – is said to have taken over the land onto his name, which suggests another purchase having taken place.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg15574#msg15574 </ref> Although various advertisements for a „Nature School Foundation“ based in Greenville, New Hampshire are still to be found online<ref>see e.g. http://www.idealist.org/view/org/XmzDTFx6mDbD/?orgs_view=funders&orgs_page=1 </ref>, the foundation's website is no longer existent and on an official website, the foundation is characterised as „not in good standing“, presumably for failing to hand in necessary documentation.<ref>https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?894451 </ref>

Additionally, a person by the name of Donna Dills continues a LinkedIn profile announcing her as the „owner“ of „The Nature School Foundation, Inc.“ since 2002<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/13/557/5a1 </ref>, while in another LinkedIn profile, Dills claims to be the foundation's CEO.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/3/971/bb8 </ref> In a document found online, Talbot mentions his "daughter Donna"<ref>http://www.freemitchellstein.com/Decl.Talbot_ReplyRelease.pdf </ref>, although it does not get specified whether Ms Dills is in fact a biological daughter or whether this was an honorary form of addressing her.

The project apparently suffered some financial problems in 2006, when Talbot appealed to European supporters for donations to be able to meet mortgage instalments, as he claimed to have run up arrears amounting to $ 6,400.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5086#msg5086 </ref> A few years later in 2012, the project once again faced dire straits and donations for an overall amount of $ 75,000 were asked this time, allegedly to be able to make a final payment for the premises, raising pressure on potential donours employing the claim the amount had to be raised within less than two weeks.<ref>http://www.sabine-lichtenfels.com/en/Ring_of_Power_Feedback.html</ref> Talbot contended the mortgage had been bought by a locust bank who nevertheless had agreed to settle the matter at a payment of $ 75,000, although the compound had been estimated at some $ 250,000.<ref>http://www.circleway.de/emergency.html </ref> The appeal, however, does not quite specify the original amount of the mortgage nor the amount still outstanding at that particular point in time, and there is no update regarding whether Talbot had been able to raise a sufficient amount.

The premise's finances still seemed in danger two years later though, as there were follow-up appeals asking for donations with deadlines being extended several times still in April 2014 published on Talbot's blog, <ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref> and e.g. on mailing lists organising so-called eco-villages<ref>http://lists.europe.ecovillage.org/pipermail/general/2014-February/000064.html </ref>, with again no further information provided whether deadlines were met successfully or not. The compound probably remains a potential fundraising object.

===Summer Camps===
Annual summer camps with Talbot offering so-called teachings, complemented by co-counseling, have been established in several European countries. Although places may vary from year to year, camps as well as other events are more or less organised regularly in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark, with the most stable ones in Germany and Austria. In 2015, there is also one camp advertised in Alfriston, GB.<ref>http://englandevents.co.uk/alfriston-circle-way-camp-with-manitonquat-amp-ellika-8-12/352771 </ref> Additionally, Talbot also regularly takes part in camps organised by other vendors, like ZEGG resp. GEN-Europe in 2014<ref>http://www.circleway.de/ </ref> or in the camp organised by German Bear Tribe in 2015.<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> Another camp Talbot participated in during the 2015 season was the Austrian Roots Camp whose organisers are apparently recognised as a non-profit association and do not only sell seminars, camps etc. on the Newage market, but also for Austrian youths and for adolescent refugees, with camps for the latter group most probably financed with public monies.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROOTS-Camp/331002428312?fref=photo&ref=stream </ref> Roots Camp seems to be working according to Talbot's so-called teachings and also publishes donation requests on behalf of Talbot.

In Germany, three camps with Talbot are being organised on a regular basis. One summer camp in Bavaria, another one in Oelde, and a "Circle Way Leadership Camp" which also takes place in Bavaria. Additionally, workshops and seminars are being offered by varying organisers. In 2015, a particular effort apparently took place in Italy, with one camp, one seminar, one workshop being organised, plus an event for solstice and one at an Elfin community<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref>, although the latter event only gets mentioned at Talbot's own website.

The camps taking place in Bavaria since several years are organised by a "Light on Earth Institute" run by Stefan and Julia Mandel. Stefan Mandel is an alternative practitioner, but also sells various indigenous ceremonies. Besides Talbot, he also cooperates with the so-called council of "13 grandmothers", with [[Jens Lyberth]] aka Angaangaq, and organises travels to [[Joao de Deus]]. Furthermore he claims to be a "pipe carrier". Apart from the camps with Talbot, the Mandels also organise an annual "Pacha Mama Camp" promoting varying plastic shamans active on a national level as well as internationally. The camp in Oelde also has been organised since years, although the organising committee seems to have replaced.

====Camp Fees====
Prices asked for participation in a camp may vary somewhat, also in accordance with the length of the respective camp. It has to be noted that the amounts asked in the way of camp fees will mainly cover "teachings" provided by Talbot, and at least used to cover costs occuring to the organising team in the way of preparatory meetings and other expenses.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5080#msg5080 </ref>

The Austrian Circle Way Camp lasts for five days. Early bookers will receive a substantial rebate with the price of €270, while regular prices are €310 (low income), €350 (normal income), and €390 (including a solidarity amount to make up for losses on low income participants' rebates). Children between the ages of 6 to 18 will pay €77, while persons brought along by participants to facilitate childcare during the "teachings" will pay €140. Accomodation in participants' own tent or camper is included, as is accomodation in a communal dormitory.<ref>http://nahopra.synology.me/wordpress/ </ref>

The Bavarian camp, lasting nine days, differentiates prices for early bookers (€330, €410, €499 for low, normal, and high income tariffs) with prices later on rising to €390, €499, and €590 respectively. Children between 5 and 8 will be charged €90. Accomodation in participants' own tent will be charged with €6 per night, a double room amounts to €50, a single room to €35 which will have to be paid additionally to the aforementioned amount. Meals are charged at €77 for eleven lunches, while all other meals will have to be provided and paid for by participants themselves. A price of €7 per vegetarian or vegan lunch suggests that this amount is above cost price.<ref>http://www.light-on-earth.com/camp-mit-manitonquat.html </ref>

For the 2014 five-day camp in Sweden, fees asked of adult participants were SEK3,750 (€397) and SEK3,200 (€339), with age groups 15-25 paying SEK2,050 resp. SEK1,300 (€ and € ) and 4-14 paying SEK1,000 resp. SEK900 (€ and €).<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref> Accomodation on a mattress in a dormitory was charged with SEK100 (€10) per night resp. SEK200 (€ 21) per person and night in a double room resp. SEK350 (€37) for a double room with own bath, and SEK500 (€53) in a single room.<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref>

===Sales of Indigenous Ceremonies===
At least in Germany, Talbot also seems to have sold indigenous ceremonies resp. to have "initiated" students and "authorised" them to offer respective services. One student of Talbot's mentions: ''"With Manitonquat (Medicine Story), an Elder of the Wampanoag Indians, I have participated in a workshop to become a sweatlodge leader in 1998."''<ref>http://www.kristallfamilie.de/index.php/gerold-vo%C3%9F.html </ref> Another client from Austria claims to have received an ''"initiation into Northern Indian'' [sic] ''way of life and to "Life in a Circle" by Manitonquat-Medicine Story"''.<ref>http://evaauerfillafer.wix.com/neuesbewusstsein#!eva-auer-fillafer/c16fm</ref>

The aforementioned 1992 article in the ''Boston Globe'' confirms Talbot exploiting indigenous spirituality:
:''"He ... does a one-man show based on the life of Black Elk, a Sioux holy man. [...]
:''He conducts spiritual circles in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki and returns to those cities "over and over." Where there is a suitable place, he constructs a sweat lodge."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604 </ref>

Although the scarcity of Google results in this respect suggests Talbot meanwhile may have stopped these alleged initiations, there still are persons claiming him as their teacher in this field and there was online evidence of his still selling sweatlodges in 2006.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256 </ref>

====Talking Sticks and Clans====
Talbot however still uses components of indigenous cultures and social organisation in his teachings and during his summer camps. One of these is the promotion of using Talking Sticks which he apparently introduces as more or less generically indigenous. Talking Sticks were e.g. used throughout the cultural region of the North-West, but not in the North-Eastern Woodland cultural region, to which the Wampanoag will belong, therefore it seems that Talbot is mixing traditions. His making use of Talking Sticks and clan organisation patterns also suggest that he views these aspects as a sales pitch granting him more authenticity.

Another aspect is his practice of arranging participants of his summer camps in so-called "clans" of some six to eight persons. Although some indigenous nations were organised in clans, this is not true for all of them. Generally speaking a clan is a sub-unit of an ethnic entity whose members share an actual or perceived kinship and descent<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan</ref>, which is certainly not the case with camp participants. The rather limited number of clan members in these camps is likewise ridiculous and does in no way reflect indigenous customs.

However, as of 2015, more organisations in contact with Talbot seem inclined to take up this practice, as meanwhile German [[Calumed e.V.]] introduces a "Medicine Clan" on their website which apparenly also employs Talking Sticks as well as pipe ceremonies, medicine wheel ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.calumed.de/seminare-und-veranstaltungen/medicine-clan.php </ref>

The 2015 [[ZEGG]] summer camp, in which Talbot will appear as a lecturer, also announces to organise participants in "clans" of some twenty to thirty persons.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/summercamp-at-zegg.phtml </ref>

==Cooperation with other plastic shamans and vendors on the Newage Market==

Due to his being active since the 1970ies, Talbot has associated with various Newage projects and groups over the years.

===Rainbow Gatherings===
Apparently, Talbot participated in the Rainbow Gatherings already fairly early, according to an account rendered in a publication from the first gathering in 1972.<ref>Steve McFadden: Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.)</ref> The Rainbow Gatherings, however, are no indigenous meetings but attract a largely white clientele from the hippie subculture and from counterculture environments. They organise annual meetings at differing locations in the USA, usually on land in federal ownership and very often at or close to sites sacred to one or more indigenous nations.<ref>The main 2015 US meeting was scheduled to take place in the Black Hills which are held sacred by several indigenous nations who strongly objected the meeting and particularly opposed drug abuse there as well as free sexuality taking place in areas sacred to them. Part of the Rainbow Gathering clientele then withdrew from the plan to gather in the Black Hills, while another part, not bothered by facts, insisted they were welcomed by the indigenous nations and had their permission. Another smaller meeting organised at Mount Shasta, California in July 2015 was closed down by a cease and desist order effected by the Winnemem Wintu Nation.</ref> <ref>http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/14/protect-he-sapa-stop-cultural-exploitation</ref> <ref>http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/winnemem-wintu-tribe-gives-cease-desist-order-to-rainbow-family/</ref> As of late, Talbot seems no longer actively participating in these events, presumably since they are scheduled at the beginning of July annually, at which time Talbot will usually stay in Europe for seminars and camps.

===Bear Tribe===
This organisation was founded by Vincent LaDuke a.k.a. "Sun Bear", who was enrolled Ojibway. However, LaDuke was no medicine person and had no respective training but sold a spirituality and ceremonies tailored to attract an affluent white clientele. The range of commerce e.g. included an alleged traditional "Indian astrology" which based on the usual system, simply replacing the terms used for the signs of the zodiac with alleged indigenous terms (so e.g. "Aquarius" becomes "Otter").

Cooperation between Talbot and LaDuke resp. the Bear Tribe already began in the 1970ies. Talbot's earlier books were published by the Bear Tribe. Presumably, both Talbot and LaDuke sought to further promote themselves by cooperating with another plastic shaman well established with their white clientele.

In 2015, Talbot participated as a lecturer in the annual "Medicine Wheel" camp organised by the German Bear Tribe and made an appearance alongside persons from the US Bear Tribe as well as Brooke "Medicine Eagle" Edwards<ref>https://blog.psiram.com/2015/04/brooke-medicine-eagle-edwards-plastic-shaman-with-some-40-years-of-experience-in-fleecing/ </ref>, another plastic shaman active since the 1970ies who has also cooperated with Bear Tribe for several decades.

===Calumed e.V.===
Calumed e.V. is a German non-profit association active on the Newage market since the 1980ies in various ways. One part of their activities is selling a course in self-management, while another main pillar has been engaging in and selling indigenous spirituality. Their name indicates both fields by employing a pun including both the term "calumet" for a pipe, adding "med" for alternative medicine. However, Calumed e.V. also includes sexuality into the spiritual mix they teach, which is not in accordance with indigenous practice.

The association has been working with [[Larson Medicinehorse]] since at least the end of the 1980ies. Medicinehorse was a regular lecturer at Calumed summer camps, while Calumed members were resp. still are participating in the Sun Dances organised by Medicinehorse. They, too, organise an annual summer camp, for which Talbot at least made an appearance as a lecturer in one year, and one of the German camps of Talbot saw visitors from Calumed e.V., e.g. their founder and president at that point in time, Dieter Jarzombek.

===Intentional Communities and Ecovillages===
These umbrella organisations do not only include projects exploiting and/or selling indigenous spirituality and do not seem to pay much attention to indications that a particular member community may be influenced or even dominated by a cult or cult-like organisation, so that GEN-Europe, as one example, also accept as members eco-villages like "Krishna Valley" from Hungary who are also organised in [[ISKCON]] which is viewed as a cult, or Italian Damanhur, Tamera from Portugal, and [[ZEGG]] from Germany. Another dubious member is "Stamm der Likatier" [Tribe of Licatians, formerly "Stamm Füssen, i.e. "Füssen Tribe"] in Germany which gained some notoriety for having given reason for investigations due to sexual abuse of children, but also managed to raise enough money from their membership to have secretly bought much of the real estate in their home town. The „tribe“ also owns and runs two shops selling Newage gadgets, a publishing house, a real estate company, a health food shop, and its vice president owns a company organising Newage fairs.<ref>https://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php/Stamm_der_Likatier</ref>

In the case of GEN-Europe, it is perhaps not very likely they may detect such influences or view them as problematic, since their council consists of a member of Damanhur (council president), as well as one member each of ZEGG, Tamera, Krishna Valley, and LaBase/Spain (they sell e.g. sweat lodges).<ref>http://gen-europe.org/about-us/gen-europe-council/gen-europe-council/index.htm</ref>

The entry on Talbot published by the Wiki of Intentional Communities again repeats Talbot's claim of being the "ceremonial medicine man of the Assonet Band" as well as other aforementioned claims, although they do include two sources critical of Talbot.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> Over all, the ICWiki views Talbot positively and indicates a far more intense commitment in this environment:
:''"Manitonquat has also spent over forty years with various intentional communities around the world — as founder, participant, and observer — and so has gathered a wealth of intimate knowledge about their various strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective techniques in communal living."''<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/</ref>

According to the ICWiki, Talbot allegedly claims "mixed heritage" with his father having been Wampanoag. They also reconfirm his alleged right to teach indigenous, or indigenous-inspired content, comparing Talbot's efforts to that of the Grimm brothers collecting fairy tales.
At the same time, they aim at minimising criticism raised due to Talbot's cooperation with projects like ZEGG and Tamera. The reliablity of such tactics is somewhat hampered by the fact that the aforementioned projects are also members of the Intentional Community movement, as becomes apparent from a look at their directory<ref>http://www.ic.org/directory/listings/?cmty-country=Germany </ref>: ZEGG, as one example, has been a member since 1999, "Stamm der Likatier" since March 2005. Another dubious member is a project "12 Tribes Klosterzimmern"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities </ref> <ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zw%C3%B6lf_St%C3%A4mme_%28Glaubensgemeinschaft%29 </ref> which gained notoriety recently for denying their children access to medical care and for practicing continued severe corporal punishment on children of all age groups. This project joined in May 2005.

Talbot has made regular appearances as a lecturer at ZEGG summer camps and at the so-called "Summer University" organised by Tamera. He furthermore seems to have been granted the honour of being "the only honorary citizen of ZEGG", as is announced on their Facebook site.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/zegg.gemeinschaft/posts/10152006759952433 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Francis Talbot}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Talbot, Francis}}

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

File:Manitonquat3.jpg

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Francis Talbot

2015-09-28T19:06:57Z

Omikronn: added image

[[image:Manitonquat.jpg|Francis Talbot / Manitonquat|thumb]]
'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies. Despite having a completely Euro-American ancestry, Talbot claims to be a member and even a medicine person, resp. "ceremonial medicine man" of the Wampanoag nation. His clientele are mainly affluent white middle-class Euro-Americans and Europeans with whom he previously also meant to initiate a new „tribe“ on his premises in New England.

==Biography==
Talbot was born into a family of entrepreneurs with him as well his ancestors all being listed as „white“ in past census records dating back into the 1840ies.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610 </ref> He did a course of studies at Cornell University and became a playwright under the names of „Story Talbot“ and „F. Story Talbot“ and further claims to have been an actor and theatre director, too.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> He is also apostrophied as a founder, co-founder, resp. early member of the Rainbow Gatherings.

===Claims of being Indigenous===
Most biographical information available online apparently copies Talbot's various claims of being a member of the Wampanoag of Massachusetts. Later on, affiliation claims changed to the Mashpee Wampanoag, then Gay Head Wampanoag, both federally recognised since the 1970ies<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashpee_Wampanoag_Tribe</ref> and as of 1987 respectively.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_Tribe_of_Gay_Head </ref> Finally, Talbot now claims to be an enrolled member of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5169#msg5169 </ref> who received recognition by the state of Massachusetts as recent as 1990 and who are not federally recognised.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_people#Assonet_Band_of_the_Wampanoag_Nation </ref> Several websites and also books contend that Talbot was ''"the powwah, or spiritual leader, and the minatou, or keeper of the lore"'' of the Assonet Band, a claim which has particularly been brought forward in two books by Newage author Steve McFadden.<ref>Profiles in Wisdom: Steve McFadden: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.) and Legend of the Rainbow Warriors, 1989, 2001, 2005 Lincoln NE (portions originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co. Of Santa Fe NM under the title „Ancient Voices, Current Affairs: The Legend of the Rainbow Warriors“)</ref>

Facts notwithstanding, Talbot continues to claim an indigenous state and e.g. in his 2015 schedule announces his participation in an alleged "Annual Sequanakeeswash in Assonet MA"<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> which gets described as the beginning of the new year in Wampanoag culture.<ref>see e.g. http://webspacero.bplaced.net/Thema/spiritual/Manitonquat%20%96%20What%20is%20a%20tribe_3.pdf </ref> It is therefore to be noticed that a Google search for this term yields a mere five results, all of whom are in connection to Talbot, with most of them on sites run by him.

Talbot also claims to have been „part of the North American Indian Spiritual Unity Movement“<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> and a co-founder of a Tribal-Healing Council. However, Google results for both organisations mainly yield websites copying Talbot's biographical information, so their existence in former years up until today cannot be verified independently.

====Akwesasne Notes====
Further claims include Talbot used to be the editor, resp. the editor responsible for poetry and politics, resp. the columnist, resp. a „writer and poet“ for the internationally well-known journal ''Akwesasne Notes''. However, the information available on the journal does not verify such claims. The journal was founded by Kaientaronkwen Ernie Benedict in 1968, with its first editor a non-indigenous Canadian, Jerry Gambill, who received the Mohawk name of Rarihokwats. ''Akwesasne Notes'' covered many indigenous issues not restricted to the Americas, but also of Australia, Tibet, and China.<ref>http://www.historyandtheheadlines.abc-clio.com/contentpages/ContentPage.aspx?entryId=1171842&currentSection=1161468&productid=5</ref> The editors following Gambill were all from the Iroqois Nation: Professor John Mohawk, Peter Blue Cloud, Doug George-Kanentiio<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 9ff</ref>, and finally from 1992-1998 Darren Bonaparte and Salli Benedict.<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 11</ref> It seems highly probable that Talbot upholds this claim in order to exploit the reputation this publication built up particularly in Europe, while at the same time using its reputation to provide himself with an air of authenticity.

===Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims===
Talbot's claims of an indigenous status have also been discussed publically on internet forums, as they e.g. were repeated in several articles in the English and German Wikipedias. The English Wikipedia still carries an article on "Manitonquat"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitonquat </ref>, despite publically accessible information about Talbot's true background. The German Wikipedia runs an article on the "Talking Stick" which is used by Talbot, with the article completely lacking quotations but recommending one of Talbot's books as information material.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redestab </ref> Quite in line with Talbot's presentation, the German language article apparently views Talking Sticks as generically indigenous, while the English Wikipedia<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_stick </ref> correctly places them within the context of the North-West cultural region of North America.

Up until December 2006, German Wikipedia mentioned Talbot in their article on the Wampanoag Nation, characterising him as an outstanding member of the nation. Due to discussions in other internet forums that year, a Wikipedia user raised the issue in the article's talk section, providing a link to a post submitted by a member of the organisation team of the German summer camp. In this post, the team member stated that many persons coming to the camp in fact knew that Talbot was not indigenous but white, and that Talbot freely admitted this fact upon inquiry, which the team member apparently viewed positively. Due to this information, Talbot was deleted from the article, which in turn caused the team member to try and intervene with Wikipedia, contending that he should have phrased his post somewhat differently, had he known it was going to be used as a reference by Wikipedia.<ref>http://www.newikis.com/de/wiki/Diskussion:Wampanoag#Manitonquat </ref>

==Projects and Activities==
Since Talbot has been active as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies, he has engaged in various activities both in the USA and in Europe, like working with prisoners and youths, alleged drug counseling, and of course selling seminars and workshops as well as doing so-called summer camps in various European countries.

===Co-Counseling===
Talbot also practices and teaches [[Re-evaluation Counselling|Co-Counseling]], a dubious psychothereapeutic method which is not recognised academically. Co-Counselling is a stable part of all of Talbot's summer camps.

This method was founded by Harvey Jackins during the 1950ies and 1960ies who at that time was considerably influenced by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s Dianetics which he had joined as a member and auditor. RC resp. Co-Counseling is based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and [[Scientology]] to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Its target audience is a broad political left, particularly anti-racist, feminist, or environmentally minded movements. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

===Prison Work and Counseling===
Talbot has been active as an alleged medicine person providing spiritual aid to Native prison inmates in several jails in the New England area via „Mettanokit Outreach“, an organisation founded by himself. Talbot himself mentions prisons in two federal states, Massachussetts and Connecticut, while another website claims "[o]ffering Native American circles in 7 New England prisons for 25 years, with sweat lodge, circles, and counseling"<ref>http://www.oneheartfestival.se/index.php/workshop-leaders/event/Guides?layout=tiles</ref>, but providing no information regarding the prisons served or the number of prisoners served presently.

There are reports of Talbot actively discouraging enrolled indigenous persons from participating in the meetings and ceremonies organised by him while instead encouraging so-called „Pretendians“<ref>This term characterises ethnically white persons falsely claiming indigenous descent and aculturation.</ref> and other non-indigenous persons.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272</ref> There are also accounts of Talbot showing nude photos of his wife to the inmates he was supposed to give spiritual care to, to a group of prisoners his wife was also working with.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272 </ref>

As of 2015, the organisation "Mettanokit Outreach" is still listed on various sites as an association working with prisoners, but links provided do no longer work. It is therefore not quite clear whether the organisation still exists or may have been dissolved, with Talbot continuing to offer services as an alleged medicine person to the Bureau of Prisons.

Although some publications and biographical notes mention Talbot offering counseling work „for native families, alcohol & drug abuse counseling“<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt</ref>, this cannot be verified from neutral sources but is mentioned on his own resp. sites and publications repeating his claims. Having studied theatre and been a playwright and actor previously, Talbot does not qualify for such counseling work, and his claim of being a Re-evalutation Counseller also will not qualify him for such services. The aforementioned text, an advertising piece published in the usenet group „alt.gathering.rainbow“ in 1993, also seeks to attract funding for the alleged counseling programmes, as well as for an „Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council", or the "Wampanoag Reservation Improvement Fund“.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref> The same text, with just a few adjustments, is also published on German Amazon in the way of „product information“ for a 2009 publication by Talbot.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/RETURN-TO-CREATION-Manitonquat/dp/143634705X </ref> It is perhaps noteworthy that one of the two previously mentioned indigenous non-profit organisations for whom donations were also asked in the 1993 text had meanwhile been omitted, although still existing, and replaced by another Talbot project, „The Nature School Foundation“.

===Mettanokit compound and The Nature School Foundation===
Originally, the name Mettanokit was applied to the premises in Greenville, New Hampshire owned by Talbot, which was described as ''„a non-profit learning center and service organization working for a more human society based on the old values of cooperation and equality and the closeness and caring found in our elder tribal societies“''.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> In earlier publications, the community also got described as an ''„intentional community of people learning to retribalize“'', thus indicating its participants as non-indigenous, even if the text ambiguously continues that Mettanokit ''„serves as a model for self-sufficient living, and is also a learning experience for people removed from their tribal roots“''.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref>

According to information provided by Talbot, the community was founded in 1978, when some 50 persons gathered in response to rallying posters reading „Have you lost your tribe“ in the New England area. Talbot claims to have founded the „small tribe“ according to a dream he had in the night of this first gathering, with its name Mettanokit allegedly meaning „Our Mother Earth“. The group establishing their residence at the premises apparently also joined structures like the „Federation of Egalitarian Communities“ and the annual „Northeastern Communities Conference“. Although Talbot does not provide any exact dates or years, he seems to have sought access to organisations representing so-called intentional communities and ecovillages fairly early, and it also seems he likewise established access to Newage events like the „New England Healing Arts Fair“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the place's history reports a subsequent further land purchase of an allegedly highly indebted neighbouring compound and that the community managed to pay off mortgage plus debts within ten years. The premises then seem to have suffered badly in a fire during the 1990ies which destroyed the main building, and the community was not able to rebuild the house since their fire insurance showed deficient coverage. The community therefore disbanded, with only Talbot and wife remaining on the compound. He claims the premises were later on sold to „The Nature School of Massachusetts“, agreeing to grant Talbot continuing use of the house he inhabited. Later on, another adjacent property seems to have been bought and according to Talbot's account, they immediately began operating as „an educational-healing retreat center“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the earlier history of his premises and the newly founded tribe furthermore is somewhat countered by an article published by the ''Boston Globe'' in 1992 mentioning rather modest numbers of participants:
:''"F. Story Talbot, Cornell '54, lived in New York City, writing and producing plays off-off Broadway for 12 years until he looked about him and saw the city as it was, crime and fear of crime, dirt and death, and decided he was not prepared to stay in that place. [...] He lives in a house trailer in the woods of this town, on 15 acres of what had been a community of 15 like souls now reduced to four people, including himself and his Swedish wife, Ellika."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604</ref>

When the Nature School project allegedly ran into financial problems, Talbot – still living on the premises – is said to have taken over the land onto his name, which suggests another purchase having taken place.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg15574#msg15574 </ref> Although various advertisements for a „Nature School Foundation“ based in Greenville, New Hampshire are still to be found online<ref>see e.g. http://www.idealist.org/view/org/XmzDTFx6mDbD/?orgs_view=funders&orgs_page=1 </ref>, the foundation's website is no longer existent and on an official website, the foundation is characterised as „not in good standing“, presumably for failing to hand in necessary documentation.<ref>https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?894451 </ref>

Additionally, a person by the name of Donna Dills continues a LinkedIn profile announcing her as the „owner“ of „The Nature School Foundation, Inc.“ since 2002<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/13/557/5a1 </ref>, while in another LinkedIn profile, Dills claims to be the foundation's CEO.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/3/971/bb8 </ref> In a document found online, Talbot mentions his "daughter Donna"<ref>http://www.freemitchellstein.com/Decl.Talbot_ReplyRelease.pdf </ref>, although it does not get specified whether Ms Dills is in fact a biological daughter or whether this was an honorary form of addressing her.

The project apparently suffered some financial problems in 2006, when Talbot appealed to European supporters for donations to be able to meet mortgage instalments, as he claimed to have run up arrears amounting to $ 6,400.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5086#msg5086 </ref> A few years later in 2012, the project once again faced dire straits and donations for an overall amount of $ 75,000 were asked this time, allegedly to be able to make a final payment for the premises, raising pressure on potential donours employing the claim the amount had to be raised within less than two weeks.<ref>http://www.sabine-lichtenfels.com/en/Ring_of_Power_Feedback.html</ref> Talbot contended the mortgage had been bought by a locust bank who nevertheless had agreed to settle the matter at a payment of $ 75,000, although the compound had been estimated at some $ 250,000.<ref>http://www.circleway.de/emergency.html </ref> The appeal, however, does not quite specify the original amount of the mortgage nor the amount still outstanding at that particular point in time, and there is no update regarding whether Talbot had been able to raise a sufficient amount.

The premise's finances still seemed in danger two years later though, as there were follow-up appeals asking for donations with deadlines being extended several times still in April 2014 published on Talbot's blog, <ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref> and e.g. on mailing lists organising so-called eco-villages<ref>http://lists.europe.ecovillage.org/pipermail/general/2014-February/000064.html </ref>, with again no further information provided whether deadlines were met successfully or not. The compound probably remains a potential fundraising object.

===Summer Camps===
Annual summer camps with Talbot offering so-called teachings, complemented by co-counseling, have been established in several European countries. Although places may vary from year to year, camps as well as other events are more or less organised regularly in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark, with the most stable ones in Germany and Austria. In 2015, there is also one camp advertised in Alfriston, GB.<ref>http://englandevents.co.uk/alfriston-circle-way-camp-with-manitonquat-amp-ellika-8-12/352771 </ref> Additionally, Talbot also regularly takes part in camps organised by other vendors, like ZEGG resp. GEN-Europe in 2014<ref>http://www.circleway.de/ </ref> or in the camp organised by German Bear Tribe in 2015.<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> Another camp Talbot participated in during the 2015 season was the Austrian Roots Camp whose organisers are apparently recognised as a non-profit association and do not only sell seminars, camps etc. on the Newage market, but also for Austrian youths and for adolescent refugees, with camps for the latter group most probably financed with public monies.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROOTS-Camp/331002428312?fref=photo&ref=stream </ref> Roots Camp seems to be working according to Talbot's so-called teachings and also publishes donation requests on behalf of Talbot.

In Germany, three camps with Talbot are being organised on a regular basis. One summer camp in Bavaria, another one in Oelde, and a "Circle Way Leadership Camp" which also takes place in Bavaria. Additionally, workshops and seminars are being offered by varying organisers. In 2015, a particular effort apparently took place in Italy, with one camp, one seminar, one workshop being organised, plus an event for solstice and one at an Elfin community<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref>, although the latter event only gets mentioned at Talbot's own website.

The camps taking place in Bavaria since several years are organised by a "Light on Earth Institute" run by Stefan and Julia Mandel. Stefan Mandel is an alternative practitioner, but also sells various indigenous ceremonies. Besides Talbot, he also cooperates with the so-called council of "13 grandmothers", with [[Jens Lyberth]] aka Angaangaq, and organises travels to [[Joao de Deus]]. Furthermore he claims to be a "pipe carrier". Apart from the camps with Talbot, the Mandels also organise an annual "Pacha Mama Camp" promoting varying plastic shamans active on a national level as well as internationally. The camp in Oelde also has been organised since years, although the organising committee seems to have replaced.

====Camp Fees====
Prices asked for participation in a camp may vary somewhat, also in accordance with the length of the respective camp. It has to be noted that the amounts asked in the way of camp fees will mainly cover "teachings" provided by Talbot, and at least used to cover costs occuring to the organising team in the way of preparatory meetings and other expenses.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5080#msg5080 </ref>

The Austrian Circle Way Camp lasts for five days. Early bookers will receive a substantial rebate with the price of €270, while regular prices are €310 (low income), €350 (normal income), and €390 (including a solidarity amount to make up for losses on low income participants' rebates). Children between the ages of 6 to 18 will pay €77, while persons brought along by participants to facilitate childcare during the "teachings" will pay €140. Accomodation in participants' own tent or camper is included, as is accomodation in a communal dormitory.<ref>http://nahopra.synology.me/wordpress/ </ref>

The Bavarian camp, lasting nine days, differentiates prices for early bookers (€330, €410, €499 for low, normal, and high income tariffs) with prices later on rising to €390, €499, and €590 respectively. Children between 5 and 8 will be charged €90. Accomodation in participants' own tent will be charged with €6 per night, a double room amounts to €50, a single room to €35 which will have to be paid additionally to the aforementioned amount. Meals are charged at €77 for eleven lunches, while all other meals will have to be provided and paid for by participants themselves. A price of €7 per vegetarian or vegan lunch suggests that this amount is above cost price.<ref>http://www.light-on-earth.com/camp-mit-manitonquat.html </ref>

For the 2014 five-day camp in Sweden, fees asked of adult participants were SEK3,750 (€397) and SEK3,200 (€339), with age groups 15-25 paying SEK2,050 resp. SEK1,300 (€ and € ) and 4-14 paying SEK1,000 resp. SEK900 (€ and €).<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref> Accomodation on a mattress in a dormitory was charged with SEK100 (€10) per night resp. SEK200 (€ 21) per person and night in a double room resp. SEK350 (€37) for a double room with own bath, and SEK500 (€53) in a single room.<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref>

===Sales of Indigenous Ceremonies===
At least in Germany, Talbot also seems to have sold indigenous ceremonies resp. to have "initiated" students and "authorised" them to offer respective services. One student of Talbot's mentions: ''"With Manitonquat (Medicine Story), an Elder of the Wampanoag Indians, I have participated in a workshop to become a sweatlodge leader in 1998."''<ref>http://www.kristallfamilie.de/index.php/gerold-vo%C3%9F.html </ref> Another client from Austria claims to have received an ''"initiation into Northern Indian'' [sic] ''way of life and to "Life in a Circle" by Manitonquat-Medicine Story"''.<ref>http://evaauerfillafer.wix.com/neuesbewusstsein#!eva-auer-fillafer/c16fm</ref>

The aforementioned 1992 article in the ''Boston Globe'' confirms Talbot exploiting indigenous spirituality:
:''"He ... does a one-man show based on the life of Black Elk, a Sioux holy man. [...]
:''He conducts spiritual circles in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki and returns to those cities "over and over." Where there is a suitable place, he constructs a sweat lodge."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604 </ref>

Although the scarcity of Google results in this respect suggests Talbot meanwhile may have stopped these alleged initiations, there still are persons claiming him as their teacher in this field and there was online evidence of his still selling sweatlodges in 2006.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256 </ref>

====Talking Sticks and Clans====
Talbot however still uses components of indigenous cultures and social organisation in his teachings and during his summer camps. One of these is the promotion of using Talking Sticks which he apparently introduces as more or less generically indigenous. Talking Sticks were e.g. used throughout the cultural region of the North-West, but not in the North-Eastern Woodland cultural region, to which the Wampanoag will belong, therefore it seems that Talbot is mixing traditions. His making use of Talking Sticks and clan organisation patterns also suggest that he views these aspects as a sales pitch granting him more authenticity.

Another aspect is his practice of arranging participants of his summer camps in so-called "clans" of some six to eight persons. Although some indigenous nations were organised in clans, this is not true for all of them. Generally speaking a clan is a sub-unit of an ethnic entity whose members share an actual or perceived kinship and descent<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan</ref>, which is certainly not the case with camp participants. The rather limited number of clan members in these camps is likewise ridiculous and does in no way reflect indigenous customs.

However, as of 2015, more organisations in contact with Talbot seem inclined to take up this practice, as meanwhile German [[Calumed e.V.]] introduces a "Medicine Clan" on their website which apparenly also employs Talking Sticks as well as pipe ceremonies, medicine wheel ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.calumed.de/seminare-und-veranstaltungen/medicine-clan.php </ref>

The 2015 [[ZEGG]] summer camp, in which Talbot will appear as a lecturer, also announces to organise participants in "clans" of some twenty to thirty persons.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/summercamp-at-zegg.phtml </ref>

==Cooperation with other plastic shamans and vendors on the Newage Market==

Due to his being active since the 1970ies, Talbot has associated with various Newage projects and groups over the years.

===Rainbow Gatherings===
Apparently, Talbot participated in the Rainbow Gatherings already fairly early, according to an account rendered in a publication from the first gathering in 1972.<ref>Steve McFadden: Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.)</ref> The Rainbow Gatherings, however, are no indigenous meetings but attract a largely white clientele from the hippie subculture and from counterculture environments. They organise annual meetings at differing locations in the USA, usually on land in federal ownership and very often at or close to sites sacred to one or more indigenous nations.<ref>The main 2015 US meeting was scheduled to take place in the Black Hills which are held sacred by several indigenous nations who strongly objected the meeting and particularly opposed drug abuse there as well as free sexuality taking place in areas sacred to them. Part of the Rainbow Gathering clientele then withdrew from the plan to gather in the Black Hills, while another part, not bothered by facts, insisted they were welcomed by the indigenous nations and had their permission. Another smaller meeting organised at Mount Shasta, California in July 2015 was closed down by a cease and desist order effected by the Winnemem Wintu Nation.</ref> <ref>http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/14/protect-he-sapa-stop-cultural-exploitation</ref> <ref>http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/winnemem-wintu-tribe-gives-cease-desist-order-to-rainbow-family/</ref> As of late, Talbot seems no longer actively participating in these events, presumably since they are scheduled at the beginning of July annually, at which time Talbot will usually stay in Europe for seminars and camps.

===Bear Tribe===
This organisation was founded by Vincent LaDuke a.k.a. "Sun Bear", who was enrolled Ojibway. However, LaDuke was no medicine person and had no respective training but sold a spirituality and ceremonies tailored to attract an affluent white clientele. The range of commerce e.g. included an alleged traditional "Indian astrology" which based on the usual system, simply replacing the terms used for the signs of the zodiac with alleged indigenous terms (so e.g. "Aquarius" becomes "Otter").

Cooperation between Talbot and LaDuke resp. the Bear Tribe already began in the 1970ies. Talbot's earlier books were published by the Bear Tribe. Presumably, both Talbot and LaDuke sought to further promote themselves by cooperating with another plastic shaman well established with their white clientele.

In 2015, Talbot participated as a lecturer in the annual "Medicine Wheel" camp organised by the German Bear Tribe and made an appearance alongside persons from the US Bear Tribe as well as Brooke "Medicine Eagle" Edwards<ref>https://blog.psiram.com/2015/04/brooke-medicine-eagle-edwards-plastic-shaman-with-some-40-years-of-experience-in-fleecing/ </ref>, another plastic shaman active since the 1970ies who has also cooperated with Bear Tribe for several decades.

===Calumed e.V.===
Calumed e.V. is a German non-profit association active on the Newage market since the 1980ies in various ways. One part of their activities is selling a course in self-management, while another main pillar has been engaging in and selling indigenous spirituality. Their name indicates both fields by employing a pun including both the term "calumet" for a pipe, adding "med" for alternative medicine. However, Calumed e.V. also includes sexuality into the spiritual mix they teach, which is not in accordance with indigenous practice.

The association has been working with [[Larson Medicinehorse]] since at least the end of the 1980ies. Medicinehorse was a regular lecturer at Calumed summer camps, while Calumed members were resp. still are participating in the Sun Dances organised by Medicinehorse. They, too, organise an annual summer camp, for which Talbot at least made an appearance as a lecturer in one year, and one of the German camps of Talbot saw visitors from Calumed e.V., e.g. their founder and president at that point in time, Dieter Jarzombek.

===Intentional Communities and Ecovillages===
These umbrella organisations do not only include projects exploiting and/or selling indigenous spirituality and do not seem to pay much attention to indications that a particular member community may be influenced or even dominated by a cult or cult-like organisation, so that GEN-Europe, as one example, also accept as members eco-villages like "Krishna Valley" from Hungary who are also organised in [[ISKCON]] which is viewed as a cult, or Italian Damanhur, Tamera from Portugal, and [[ZEGG]] from Germany. Another dubious member is "Stamm der Likatier" [Tribe of Licatians, formerly "Stamm Füssen, i.e. "Füssen Tribe"] in Germany which gained some notoriety for having given reason for investigations due to sexual abuse of children, but also managed to raise enough money from their membership to have secretly bought much of the real estate in their home town. The „tribe“ also owns and runs two shops selling Newage gadgets, a publishing house, a real estate company, a health food shop, and its vice president owns a company organising Newage fairs.<ref>https://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php/Stamm_der_Likatier</ref>

In the case of GEN-Europe, it is perhaps not very likely they may detect such influences or view them as problematic, since their council consists of a member of Damanhur (council president), as well as one member each of ZEGG, Tamera, Krishna Valley, and LaBase/Spain (they sell e.g. sweat lodges).<ref>http://gen-europe.org/about-us/gen-europe-council/gen-europe-council/index.htm</ref>

The entry on Talbot published by the Wiki of Intentional Communities again repeats Talbot's claim of being the "ceremonial medicine man of the Assonet Band" as well as other aforementioned claims, although they do include two sources critical of Talbot.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> Over all, the ICWiki views Talbot positively and indicates a far more intense commitment in this environment:
:''"Manitonquat has also spent over forty years with various intentional communities around the world — as founder, participant, and observer — and so has gathered a wealth of intimate knowledge about their various strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective techniques in communal living."''<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/</ref>

According to the ICWiki, Talbot allegedly claims "mixed heritage" with his father having been Wampanoag. They also reconfirm his alleged right to teach indigenous, or indigenous-inspired content, comparing Talbot's efforts to that of the Grimm brothers collecting fairy tales.
At the same time, they aim at minimising criticism raised due to Talbot's cooperation with projects like ZEGG and Tamera. The reliablity of such tactics is somewhat hampered by the fact that the aforementioned projects are also members of the Intentional Community movement, as becomes apparent from a look at their directory<ref>http://www.ic.org/directory/listings/?cmty-country=Germany </ref>: ZEGG, as one example, has been a member since 1999, "Stamm der Likatier" since March 2005. Another dubious member is a project "12 Tribes Klosterzimmern"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities </ref> <ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zw%C3%B6lf_St%C3%A4mme_%28Glaubensgemeinschaft%29 </ref> which gained notoriety recently for denying their children access to medical care and for practicing continued severe corporal punishment on children of all age groups. This project joined in May 2005.

Talbot has made regular appearances as a lecturer at ZEGG summer camps and at the so-called "Summer University" organised by Tamera. He furthermore seems to have been granted the honour of being "the only honorary citizen of ZEGG", as is announced on their Facebook site.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/zegg.gemeinschaft/posts/10152006759952433 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Francis Talbot}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Talbot, Francis}}

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

Francis Talbot

2015-09-28T18:59:10Z

Omikronn:

'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies. Despite having a completely Euro-American ancestry, Talbot claims to be a member and even a medicine person, resp. "ceremonial medicine man" of the Wampanoag nation. His clientele are mainly affluent white middle-class Euro-Americans and Europeans with whom he previously also meant to initiate a new „tribe“ on his premises in New England.

==Biography==
Talbot was born into a family of entrepreneurs with him as well his ancestors all being listed as „white“ in past census records dating back into the 1840ies.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610 </ref> He did a course of studies at Cornell University and became a playwright under the names of „Story Talbot“ and „F. Story Talbot“ and further claims to have been an actor and theatre director, too.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34610#msg34610</ref> He is also apostrophied as a founder, co-founder, resp. early member of the Rainbow Gatherings.

===Claims of being Indigenous===
Most biographical information available online apparently copies Talbot's various claims of being a member of the Wampanoag of Massachusetts. Later on, affiliation claims changed to the Mashpee Wampanoag, then Gay Head Wampanoag, both federally recognised since the 1970ies<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashpee_Wampanoag_Tribe</ref> and as of 1987 respectively.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_Tribe_of_Gay_Head </ref> Finally, Talbot now claims to be an enrolled member of the Assonet Band of Wampanoag<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5169#msg5169 </ref> who received recognition by the state of Massachusetts as recent as 1990 and who are not federally recognised.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag_people#Assonet_Band_of_the_Wampanoag_Nation </ref> Several websites and also books contend that Talbot was ''"the powwah, or spiritual leader, and the minatou, or keeper of the lore"'' of the Assonet Band, a claim which has particularly been brought forward in two books by Newage author Steve McFadden.<ref>Profiles in Wisdom: Steve McFadden: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.) and Legend of the Rainbow Warriors, 1989, 2001, 2005 Lincoln NE (portions originally published in 1992 by Bear & Co. Of Santa Fe NM under the title „Ancient Voices, Current Affairs: The Legend of the Rainbow Warriors“)</ref>

Facts notwithstanding, Talbot continues to claim an indigenous state and e.g. in his 2015 schedule announces his participation in an alleged "Annual Sequanakeeswash in Assonet MA"<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> which gets described as the beginning of the new year in Wampanoag culture.<ref>see e.g. http://webspacero.bplaced.net/Thema/spiritual/Manitonquat%20%96%20What%20is%20a%20tribe_3.pdf </ref> It is therefore to be noticed that a Google search for this term yields a mere five results, all of whom are in connection to Talbot, with most of them on sites run by him.

Talbot also claims to have been „part of the North American Indian Spiritual Unity Movement“<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> and a co-founder of a Tribal-Healing Council. However, Google results for both organisations mainly yield websites copying Talbot's biographical information, so their existence in former years up until today cannot be verified independently.

====Akwesasne Notes====
Further claims include Talbot used to be the editor, resp. the editor responsible for poetry and politics, resp. the columnist, resp. a „writer and poet“ for the internationally well-known journal ''Akwesasne Notes''. However, the information available on the journal does not verify such claims. The journal was founded by Kaientaronkwen Ernie Benedict in 1968, with its first editor a non-indigenous Canadian, Jerry Gambill, who received the Mohawk name of Rarihokwats. ''Akwesasne Notes'' covered many indigenous issues not restricted to the Americas, but also of Australia, Tibet, and China.<ref>http://www.historyandtheheadlines.abc-clio.com/contentpages/ContentPage.aspx?entryId=1171842&currentSection=1161468&productid=5</ref> The editors following Gambill were all from the Iroqois Nation: Professor John Mohawk, Peter Blue Cloud, Doug George-Kanentiio<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 9ff</ref>, and finally from 1992-1998 Darren Bonaparte and Salli Benedict.<ref>Bruce Elliott Johansen: Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement, Santa Barbara 2013, p. 11</ref> It seems highly probable that Talbot upholds this claim in order to exploit the reputation this publication built up particularly in Europe, while at the same time using its reputation to provide himself with an air of authenticity.

===Public Receipt and Discussions of Talbot's Claims===
Talbot's claims of an indigenous status have also been discussed publically on internet forums, as they e.g. were repeated in several articles in the English and German Wikipedias. The English Wikipedia still carries an article on "Manitonquat"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitonquat </ref>, despite publically accessible information about Talbot's true background. The German Wikipedia runs an article on the "Talking Stick" which is used by Talbot, with the article completely lacking quotations but recommending one of Talbot's books as information material.<ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redestab </ref> Quite in line with Talbot's presentation, the German language article apparently views Talking Sticks as generically indigenous, while the English Wikipedia<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_stick </ref> correctly places them within the context of the North-West cultural region of North America.

Up until December 2006, German Wikipedia mentioned Talbot in their article on the Wampanoag Nation, characterising him as an outstanding member of the nation. Due to discussions in other internet forums that year, a Wikipedia user raised the issue in the article's talk section, providing a link to a post submitted by a member of the organisation team of the German summer camp. In this post, the team member stated that many persons coming to the camp in fact knew that Talbot was not indigenous but white, and that Talbot freely admitted this fact upon inquiry, which the team member apparently viewed positively. Due to this information, Talbot was deleted from the article, which in turn caused the team member to try and intervene with Wikipedia, contending that he should have phrased his post somewhat differently, had he known it was going to be used as a reference by Wikipedia.<ref>http://www.newikis.com/de/wiki/Diskussion:Wampanoag#Manitonquat </ref>

==Projects and Activities==
Since Talbot has been active as a plastic shaman since the 1970ies, he has engaged in various activities both in the USA and in Europe, like working with prisoners and youths, alleged drug counseling, and of course selling seminars and workshops as well as doing so-called summer camps in various European countries.

===Co-Counseling===
Talbot also practices and teaches [[Re-evaluation Counselling|Co-Counseling]], a dubious psychothereapeutic method which is not recognised academically. Co-Counselling is a stable part of all of Talbot's summer camps.

This method was founded by Harvey Jackins during the 1950ies and 1960ies who at that time was considerably influenced by [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s Dianetics which he had joined as a member and auditor. RC resp. Co-Counseling is based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and [[Scientology]] to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Its target audience is a broad political left, particularly anti-racist, feminist, or environmentally minded movements. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

===Prison Work and Counseling===
Talbot has been active as an alleged medicine person providing spiritual aid to Native prison inmates in several jails in the New England area via „Mettanokit Outreach“, an organisation founded by himself. Talbot himself mentions prisons in two federal states, Massachussetts and Connecticut, while another website claims "[o]ffering Native American circles in 7 New England prisons for 25 years, with sweat lodge, circles, and counseling"<ref>http://www.oneheartfestival.se/index.php/workshop-leaders/event/Guides?layout=tiles</ref>, but providing no information regarding the prisons served or the number of prisoners served presently.

There are reports of Talbot actively discouraging enrolled indigenous persons from participating in the meetings and ceremonies organised by him while instead encouraging so-called „Pretendians“<ref>This term characterises ethnically white persons falsely claiming indigenous descent and aculturation.</ref> and other non-indigenous persons.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256</ref> <ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272</ref> There are also accounts of Talbot showing nude photos of his wife to the inmates he was supposed to give spiritual care to, to a group of prisoners his wife was also working with.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5272#msg5272 </ref>

As of 2015, the organisation "Mettanokit Outreach" is still listed on various sites as an association working with prisoners, but links provided do no longer work. It is therefore not quite clear whether the organisation still exists or may have been dissolved, with Talbot continuing to offer services as an alleged medicine person to the Bureau of Prisons.

Although some publications and biographical notes mention Talbot offering counseling work „for native families, alcohol & drug abuse counseling“<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt</ref>, this cannot be verified from neutral sources but is mentioned on his own resp. sites and publications repeating his claims. Having studied theatre and been a playwright and actor previously, Talbot does not qualify for such counseling work, and his claim of being a Re-evalutation Counseller also will not qualify him for such services. The aforementioned text, an advertising piece published in the usenet group „alt.gathering.rainbow“ in 1993, also seeks to attract funding for the alleged counseling programmes, as well as for an „Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council", or the "Wampanoag Reservation Improvement Fund“.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref> The same text, with just a few adjustments, is also published on German Amazon in the way of „product information“ for a 2009 publication by Talbot.<ref>http://www.amazon.de/RETURN-TO-CREATION-Manitonquat/dp/143634705X </ref> It is perhaps noteworthy that one of the two previously mentioned indigenous non-profit organisations for whom donations were also asked in the 1993 text had meanwhile been omitted, although still existing, and replaced by another Talbot project, „The Nature School Foundation“.

===Mettanokit compound and The Nature School Foundation===
Originally, the name Mettanokit was applied to the premises in Greenville, New Hampshire owned by Talbot, which was described as ''„a non-profit learning center and service organization working for a more human society based on the old values of cooperation and equality and the closeness and caring found in our elder tribal societies“''.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> In earlier publications, the community also got described as an ''„intentional community of people learning to retribalize“'', thus indicating its participants as non-indigenous, even if the text ambiguously continues that Mettanokit ''„serves as a model for self-sufficient living, and is also a learning experience for people removed from their tribal roots“''.<ref>http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/bibliography.txt </ref>

According to information provided by Talbot, the community was founded in 1978, when some 50 persons gathered in response to rallying posters reading „Have you lost your tribe“ in the New England area. Talbot claims to have founded the „small tribe“ according to a dream he had in the night of this first gathering, with its name Mettanokit allegedly meaning „Our Mother Earth“. The group establishing their residence at the premises apparently also joined structures like the „Federation of Egalitarian Communities“ and the annual „Northeastern Communities Conference“. Although Talbot does not provide any exact dates or years, he seems to have sought access to organisations representing so-called intentional communities and ecovillages fairly early, and it also seems he likewise established access to Newage events like the „New England Healing Arts Fair“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the place's history reports a subsequent further land purchase of an allegedly highly indebted neighbouring compound and that the community managed to pay off mortgage plus debts within ten years. The premises then seem to have suffered badly in a fire during the 1990ies which destroyed the main building, and the community was not able to rebuild the house since their fire insurance showed deficient coverage. The community therefore disbanded, with only Talbot and wife remaining on the compound. He claims the premises were later on sold to „The Nature School of Massachusetts“, agreeing to grant Talbot continuing use of the house he inhabited. Later on, another adjacent property seems to have been bought and according to Talbot's account, they immediately began operating as „an educational-healing retreat center“.<ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref>

Talbot's account of the earlier history of his premises and the newly founded tribe furthermore is somewhat countered by an article published by the ''Boston Globe'' in 1992 mentioning rather modest numbers of participants:
:''"F. Story Talbot, Cornell '54, lived in New York City, writing and producing plays off-off Broadway for 12 years until he looked about him and saw the city as it was, crime and fear of crime, dirt and death, and decided he was not prepared to stay in that place. [...] He lives in a house trailer in the woods of this town, on 15 acres of what had been a community of 15 like souls now reduced to four people, including himself and his Swedish wife, Ellika."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604</ref>

When the Nature School project allegedly ran into financial problems, Talbot – still living on the premises – is said to have taken over the land onto his name, which suggests another purchase having taken place.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg15574#msg15574 </ref> Although various advertisements for a „Nature School Foundation“ based in Greenville, New Hampshire are still to be found online<ref>see e.g. http://www.idealist.org/view/org/XmzDTFx6mDbD/?orgs_view=funders&orgs_page=1 </ref>, the foundation's website is no longer existent and on an official website, the foundation is characterised as „not in good standing“, presumably for failing to hand in necessary documentation.<ref>https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?894451 </ref>

Additionally, a person by the name of Donna Dills continues a LinkedIn profile announcing her as the „owner“ of „The Nature School Foundation, Inc.“ since 2002<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/13/557/5a1 </ref>, while in another LinkedIn profile, Dills claims to be the foundation's CEO.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dills/3/971/bb8 </ref> In a document found online, Talbot mentions his "daughter Donna"<ref>http://www.freemitchellstein.com/Decl.Talbot_ReplyRelease.pdf </ref>, although it does not get specified whether Ms Dills is in fact a biological daughter or whether this was an honorary form of addressing her.

The project apparently suffered some financial problems in 2006, when Talbot appealed to European supporters for donations to be able to meet mortgage instalments, as he claimed to have run up arrears amounting to $ 6,400.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5086#msg5086 </ref> A few years later in 2012, the project once again faced dire straits and donations for an overall amount of $ 75,000 were asked this time, allegedly to be able to make a final payment for the premises, raising pressure on potential donours employing the claim the amount had to be raised within less than two weeks.<ref>http://www.sabine-lichtenfels.com/en/Ring_of_Power_Feedback.html</ref> Talbot contended the mortgage had been bought by a locust bank who nevertheless had agreed to settle the matter at a payment of $ 75,000, although the compound had been estimated at some $ 250,000.<ref>http://www.circleway.de/emergency.html </ref> The appeal, however, does not quite specify the original amount of the mortgage nor the amount still outstanding at that particular point in time, and there is no update regarding whether Talbot had been able to raise a sufficient amount.

The premise's finances still seemed in danger two years later though, as there were follow-up appeals asking for donations with deadlines being extended several times still in April 2014 published on Talbot's blog, <ref>http://thewayofthecircle.blogspot.de/2014/03/brief-updates-and-longer-history.html </ref> and e.g. on mailing lists organising so-called eco-villages<ref>http://lists.europe.ecovillage.org/pipermail/general/2014-February/000064.html </ref>, with again no further information provided whether deadlines were met successfully or not. The compound probably remains a potential fundraising object.

===Summer Camps===
Annual summer camps with Talbot offering so-called teachings, complemented by co-counseling, have been established in several European countries. Although places may vary from year to year, camps as well as other events are more or less organised regularly in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark, with the most stable ones in Germany and Austria. In 2015, there is also one camp advertised in Alfriston, GB.<ref>http://englandevents.co.uk/alfriston-circle-way-camp-with-manitonquat-amp-ellika-8-12/352771 </ref> Additionally, Talbot also regularly takes part in camps organised by other vendors, like ZEGG resp. GEN-Europe in 2014<ref>http://www.circleway.de/ </ref> or in the camp organised by German Bear Tribe in 2015.<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref> Another camp Talbot participated in during the 2015 season was the Austrian Roots Camp whose organisers are apparently recognised as a non-profit association and do not only sell seminars, camps etc. on the Newage market, but also for Austrian youths and for adolescent refugees, with camps for the latter group most probably financed with public monies.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROOTS-Camp/331002428312?fref=photo&ref=stream </ref> Roots Camp seems to be working according to Talbot's so-called teachings and also publishes donation requests on behalf of Talbot.

In Germany, three camps with Talbot are being organised on a regular basis. One summer camp in Bavaria, another one in Oelde, and a "Circle Way Leadership Camp" which also takes place in Bavaria. Additionally, workshops and seminars are being offered by varying organisers. In 2015, a particular effort apparently took place in Italy, with one camp, one seminar, one workshop being organised, plus an event for solstice and one at an Elfin community<ref>http://www.circleway.org/schedule.html </ref>, although the latter event only gets mentioned at Talbot's own website.

The camps taking place in Bavaria since several years are organised by a "Light on Earth Institute" run by Stefan and Julia Mandel. Stefan Mandel is an alternative practitioner, but also sells various indigenous ceremonies. Besides Talbot, he also cooperates with the so-called council of "13 grandmothers", with [[Jens Lyberth]] aka Angaangaq, and organises travels to [[Joao de Deus]]. Furthermore he claims to be a "pipe carrier". Apart from the camps with Talbot, the Mandels also organise an annual "Pacha Mama Camp" promoting varying plastic shamans active on a national level as well as internationally. The camp in Oelde also has been organised since years, although the organising committee seems to have replaced.

====Camp Fees====
Prices asked for participation in a camp may vary somewhat, also in accordance with the length of the respective camp. It has to be noted that the amounts asked in the way of camp fees will mainly cover "teachings" provided by Talbot, and at least used to cover costs occuring to the organising team in the way of preparatory meetings and other expenses.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5080#msg5080 </ref>

The Austrian Circle Way Camp lasts for five days. Early bookers will receive a substantial rebate with the price of €270, while regular prices are €310 (low income), €350 (normal income), and €390 (including a solidarity amount to make up for losses on low income participants' rebates). Children between the ages of 6 to 18 will pay €77, while persons brought along by participants to facilitate childcare during the "teachings" will pay €140. Accomodation in participants' own tent or camper is included, as is accomodation in a communal dormitory.<ref>http://nahopra.synology.me/wordpress/ </ref>

The Bavarian camp, lasting nine days, differentiates prices for early bookers (€330, €410, €499 for low, normal, and high income tariffs) with prices later on rising to €390, €499, and €590 respectively. Children between 5 and 8 will be charged €90. Accomodation in participants' own tent will be charged with €6 per night, a double room amounts to €50, a single room to €35 which will have to be paid additionally to the aforementioned amount. Meals are charged at €77 for eleven lunches, while all other meals will have to be provided and paid for by participants themselves. A price of €7 per vegetarian or vegan lunch suggests that this amount is above cost price.<ref>http://www.light-on-earth.com/camp-mit-manitonquat.html </ref>

For the 2014 five-day camp in Sweden, fees asked of adult participants were SEK3,750 (€397) and SEK3,200 (€339), with age groups 15-25 paying SEK2,050 resp. SEK1,300 (€ and € ) and 4-14 paying SEK1,000 resp. SEK900 (€ and €).<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref> Accomodation on a mattress in a dormitory was charged with SEK100 (€10) per night resp. SEK200 (€ 21) per person and night in a double room resp. SEK350 (€37) for a double room with own bath, and SEK500 (€53) in a single room.<ref>http://www.mundekulla.se/en/courses/circle-way-camp-26272552 </ref>

===Sales of Indigenous Ceremonies===
At least in Germany, Talbot also seems to have sold indigenous ceremonies resp. to have "initiated" students and "authorised" them to offer respective services. One student of Talbot's mentions: ''"With Manitonquat (Medicine Story), an Elder of the Wampanoag Indians, I have participated in a workshop to become a sweatlodge leader in 1998."''<ref>http://www.kristallfamilie.de/index.php/gerold-vo%C3%9F.html </ref> Another client from Austria claims to have received an ''"initiation into Northern Indian'' [sic] ''way of life and to "Life in a Circle" by Manitonquat-Medicine Story"''.<ref>http://evaauerfillafer.wix.com/neuesbewusstsein#!eva-auer-fillafer/c16fm</ref>

The aforementioned 1992 article in the ''Boston Globe'' confirms Talbot exploiting indigenous spirituality:
:''"He ... does a one-man show based on the life of Black Elk, a Sioux holy man. [...]
:''He conducts spiritual circles in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki and returns to those cities "over and over." Where there is a suitable place, he constructs a sweat lodge."''<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg34604#msg34604 </ref>

Although the scarcity of Google results in this respect suggests Talbot meanwhile may have stopped these alleged initiations, there still are persons claiming him as their teacher in this field and there was online evidence of his still selling sweatlodges in 2006.<ref>http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=888.msg5256#msg5256 </ref>

====Talking Sticks and Clans====
Talbot however still uses components of indigenous cultures and social organisation in his teachings and during his summer camps. One of these is the promotion of using Talking Sticks which he apparently introduces as more or less generically indigenous. Talking Sticks were e.g. used throughout the cultural region of the North-West, but not in the North-Eastern Woodland cultural region, to which the Wampanoag will belong, therefore it seems that Talbot is mixing traditions. His making use of Talking Sticks and clan organisation patterns also suggest that he views these aspects as a sales pitch granting him more authenticity.

Another aspect is his practice of arranging participants of his summer camps in so-called "clans" of some six to eight persons. Although some indigenous nations were organised in clans, this is not true for all of them. Generally speaking a clan is a sub-unit of an ethnic entity whose members share an actual or perceived kinship and descent<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan</ref>, which is certainly not the case with camp participants. The rather limited number of clan members in these camps is likewise ridiculous and does in no way reflect indigenous customs.

However, as of 2015, more organisations in contact with Talbot seem inclined to take up this practice, as meanwhile German [[Calumed e.V.]] introduces a "Medicine Clan" on their website which apparenly also employs Talking Sticks as well as pipe ceremonies, medicine wheel ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, and sweatlodges.<ref>http://www.calumed.de/seminare-und-veranstaltungen/medicine-clan.php </ref>

The 2015 [[ZEGG]] summer camp, in which Talbot will appear as a lecturer, also announces to organise participants in "clans" of some twenty to thirty persons.<ref>http://www.zegg-forum.org/summercamp-at-zegg.phtml </ref>

==Cooperation with other plastic shamans and vendors on the Newage Market==

Due to his being active since the 1970ies, Talbot has associated with various Newage projects and groups over the years.

===Rainbow Gatherings===
Apparently, Talbot participated in the Rainbow Gatherings already fairly early, according to an account rendered in a publication from the first gathering in 1972.<ref>Steve McFadden: Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth, 1991, 2001 Lincoln NE (originally published by Bear and Co.)</ref> The Rainbow Gatherings, however, are no indigenous meetings but attract a largely white clientele from the hippie subculture and from counterculture environments. They organise annual meetings at differing locations in the USA, usually on land in federal ownership and very often at or close to sites sacred to one or more indigenous nations.<ref>The main 2015 US meeting was scheduled to take place in the Black Hills which are held sacred by several indigenous nations who strongly objected the meeting and particularly opposed drug abuse there as well as free sexuality taking place in areas sacred to them. Part of the Rainbow Gathering clientele then withdrew from the plan to gather in the Black Hills, while another part, not bothered by facts, insisted they were welcomed by the indigenous nations and had their permission. Another smaller meeting organised at Mount Shasta, California in July 2015 was closed down by a cease and desist order effected by the Winnemem Wintu Nation.</ref> <ref>http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/14/protect-he-sapa-stop-cultural-exploitation</ref> <ref>http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/winnemem-wintu-tribe-gives-cease-desist-order-to-rainbow-family/</ref> As of late, Talbot seems no longer actively participating in these events, presumably since they are scheduled at the beginning of July annually, at which time Talbot will usually stay in Europe for seminars and camps.

===Bear Tribe===
This organisation was founded by Vincent LaDuke a.k.a. "Sun Bear", who was enrolled Ojibway. However, LaDuke was no medicine person and had no respective training but sold a spirituality and ceremonies tailored to attract an affluent white clientele. The range of commerce e.g. included an alleged traditional "Indian astrology" which based on the usual system, simply replacing the terms used for the signs of the zodiac with alleged indigenous terms (so e.g. "Aquarius" becomes "Otter").

Cooperation between Talbot and LaDuke resp. the Bear Tribe already began in the 1970ies. Talbot's earlier books were published by the Bear Tribe. Presumably, both Talbot and LaDuke sought to further promote themselves by cooperating with another plastic shaman well established with their white clientele.

In 2015, Talbot participated as a lecturer in the annual "Medicine Wheel" camp organised by the German Bear Tribe and made an appearance alongside persons from the US Bear Tribe as well as Brooke "Medicine Eagle" Edwards<ref>https://blog.psiram.com/2015/04/brooke-medicine-eagle-edwards-plastic-shaman-with-some-40-years-of-experience-in-fleecing/ </ref>, another plastic shaman active since the 1970ies who has also cooperated with Bear Tribe for several decades.

===Calumed e.V.===
Calumed e.V. is a German non-profit association active on the Newage market since the 1980ies in various ways. One part of their activities is selling a course in self-management, while another main pillar has been engaging in and selling indigenous spirituality. Their name indicates both fields by employing a pun including both the term "calumet" for a pipe, adding "med" for alternative medicine. However, Calumed e.V. also includes sexuality into the spiritual mix they teach, which is not in accordance with indigenous practice.

The association has been working with [[Larson Medicinehorse]] since at least the end of the 1980ies. Medicinehorse was a regular lecturer at Calumed summer camps, while Calumed members were resp. still are participating in the Sun Dances organised by Medicinehorse. They, too, organise an annual summer camp, for which Talbot at least made an appearance as a lecturer in one year, and one of the German camps of Talbot saw visitors from Calumed e.V., e.g. their founder and president at that point in time, Dieter Jarzombek.

===Intentional Communities and Ecovillages===
These umbrella organisations do not only include projects exploiting and/or selling indigenous spirituality and do not seem to pay much attention to indications that a particular member community may be influenced or even dominated by a cult or cult-like organisation, so that GEN-Europe, as one example, also accept as members eco-villages like "Krishna Valley" from Hungary who are also organised in [[ISKCON]] which is viewed as a cult, or Italian Damanhur, Tamera from Portugal, and [[ZEGG]] from Germany. Another dubious member is "Stamm der Likatier" [Tribe of Licatians, formerly "Stamm Füssen, i.e. "Füssen Tribe"] in Germany which gained some notoriety for having given reason for investigations due to sexual abuse of children, but also managed to raise enough money from their membership to have secretly bought much of the real estate in their home town. The „tribe“ also owns and runs two shops selling Newage gadgets, a publishing house, a real estate company, a health food shop, and its vice president owns a company organising Newage fairs.<ref>https://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php/Stamm_der_Likatier</ref>

In the case of GEN-Europe, it is perhaps not very likely they may detect such influences or view them as problematic, since their council consists of a member of Damanhur (council president), as well as one member each of ZEGG, Tamera, Krishna Valley, and LaBase/Spain (they sell e.g. sweat lodges).<ref>http://gen-europe.org/about-us/gen-europe-council/gen-europe-council/index.htm</ref>

The entry on Talbot published by the Wiki of Intentional Communities again repeats Talbot's claim of being the "ceremonial medicine man of the Assonet Band" as well as other aforementioned claims, although they do include two sources critical of Talbot.<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/ </ref> Over all, the ICWiki views Talbot positively and indicates a far more intense commitment in this environment:
:''"Manitonquat has also spent over forty years with various intentional communities around the world — as founder, participant, and observer — and so has gathered a wealth of intimate knowledge about their various strengths and weaknesses, as well as effective techniques in communal living."''<ref>http://www.ic.org/wiki/manitonquat/</ref>

According to the ICWiki, Talbot allegedly claims "mixed heritage" with his father having been Wampanoag. They also reconfirm his alleged right to teach indigenous, or indigenous-inspired content, comparing Talbot's efforts to that of the Grimm brothers collecting fairy tales.
At the same time, they aim at minimising criticism raised due to Talbot's cooperation with projects like ZEGG and Tamera. The reliablity of such tactics is somewhat hampered by the fact that the aforementioned projects are also members of the Intentional Community movement, as becomes apparent from a look at their directory<ref>http://www.ic.org/directory/listings/?cmty-country=Germany </ref>: ZEGG, as one example, has been a member since 1999, "Stamm der Likatier" since March 2005. Another dubious member is a project "12 Tribes Klosterzimmern"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_communities </ref> <ref>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zw%C3%B6lf_St%C3%A4mme_%28Glaubensgemeinschaft%29 </ref> which gained notoriety recently for denying their children access to medical care and for practicing continued severe corporal punishment on children of all age groups. This project joined in May 2005.

Talbot has made regular appearances as a lecturer at ZEGG summer camps and at the so-called "Summer University" organised by Tamera. He furthermore seems to have been granted the honour of being "the only honorary citizen of ZEGG", as is announced on their Facebook site.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/zegg.gemeinschaft/posts/10152006759952433 </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Francis Talbot}}

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT: Talbot, Francis}}

[[category:Plastic Shamans]]

Francis Talbot

2015-09-28T18:57:56Z

Omikronn: category correction

Francis Talbot

2015-09-28T18:56:50Z

Omikronn: Created page with "'''Francis Talbot''', full name '''Francis Story Talbot II''', a.k.a. '''Manitonquat''' resp. '''Medicine Story''' (born July 17, 1929), has been operating as a plastic shaman..."

Re-evaluation Counselling

2015-09-28T18:52:15Z

Omikronn: Created page with "'''Re-evaluation Counselling''' (RC) is a counselling/psychotherapy movement founded by the late Harvey Jackins and based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and..."

'''Re-evaluation Counselling''' (RC) is a counselling/psychotherapy movement founded by the late Harvey Jackins and based on the application of the techniques of Dianetics and Scientology to a Marxist and identity politics-based analysis of societal oppression, racism, and sexism. Jackins was both the 1950s Pacific Northwest organizer for L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics movement and a socialist labor organizer.

The target audience of RC is the left-wing liberation movements that came out of the 1960s and 70s, such as women's liberation, anti-racism, etc. RC generally presents itself to its target audience as a method of using emotional release techniques (derived from Scientology) to free persons from patterns of behavior imposed on them by systemic racism, sexism, and classism in society, but did not openly disclose the origin of its techniques in Dianetics. The claim of RC is that this emotional release can free people of the effects of societal oppression leaving them re-empowered to change the world.

==Early life of Founder Harvey Jackins==
Jackins was born in Northern Idaho on June 28, 1916.<ref>http://home.comcast.net/~reevaluation-counseling/documentary_history_pdf%27s.htm</ref>

During the 1930s he was a member of the Communist Party of America. Between 1939 and 1941, he organized a Young Communist League at the University of Washington in Seattle. Never completing his undergraduate degree, he became a labor organizer in the 1940s. He was expelled from local 46 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, from the Building Service Employees' Union, and from Lodge 751 of the Aero Mechanics' Union for alleged Communist activities.<ref>http://home.comcast.net/~reevaluation-counseling/documentary_history_pdf%27s.htm</ref> In 1954 he was brought before the House Un-American Activities Committee as part of its investigation into Communist activities in Pacific Northwest after being named by three witnesses.<ref name=carr/> He took the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and refused to name former associates<ref name=carr>[http://www.utwatch.org/archives/polemicist/vol3no5_rc.html Steve Carr, "Attack Theory: Re-Evaluating RC", ''Polemicist'', Volume 3, No. 5, April 1992]</ref>, although he had been expelled from the Communist Party himself.<ref>http://www.utwatch.org/archives/polemicist/vol3no5_rc.html </ref>

By the early 1950ies, Jackins had started to work for the Dianetics Institute of Seattle, and by the 1960ies, he had combined politics and psychology into an alleged new left politics of interpersonal relations. At that time, Hubbard saw himself losing control over Dianetics to groups mixing his theories with the occult and with alternative medicine. This "personal counseling" also was an attempt to position the organisation within mainstream psychiatry. Jackins himself referred to his theory as "Dianetic Processing" during that time.<ref>http://www.utwatch.org/archives/polemicist/vol3no5_rc.html</ref>

==Relation to Scientology==
RC is not a part of the Scientology organization, which Jackins officially left in the mid 1950s, and is sometimes characterized, using the Scientology terminology, as part of the "Free Zone" of those using Scientology practices outside of the official sanction of the so-called Church of Scientology. In 1957, the Church of Scientology wrote the FBI requesting they investigate Harvey Jackins, who at the time had left Hubbard's organization but was still calling himself a Dianetics auditor, as a Communist. The FBI, who considered Hubbard a mental case, typically ignored such letters from the CoS.

==Co-counseling==
RC's main practice is "co-counseling", involving two people who take turns being the counselor and counselee. It is somewhat similar to early Dianetics "auditing" (circa early 1950s) in that it does not use more recent Scientology practices such as the E-Meter, except that both persons approach the session as equals (in contrast to Dianetics auditing where one person only does the auditing and the other person is the one audited). Each person is encouraged to share their experiences with the other, in the process supposedly uncovering deep-seated issues from their past which they are then encouraged to bring to the surface and act out in emotional ways - crying, laughing, shaking. This is supposed to "discharge" those past issues and help each person put them behind them.

This practice of re-visiting old traumatic experiences and bringing them out again is found within many therapy and self-help disciplines and is not limited to RC and Scientology (it is also found, for example, in Gestalt and encounter therapy, primal scream therapy, and in some psychotherapy methods intended to treat post-traumatic stress disorder). Its effectiveness is controversial within academic psychology; the concept was popular from the 1950s to the 1970s.

===Development of Re-evaluation Counseling===
In the early 1950s, Jackins became acquainted with L. Ron Hubbard's theory of Dianetics. In 1952 Jackins formed Personal Counselors Inc. to "engage in, conduct and teach the art and science of Dianetics."<ref name=belgium/> While practicing Dianetics, he developed the concepts of "re-evaluation"<ref name=belgium/> and "discharge" and came to believe that they could be encouraged by the "exchange of aware attention" in the "co-counseling process".<ref>Jackins, Harvey, ''The human side of human beings'', Seattle: Rational Island Publishers, 1965 ISBN 0-911214-60-7</ref> At this time, Jackins used some of the terminology of Dianetics, such as "clearing up patterns", "rationality", "present time" and "passing distress by contagion".<ref>[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/soho/studios/8215/dia.html&date=2009-10-26+02:56:00 Rich's Home Page - ''Comparison of Re-evaluation Counseling Terms and concepts with Dianetics'']</ref> Psychiatrist Richard M. Childs claimed that Jackins' book ''The Human Side of Human Beings'' (1965) plagiarized Hubbard's ''Dianetics'' (1950), saying that Jackins "paraphrased Hubbard's terms by recasting them in his own jargon. Hubbard's "Engrams" became Jackins' "distress patterns", "release" became "discharge", and "to become clear" became RC's "to re-emerge"."<ref>[http://home.comcast.net/~reevaluation-counseling/pstory.htm Richard M. Childs, ''A Psychiatrist's Story of His Brief Involvement with Re-Evaluation Counseling]''</ref> In 1957, Hubbard's Scientology organisation claimed that Jackins was describing himself as a "Dianetics Auditor".<ref>[http://www.xenu.net/archive/FBI/fbi-16.html Letter from Richard F. Steves to the FBI dated 8 October 1957]</ref>

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jackins systematized his views and in the 1960s and 1970s took RC from Seattle, where he first practised it, to the rest of the US and to Europe. From 1975 to 1990, he appointed local teachers, area representatives, regional leaders and representatives of groups such as blacks and gays. He wrote RC's Guidelines and decided on all major issues. His policies were ratified by a biennial conference. Tourish and Iriving compared his system of management to the Communist state model of democratic centralism.<ref name=tourish>Dennis Tourish and Pauline Irving, "Group influence and the psychology of cultism within re-evaluation counselling: A critique of Co-Counselling",''Psychology Quarterly'', Volume 8, Issue 1, 1995, pp.35-50</ref> Jackins allegedly supervised the involvement of RC members in external organisations. Jackins is said to have claimed that several governments were influenced by RC<ref name=lebon>[http://home.comcast.net/~reevaluation-counseling/europe.htm Europe Resigns]</ref> and to have thought that eventually religion will be replaced by Re-evaluation Counseling.<ref name=lebon/>

Harvey Jackins' own story of the origins of Re-evaluation Counseling leaves out any mention of Dianetics. As he told it, he began to develop Re-evaluation Co-Counseling after observing a troubled friend make changes in their thinking process through being patiently listened to while he cried.<ref name=new>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Jyg8ed4pPu0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Co-Counselling:+The+Theory+and+Practice+of+Re-Evaluation+Counselling&hl=en&ei=CcHkTe7bCYOAhQfG7sHzBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false New, Caroline and Kauffman, Katie, ''Co-Counselling: The Theory and Practice of Re-Evaluation Counselling'', 2004, Brunner-Routledge] ISBN 1-58391-210-X</ref><ref>[http://circleway.org/talking_stick/TalkingStick2003.pdf Medicine Story, "To Be Human Again - Camps for Peace and Love", ''Talking Stick'', Winter/Spring 2003]</ref> Curious about the effect of this crying, he worked with others to develop a method of reciprocal counseling based on the recollection of psychological and physical traumas or "hurts" accompanied by various types of emotional catharsis. He called these effects "discharge" (as in when a battery discharges excess energy), which he came to believe led to clear thinking or "re-evaluation". He held that rational thinking was prevented by the accumulation of past hurts, which could be removed by repeated discharge through co-counseling. The objective of RC became the dissemination of this method of creating rational thinking, a process called "re-emergence". Re-evaluation counseling, it is held, can remove "oppression", which it considers to lie at the root of most of the problems in the world.

== Criticism and Response ==
In the 1980s, RC members began to accuse Jackins of sexual misconduct, which was said to range from favoring attractive young women in the organization to rape. The first allegation of sexual abuse was made in 1981 by RC member Deborah Curren whose claims were reported in the ''Seattle Sun'' and on local TV station KIRO-TV|KIRO TV. Following the allegations, Jackins was strongly criticized by the Minneapolis-St Paul RC group. Jackins disbanded the group and forty-five members of RC resigned in protest. Jackins wrote that "The use of these rumors to attack me and through me the Community has been a very nasty problem in the last few months, and there is some indication that some of the spook agencies of the government and their dirty tricks department have been involved in this."<ref name=belgium>[http://home.comcast.net/~reevaluation-counseling/documentary_history_pdf%27s.htm ''A Documentary History of the Career of Harvey Jackins and Re-evaluation Counseling'', Study Group on Psychotherapy Cults, Belgium, 1993]</ref> Curren took out a lawsuit against Jackins<ref>''Curren v. Jackins'', First Amended Complaint for Damages (Superior Court of the State of Washington, King County, Jan. 17, 1990)</ref> but withdrew it when Jackins filed for costs.<ref name=cail>[http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=995&Itemid=12&limit=1&limitstart=3 Cult Awareness and Information Library]</ref>

In 1989 a group of RC leaders, led by Daniel le Bon, resigned from RC, stating in their resignation letter that RC had no scientific basis. Daniel le Bon has created his own organisation called "Présence à soi", an ersatz of RC. They criticised that Jackins for making improbable claims, taking a dogmatic stance and ignoring evidence. They said that the process of "discharge" did not work and that Jackins knew it, which he had extended the purpose of RC from discharge to "general liberation from all oppressions".<ref>http://home.comcast.net/~reevaluation-counseling/europe.htm</ref>

In the mid-1990s, Jackins was criticised within RC for his views that homosexuality may be a form of "distress" arising from the mistreatment of young children, and that it may be "recovered" or removed.<ref>[http://cleanoregon.tripod.com/steinexposed/id14.html ''Harvey Jackins on Homosexuality'']</ref> In a 1974 article entitled "Is Homosexuality a Distress Pattern?", Jackins said that homosexuality, "as distinct from the desire to touch or be close, is irrational, is the result of distress patterns (often very early in origin and chronic), and will disappear by the free choice of the individual with sufficient discharge and re-evaluation."<ref name=carr/><ref>Jackins, Harvey, ''The Upward Trend'', Seattle: Rational Island Publishers, 1981 ISBN 0-911214-81-X</ref> This caused some critics to leave the movement and to form breakaway co-counseling groups.

Jackins advised people within RC to ignore criticisms of RC leaders, which he characterised as "attacks", but he said that suggestions were welcome. His advice became RC policy. RC defines "attacks" as "attempts to harm a person, usually a leader, or an organization, in the guise of disagreeing and discussing".<ref name=carr/> People making "attacks" "should be asked to apologize and, if unresponsive, should be made to leave the group and their attacks ignored."<ref name=rc>[http://www.rc.org/theory/index.html Re-evaluation Counseling website]</ref> The 1981 World Conference of the Re-evaluation Counseling Communities resolved unanimously to "reject and condemn, as completely contradictory to the spirit and practice of Re-evaluation Counseling, the vicious gossip and slanderous circulation of written attacks upon Harvey Jackins."<ref name=belgium/> RC says that ''"People playing this role should not be 'counseled' but should be asked to apologize and, if unresponsive, should be made to leave the group and their attacks ignored."''<ref name=rc/> ''"To counter attacks on RC and its leaders, RC members are instructed to interrupt the person, approach the accusation as the personal problem of the accuser, and vigorously come to the defense of the person or people being attacked."''<ref name=carr/>

==Involvement on the political left==
"United to End Racism" is an RC front group which has participated in several conferences of identity politics and anti-racism movements such as the Durban World Conference against Racism, the World Social Forum in Caracas, and the White Privilege Conference 2006. RCers are also encouraged to bring RC principles and techniques into other activist groups they are members of, such as labor, environmental, and feminist organizations, to expose them to RC on the pretext of making them more effective by "discharging" their members of their internalized oppressions. The RC-coined concepts "internalized oppression" and "co-counseling" have passed into the broader parlance of psychotherapy and self-help movements.

==See also==
* Erhard Seminars Training, similar in its heavy borrowing from Scientology and claims to break up destructive behavior patterns
* Social Therapy, similar in its claims to free people of systemic oppression based on a Marxist and identity politics analysis

==Further information==
* https://freedomofmind.com/index.php/Info/infoDet.php?id=450
* https://critiqueofrc.wordpress.com/
* http://abuse.wikia.com/wiki/Re-evaluation_Counseling
* http://culteducation.com/group/1114-re-evaluation-counselling/17866-group-influence-and-the-psychology-of-cultism-within-re-evaluation-counselling-a-critique.html
* http://www.utwatch.org/archives/polemicist/vol3no5_rc.html

{{OtherLang|ge=Re-evaluation Counselling}}

==References==

<references/>
{{Wikipedia|Wikititle=Harvey_Jackins|Year=2015|Month=8}}
{{RationalWiki|Wikititle=Re-evaluation_Counseling|Year=2015|Month=8}}

[[category:Pseudoscience]]

Total Biology

2015-06-21T14:22:44Z

Omikronn: /* Deaths after experiments with BT therapies in Belgium */

[[image:sabbah4.jpg|Claude Sabbah|thumb]]
'''Biologie totale according to Sabbah''' (''Biological Decoding'', ''Biologie totale des etres vivants, BTEV'', i.e. ''Total Biology of Animate Beings'', also: ''Total Biology, bio-psycho-généalogie'' etc.) is a pseudomedical method invented by former French MD Claude Sabbah. The method is primarily promoted in French-speaking regions and is closely linked to [[Germanic New Medicine]] (GNM). BTEV does not have much access to the German-language Newage market, since this is being covered by GNM, so-called Meta-Medicine and by various Mental Healers. Despite its similarities to GNM, its inventor [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] fiercely rejects Biologie Totale. Prior to inventing his own method, however, Sabbah participated in a course with Ryke Geerd Hamer who calls Sabbah a former GNM student.

There is no scientific literature on this method to be found in data bases, which also contain no publications written by Claude Sabbah. The "Quebec College of Physicians" in a radio interview in 2008 called Total Biology a fraud.<ref>Remark by Yves Lamontagne, Quebec College of Physicians, in an interview with Radio Canada in October 2008</ref>

Possible successes of this method have not been documented but are merely claimed anecdotally by its proponents. In Belgium, Total Biology has been called a cult which encapsulates persons from their social environment.<ref>Remark by Luc Willems (Open VLD), chairperson of the Investigating Commission on cults in Belgium.</ref>

==Total Biology==
[[image:Sabbah3.jpg|Sabbah|thumb]]
[[image:ClaudeSabbah3.jpg|thumb]]
Proponents view BTEV as a way to explain all causes of illness with simple, primitive approaches. All diseases, according to Sabbah's speculations, were the result of alleged "biological conflicts" which were experienced in an "isolated way", were interceded to the body via so-called relays and never developed coincidentally. At the same time, disease was to be understood as a healing process. According to this concept, there is no incurable disease, but only patients who did not realise their natural healing potential because they were not sufficiently working at "solving their conflicts".

Consequentially, the patient is held responsible for the development of a disease as well as for a possible failure in case of curation not materialising. Sabbah claims: ''"The failure of Biological Deprogramming may be due to a failure of the therapist who did not find the cause of the conflict, but it may also be due to the failure of the patient who does not manage to let go of his conflicts."''<ref>''"L’échec de la Déprogrammation Biologique peut être celui du thérapeute qui n’a pas trouvé l’origine du conflit; mais il peut être aussi celui du patient qui n’arrive pas à lâcher son conflit"''.</ref> The BTEV therapist (who does not need any medical training), however, could assist by "biologically deprogramming". The deprogramming method bears similarities to the method of Psychomagic, invented by Alejandro Jodorovsky, which is also applied by Hamer, according to reports from witnesses: The patient writes down his "conflicts" on a piece of paper, tears the sheet and buries the pieces (if need be this can even be done in the earth of a flower pot). Both Jodorovsky and Hamer applied similar magic methods and burnt such sheets of paper.

Sabbah presents the alleged scientific concept of BTEV in a typical pseudo-scientific way as a system which was to be believed in, and did not meet any interest within academic medicine. The highfaluting vocabulary used was largely borrowed from GNM. There are, however, some new terms inventend, like the one of ''Surstress'' (approx. "Super-Stress"). In 1993, Sabbah presumably attended a seminar with Hamer, so they will know each other.

According to his claims, Sabbah treated about 1,700 cancer patients with this method, only two of which allegedly died. Contrary to Hamer, Sabbah is very careful with public statements and does not like to be filmed or having his photo taken during his "work" or during seminars. Photographers will face an aggressive reaction. On his websites, Sabbah also points out that medical advice is to be observed. As Canadian journalists discovered, this is quite different during seminars. The journalists participated in a seminar and, unbeknownst to Sabbah, did video recordings which were made public in a broadcast by Radio Canada.<ref>Radio Canada, "enquete" dated October 3, 2008 [http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Science-Sante/2008/10/02/002-biologie-totale.shtml]</ref> Sabbah has become even more careful since his Belgian proponent was sentenced for fraud and illegal practicing of medicine. In September 1996, Belgian MD Alain Scohy also lost his licence after having applied BTEV.<ref>http://www.miviludes.fr/IMG/pdf/these_medecine_Guivier_Armelle_2007.pdf</ref> MD Gerard Athias, too, lost his medical licence for the same reason.

One difference to GNM is the supposed ''transgénérationnel'', i.e. the possible effects of conflicts experienced by one's ancestors. Not only conflicts suffered in person were to be seen as a cause of disease, but also inherited conflicts.

==Claude Sabbah==
Claude Sabbah was born in North Africa and is a former Medical Doctor. Sabbah migrated to France and became a physician there. Meanwhile, he has returned his medical licence in France and therefore is not in a position to work as an MD any longer. Sabbah claims to have published more than 1,200 scientific pieces of work, none of which can be found in any respective data bases.

==Sabbah's Activities==
Until recently, Sabbah taught his method in seminars of 16 days in the vicinity of Marseille, with participants paying a fee of € 2,000. Participants did not need to provide proof of any medical qualification. Sabbah announced to have trained more than 7,500 persons in his method. He furthermore gives conferences on his method in French-speaking countries worldwide. In 2008, Sabbah had the statement announced that he suffered an "accident" and was not able to do seminars any longer. On the other hand, it is known that he suffered a stroke in March 2008.

==Dangers of BTEV==
Same as with GNM, this method implies enormous dangers for patients, since in BTEV environments, medical laypersons assume to be competent to treat severe disease after having taken a mere 16-day course. Two Canadian journalists, feigning to suffer from tumours, made appointments with several BTEV therapists in Quebec. Almost all of these BTEV therapists tried to convince the patients to drop out of regular therapies. Canadian citizen Line Fournier from Prévost even declared the tumour would already have disappeared if the patient had not begun a conventional therapy. Several therapists emphasised not to inform the patients' regular MD of their BTEV contacts (which is a well-known strategy in GNM, too - cf http://www.psiram.com/en/index.php/Victims_of_New_Medicine#2006:_Domenico_Mannarino_.28Italy.29 ).

==Deaths after experiments with BT therapies in Belgium==
[[image:180px-DeReuckBuch.jpg|Bookcover Nathalie De Reuck|thumb]]
Belgian MD Charles Berliner from Brussels is convinced that at least two patients died following a treatment according to "Total Biology". Fatally ill patients came to see him after a BTEV treatment and died. The death of a patient suffering from breast cancer in the Belgian town of Eupen is being investigated by authorities; a BTEV therapist by the name of Louis Vliegen has been under investigation from 2004, because a patient did not receive any treatment for five months and finally desperately went to a hospital in Liege/Luik where she died a week later.<ref>http://www.prevensectes.com/rev0406.htm</ref><ref>Pascale Gruber: L’arène de Sabbah, Article in Le Vif-L’Express dd. June 11, 2004</ref><ref>Armelle Guivier, Dissertation: Risques d'atteinte a l'integrite physiques encourus par les adeptes de sectes, University of Franche-Compte-Besancon, Dissertation 07-018 April 13, 2007, p. 97 [http://www.miviludes.fr/IMG/pdf/these_medecine_Guivier_Armelle_2007.pdf]</ref> In an announcement on his answering machine, Vliegen outed himself as a BTEV representative for Belgium. Expert Koen Demyttenaere of Royal University of Leuven/Louvain declared that BT was completely unscientific and deplored the fact that the title of a therapist was not legally protected in Belgium.<ref>
http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=7R1R5FAJ</ref><ref>De Standaard, April 23, 2008</ref>

In 2008, the fate of 60-year-old Jacqueline Starck became known who suffered from breast cancer, was treated according to Total Biology, and died in 2007. She did not receive any regular medical treatment as BT "therapists" had convinced her she had "nothing" but only showed symptoms which indicated an "inner conflict", the cause of which needed to be established. A series of measures was then taken, from a pseudo-family therapy, radiesthesia, black magic, kinesiology and dowsing with a pendulum - anything seems to have been fine as long as it was not conventional medicine. Pain medication was not allowed, not even with Aspirines. One therapist gave a remote treatment per telephone from a French centre and made sure payment was effected in several tranches via postal money order. Two months prior to her death, Starck realised she had been cheated and asked her daughter, Nathalie de Reuck, to make this public and take actions against the charlatans. To this effect, she handed over all notes and voice recordings done of her "therapist", an osteopath and BTEV therapist from Brussels, to her daughter (Quote from the recordings: ''"I'm sure I wouldn't do a chemo or a radiotherapy. You know you can take the tumour off yourself"'' ... ''"hmmmph"'' ... ''"If you don't solve your conflict, this will just go on"'').<ref>(Quote from recorded material: “Moi, ce qui est certain, c’est que chimio ou radio, je ne le ferais pas. Tu sais, tu peux enlever la tumeur… pfffft… si tu n’as pas résolu le conflit, ça continue…”</ref> The daughter published the account in a book titled "DES CHARLATANS DE LA SANTÉ ONT TUÉ MA MÈRE" (Health Charlatans killed my Mother).<ref>NATHALIE DE REUCK : "DES CHARLATANS DE LA SANTÉ ONT TUÉ MA MÈRE", éditions Buchet-Chastel.</ref> Belgian TV and journalist Philippe Dutilleul reported on the case.<ref>"Mort biologique sur ordonnance téléphonique". (RTBF) (Biological death on advice by telephone)</ref><ref>http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html</ref><ref>http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html</ref><ref>http://storage.canalblog.com/43/16/676130/48519395.jpg</ref><ref>http://www.elle.fr/elle/Societe/News/Nathalie-de-Reuck-Des-charlatans-de-la-sante-ont-tue-ma-mere/(gid)/1119026</ref><ref>http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291167/ils-promettaient-de-la-guerir.html</ref><ref>http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html</ref><ref>http://blogs.rtlinfo.be/faceaface/2010/02/05/nathalie-de-reuck-on-a-tue-ma-mere</ref><ref>http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Biologie totale nach Sabbah|fr=Biologie Totale}}

==Literature==
*Nathalie de Reuck : "Des charlatans de la santé ont tue ma mere" (''Health Charlatans killed my Mother''), éditions Buchet-Chastel.

==Weblinks==
*http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/arts-et-spectacles/television-et-radio/200810/01/01-25527-lhistoire-dhorreur-de-la-biologie-totale-a-enquete.php
*http://anaximperator.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/biologie-totale-hamers-new-german-medicine-in-canada/#more-3481
*http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/10/biologie_totale_the_quackery_of_german_n.php
*http://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Actualites/Nouvelles/Fiche.aspx?doc=2008100374
*http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html
*http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html
*http://storage.canalblog.com/43/16/676130/48519395.jpg
*http://www.elle.fr/elle/Societe/News/Nathalie-de-Reuck-Des-charlatans-de-la-sante-ont-tue-ma-mere/(gid)/1119026
*http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291167/ils-promettaient-de-la-guerir.html
*http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html
*http://blogs.rtlinfo.be/faceaface/2010/02/05/nathalie-de-reuck-on-a-tue-ma-mere
*http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedical Therapy]]

Total Biology

2015-06-21T14:20:29Z

Omikronn: Added images

[[image:sabbah4.jpg|Claude Sabbah|thumb]]
'''Biologie totale according to Sabbah''' (''Biological Decoding'', ''Biologie totale des etres vivants, BTEV'', i.e. ''Total Biology of Animate Beings'', also: ''Total Biology, bio-psycho-généalogie'' etc.) is a pseudomedical method invented by former French MD Claude Sabbah. The method is primarily promoted in French-speaking regions and is closely linked to [[Germanic New Medicine]] (GNM). BTEV does not have much access to the German-language Newage market, since this is being covered by GNM, so-called Meta-Medicine and by various Mental Healers. Despite its similarities to GNM, its inventor [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] fiercely rejects Biologie Totale. Prior to inventing his own method, however, Sabbah participated in a course with Ryke Geerd Hamer who calls Sabbah a former GNM student.

There is no scientific literature on this method to be found in data bases, which also contain no publications written by Claude Sabbah. The "Quebec College of Physicians" in a radio interview in 2008 called Total Biology a fraud.<ref>Remark by Yves Lamontagne, Quebec College of Physicians, in an interview with Radio Canada in October 2008</ref>

Possible successes of this method have not been documented but are merely claimed anecdotally by its proponents. In Belgium, Total Biology has been called a cult which encapsulates persons from their social environment.<ref>Remark by Luc Willems (Open VLD), chairperson of the Investigating Commission on cults in Belgium.</ref>

==Total Biology==
[[image:Sabbah3.jpg|Sabbah|thumb]]
[[image:ClaudeSabbah3.jpg|thumb]]
Proponents view BTEV as a way to explain all causes of illness with simple, primitive approaches. All diseases, according to Sabbah's speculations, were the result of alleged "biological conflicts" which were experienced in an "isolated way", were interceded to the body via so-called relays and never developed coincidentally. At the same time, disease was to be understood as a healing process. According to this concept, there is no incurable disease, but only patients who did not realise their natural healing potential because they were not sufficiently working at "solving their conflicts".

Consequentially, the patient is held responsible for the development of a disease as well as for a possible failure in case of curation not materialising. Sabbah claims: ''"The failure of Biological Deprogramming may be due to a failure of the therapist who did not find the cause of the conflict, but it may also be due to the failure of the patient who does not manage to let go of his conflicts."''<ref>''"L’échec de la Déprogrammation Biologique peut être celui du thérapeute qui n’a pas trouvé l’origine du conflit; mais il peut être aussi celui du patient qui n’arrive pas à lâcher son conflit"''.</ref> The BTEV therapist (who does not need any medical training), however, could assist by "biologically deprogramming". The deprogramming method bears similarities to the method of Psychomagic, invented by Alejandro Jodorovsky, which is also applied by Hamer, according to reports from witnesses: The patient writes down his "conflicts" on a piece of paper, tears the sheet and buries the pieces (if need be this can even be done in the earth of a flower pot). Both Jodorovsky and Hamer applied similar magic methods and burnt such sheets of paper.

Sabbah presents the alleged scientific concept of BTEV in a typical pseudo-scientific way as a system which was to be believed in, and did not meet any interest within academic medicine. The highfaluting vocabulary used was largely borrowed from GNM. There are, however, some new terms inventend, like the one of ''Surstress'' (approx. "Super-Stress"). In 1993, Sabbah presumably attended a seminar with Hamer, so they will know each other.

According to his claims, Sabbah treated about 1,700 cancer patients with this method, only two of which allegedly died. Contrary to Hamer, Sabbah is very careful with public statements and does not like to be filmed or having his photo taken during his "work" or during seminars. Photographers will face an aggressive reaction. On his websites, Sabbah also points out that medical advice is to be observed. As Canadian journalists discovered, this is quite different during seminars. The journalists participated in a seminar and, unbeknownst to Sabbah, did video recordings which were made public in a broadcast by Radio Canada.<ref>Radio Canada, "enquete" dated October 3, 2008 [http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Science-Sante/2008/10/02/002-biologie-totale.shtml]</ref> Sabbah has become even more careful since his Belgian proponent was sentenced for fraud and illegal practicing of medicine. In September 1996, Belgian MD Alain Scohy also lost his licence after having applied BTEV.<ref>http://www.miviludes.fr/IMG/pdf/these_medecine_Guivier_Armelle_2007.pdf</ref> MD Gerard Athias, too, lost his medical licence for the same reason.

One difference to GNM is the supposed ''transgénérationnel'', i.e. the possible effects of conflicts experienced by one's ancestors. Not only conflicts suffered in person were to be seen as a cause of disease, but also inherited conflicts.

==Claude Sabbah==
Claude Sabbah was born in North Africa and is a former Medical Doctor. Sabbah migrated to France and became a physician there. Meanwhile, he has returned his medical licence in France and therefore is not in a position to work as an MD any longer. Sabbah claims to have published more than 1,200 scientific pieces of work, none of which can be found in any respective data bases.

==Sabbah's Activities==
Until recently, Sabbah taught his method in seminars of 16 days in the vicinity of Marseille, with participants paying a fee of € 2,000. Participants did not need to provide proof of any medical qualification. Sabbah announced to have trained more than 7,500 persons in his method. He furthermore gives conferences on his method in French-speaking countries worldwide. In 2008, Sabbah had the statement announced that he suffered an "accident" and was not able to do seminars any longer. On the other hand, it is known that he suffered a stroke in March 2008.

==Dangers of BTEV==
Same as with GNM, this method implies enormous dangers for patients, since in BTEV environments, medical laypersons assume to be competent to treat severe disease after having taken a mere 16-day course. Two Canadian journalists, feigning to suffer from tumours, made appointments with several BTEV therapists in Quebec. Almost all of these BTEV therapists tried to convince the patients to drop out of regular therapies. Canadian citizen Line Fournier from Prévost even declared the tumour would already have disappeared if the patient had not begun a conventional therapy. Several therapists emphasised not to inform the patients' regular MD of their BTEV contacts (which is a well-known strategy in GNM, too - cf http://www.psiram.com/en/index.php/Victims_of_New_Medicine#2006:_Domenico_Mannarino_.28Italy.29 ).

==Deaths after experiments with BT therapies in Belgium==
[[image:DeReuckBuch.jpg|Bookcover Nathalie De Reuck|thumb]]
Belgian MD Charles Berliner from Brussels is convinced that at least two patients died following a treatment according to "Total Biology". Fatally ill patients came to see him after a BTEV treatment and died. The death of a patient suffering from breast cancer in the Belgian town of Eupen is being investigated by authorities; a BTEV therapist by the name of Louis Vliegen has been under investigation from 2004, because a patient did not receive any treatment for five months and finally desperately went to a hospital in Liege/Luik where she died a week later.<ref>http://www.prevensectes.com/rev0406.htm</ref><ref>Pascale Gruber: L’arène de Sabbah, Article in Le Vif-L’Express dd. June 11, 2004</ref><ref>Armelle Guivier, Dissertation: Risques d'atteinte a l'integrite physiques encourus par les adeptes de sectes, University of Franche-Compte-Besancon, Dissertation 07-018 April 13, 2007, p. 97 [http://www.miviludes.fr/IMG/pdf/these_medecine_Guivier_Armelle_2007.pdf]</ref> In an announcement on his answering machine, Vliegen outed himself as a BTEV representative for Belgium. Expert Koen Demyttenaere of Royal University of Leuven/Louvain declared that BT was completely unscientific and deplored the fact that the title of a therapist was not legally protected in Belgium.<ref>
http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=7R1R5FAJ</ref><ref>De Standaard, April 23, 2008</ref>

In 2008, the fate of 60-year-old Jacqueline Starck became known who suffered from breast cancer, was treated according to Total Biology, and died in 2007. She did not receive any regular medical treatment as BT "therapists" had convinced her she had "nothing" but only showed symptoms which indicated an "inner conflict", the cause of which needed to be established. A series of measures was then taken, from a pseudo-family therapy, radiesthesia, black magic, kinesiology and dowsing with a pendulum - anything seems to have been fine as long as it was not conventional medicine. Pain medication was not allowed, not even with Aspirines. One therapist gave a remote treatment per telephone from a French centre and made sure payment was effected in several tranches via postal money order. Two months prior to her death, Starck realised she had been cheated and asked her daughter, Nathalie de Reuck, to make this public and take actions against the charlatans. To this effect, she handed over all notes and voice recordings done of her "therapist", an osteopath and BTEV therapist from Brussels, to her daughter (Quote from the recordings: ''"I'm sure I wouldn't do a chemo or a radiotherapy. You know you can take the tumour off yourself"'' ... ''"hmmmph"'' ... ''"If you don't solve your conflict, this will just go on"'').<ref>(Quote from recorded material: “Moi, ce qui est certain, c’est que chimio ou radio, je ne le ferais pas. Tu sais, tu peux enlever la tumeur… pfffft… si tu n’as pas résolu le conflit, ça continue…”</ref> The daughter published the account in a book titled "DES CHARLATANS DE LA SANTÉ ONT TUÉ MA MÈRE" (Health Charlatans killed my Mother).<ref>NATHALIE DE REUCK : "DES CHARLATANS DE LA SANTÉ ONT TUÉ MA MÈRE", éditions Buchet-Chastel.</ref> Belgian TV and journalist Philippe Dutilleul reported on the case.<ref>"Mort biologique sur ordonnance téléphonique". (RTBF) (Biological death on advice by telephone)</ref><ref>http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html</ref><ref>http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html</ref><ref>http://storage.canalblog.com/43/16/676130/48519395.jpg</ref><ref>http://www.elle.fr/elle/Societe/News/Nathalie-de-Reuck-Des-charlatans-de-la-sante-ont-tue-ma-mere/(gid)/1119026</ref><ref>http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291167/ils-promettaient-de-la-guerir.html</ref><ref>http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html</ref><ref>http://blogs.rtlinfo.be/faceaface/2010/02/05/nathalie-de-reuck-on-a-tue-ma-mere</ref><ref>http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html</ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=Biologie totale nach Sabbah|fr=Biologie Totale}}

==Literature==
*Nathalie de Reuck : "Des charlatans de la santé ont tue ma mere" (''Health Charlatans killed my Mother''), éditions Buchet-Chastel.

==Weblinks==
*http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/arts-et-spectacles/television-et-radio/200810/01/01-25527-lhistoire-dhorreur-de-la-biologie-totale-a-enquete.php
*http://anaximperator.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/biologie-totale-hamers-new-german-medicine-in-canada/#more-3481
*http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/10/biologie_totale_the_quackery_of_german_n.php
*http://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Actualites/Nouvelles/Fiche.aspx?doc=2008100374
*http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html
*http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html
*http://storage.canalblog.com/43/16/676130/48519395.jpg
*http://www.elle.fr/elle/Societe/News/Nathalie-de-Reuck-Des-charlatans-de-la-sante-ont-tue-ma-mere/(gid)/1119026
*http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291167/ils-promettaient-de-la-guerir.html
*http://www.dhnet.be/infos/societe/article/291166/morte-a-cause-d-un-marabout-sa-fille-temoigne.html
*http://blogs.rtlinfo.be/faceaface/2010/02/05/nathalie-de-reuck-on-a-tue-ma-mere
*http://seulomonde.canalblog.com/archives/2010/01/15/16210339.html

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Pseudomedical Therapy]]

File:Sabbah3.jpg

2015-06-21T14:18:03Z

Omikronn:

File:ClaudeSabbah3.jpg

2015-06-21T14:17:51Z

Omikronn:

File:Sabbah4.jpg

2015-06-21T14:16:32Z

Omikronn:

Éliphas Lévi

2014-11-10T10:53:06Z

Omikronn: formatting fix

[[image:Eliphas_Levi_1874.jpg|Alphonse-Louis Constant, alias Éliphas Lévi in 1874|thumb]]'''Éliphas Lévi''', also '''Éliphas Lévi Zahed''' was the pseudonym used by the Catholic cleric '''Alphonse-Louis Constant''' (February 8, 1810, Paris - May 31, 1875, ibid.) to write and publish scripts of occult and magical contents from 1854 on. Lévi is said to have re-established occultism in the 19th century.<ref>l'Estoile, Arnaud de: ''Qui suis-je? Éliphas Lévi.'' Grez-sur-Loing: Pardès, 2008''.</ref>

== Life ==
=== Per aspera ... ===
Constant's father was a shoemaker in Paris. Although the material conditions of his family were rather limited, Constant attended a school for the poor free of charge run by a parish and was able to attend a seminary. Ordained as a sub-deacon in 1835, he was entrusted with teaching assignments. Since he fell in love with one of his pupils (whom he thought to be a reincarnation of the Virgin Mary), he left the seminary prior to the ordination to priesthood. The relationship, however, failed shortly after this.

[[image:Eliphas_Levi_1836.jpg|left|Portrait of the young man, 1836|thumb]]Disappointed with him leaving his education, Constant's mother committed suicide a few weeks later. Constant then saw a period of erratic quest. Within the following year, he made the acquaintance of Honoré de Balzac, befriended militant socialist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_Tristan Flora Tristan], and yet still dreamt of a future as a priest. This dream took him to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter's_Abbey,_Solesmes St. Peter's Abbey], a Benedictine monastery in whose library of 20,000 volumes he became acquainted with scripts from early Christianity, by ancient gnostics, as well as the works of religious mystics. It was there he authored his first book "Le Rosier de Mai" which was as pious as it was romantic, but at the same time enthused about matters of love in such fancyful and vivid ways he was expelled from the monastery.

Since the archbishop of Paris, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Auguste_Affre Denis Auguste Affre], interceded on his behalf, Constant received an appointment as a supervisor at Juilly College east of Paris. Treated badly by his seniors, he wrote his first furious pamphlet, ''La Bible de la liberté''. Its publication in February 1841 not only caused a scandal within the church hierarchy, but also at the court in Versailles.<ref>A contemporary, if rather sardonic report of these incidents and of the following may be seen at: [http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb33497059p Mystères galans des théâtres de Paris]. Paris: Cazel, 1844. Page 88 et seqq.</ref> Constant was arrested and sentenced to a prison term of eight months and a fine of 300 Francs. Unable to raise this sum, he served eleven months in prison, studying the works of Swedish mystic Emmanuel Swedenborg.

Following Constant's discharge, Bishop Affre recommended him to his colleague in Évreux<ref>[http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas-Théodore_Olivier Nicolas-Théodore Olivier]</ref>, where, from February 1843, he preached so successfully that his fellow ministers jealously announced the death of abbé Constant in the newspapers. Despite a swift denial another scandal could not be avoided; the bishop, however, kept holding a protective hand over him, commissioning him with the realisation of a mural painting in a nunnery. Due to friends of his father's vouching for him, he almost was accepted as a member of the secretive [[Rosicrucianism|Rosicrucian Order]] and rumour has it he even had prospects of being made a Grand Master. However, this did not materialise, and the mural likewise never was finished, as in early 1844, Constant's rapport to the bishop rapidly deteriorated due to a further publication, ''La Mère de Dieu'', and Constant returned to Paris.

Deeply agitated by the death of his friend Flora Tristan, he published ''L'Émancipation de la femme ou le Testament de la paria'', followed by his pacifist manifesto ''La Fête-Dieu ou le Triomphe de la paix religieuse'' a year later (1845). He intensely studied the humanistic and the utopian ideas of the time, particularly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Simonianism Saint-Simonianism] and the theories of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_fourier Charles Fourier]. But neither could convince him: Saint Simon taught religion without religiousness, which he found repulsive. And Fourier's approach of man's necessity for acting out his drives he considered absurd and foolish.

In the small town Choisy-le-Roi, located a few kilometres outside of Paris, he used to meet with a supervisor of a girls' school (presumably, see note). But while they were making plans to get married, her being pregnant from him, one of her friends fell in love with Constant, a minor by the name of [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-Noémi_Cadiot Marie-Noémi Cadiot]. After some fiery love letters she escaped and hid in his attic. Faced with the choice between marrying her or being tried for seducing a minor, Constant married Cadiot on July 13, 1846. She gave birth to a daughter who died aged seven in 1854. Shortly after the death of their daughter, Cadiot left Constant.<ref>The events described in this paragraph ought to be taken cautiously, since most of what can be found on Constant in the internet seems to have been copied from the same source. As one example, all of them note a so-called "Institution Chandeau" in Choisy-le-Roi. However, even a lengthy research over several hours did not reveal any information on that institute, but identical wordings time and again, all of them apparently taken from the French Wikipedia (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Éliphas_Lévi). Chandeau is, as might be expected, a proper name, but nowhere mentioned with even a geographical connection to Choisy-le-Roi. Only one hint could be found: if "Institution Chandeau" is supposed to have been the name of a girls' school at the time in question, http://fr.topic-topos.com/ecole-emile-zola-choisy-le-roi might give at least a vague possibility for an explanation.</ref>

The revolution of February 1848 brought more liberties for Alphonse Constant, too. Just one year ago he had once more been convicted for one of his pamphlets, ''La Voix de la famine'', he was now able to freely act on the political stage. He was in charge of the left-wing magazine ''Le Tribun du peuple'' which faded away after the fourth issue, founded a political workers' association named (in revolutionary tradition) ''Le Club de la montagne''<ref>In the first National Assembly in 1791 the deputies of the political left were seated on the upper ranks, hence the name ''La montagne'' ("Mountain Party").</ref>, then in June, when the political reaction tried to turn back the wheel, he almost was shot by a firing squad. Another person was mistaken for him and executed in his place. Constant tried to be elected to the National Assemply, but a friend of his won the seat for which they competed, after which the long-term friendship broke up.

Financially, the Constant family was well off, since Marie-Noémie was now publishing literary feuilletons and received instructions from sculptor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Pradier James Pradier] who had already been promoted by the Roi Citoyen and now opened the doors to the society of Paris. In this connection, Constant received two government contracts for paintings for the Home Office.

=== ... ad occultum ===
[[image:Baphomet.png|Baphomet, drawing in '' Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie'', 1856|left|thumb]]
Constant now began to turn to mysticism, theosophy, and [[occultism|occult]] knowledge in general. This had begun during his sojourn in Solesmes (1838-1839) and continued with his studies of Swedenborg as a convict in 1841, the contacts to the Rosicrucians (1843), and the studies of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Knorr_von_Rosenroth Rosenroth's] ''Kabbala denudata'' (1850/51). He took up using the name of Éliphas Lévi Zahed as a pseudonym, bestowed on him by the Rosicrucians and allegedly a translation of his name to Hebrew.<ref>This translation, however, is rather questionable, since the name Alphonse has Germanic roots, although its origin could not be fully established.</ref> During this time he also began authoring ''Dogme et rituel de la haute magie'' later on viewed his main work.

In spring 1854, Lévi went to London where he made the acquaintance of then famous author [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bulwer-Lytton,_1st_Baron_Lytton Edward Bulwer-Lytton]. Their common interest in the occult soon made them friends.<ref>Having turned from social critic to occultist, Bulwer-Lytton's fictional work met the disposition for the magical and super-natural prevailant in his day, as well as the interest in archaeological discoveries. This he knew to wrap up in thrilling stories which made him an estimated author in the salons of the bourgeoisie, especially with a female audience. His late work ''The Coming Race'' still today inspires adherents of the theory of Nazi UFOs.</ref> Through Bulwer-Lytton's influence, he once more came into contact with Rosicrucian circles in which he succeeded in several alleged evocations, the most outstanding of which that of [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollonios_von_Tyana Apollonios of Tyana]. During his times in London, Constant was also able to settle his private affairs in a favourable way: the young woman he had left in Choisy-le-Roi forgave him, and he accepted the illegitimate child as his. At the same time, the final separation from Marie-Noémi was realised with the help of a friend.

Back in Paris, Constant published the first volume of ''Dogme et rituel de la haute magie'' in 1854. In a number of essays, he documented his intensive studies of the Kabbala in a number of essays, all of which he published in the ''Revue philosophique et religieuse''. The periodical was founded in 1855 by Constant, Belgian writer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Lemonnier Camille Lemonnier] and French philosopher [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fauvety Charles Fauvety], who managed the periodical during the three years of its existence. Constant additionally wrote several chansons, comparing Louis Napoléon Bonaparte, meanwhile emperor Napoléon III, to Caligula in one of them. This earned him another term in prison.

In 1859, at the age of 49 years, Constant saw an economical breakthrough: the publication of his ''History of Magic'' yielded some 1,000 Francs, the equivalent of more than 30,000 Euros in today's terms. ''L'Histoire de la magie'' was not only an economical success, but also gained him a wide recognition in the "esoteric" France, among them the physician [[Fernand Rozier]] who was to become a student of Lévi's. Eventually In March 1861, he was accepted into the Masonic Lodge ''La Rose du parfait silence'' and soon bestowed with the degree of a Master. A further book, ''La Clef des grands mystères'', appeared in the same year,the last part of the trilogy that starts with ''Histoire de la magie'' and of which ''Dogme et rituel de la haute magie'' was conceived the second part. [[file:levi_seal_solomon.jpg|Titel page of ''Le Grand Arcane'', edition of 1910|left|thumb]]

Lévi now did much work, mainly as teacher for the high aristocracy, and his teaching the Kabbalah to the new bishop of Évreux<ref>Supposed the date is correct that was [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Sébastien_Devoucoux Jean-Sébastien Devoucoux] who had headed the Évreux diocese since 1858. For a complete list of bishops see here: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_évêques_d'Évreux</ref> speaks for his professional reputation. Financially he was well off and invested any surplus in his growing library. Lévi also started a correspondence with the Italian baronet Spedalieri, about whom nothing seems to have been passed on to us except that he became Lévi's most important patron and in reverse received a course on the Kabbalah in more than 1,000 letters. This exchange of letters lasted for almost thirteen years.

The years from 1861 were the most fruitful for his authorship. ''Le Sorcier de Meudon'' (1861) was followed by ''Fables et symboles'' a year later, containing extensive analyses of the symbolisms of Pythagoras, of the gospels, the talmud, and other sources. In 1865 he published ''Science des esprits'', and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Larousse Pierre Larousse] asked him to contribute an essay on the Kabbalah for his ''Grand Dictionnaire''. At the same time he started working on a monograph on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zohar Zohar] which only got published after his death.<ref>http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k56839792/f107.image - This source claims that he also acted as the "head" of a society of "Grand Magicians" at this point in time. As a matter of fact the document is a belated apology of the Marian apparition at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_La_Salette La Salette] in 1846. Hence its objectiveness is rather dubious.</ref>

Then in 1870 The siege of Paris in 1870 happened to cut off Lévi from allowances from his students, and during his service
with the National Guard a heart disease manifested. In May 1861, with the episode of the Commune having ended, Lévi found himself at the end of all material resources once again. [[image:Eliphas_Levi_sul_letto_di_morte.jpg|Éliphas Lévi on his deathbed, 1875|thumb]]

Although still continuing with his work (in December 1871 he completed the ''Grimoire franco-latomorum'' on rites of the French freemasons), his physical condition deteriorated increasingly. In 1873, ''L'Évangile de la science'' was written, followed by his last work ''Catéchisme de la paix'' in January 1875. On May 31, 1875 Éliphas Lévi died at the age of 65.

== Reception ==
[[image:Eliphas_Levi_1872_Photo_Originale.jpg|Portrait from 1872|left|thumb]]
In Second Empire Paris, Éliphas Lévi was a well known figure. His pursuit of esoteric matters, initially a rather casual interest, later provided him with a unique knowledge. By applying methods and forms of presentation of natural sciences to concepts of the supernatural, a connection between these two seemingly emerged, and the ''occult sciences'' took shape.

One reason for Éliphas Lévi's success may be seen in the fact that he was the first to follow this path consequently. He was the first after Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim to study occultism more intensely than just fleetingly and thus was able to draw from substantial sources. Due to the wide range of subjects covered as well as because of their comparative originality, his works influenced all notable mystics in the afermath. His inclination for eccentric appearances, calculated for effect and regardless of possible negative outcome, contributed to further boosting his popularity. Seven years after his death,Paris newspaper ''Le Figaro'' published an editorial on him.<ref>[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k278346v Un maitre sorcier. Le Figaro v. 6. Oktober 1882] (provides a detailed description of incidents connected to Lévi's near execution in 1848)</ref>

[[image:Talisman_universel_selon_levi.png|According to Papus, the universal charm discovered by Lévi banning all evil spirits, provided it was drawn on pristine parchment in golden ink and carried in a golden silk bag.|thumb]]
Apart from Fernand Rozier mentioned above, further mystics particularly influenced by Lévi were:

* Gérard Encausse (1865-1916), publishing as Papus,
* Stanislas de Guaita (1861-1897),
* Joséphin Péladan (1858-1918), calling himself Sâr Mérodack Joséphin Péladan.
Among the English-language mystics he reached were:
* [[Helena Blavatsky]] (1831-1891),
* H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937),
* [[Aleister Crowley]] (1875-1947), considering himself a reincarnation of Lévi.

== Works ==
Having chosen Éliphas Lévi for his pseudonym, he no longer published under his common name. A similarly clear distinction may be observed regarding with regards to content: works of theosophical/occult contents are authored exclusively by Éliphas Lévi, while the political pamphlets and the ''Dictionnaire de la littérature chrétienne'' was authored by Alphonse-Louis Constant.

=== Alphonse-Louis Constant ===
{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout:fixed; padding:0px; background:rgb(255,255,255); margin:0px; margin-left:15px; margin-right:15px; width:100%; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; empty-cells:show;"
|-
|style="width:10%; vertical-align:top;"|1839
|style="vertical-align:top;"|''Le Rosier de mai''
|-
|1841
|''La Bible de la liberté''
|-
| 
|''L'Assomption de la femme ou le Livre de l'amour''
|-
| 
|''Doctrines religieuses et sociales''
|-
|1845
|''La Fête-Dieu ou le Triomphe de la paix religieuse''
|-
| 
|''Paix! Paix! Réprimande adressée par un abbé et un théologien à Timon qui n'est ni l'un ni l'autre''
|-
| 
|''Le Livre des larmes ou le Christ consolateur, Essai de conciliation entre l'Église catholique et la philosophie moderne''
|-
| 
|''Les Trois Harmonies''
|-
|1846
|''La Dernière Incarnation''
|-
| 
|''La Voix de la famine''
|-
|1847
|''Le Deuil de la Pologne. Protestation de la Démocratie française et du Socialisme universel''
|-
| 
|''Rabelais à la Basmette''
|-
| 
|''Les Trois Malfaiteurs''
|-
| 
|''Le Sorcier de la Devinière''
|-
|1848
|Two Chansons: ''La Marseillaise du peuple'' und ''Le Règne du peuple''
|-
| 
|''Le Testament de la liberté''
|-
|1851
|''Dictionnaire de la littérature chrétienne''
|-
|unknown
|''La Bible de l'humanité''<ref>found in: [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5600921q/f478.image Dictionnaire des pseudonymes], Paris, 1887. p. 461</ref>
|}

=== Éliphas Lévi ===
{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout:fixed; padding:0px; background:rgb(255,255,255); margin:0px; margin-left:15px; margin-right:15px; width:100%; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; empty-cells:show;"
|-
|style="width:10%; vertical-align:top;"|1854
|style="vertical-align:top;"|[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k205564w ''Dogme et rituel de la haute magie, Tome 1: Dogme'']
|-
| 
|''La Clavicule universelle des clavicules de Salomon ou le Grimoire des Grimoires'' (published posthumously)
|-
|1856
|[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k2055658 ''Dogme et rituel de la haute magie, Tome 2: Rituel'']
|-
|1856 et seq.
|''Carnet de notes'' (published posthumously)
|-
|1860
|''La Clavicule prophétique des sept esprits de Jean Trithème'' (p.p.)
|-
|1861
|''Histoire de la magie, avec une exposition claire de ses procédés, de ses rites et de ses mystères.'' Paris: Germer-Baillère, 1861<ref name="nouvdic">Information taken from: Manne, Edmond-Denis: [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k2001347 Nouveau dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes et pseudonymes]. Lyon: Scheuring, 1868</ref>
|-
| 
|[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5510884x ''La clef des grands mystères suivant Hénoch, Abraham, Hermès Trismégiste et Salomon.''] Paris: Germer-Baillère, 1861.
|-
| 
|[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k82585p ''Le sorcier de Meudon.''] Paris: Librairie nouvelle, 1861
|-
|1861 ff.
|''Cours de philosophie occulte. Lettres au baron Spedalieri'' (until Feb. 1874, p.p.)
|-
|1862
|''La philosophie occulte. Fables et symboles, avec les explications.'' Paris: Germer-Baillère, 1862/ 63 (2 Bde.)<ref name="nouvdic" />
|-
|1863
|''Appel de la Pologne à la France par un Polonais''
|-
|1864
|''La science des esprits.'' Paris: Germer-Baillère, 1864<ref name="nouvdic" />
|-
|1868/ 69
|[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k655196 ''Le Grand Arcane ou l'Occultisme dévoilé.''] Paris: Chamuel, 1898 (p.p.)
|-
|1869/ 70
|[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k54778959 ''Le livre des Sages.''] Paris: Bibliothèque Chacornac, 1912 (p.p)
|-
|1870
|''Les Éléments de la Kabbale'' (p.p.)
|-
|1871
|''Les Portes de l'avenir ou les Dernières Paroles d'un voyant'' (p.p.)
|-
| 
|''Le Grimoire franco-latomorum'' (p.p.)
|-
|1872 - 74
|''Le Voile du temple déchiré'' (p.p.)
|-
|1873
|''L'Évangile de la science'' (p.p.)
|-
| 
|''La Religion de la science'' (p.p.)
|-
| 
|''Les Paradoxes de la haute science'' (p.p.)
|-
|1874
|''La Sagesse des Anciens'' (p.p.)
|-
| 
|''Le Livre d'Abraham le Juif retrouvé'' (p.p.)
|-
|1875
|''Le Catéchisme de la paix'' (p.p.)
|-
|unknown
|''Clefs majeures et clavicules de Salomon.'' Paris, 1895<ref>Taken from: [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k56761989/f16.image.r=Éliphas+Lévi.langEN Le Monde occulte Nr. 5-6]. Paris, 1903. Possibly erroneous, see 1854</ref>
|-
|unknown
|''Le Livre d'Hermès restitué et expliqué par Éliphas Lévi et commenté par Éliphas Ben Zahed''
|-
|unknown
|''L'Annexe de Salomon''
|}

== References ==
<references />

{{OtherLang|ge=Éliphas Lévi|en=Éliphas Lévi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levi, Eliphas}}
[[category:Occultist]]
[[category:Author]]

Category:HIV/AIDS denialism

2013-10-03T23:46:07Z

Omikronn: added text

Marks all articles about Aids denialism

House of Numbers

2013-10-03T23:45:49Z

Omikronn: category change

[[image:House_of_Numbers.jpg|DVD|thumb]]
[[image:Brent_W_Leung.jpg|Filmautor Brent W. Leung|thumb]]
'''House of Numbers: Anatomy of an Epidemic''' is a propaganda video to [[HIV/AIDS denialism|deny a link between a HIV infection and AIDS disease]] originating from the Canadian filmmaker Brent W. Leung in 2009. Filmmaker Leung describes his movie as an "objective examination" of the hypothesis that HI-virus causes AIDS.

An interesting thing about the movie is the fact that to date it is not known who funded the movie. A German version of the DVD is available from the publisher [[Kopp Verlag]].

=="House of Numbers"==
The name of the movie derives from Leungs view, that statistical numbers about HIV infection and AIDS patients were fabricated and manipulated by an international conspiracy. Alas, a discussion of the WHO numbers is not part of the movie. According to Leungs view the importance of global poverty is undervalued, since it is the real cause for the AIDS deaths. Also (older) AIDS drugs like AZT are in his lay opinion one of the reasons for the death of HIV infected people. The filmmaker suggests furthermore, that he has doubts, that the HI virus even exists.

In the movie interviews with several scientists (among them [[Luc Montagnier]]), known "AIDS denialists" and selected AIDS patients are shown. Several people who where interviewed for the film declared after the release that they were interviewed under false pretense and that the movie itself promotes [[pseudoscience]].<ref name="Catsoulis_NYT">Catsoulis, Jeanette: "AIDS Seen From a Different Angle", "New York Times" September 4, 2009. [http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/movies/04house.html]</ref> 18 scientists interviewed for the film have issued a statement saying that their answers were cut and put together in a way to fit Leungs intentions. He tried to make it seem as if the scientific community was in disagreement over AIDS. Two interviewers, Neil Constantine and Robin Weiss, give examples where their answers were wrongfully and selectively quoted.<ref>http://www.aidstruth.org/features/2009/constantine-and-weiss</ref>

==Interview with Christine Maggiore==
[[image:Christine_Maggiore.jpg|Christine Maggiore with daughter|thumb]]
One of the interviewed persons is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Maggiore Christine Joy Maggiore], a HIV-positive women and until her death a well known HIV/AIDS-denialist. Maggiore founded the organization "Alive & Well AIDS Alternatives" (previously "HEAL-LA"). This organization advised HIV-positive and especially expecting mothers to stop taking anti-retroviral drugs to prevent vertical infection of the child. She wrote a book "What If Everything You Thought You Knew about AIDS Was Wrong?". Her own three year old daughter [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliza_Jane_Scovill Eliza Jane Scovill] died from untreated AIDS.<ref>Diagnosis after autopsy: ''Pneumocystis pneumonia in the setting of advanced AIDS''</ref> Maggiore had infected her own child with the HI-virus, and refused a HIV test and an antiretroviral therapy of the child. Her son was tested HIV-negative. Maggiore was criticized for breastfeeding her own children, since it is known that HIV may be transmitted through breastmilk. Christine Maggiore died on December 27, 2008 on AIDS, half a year before the film "House of Numbers" was published on June 21, 2009. This fact is mentioned in them movie only in small letters in the credits, under the false claim that she did not die from AIDS but from a different cause. In truth, Maggiore died from pneumonia and other typical symptoms of AIDS. Her views are also promoted on pages of the [[Germanic New Medicine]].<ref>http://www.neue-medizin.com/intermag.htm</ref>

==Reception==
The film was rated generally critical. Especially Leungs claims that he had approached the issue from an "objective point of view" were dismissed. The film was repeatedly called a mix between AIDS denialism and [[Conspiracy Theory|conspiracy theory]], for example by the renowned professional journal "The Lancet".<ref>Burki T (2009). "House of Numbers". Lancet Infect Dis 9 (12): 735. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(09)70316-0. [http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2809%2970316-0/fulltext]</ref> The New York Times called it a "weaselly support pamphlet for AIDS denialists".<ref name="Catsoulis_NYT" /> The "Wall Street Journal" called its content conspiracy theories from "persons, that know the 'real story' behind everything".<ref>David Aaronovitch, "A Conspiracy-Theory Theory. How to fend off the people who insist they know the 'real story' behind everything", "The Wall Street Journal", 21.12.2009. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704238104574602042125998498.html]</ref> Author and doctor Ben Goldacre wrote in "The Guardian", that the film "House of Numbers" was "AIDS-denialist propaganda" sei.<ref>Ben Goldacre: "House of Numbers". The Guardian, September 26, 2009. [http://www.badscience.net/2009/09/house-of-numbers]</ref> The Portland Oregonian criticized Leung for "not being entirely honest with viewers," and decried the film's reliance on "selective editing, anomalies and anecdotes, unsupported conclusions... and suppression of inconvenient facts."<ref>[http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2010/01/review_house_of_numbers_blurs.html 'House of Numbers' blurs facts on HIV], Portland Oregonian, Hall, Stan, January 21, 2010. </ref>

{{OtherLang|ge=House of Numbers|en=House of Numbers}}

==Weblinks==
*[http://www.houseofnumbers.org/ Inside House of Numbers], a critical website, rebutting many of the claims in the film
*[http://articles.latimes.com/2005/sep/24/local/me-eliza24 A Mother's Denial, a Daughter's Death], L.A.Times about Christine Maggiore, September 24, 2005

==References==
<references/>

[[category:HIV/AIDS denialism]]

Doreen Virtue

2013-10-03T23:43:07Z

Omikronn: category change

[[image:DoreenVirtue.jpg|thumb|right]]
'''Doreen Virtue''' (born April 29, 1958) is a Californian author and alleged [[Medium|angel medium]] who sells courses and workshops on [[angel]]s, [[chakra]]s, [[crystal children|crystal]] and [[indigo children]] and other [[Esotericism|New Age]] topics. She is a self-professed "spiritual doctor of psychology and a fourth generation metaphysician".<ref name=AboutDoreen>[http://www.angeltherapy.com/about.php Short biography on her website], accessed December 25, 2010</ref>

==Biography==
Doreen Virtue claims to hold a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from California Coast University, which was not accredited when she attended it, but was regarded a [[diploma mill]]. (CCU<ref>[http://www.calcoast.edu/CCU/index.cfm California Coast University Website]</ref> was accredited in 2005 and offers online courses, but may not do Ph.D. programs.<ref>[http://www.chea.org/search/actionInst.asp?CheaID=180443 CHEA database of accredited institutes], accessed December 25, 2010</ref>)
She claims to have worked in two psychiatric facilities, one in Tennessee, the other in Bay Area, San Francisco. Both closed down years ago which makes it difficult to evaluate these claims.<ref name=DallasObserver>[http://www.dallasobserver.com/2006-03-09/news/little-boy-blue/4/ Dallas Observer about Indigo Children] on March 9, 2006, accessed December 2005, 2010</ref>

During her childhood, Virtue claimed to see deceased persons, and was allegedly unable to tell them apart from living persons. She meanwhile claims the ability to perceive the guardian angels of every person on earth (even via telephone).<ref>[http://www.koraorganics.com/blog/author/doreenvirtue/], accessed November 19, 2011</ref>

==Angel Therapy Practitioner==
''Angel Therapy Practitioner'' is a registered trademark held by Doreen Virtue. To become a certified practitioner (or a Certified Spiritual Counselor), it is sufficient to take a four-day course and pay US$ 1,900<ref>[http://www.doreenvirtuellc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=47 Angel Therapy Practitioner course June 2011], accessed December 25, 2010</ref> Alternatively, customers can purchase a DVD for UA$ 1,000 and will receive the certificate after returning the test included and signing the Licensing Agreement.<ref>[http://angeluniversity.com/classes/product.php?id_product=4 Angel University, ATP Kurs auf DVD], accessed December 25, 2010</ref> This certificate can also be bought from her son [[Charles Virtue]] who follows in her footsteps.

==Indigo Children==
Apart from angel visitations, Virtue also frequently speaks about [[Indigo Children]] whom she describes as a leap in human evolution:<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/12/fashion/thursdaystyles/12INDIGO.html?_r=1&ex=1178942400&en=483f770d41c93e97&ei=5070 NY Times about Indigo Children], January 12, 2006, accessed December 25, 2010</ref>
*''To me these children are the answers to the prayers we all have for peace''
*''They're vigilant about cleaning the earth of social ills and corruption, and increasing integrity''
*''Other generations tried, but then they became apathetic. This generation won't, unless we drug them into submission with Ritalin.''

In her opinion, indigo children were often wrongly diagnosed with [[ADHS]]. Instead of promoting their particular gifts they were treated inappropriately with Ritalin.<ref name=Phil_Inquirer> [http://www3.lehigh.edu/News/V2news_story.asp?iNewsID=1622&strBack=%2Fnews%2FV2news_archive.asp%3FiStoryType%3D15 News Archiv Lehigh University], accessed December 25, 2010</ref>

==Bibliography==
Her books are published by Hay House who have specialized in New Age literature. She also has her own radio show and conducts workshops all over the world.<ref>[http://www.hayhouseradio.com/liveevents/051207/index.php Hay House Radio Website]</ref>

Her "New Age" card deck ''Messages From Your Angels“ was sold more than 700,000 times.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2003-07-21-booksellers_x.htm Kits help booksellers reach retail nirvana], USA Today, July 21, 2003, accessed December 25, 2010</ref>

*''Angel Therapy'', November 1997 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-56170-397-4
*''Chakra Clearing'', October 1998 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-56170-566-7
*''Healing With the Fairies'', May 2001 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-56170-807-0
*''The Care and Feeding of the Indigo Children'', May 2001 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-56170-846-1
*''Angel Visions II'', October 2001 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-56170-850-X
*''Earth Angels'', September 2002 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0048-8
*''Messages From Your Angels'', April 2003 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0049-6
*''The Crystal Children'', June 2003 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0229-4
*''Archangels and Ascended Masters'', March 2004 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0063-1
*''Crystal Therapy'', January 2005 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0467-X
*''Angel Numbers'', March 2005 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0515-3
*''Angel Medicine'', August 2005 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0235-9
*''Angels 101'', June 2006 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-0759-8
*''Divine Magic'', June 2006 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-1033-5
*''Goddesses and Angels'', January 2007 at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-0474-6
*''Fairies 101'', January 2007 at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-0760-0
*''Realms of the Earth Angels'', January 2007 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-4019-1718-0
*''The Lightworkers Way'', June 2007 at Hay House Inc ISBN 1-56170-390-7
*''How to Hear Your Angels'', October 2007 at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-1705-0
*''Healing Words From the Angels'', October 2007 at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-1196-6
*''Solomon’s Angels'', January 2008 at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-1786-9
*''Signs From Above'', January 2009, Co-Author [[Charles Virtue]] at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-1851-4
*''The Miracles of Archangel Michael'', October 2009 at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-2205-4
*''Archangels 101'', September 2010 at Hay House Inc ISBN 978-1-4019-2638-0

==Weblinks==
*[http://www.angeltherapy.com/article_arc.php An article by Doreen Virtue]
*[http://www.hayhouseradio.com/hosts.php?author_id=84 Doreen Virtue's Podcast at Hay House]

{{OtherLang|ge=Doreen Virtue|en=Doreen Virtue}}

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Virtue, Doreen}}
[[category:ADHS/Ritalin critic‏‎]]
[[category:Author]]
[[category:New Ager]]

Category:New Ager

2013-10-03T23:41:49Z

Omikronn: added text

Marks all articles about new agers

Karin Tag

2013-10-03T23:40:40Z

Omikronn: category change

[[image:Karin_Tag.jpg|Karin Tag (image: Sky TV)|thumb]]
'''Karin Tag''' (born February 17, 1969, Frankfort/Main, aliases: Healing Voice and Augenstern) is an esoteric author from the German town of Niddatal, director of a „Seraphim Institut“ and of an ISR Institute (ISR Institute of Photone Photography resp. „Institute for Scientific Research and Diagnostics with Magnetic Field Resonance and Photone Energy“) and founder of a „Council of World Elders“.<ref>Council of World Elders, Panoramaweg 27, D-61194 Niddatal</ref> As an author, Tag is primarily dedicated to the issues of crystal skulls and of „secret artefacts“. She also describes herself as a „geological taxidermist“, shaman, curandera, and „healer according to Inka traditions“. As a shaman, she takes on the name of „Healing Voice“ and „Keeper of the Crystal Skull Corazon de Luz“, of which she passes so-called channelings to her customers. Her book „Das Buch des Wissens“ [The Book of Knowledge] was allegedly channeled to Tag. One of the channeling sources seems to have been an entity by the name of Shevan who is said to be an „assistant of Archangel Raphael“.

==Crystal Skull Corazon de Luz==
[[image:Karin tag buch.jpg|Book cover displaying crystal skull|thumb]]
Tag is in possession of a crystal skull by the name of Corazon de Luz [Heart of Light] which allegedly is one of the oldest crystal skulls in the world. According to the legend spread by Tag, Hopi Indians, whose names she does not mention, are able to date it to an age of 30,000 years. It is said to carry „genetic information of the human genome“ and of a „Missing Link of Darwin“. Tag comments on the skull obtained from a dubious source (it was presumably disappropriated from Indians):

:''They gave me the skull to take it to Europe in order to study the process connected to the Indian prophecy for the Year [[2012]]. Many calendars come to an end in this year, and the Inka, Maya, and Hopi speak of a very strong change of consciousness. The crystal skulls serve as a storage facility for knowledge, containing information regarding the development of consciousness of humankind. […] The prophecy says that the people from Europe – the White People – will found a new world culture and will take it to South America in order to unite the peoples again. It simply is so that we fulfil a part of the prophecy, and they trust the skull will arrange it in the right way […] The crystal skull medially passed the entire history of human origins and development, and this is very fascinating information which is very important for us in order to understand our origins – and to understand how our development and that of our consciousness actually took place.''

Another claim is:
:''The present keeper of the crystal skull (Karin Tag) took the skull to many magic places in the world in order to connect the energies. Among other places, the crystal skull was in the Khufu pyramid in Egypt where it was on its own for half an hour in the the sarcophagus in the King's and Queen's Chamber.''

However, there never was a sarcophagus in the afore mentioned chamber. This chamber, often frequented by tourists, is completely empty still today. Another claim about the crystal skulls refers to their mysterious weight fluctuations. With the crystal skull owned by her, Tag claims to have „activated“ certain places on earth into power places. The Paris Eiffel Tower is to be reckoned among these activated „Energy Points on Earth“. Tag also claims she was given 13 „original ancient crystal tables“ from an „Atlantean crystal library for this era“, in order to enable humans „access to ancient wisdoms“. Since then, Tag also declares herself a „Carrier of the Sacred Crystal Tables“. According to her claims, she studies alleged archaeological and geological artefacts. In 2010, Tag was one of the lecturers at a so-called „Lichtkinderkonferenz" [Conference of Light Children].<ref>http://lichtkinderkonferenz.de/karin-tag.html</ref>

==Seraphim Institute==
Seraphim Institute offers several „vocational trainings“, e.g. for a „Seraphim Crystal Skull Keeper“ (in three grades)<ref>http://www.seraphim-institut.de/events/kristallsch%C3%A4del-ausbildung/ accessed 27/04/2012</ref>, or a series of seminars „Energy Increases“ which is said to enable graduates to „work with sacred archangel energies“.<ref>http://www.seraphim-institut.de/events/seminare-workshops/ accessed 27/04/2012</ref> The company also claims to run an ethnological museum.<ref>http://www.seraphim-institut.de/ethnologisches-museum/</ref> The „Heart to Heart Shop“ added to the site sells esoteric products like „Alpaka Energy Blankets“ („energetized by Corazon de Luz with love and light“), Lucky Dolls for € 77 („The dolls energetized with love and light by Corazon de Luz contain programmed rock crystals and Egyptian vacillation oils“), crystal skulls, and incense materials. For some time, Seraphim Institute was operated as a publishing house run by Tag's former husband.

==ISR-Institute==
[[image:ISR-Institut.jpg|(Image: ISR Institute)|thumb]]
As a director of Seraphim Institute and ISR Institute both founded by her, Tag claims to research electro-magnetic fields and „Photone Energies“. The exact name of ISR is „Institute for Scientific Research and Diagnostics with Magnetic Field Resonance and Photone Energy“. ISR uses a special „Photone Camera“, allegedly invented by Tag herself, for experiments and so-called certificates (ISR seal of approval). Alternative healers e.g. may apply for a certificate with ISR. This certificate, completely useless beyond the Newage scene, is said to prove „successful measurable energy field resonance and changes“ unknown to science. ISR also issued certifocations for products.

==Council of World Elders==
Tag also founded the so-called Council of World Elders (CoWE) which claims to „unite the best representatives of native peoples“. The aims of CoWE are e.g. the support of non-profit local and global projects and environmental protection, but also „preservation and establishing of new places of power and cultural monuments“ and organising a museum.

Besides Tag, members of CoWE are known „plastic shamans“ like e.g. Hunbatz Men – real life name: Carlos Mena Toto – who claims to be a Maya priest, and persons known for their activities in the Newage scene (e.g. Galsan Tschinag). Another member of the Council is [[Masaru Emoto]] who in no way belongs into the category of a „representative of indigenous peoples“. A lesser known member of the Council is or was [[Jorge Vizcarra|Jorge „Coco“ Vizcarra]] from Peru who has been living in Germany for some 20 years selling indigenous ceremonies like sweatlodges not practiced in South America, and who passes as a musician in different environments.<ref>http://www.neckargemuend-kleingemuend.de/2010/04/21/solidaritaetsveranstaltung-fuer-peru-im-alten-e-werk-neckargemuend/</ref> At this point in time (June 2013), Vizcarra is no longer mentioned as a member of the Council.<ref>http://www.council-of-world-elders.de/d-e-u-t-s-c-h/global-advisor/ accessed 01/06/2013</ref>

Another member and alleged indigenous elder in CoWE is Peruvian citizen Don Pedro Guerra Gonzales who is no member of any indigenous ethnic group, but, as a plastic shaman, administers Ayahuasca to his clientele in order to heal a multitude of diseases. Guerra regularly travels Europe to give lectures and seminars and promote his facilities in the vicinity of Iquitos, Peru where clients may book healing sojourns.<ref>http://www.don-pedro-guerra.net accessed 02/11/2012</ref>

CoWE member Swami Isa, an Indian citizen, also is not indigenous; he runs a Global Energy Parliament.

CoWE furthermore has several „Global Advisors“ among whom presently (2012) one may find singer Nina Hagen, but also [[Children of Light|Eva-Maria Mora]] and her husband Michael Mora a.k.a. Michael Bear Hawk. In the person of Drunvalo Melchizedek – real life name Bernard Perona -, CoWE found another well-established vendor on the Newage market. Perona also „works“ with crystal skulls, and on the issues of [[2012]], [[Indigo Children|indigo children]], the alleged planet Nibiru and promotes conspiracy theories.

Another advisor is Armin Risi, an author publishing with Kopp-Verlag, whose report on the first congress of CoWE is published on the site of Kopp publishers; Tag maintains a link to this report. She has also published one of her books with Kopp.

Karin Tag attempted to have „Council of World Elders“ as a word mark which was denied by DPMA.

==Questionable Titles==
[[image:Prof_Karin_Tag.jpg|One of several websites claiming Karin Tag holds the title of a professor (in this case crystalskulls.com)|320px|thumb]]
On various websites and also in her books, Karin Tag is given the titles of a „Prof. hc. Dr. hc. holistic sciences“ which she claims to have obtained from a „University of Oregon“.<ref>http://www.crystalskulls.com/karin-tag.html</ref><ref>http://www.sein.de/empfehlungen/buchempfehlungen/esoterik/mysterium-kristallschaedel-ein-raetsel-der-menschheit-wird-entschluesselt.html [http://psiram.com/ge/images/7/74/Mysterium-kristallschaedel-ein-raetsel-der-menschheit-wird-entschluesselt.html.pdf Sicherungskopie Psiram]</ref><ref>http://www.pferdeheilpraktik-froehlich.de/vita/fortbildung.html [http://psiram.com/ge/images/b/bd/Fortbildung.html.pdf Sicherungskopie Psiram]</ref><ref>http://video.filestube.com/key/Kristallsch%C3%A4del</ref><ref>http://www.amitola.nl/kennismaking-met-kristallen-schedels.html</ref><ref>http://www.inside-videos.com/watch/388956563/Interview-With-Prof-Dr-Karin-Tag-About-Crystal-Skulls</ref><ref>http://psiram.com/ge/images/a/a4/Kristallschaedel.htm.pdf</ref> One of her books alleges: „In 2007, Karin Tag obtained the title of a Prof. hc. Dr. hc. Holistic Sciences, USA for her research and development work in the field of photone photography and holistic sciences by the senate of Oregon State Ch. + University“.
However, the University of Oregon in Eugene does not grant such a title. The „title“ in fact was purchased from a company „Oregon State Church and University Inc.“, situated in Florida.<ref>Oregon State Church And University Inc, 8556 Granpaw Ct, Jacksonville, FL 32220-2074 
Business Description: 
Oregon State Church And University Inc is located in Jacksonville, Duval, FL 
Additional Information: 
Legal Name:Sparkle Of Life LLC 
Other Names:Oregon State Church And University Inc, Sparkle Of Life LLC, Oregon State Church And University Inc
Metropolitan Area: Jacksonville, FL</ref> In order to obtain a „professorship“, the company asks for the amount of US$ 400. The [[title mill]], however, missed to apply for registration as a church in the USA, so their titles are even illegal within the USA (further info on this alleged church see: [http://www.business-podium.com/boards/dubiose-promotionsberatungen-titelvermittlung-ghostwriter-prof-titel-doktortitel-kaufen/892-oscu-oregon-state-church-university-usa-wertlos-nirgends-anerkannt.html business-podium.com]). Tag's own websites do not contain any mention of her fantasy titles.

==Books==
*2012 - Die Prophezeiungen des Kristallschädels Corazon de Luz. Amra Verlag, 2009
*Das Geheimnis der Atlantischen Kristallbibliothek. Amra Verlag, 2011
*Mysterium Kristallschädel - Ein Rätsel der Menschheit wird entschlüsselt. Ansata Verlag, 2008
*Der Geheimcode im Kristallschädel. Kopp, 2008
*Das Buch des Wissens

==Weblinks==
*[http://isr-institut.de/deu/impressum/http://isr-institut.de ISR-Institut. (Institut für wissenschaftliche Forschung und Diagnostik mit Magnetfeldresonanzen und Photonenenergie)]

==References==
<references/>

[[category:author]]
[[category:New Ager]]
[[category:Plastic Shamans]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tag, Karin}}

Claus Fritzsche

2013-10-03T23:40:15Z

Omikronn: category change

'''Claus Fritzsche''' (b. 1964), resident of Meerbusch/Northrhine-Westfalia, is a German freelance copywriter, [[spin doctor]] for [[alternative medicine]], author, and a [[homeopathy]]-lobbyist sponsored by pharmaceutical industry. Fritzsche, originally a qualified business economist, operates several internet sites on alternative medicine and [[Esotericism|esoteric]] issues. Among the sites maintained is "psychophysik.com" (launched in 2005), for which he managed to win authors of the "renown" of one Helmut Hille<ref>Hille is a retired civil engineer and philosopher, who believes that theory of relativity and Einstein must be wrong. His knowledge of physics and mathematics is very limited.</ref>, and an ''H.Blog'' promoting homeopathy. With partners, Claus Fritzsche also operates a ''Network Claus Fritzsche Mentaltraining'', marketing courses in [[mental training]].

Fritzsche also is the editor of a blog which is part of the website of [[Deutscher Zentralverein homöopathischer Ärzte e.V. (DZVhÄ)]], the German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians.

==Prayer-Service==
Fritzsche became known when, in May 2005, he believed to have found a market gap for [[remote healing]] on the [[psycho-market]]: An internet health prayer service ''Let people pray for you'', a ''Projekt WIR'' (Project Us)<ref>http://anonym.to/?http://www.psychophysik.com/html/e10-projektwir.html</ref>, declared an experiment, organized in cooperation with Swiss [[spirit healing|spirit healer]] and [[MLM]]-salesperson [[Perry Fehr]]. Following a free registration with an e-mail address, other users of the project (not Fritzsche himself) were supposed to pray for the newly registered person. To cite from Projekt WIR: ''"We understand "praying" in the way that you wish for something for all of the members of Project Us. How exactly you will do that is left up to you."'' Apparently this free offer of a prayer service was meant to become fee-based at a later point in time "to cover running cost". The project probably failed to succeed: since January 2009, Projekt WIR has been continued with Perry Fehr as its sole director.

==Claus Fritzsche and the German Bundestag==
[[image:Fritzsche2.jpg|Homeopathy: 58% of the members of German Bundestag have positive experience with homeopathic treatment|350px|thumb]]
On January 7, 2010, Fritzsche reported a "highly interesting" news item in his "H.Blog": "Homeopathy: 58% of the members of German Bundestag have positive experience with homeopathic treatment""<ref>Claus Fritzsche, H.Blog on January 7, 2010 [http://www.anonym.to?http://www.psychophysik.com/h-blog/?p=9325]</ref>, relying on an announcement of "[[Deutscher Zentralverein homöopathischer Ärzte e.V. (DZVhÄ)]]" from December 2009. Upon closer examination, the announcement of "Homöopathische Nachrichten" (Homeopathic News) actually turned out purely "homeopathic news", since it did not give any proof that 58% of the members of Bundestag (Lower House of German parliament) had conceded positive experience with homeopathy. Figures rather showed that - contrary to the claim that 360 of the 622 MPs admitted positive experience with homeopathy - a mere 61 representatives had answered the question at all (9,8%), and of these only 35 had answered "Yes" (6% of all representatives). German Scienceblogger Marcus Anhäuser disclosed this in his blog "Plazeboalarm".<ref>http://www.scienceblogs.de/plazeboalarm/2010/02/58-der-abgeordneten-des-deutschen-bundestags-haben-positive-erfahrungen-mit-einer-homoopathischen-behandlung.php</ref>

==Controversies with Nina Gerlach, GWUP, Psiram (''EsoWatch'') and others==
[[image:GWUP-Freimaurer.jpg|Logo of GWUP-Blog, alleged proof of [[freemasonry]] and [[esotericism]] in skeptics' organization GWUP according to Claus Fritzsche. Citation Fritzsche: ''Note the icon reminiscent of a freemason symbol in the top left corner of GWUP-blog. This symbolism and the lurid style of the blog and its commentators is hardly different from the stuff some „esoteric“ world conspiracy and doomsday groups put in the world. You can almost see the foam at their mouths.''|300px|left|thumb]]
[[image:Fritzsche Rumsfeld2.jpg|Comments by Claus Fritzsche regarding edits of articles in German Wikipedia under the pseudonym "Rumsfeld2". According to Fritzsche, these edits were private "edit experiments". Wikipedia did not recognize them as regular writer activity and permanently banned Fritzsche for "vandalism"|thumb]]
Using the pseudonym of ''rumsfeld2'', Fritzsche tried to integrate his personal views on homeopathy into Wikipedia articles, without giving valid sources as required by Wikipedia regulations. Additionally, he repeatedly attempted to place links to his website psychophysik.com into articles. When this failed, he resorted to denigrating Wikipedia entirely, and started to publish respective [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]] in his blog. Fritzsche's Wikipedia activities ended with his permanent ban for vandalism.<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Rumsfeld-2</ref><ref>Posted: 16:46, Aug 21, 2007 Achim Raschka (Diskussion | Beiträge) sperrte „Rumsfeld-2 (Diskussion | Beiträge)“ für den Zeitraum: Unbeschränkt (Erstellung von Benutzerkonten gesperrt) (Verstoß gegen keine persönlichen Angriffe: Meinungsmache gegen einzelne Mitarbeiter und Verbreitung schwachsinniger Verschwörungstheorien, siehe http://openpr.de/news/153137/Wikipedia-im-Privateigentum-von-Nin)</ref> Fritzsche blamed his ban on a conspiracy of Nina Gerlach who was a board member of Wikimedia Germany e.V. at that point in time. In retaliation, he has taken up internet stalking Mrs Gerlach since then, publishing her alleged misconduct in his H. Blog and in OpenPR, an open access public relations portal.<ref>http://www.openpr.de/pdf/153137/Wikipedia-im-Privateigentum-von-Nina-Gerlach.pdf</ref> Fritzsche later claimed his edits in German Wikipedia under the pseudonym Rumsfeld2 had just been private "edit experiments". Such experiments as well as linking to non-reputable sources (or blogs) do not comply with Wikipedia regulations.

Fritzsche is a pronounced opponent of the German skeptics' organisation [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWUP Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften (GWUP)] (Society for the Scientific Investigation of Para-Sciences) based in Roßdorf near Darmstadt. GWUP is well known in Germany and e.g. organised the [http://www.worldskeptics.org/ 6th World Skeptics Congress 2012]. Fritzsche accused GWUP, in his view a "group of atheistic fundamentalists", of proceeding „esoterically“, „pseudoscientifically“ and „naively“. Fritzsche sees proof of this "esoteric" nature of the organisation in the GWUP logo which reminded him of a [[Masonry|„Freemason symbol“]]. Fritzsche believes GWUP to be part of a conspiracy in collaboration with German Scienceblogs and Psiram (''EsoWatch'').<ref>http://www.psychophysik.com/h-blog/?p=7326</ref> Cooperating with [[Rolf Finkbeiner]] (a climate skeptic, antivaccinationist, [[Germanic New Medicine]] proponent, ...) and [[Hans Weidenbusch]] (inventor of a [[Perpetual Motion|perpetual motion]] device), Fritzsche is the initiator of an anti-Esowatch campaign started in early 2009. In March 2009, he transfered activities against GWUP and Nina Gerlach from his H.Blog to a new site called GWUP.WATCH<ref>http://anonym.to/?http://gwup-skeptiker.blogspot.com</ref>, attended by anonymous "press releases".<ref>http://pressemitteilung.ws/user/22028/track</ref> Various writers at scienceblogs.de, most notably Prof. Dr. Dr. Ulrich Berger and [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian_Freistetter Florian Freistetter], are being "watched" by Claus Fritzsche.

Since November 2009, Fritzsche is also supported by [[Jocelyne Lopez]] (a physics-layman who criticizes theory of relativity) who quotes his publications against Psiram (''EsoWatch'') on GWUP.WATCH in her blog.<ref>The first reference to GWUP.WATCH in the blog of Jocelyne Lopez: [http://web.archive.org/web/20100131135534/http://www.jocelyne-lopez.de/blog/2009/11/ideologie-und-agitation-bei-scienceblogs-gwup-esowatch-und-alpha-centauri/ Ideologie und Agitation bei ScienceBlogs, GWUP, ESOWATCH und Alpha Centauri], November 2, 2009</ref> It is presumably just by coincidence that the begin of cooperation between Fritzsche and Lopez was marked by the exposure of a forum user "webfox" who had criticised Lopez fiercely for her undifferentiated views on antisemitism and for holocaust denial and then became a target of Fritzsche.<ref>Jocelyne Lopez on accusations of holocaust denial: [http://web.archive.org/web/20090610052200/http://www.jocelyne-lopez.de/blog/2009/06/vorwurf-der-holocaustleugnung-im-mahag-forum-und-im-blog-von-thilo-kuessner/ Vorwurf der Holocaustleugnung im MAHAG-Forum und im Blog von Thilo Kuessner]. webfox was therefore "bullying" Lopez</ref>Fritzsche "unmasked" webfox on his GWUP.WATCH blog. Without restraint and without the slightest evidence, real persons were associated with the account ''webfox'', and IP addresses were published which he presumably received from Lopez. Fritzsche thus acts as a stooge of Jocelyne Lopez and perhaps also of [[Helmut Hille]] (a philosopher, physics layman and critic of theory of relativity).

==Activities as a pharma lobbyist and author of vituperative attacks==
[[image:Fritzsche_CMW.jpg|Sponsoring of CAM Media.Watch by pharma industry (June 2012)|360px|thumb]]
[[image:Fritzsche-SZ2.jpg|Article in Süddeutsche Zeitung (Source: [http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wissen/homoeopathie-lobby-im-netz-schmutzige-methoden-der-sanften-medizin-1.1397617])|360px|thumb]]
[[image:Fritzsche-SZ.jpg|Article in Süddeutsche Zeitung|360px|thumb]]
Fritzsche also operates a pharmalobby blog www.cam-media-watch.de, whose imprint also lists [[Harald Walach]]. Walach holds an endowed chair funded by Heel, a large producer of homeopathics, which in turn supports Fritzsche's CAM Media.Watch blog. The blog maintained by Walach's [[Institut für transkulturelle Gesundheitswissenschaften der Europa-Universität Viadrina]] [Institute of transcultural health sciences] in turn again refers to CAM Media.Watch.

By its own account, the PR blog is supposed to assist journalists „''who want to look behind the curtain of scientific research of natural remedies, complementary medicine, as well as unconventional methods''“, thus providing public relations for pseudo medicine, in particular homeopathy. Fritzsche's blog used to be sponsored by several pharmaceutical companies, e.g. [[Weleda AG]], [[DHU|Deutsche Homöopathie-Union]] (DHU-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe), [[Hevert Arzneimittel]] and [[Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH]], Baden-Baden, with an annual amount of 43.000 Euro in sum.<ref>http://anonym.to/?http://www.cam-media-watch.de/?page_id=2</ref> According to an article in German daily newspaper Süddeutschen Zeitung from June 2012, Fritzsche was an author of ''"vituperative articles"'' and ''"apparently responsible for the denigration of critics of homeopathy"'' for DZVhÄ. Upon inquiry, DZVhÄ as well as several "producers of globuli" confirmed their sponsoring of the blogs which in part were volunteered by Fritzsche while for some blogs, Fritzsche was fully responsible as an editor in charge. According to SZ there was a kind of network of Munich Neural and "Noise-field" therapist Imke Plischko (board member of Internationale Gesellschaft für Neuraltherapie IGNH [International Society for Neural Therapy]), Claus Fritzsche, and Harald Walach. An e-mail available to SZ which Fritzsche distributed to his network, containing the draft of a scorcher on renowned journalist Max Rauner with a request for "examination of contents and style", SZ commented, was not compatible with journalistic principles.

Quote from the SZ article:

"[...]Manufacturers of medicinal products finance a journalist who pillories critics of their products. For any conventional pharmaceutical company this would be regarded as a scandal. [...] Fritzsche’s sponsors are the popular manufacturers of homeopathic pills. Market leader is DHU, a subsidiary of [[Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG|Schwabe]] (well-known products are Kytta, Prostagutt, Tebonin).. [...] The sums they are dealing with are not peanuts: Total sales of all manufacturers amounts to 400 million Euro, 100 alone on behalf of DHU.[...] Fritzsche sees no problem in the sponsorship: “Nearly identical contracts exist with every sponsor”, he openly writes. “These contracts oblige me to respect relevant laws, to remain a neutral position regarding ideology, science and politics. Moreover they provide independency of my editorial work and my scientific advisory board.” Also advertising of products is strictly excluded. But for a publisher of a journalistic blog also the Codex of the Press applies. “For the responsibility of the press towards the public it is common courtesy that editorial publications must not be biased by private or economical interests of third parties or personal economical interests of journalists.” Furthermore, “Anyone who lets himself be bribed for the publishing or suppressing of news acts dishonorable and against the values of his profession." How he reconciles this with his sponsoring, Fritzsche was asked. No answer to these questions from him, though several e-mails were written in which he criticized the “leading questions” and threatened to instigate legal measures. Fritzsche has several more websites on which he recommends esoteric therapies that are not scientifically acknowledged. Moreover he denigrated several journalists from Spiegel, Spiegel Online, Zeit, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Süddeutsche.de. And of course Edzard Ernst, again and again. The allegations are always the same: frivolous research, incompetence, lopsided and biased presentation of facts. Fritzsche counterlinks his sites to each other in order to improve their google ranking. Besides CAM Media.Watch, Fritzsche also holds the websites www.psychophysik.com, www.neuraltherapie-blog.de and www.esowatch.org.[...]''<ref>[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wissen/homoeopathie-lobby-im-netz-schmutzige-methoden-der-sanften-medizin-1.1397617 Jens Lubbadeh: "Homöopathie-Lobby im Netz - Schmutzige Methoden der sanften Medizin", Süddeutsche Zeitung, 30.06.2012]</ref><ref>http://blog.gwup.net/2012/07/01/homoopathie-lobbyisten-ohne-schamgrenzen/</ref><ref>[http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2012/07/the-dirty-tricks-of-alternative-medicine.html The dirty tricks of alternative medicine], Translation of the article at Quackometer</ref>

When criticism of CAM Media.Watch was voiced on Weleda's facebook pages in July 2012, Weleda-spokesman Theo Stepp declared that they will stop sponsoring the blog.<ref>Citation Facebook/Weleda: ''„Aufgrund der Debatte um das Blog CAM Media werden wir noch mehr als bisher auf Transparenz setzen, damit künftig keine Missverständnisse entstehen. Eine klare Trennung von Anzeigen und Redaktion ist uns wichtig. Wir sind am echten Austausch und Feedback interessiert. Das bisherige Blogsponsoring werden wir in diesem Falle sofort stoppen.
Theo Stepp, Pressesprecher Weleda AG Deutschland“''</ref><ref>http://dieausrufer.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/weleda-und-die-weisheit-der-menschen/</ref>

==Zitate==
*''Ohne Spitzenplätze bei Google wirft das Denunziations-Geschäft allerdings nur wenig Ertrag ab.'' (2012) (Without a Google top ranking, the defamatory business renders only small profits)

==See also==
* [[Psychophysik 2.0]]

==Press releases==
*[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wissen/homoeopathie-lobby-im-netz-schmutzige-methoden-der-sanften-medizin-1.1397617 Jens Lubbadeh: "Homöopathie-Lobby im Netz - Schmutzige Methoden der sanften Medizin", Süddeutsche Zeitung, 30.06.2012] (German) [http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2012/07/the-dirty-tricks-of-alternative-medicine.html Translation at Quackometer]

==Weblinks==
*http://www.sales-and-marketing.biz/
*http://www.gwup.org/component/content/article/303-kritiker-der-gwup

==Blogs==
*Little H.:http://www.thetwentyfirstfloor.com/?p=4424
*Little H.: http://blog.psiram.com/2012/07/edzard-ernst-uber-little-h/ (German)
-----------------------------
*http://www.transgallaxys.com/~kanzlerzwo/board.php?boardid=109
*http://blog.gwup.net/2012/05/02/mietmauler-und-co/
*http://blog.gwup.net/2012/07/01/homoopathie-lobbyisten-ohne-schamgrenzen/
*http://www.internet-law.de/2012/07/gesponsertes-blog.html
*http://brightsblog.wordpress.com/tag/www-claus-fritzsche-de/
*https://blasphemieblog2.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/homoopathiehersteller-sponsorn-netz-pranger-fur-kritiker/
-----------------------------
*http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2012/07/german-homeopathy-companies-pay-journalist-who-smears-uk-academic.html

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fritzsche, Claus}}
[[category:New Ager]]
[[category:Lobbyist]]
[[category:Medicine-interested Person]]

Category:Inedia

2013-10-03T23:38:38Z

Omikronn: added category

Marks all articles about persons who claim to live without eating or drinking.

[[category:Person]]

Category:Inedia

2013-10-03T23:37:20Z

Omikronn: added text

Marks all articles about persons who claim to live without eating or drinking.

Prahlad Jani

2013-10-03T23:37:00Z

Omikronn: category change

[[image:jani.jpg|Prahlad Jani|thumb]]
[[image:Jani2.jpg|thumb]]
'''Prahlad Jani''' (Jay Ambe Prahaladbhai Maganlal Jani, or Chunriwala Mataji; also called "Mataji" by his followers; born August 13th, 1929) is an Indian fakir and, according to some sources, a follower of Jainism (*) or follower of the Hindu goddess Amba<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1274779/The-man-says-eaten-drunk-70-years-Why-eminent-doctors-taking-seriously.html?ito=feeds-newsxml</ref>) from Gujarat who claims not to have consumed beverages or usual food since he was eight years old (i.e. for 74 years as of 2010). Claims of this kind are known as [[Inedia]]. Jani himself believes in a miraculous gift from Indian goddess Amba Mata, and that he is fed a mysterious fluid called „Amrit" nectar through a „hole“ in his palate.

In June 2006, "Discovery Channel" aired a documentary about Jani ("The Boy with Divine Powers") which attracted international attention and interest in his case. Jani's case was also made public by Indian neurologist and Jainism follower [[Sudhir Vadilal Shah]] of Ahmedabad (chairman of All India Jain Doctors Federation)<ref>http://www.sudhirneuro.org/files/jain_religion.pdf</ref> and ''Immediate past-chairman, NJDF (National Jain Doctors Federation India) & Present International coordinator of JDF''. The JDF association means to ''Promote scientific research and medical education based on principles of Jainism''.<ref>http://www.jaindoctorsfederation.org/aimsandobjectives.html</ref>
Shah participated in a group of physicians performing two examinations of the alleged abilities of Mr Jani in 2003 and 2010. The results of these examinations were interpreted by Shah in favour of his own hypothesis that the abilities of Jani were „scientifically inexplicable“ and an endorsement of his hypothesis about a possible autotrophic nutrition (photoautotrophism) in man, known only in plants and algae and not in humans. Shah does not exclude the possibility of a cosmic energy feeding Prahlad Jani.

No scientific publication on the 2003 experiment is known so far in scientific databases, while data for the 2010 experiment are only preliminary. The only source of data are statements in press conferences given by co-operating physicians which were spread in many newspaper articles and TV broadcasts worldwide. Another source is the private homepage of neurologist Sudhir Shah.

The ''Indian Rationalist Association (IRA)'' called Jani a "village fraud". This Indian association already debunked several "miracles" of alleged inedia in the past.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1274779/The-man-says-eaten-drunk-70-years-Why-eminent-doctors-taking-seriously.html?ito=feeds-newsxml</ref>

==Biographic Data==
Little is known about Jani/Mataji, and sources are limited to his entourage.
He was born August 13th, 1929 in the Indian village of Charada (or ''Charod'') in the district of Mehsana/Gujarat. According to a legend, he left his home at the age of seven and became a wandering sadhu. When he was eleven (according to other sources, eight), he had some sort of „supernatural experience“ which changed his life completely. He allegedly lost every desire for eating or drinking, and since then no defecation happened and he also no longer passed urine. Jani also is said never to have been ill, but in 1942 he apparently was admitted to Jaslok hospital for unknown reasons (apparently without his consent) where he stayed for 45 days. According to the aforementioned legend, he also stopped speaking and did not talk for 45 years (Maunbrat practice).
Jani claims to experience a „Samadhi state" every day, filling him with light. An "Amrit nectar" fluid allegedly feeds him through a hole in his palate. According to Hindu texts, this liquid is considered a "drink of gods", causing the consuming person to become immortal. However, an MRT picture done in 2003 shows no such hole in his palate (see picture).

Prahlad Jani wears the dress of a devotee of the goddess Ambaji: a red sari-like garment. He wears a nose ring, bangles and crimson flowers in his hair.

In statements found on the internet and in newspaper articles, Jani is said to live in a cave near the Ambaji temple in the state of Gujarat (about 120 kilometres north of Ahmedabad). This allegation cannot be validated, however. In videos published on YouTube, Jani regularly gets presented in a house environment, often surrounded by followers (e.g. fanning him). Other videos show him in the „Sterling hospital“ in Ahmedabad.

==Examinations in 2003==
[[image:SterlingH.jpg|Sterling Hospital, Ahmedabad|thumb]]
[[image:PrahladJani2.jpg|Inside "Sterling Clinic" 2003|thumb]]
[[image:PJen.jpg|Some blood parameters during examination in November 2003 (source: Shah [http://www.sudhirneuro.org/files/mataji_case_study.pdf])|600px|thumb]]
[[image:Jani6.jpg|Body weight (private homepage Sudhir Shah)|300px|thumb]]
[[image:MRT-Mataji.jpg|Normal MRT without pathologic signs, excluding any "hole" in the palate|thumb]]
[[image:Jani5.jpg|Prahlad Jani during examination|thumb]]
[[image:Jani4.jpg|Picture from CCTV camera|thumb]]
The alleged extraordinary abilities and claims of this Indian fakir of being able to live without any source of chemically bound energy and without water, were object of an examination in November 2003. No independent sceptic observers were allowed or invited to this experiment.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/may/18/prahlad-jani-india-sunshine</ref> Jani was examined in the private "Sterling Hospital"<ref>Sterling Hospital, Gurukul Road, Ahmedabad</ref> in the Western Indian town of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat during a period of nine days of supposed absence of food and drinking water. At the beginning, it was planned to check him over a seven day period in order to prolong the planned observation time without threatening his life. Sterling Hospital, however, refused any responsibility and refuted any payment in case of side effects. In the end, the state of Gujarat (i.e. the tax payers) guaranteed an insurance in case of side effects.

The examination started November 13th at 10 a.m. and ended November 22nd at 10 a.m.<ref>source: private homepage Sudhir Shah</ref> (9 days). Jani was admitted to the intensive care department the first day. According to the panel of physicians performing the examination, his toilet was sealed for the next eight days and he stayed in a room with a glass door. He left that room twice per day for examinations (bladder sonography, MRT, etc.).

One of the physicians participating was the Ahmedabad neurologist Sudhir V. Shah who examined several similar cases in the past: Ellen Greve (Jasmuheen)<ref>According to a statement on private homepage Sudhir Shah</ref> and Colcata engineer Hira Ratan Manek. There is no information available on Shah's examination of Greve/Jasmuheen. Ellen Greve also claimed „not to eat“, but she was seen eating several times, and this is confirmed by close associates of hers. A test performed together with Australian TV failed after five days of fasting and had to be stopped by the physician present. Hira Ratan Manek also claims never to eat. He travels around the world and often stays in Canada and USA for longer periods. Manek apparently makes a living on an income earned by sales of DVDs and lectures on the subject of inedia. However, like Jasmuheen, Manek has been caught eating several times and even was filmed in an Indian restaurant in San Francisco, a behaviour clearly betraying his followers who believe in his inedia. Neurologist Shah, who examined Manek, declared that he checked Manek's abilities and found no explanation for his alleged inedia. All examinations done by Sudhir Shah so far resulted in nothing else but a „success“ or „inexplicable facts“. Both Hira Ratan Manek and Jani are followers of Indian Jainism (Jani: probably *). The Indian Jain monk Sri Sahaj Muni Maharaj also claims that he did not eat over a period of one year (in 1995; only 211 days according to other sources). Fasting is an important issue in Jainism and it is common in India for Jains and Hindus, sometimes for up to eight days, without any adverse affects, as part of their religious worship.

According to the examining group of physicians, Jani could not eat or drink during that period and he had no defecation and passed no urine. Some urine was sonographically found in his bladder (about 0.1 litres, but when Jani was informed about it, the urine disappeared later). On an MRT picture, some stool can be seen. Part of the results of the examination remain secret. So e.g. no information regarding his body weight has been made public. Furthermore, at least one entry for blood sugar data was erased from a (private) website giving Jani's blood data.

According to private web pages reporting the 2003 examination, Prahlad Jani showed signs of being a „healthy man“, with the exception of a hearing loss. At a point in time close to the November 2003 examination (no specific date given), his heart rate was between 42-46 beats/minute, blood pressure was 114/80 mmHg (110/60 according to another source), and breathing frequency was 12-16 /min. Radiology showed stool and gas in the gut. Some urine was also found in his bladder which later vanished miraculously.

One of the main questions, that of body weight and changes in weight, remains a secret. We are told his weight either did not change, or only in the region of a few grams. On the other side, the blood samples taken also have a weight of several grams. On a private website publishing data of the 2003 examination, Jani's height (1.50 m) and a precise value of his BMI (16,89) are mentioned. These data allow the assumption of his body weight at 38,0 kg. The precise day these data were taken, however, is not known. On the other hand, according to neurologist Shah, Jani's body weight varied between 38 and 42 kg. But again, it is not known to which period of time this indication relates.
A significant drop in body weight during a controlled period of real fasting is not compatible with claims of inedia. Such a drop in body weight is known from other cases, for instance in the case of German anthroposophist [[Michael Werner]], leading to the conclusion that his claims of inedia are an illusion, not a fact. While fasting, Werner lost more than two kilogrammes in a week. Other fasting persons e.g. lost 6 kg over 10 days. Hira Ratan Manek even lost as much as 42 kg.

Some (if not all?) blood parameters obtained in the November 2003 examination of Jani are shown on the web pages of Sudhir Shah.<ref>http://www.sudhirneuro.org/files/mataji_case_study.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.amazingabilities.com/amaze5b.html</ref>
The values presented show an initial increase in serum urea, and then drop three days after the examination. The same is true for serum sodium, serum chloride, and serum potassium. Hematocrit is also increased. This is a clear sign of dehydration and hemoconcentration, compatible with a period of fasting and thirst. Blood sugar is decreasing, while serum acetone is increasing. This is also a sign of starvation. In the beginning and three days after the test, values are normal.

Instead of discussing such a fasting period as a very plausible cause of the blood values obtained, however, these are explained as ''amazing'' and declared a sort of medical miracle. In fact they show a normal behaviour of a subject, compatible with actual knowledge of physiology. Examiner Shah's words sound different: ''"We have reached a hypothesis which confirms that Jani's body has certainly undergone a biological transformation due to yogic kriyas. And he can control his inner organs' functions, which itself is intriguing."''

In April 2010, a second examination was performed over an unknown period of time (perhaps 14 days), again at Sterling Hospital and again in co-operation with Sudhir Shah. Again, no external sceptic observer was allowed to participate. Psiram will update this article if new data will be made available.

In fact the data obtained clearly indicate that, after a period of habitual consumption of food and water, the test person was submitted to a period of fasting, and that data changed again when fasting was broken. The data obtained are completely in agreement with the state of actual knowledge in physiology.

---------------

On May 11th, 2010 James Randi offered in his video series "James Randi speaks" a test by the JREF and the corresponding 1 Mio. US-Dollar prize.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0u6eJB9GLY</ref>

==Comments on starvation and necessary water intake==
Forms of eating disorders have existed since ancient times varying in frequency, manifestations, and possible motivation. Certain sociocultural factors including religions appear to foster or inhibit the frequency and type of eating disorders.<ref>Bemporad JR., ''Self-starvation through the ages: reflections on the pre-history of anorexia nervosa.'', Int J Eat Disord. 1996 Apr;19(3):pages 217-37. PMID: 8704721</ref>

Long lasting starvation leads to death. A healthy subject may survive 50 up to 60 days without food. Known hungerstrikers died after 50 to 60 days (example: Bobby Sands). Irishman Terence MacSwiney died of starvation after 74 days.

Every minute an adult will breathe in and out around 5 litres of air. After one day he will eliminate about one kilogramme of CO2, containing about 270 grams of carbon. A fasting subject will therefore lose 0.270 kg of carbon every day, 8 kg every month and 98 kg per year. That is more than the typical weight of an adult. CO2-concentration in the air is around 0.03%, much less than its concentration in the exhaled air (4%, relationship is 0.7%). Therefore, assimilation of carbon via respiration is not possible.

Humans lose water and water vapour via urine, stool, respiration and the skin (''persperatio insensibilis''). The amount lost every day depends on temperature and activity, and amounts to around 800 ml of water. At the same time, water is built up via oxidative processes (about 300 ml per day).

A healthy adult may survive around ten days without water (depending on temperature). The Guinness Book of Records cites a case of 18 days without water. American coma patient Terri Schiavo died after 13 days without water. Alaskan fire fighter Robert Bogucki survived 12 days in an Australian desert without water until he was found by a helicopter.

(*) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8652837.stm] or Durga - hinduism

{{OtherLang|ge=Prahlad Jani|en=Prahlad Jani}}

==Literature==
*Westerterp KR, Plaqui G, Goris AHC: ''water loss in function of energy intake, physical activity and season'', British journal nutrition, 2005, 93, 199-203

==Weblinks==
*http://www.skepdic.com/skeptimedia/skeptimedia90.html
*http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/may/18/prahlad-jani-india-sunshine
*[http://www.sudhirneuro.org/files/mataji_case_study.pdf Shah-report on Jani fasting in 2003]
*http://www.amazingabilities.com/amaze5a.html
*http://www.amazingabilities.com/amaze5b.html
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3236118.stm
*http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/south/11/26/offbeat.india.fast/

==Blog Discussions==
*http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/05/physiology_explains_it_all.php and [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/04/they_arent_doing_the_right_tes.php]
*http://milkmiracle.net/2010/05/14/prahlad-jani/
*[http://blog.psiram.com/?p=1411 Psiram blog]

==Videos==
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9On0X3nBaY
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzNAZE2gaBY
* http://video.gmx.net/watch/7501365
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0u6eJB9GLY Video comment of James Randi]

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jani, Prahlad}}
[[category:Inedia]]

Gregorian Bivolaru

2013-10-03T23:35:50Z

Omikronn: category change

[[image:Gregorian Bivolaru.jpg|Gregorian Bivolaru|thumb]]
'''Gregorian Bivolaru''' (born March 12, 1952, aka Yogacharya Grieg, Atma, nickname Grieg or Grig) is an author from Romania, a conspiracy theorist, and founder of the cult "Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute" (MISA). Bivolaru currently lives in Sweden where he was granted asylum, because he sees himself treated unfairly by Romanian authorities. He further feels he is prosecuted by a giant satanic conspiracy of Freemasons, Illuminati and reptiloids.<ref>http://auriol.free.fr/yogathera/types-de-yoga/Gregorian-Bivolaru-Yogacharya-Grieg.htm</ref> In 2005, Bivolaru was officially recognized as an asylum seeker in Sweden. <ref>http://www.gregorianbivolaru.com/docs/asylum/Decision_Supreme_Court_Sweden_21_Oct_05.pdf</ref>

Bivolaru calls himself a "Professor for Yoga"<ref>http://www.gregorianbivolaru.com/whoisgb-3.php</ref> of an "International Himalayan Vishwaguru Yoga University" and a French "Universal Academy for Peace" (which seems to be the "Alliance Universelle pour la Paix par la Connaissance" or "AUPAC" which today is called AIPEM "Association Internationale des Educateurs pour la Paix Mondiale" or "International Association of Educators for Peace").

Bivolaru spreads Doomsday Visions.<ref>http://www.traditionelles-yoga.de/wichtige-nachricht-von-grieg-26022011.htm</ref> He believes the HI-Virus, which causes AIDS, was man-made in a laboratory and that its production had been ordered by NWO-authorities to reduce the world population.<ref>http://auriol.free.fr/yogathera/types-de-yoga/Gregorian-Bivolaru-Yogacharya-Grieg.htm</ref>

==Biography and criminal record==
[[image:Bivolaru2.jpg|Arrest|thumb]]
Gregorian Bivolaru was born in Tărtăşeşti, Romania (District Ilfov, now Dâmboviţa) in 1952 and went to school in Bucarest. He claims to have had a spiritual awakening in his youth: It was revealed to him he was a Yogi from Tibet. Bivolaru affirms he has read a great many books, which led him to invent his own version of yoga in 1978. However, he first worked as a plumber, and only later became interested in yoga. In 1977 he was sentenced to one year in prison for spreading pornographic material, but profited from an amnesty by dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. In 1984 he was sentenced again for conspiring against Ceaucescu.

Together with 20 other "yoga-teachers", Bivolaru was accused of trafficking in human beings, sexual assault, and sexual abuse of minors, which caused him to make a secret escape to Sweden. Furthermore, a lawyer formerly representing Bivolaru sued him for the amount of 666.666 Euro.

The house searches performed in Romania and the details spread by mass bedia about alleged or real victims also received some criticism.<ref>http://www.gruene-europa.de/cms/default/dokbin/191/191711.pdf</ref>

==MISA==
[[image:MISA.jpg|Mişcarea de Integrare Spirituală în Absolut Website (screenshot December 2011)<ref>http://www.yogaesoteric.net/content.aspx?lang=EN&item=0</ref>|400px|thumb]]
[[image:Bivolaru Repto.jpg|Absurd warning for[[Reptiloide]]s at MISAs website yogaesoteric.net (screenshot December 2011)|400px|thumb]]
In January 1990 (after the end of Ceauşescu's communism in Romania 1989), Bivolaru founded his "Mişcarea de Integrare Spirituală în Absolut", Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute", MISA<ref>Mişcarea de Integrare Spirituală în Absolut, Şoseaua Sălaj Nr.2, Bl.126A, parter Sector 5, Bucureşti. telefon/fax (+40) 21- 424 23 69</ref> in Bucarest, which claimed to propagate yoga and Ayurveda. Bivolaru managed to attract a huge number of supporters and the organisation spread to other countries, especially in northern Europe, where he founded branch organisations. In consequence of criticism by Romanian media, Bivolaru officially withdrew from MISA leadership, while remaining its spiritual guide. The movement had up to 40 Ashrams or "Centres of research, teaching and healing" with about 200 instructors. In post-communist Romania, MISA's bizarre esotericism experienced criticism. There were accusations of "blasphemy" and "anti-Christian" activities.

In April 2008, the "European Yoga Council" excluded MISA from their list. MISA and all its international branches were banned from the International Yoga Federation and the European Yoga Aliance. Shri Yogacharya Ajita, president of the European Yoga Council of the European Yoga Alliance, explained:

:''My official resolution as president of the European Yoga Council of the European Yoga Alliance is that Mihai Stoian, Grieg Bivolaru and all people linked to the MISA/NATHA organization are immediately expelled from our organization and that we stop their membership, because it has been proven that they are not busy with Yoga in whatever form, that they even use Yoga as a cover for illegal practices, that they do not respect the rules and standards of our organization, that they show an unheard lack of moral integrity, and cannot be convinced to change their attitude.''

Porn videos (e.g. "To pee or not to pee") of a "secret test" of MISA appeared on the internet. This "spiritual test" concerned "urine orgasms" of MISA adepts during an annual MISA competition for "Miss Shakti". The adepts had not given their consent to these recordings. In 2009, there where reports in Denmark regarding pornography and prostitution in the local branch.

Former MISA members are active on the internet with their own critical project (EXMISA).<ref>http://www.exmisa.org</ref><ref>http://www.exmisa.net</ref> The Danish NATHA-Center<ref>http://www.natha.net</ref><ref>http://natha.fi/vanha/English/natha/thefounder.htm</ref> founded by Bivolaru is a MISA branch, led by his student Mihai Stoian.

==Published works==
On his homepage, Bivolaru presents a long list of [http://www.gregorianbivolaru.com/whoisgb-2.php publications].

==Weblinks==
*[http://www.gregorianbivolaru.com Webpage of Gregorian Bivolaru]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_Bivolaru Wikipedia on Bivolaru]
*[http://www.exmisa.org EXMISA]

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bivolaru, Gregorian}}
[[category:Author]]
[[category:Cult Leader]]

Category:Cult Leader

2013-10-03T23:34:20Z

Omikronn: added text

Marks all articles about leaders of cults

Jim Humble

2013-10-03T23:32:22Z

Omikronn: category change

[[image:jimhumble.jpg|Jim Humble|thumb]]
'''Jim Humble''' (aka ''Bishop James V. Humble'') is a US-American engineer, author of (pre-transistor times) computer and mining technology manuals as well as the inventor of [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Nahrungsergänzungsmittel dietary supplements] containing disinfectants which meanwhile have been banned in several countries. Humble, a medical layperson, tried to sell dietary supplements for several years. Since then, the self-proclaimed "bishop" also goes by the name of "James V. Humble". Humble founded his own religion and a church called "Genesis II Church of Health and Healing".

His whereabouts are currently not known for sure, he is most probably living in Mexico.

Humble claims that his invention, called [[Miracle_Mineral_Supplement|Miracle Mineral Supplement]] (MMS or MMS1), was be the most effective medication around, being the ideal treatment for AIDS, hepatitis A, B and C, malaria, herpes, tuberculosis, most kinds of cancer, and many, many more.

He also offers [[MMS2]], a product containing Calcium hydrochlorite. German mail order companies offer it as a "chemical for swimming pool disinfection". According to MMS2 advertisements, it is supposed to be administered internally in order to kill germs, viruses, and parasites. MMS2, same as MMS, was never officially approved as a medication.

Judging from current announcements and interviews, Humble apparently wants to have MMS tested in Haiti. Most recent announcements give reason to expect the worst for uninformed patients: He currently claims to "research" the treatment of MMS with cancer-, hepatitis-C- and AIDS patients. Quotation Humble:

:''We’ve started doing clinical trials for AIDS, Hepatitis C and Cancer and those trials have been going pretty good and we have a guy who’s head of the prison system there – he’s also helping us. And the local hospital has agreed to give us 300 blood tests for free.
Interviewer: Are you allowed to say here on camera that MMS will cure cancer? Sure! I can say it – MMS will cure cancer.''<ref>http://noodlemaz.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/bleachgate-the-plot-thickens/</ref>

==Anecdotes==
Jim Humble has other persons spread the claim that he cured 100,000 malaria victims using the MMS-mixture invented by him. He also claims to have "advised" more than 2,000 people via phone and more than 4,000 people via internet.

Humble himself spreads the rumor that he is working on a mysterious "magnetohydrodynamic drive", a trivial garage door opener.

==Genesis II Church of Health and Healing==
[[image:Humble4.jpg|Bishop Humble|left|thumb]][[image:Humble_Ernennung.jpg|"Letter of appointment"|300px|thumb]]
[[image:Leadbeater_Wedgwood.jpg|Scandal-ridden bishops and Humble predecessors Leadbeater and Wedgwood|thumb]]
Since 2010 Jim Humble prefers to be addressed as "Bishop James V. Humble". Rev. Dr. Humble was "appointed" by an alleged archbishop Laurence (Larry) Jensen and his wife, the alleged bishop Glenda Green of a "One Holy True Original Church" from Arizona
<ref>http://www.originalchurch.org</ref> which is also active as "Spiritis church", "Order of the Friends of Jeshua", "the Byzantine Catholic Church, Inc.", "the Liberal Catholic Church", "the Old Roman Catholic Church", "the American Orthodox Catholic Church", and so on.<ref>http://www.sott.net/articles/show/207643</ref> The Original Church offers different pseudo-titles for the amount of 750 Dollars.<ref>http://www.originalchurch.org/PDF/spiritis-application-ministry-course.pdf</ref> They claim a lineage of bishops dating back some 2,000 years. In anecdotes, a kind of schism from the Roman Catholic Church is also claimed. Indeed one of the predecessors of the bishop, a Bishop James Ingall Wedgwood, left the Catholic church. There was some evidence for pedophile advances to boys which was so pressing that police started investigating them. This was also the case with Humble's direct predecessor and [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Theosophie theosophist] C. W. Leadbeater who left the "Theosophical Society" after a pedophilia scandal became public. The list of the bishop's predecessors:[http://www.originalchurch.org/apostolic-succession/apostolic-succession.htm]

The main activity of this new religious MMS sect, which was founded in 2010, is less religious, but more in the way of "health and healing" as well as protection from vaccination. Humble:
:''..we are forming a church of health and healing. Now that's not religion, that's health and healing. It's called Genesis II Church of Health and Healing. (“Genesis” means the beginning, and “II” means the second beginning and this is the beginning of a new world without disease.)..''

To become a member of the church, one has to pay a 10 Dollar admission fee (shipment excluded) and assert to refuse vaccinations:

:''If you wish to have a church membership identification card with your picture that states that you must not be vaccinated, the cost is $10 to join.''<ref>http://theforceiswithinyou.twilightlegend.com/off-topic-f11/bishop-jim-humble-t3117.htm</ref>

The money is transferred, via Paypal, to the Dominican Republic and Humble promises to put it in a church-owned account only known to him and his successor:

:''This is my personal PayPal account that is dedicated to the church. I will take the money out of this account periodically and deposit it in an account that no one knows that is known only to me and my successor and it will soon be recorded as church property and known to the church.

On his self-appointment:

:''I was ordained in the lineage of Bishops traced all the way back to Christ. Actually, the apostles were Bishops, and they were given the power to create Churches and other Bishops by Christ. All Bishops have had the power to create new Churches if they wished and to write the Articles of Association and Articles of Faith, and Creed of the Church. My name has been placed in the lineage.''

Regarding the name of his "church", Humble says:

:''..Now, let me tell you the name of the Church. The name will be the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing. Genesis means the beginning. Two means the second beginning. And we are talking of the second beginning of the World and we are creating a world this second time without disease..''

The Genesis II "church" claims connections to good lawyers. Becoming a member is said to result in quite some advantages: for example, one may be appointed a priest by the "church" and add the title of a "Reverend" to one's name, and even hope for tax exemptions and monetary income. As a "pastor", one will hand out MMS-bottles for free but at the same time demand donations. The income made from donations is said to be higher than amounts from regular sales: ''..We already have tremendous lawyers who will help us....If you wish, you will receive a pastor’s certificate and you will have the legal right to use Reverend in front of your name. It will be legal for you to not pay income tax. You can also receive a certificate to start a chapter of our church right there in your area. You can hand out tracts telling about MMS and our healing and you will no doubt have people come to you for healing. It will be best not to charge for your service, instead ask for donations after they get well, and that usually takes only a few days. Most people will want to donate something when they get well. You will make more money that way than selling the bottles of MMS. If you keep at it you should soon have enough to start building a Church. Our course teaches you how to handle all diseases and health problems except those needing surgery which is a small number...We expect a reasonable donation but not great big either, but of course, great big is OK.''

==Trade with useless fantasy titles==
[[image:MMS_Titelhandel.jpg|Trading worthless fantasy titles|400px|thumb]]
By now, Humble offers MMS-courses and fantasy titles in the Dominican Republic. Within a week and after a payment of 750 Dollars, one can become a "Minister of Health" and put an "MH" behind one's name. Church members can also put a "rev" in front of their name. For additional 250 Dollars, one can also take a course to learn how to treat sick persons with MMS. These courses are held in the earthquake-struck and heavily damaged Haiti which neighbors the Dominican Republic, and are part of a Genesis II Mission to Haiti. After a minimum of 3 days servicing persons on-site and after payment of 1,500 Dollars, graduates of such courses will receive a pseudo doctor's degree with a useless "MMS certificate", asserting this allows to legally bear the title of a "Rev. Dr.", which is wrong.

Special members even have the chance to become "bishop" of the "G2-church" themselves.

{{OtherLang|ge=Jim Humble|en=Jim Humble}}

==Weblinks==
*http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/15/miracle-mineral-solutions-mms-bleach?

==References==
Quotations from:
*http://genesis2church.com/2010/04/26/an-open-letter-from-bishop-jim-humble-to-all-interested-in-the-genesis-ii-church/
---------------
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Humble, Jim}}
[[category:Anti-vaccinationist]]
[[category:Engineer]]
[[category:Inventor]]
[[category:Pseudomedic]]
[[category:Cult Leader]]

Law of similars

2012-06-08T00:12:57Z

Omikronn: Article extension

The law of similars or similarity principle ([[Samuel Hahnemann]]: ''similia similibus curentur'') is one of the two basic concepts of [[homoeopathy]]. According to this principle, every disease is said to be curable by substances causing similar symptoms when taken by a healthy patient. The law of similars is not only a rule of thumb in homoeopathy but is understood as a basic law of nature.

The law of similars was not invented by Hahnemann, just rediscovered and made popular. It has been handed down from Hippokrates: "By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like is cured."
<ref>http://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/kojda-pharmalehrbuch/fortbildungkoeln/Verspohl_HomoeopathieKoeln.pdf</ref> The sentence ''Contraria contrariis curantur'' is also attributed to Hippocrates and Galenus. Paracelsus said something similar: "similia similibus curantur". It has to be noted here that the indicative (curantur - cured) is different from the subjunctive mood used by Hahnemann (curentur - shall be cured).
Hahnemann distanced himself strictly from the [[Doctrine of Signatures]].

In academic medicine it is applied in the broad sense for allergen immunotherapy and for vaccinations. In general there is the problem, that for the term "similar" no scientific definition exists. Similarities are not an objective feature, but created by pattern recognition in the brain and depends on the knowledge of the observer and his power of observation. It depends furthermore on type and quality of the inspection.<ref>[https://blog.piratenpartei-nrw.de/logos/files/2011/11/Hom%C3%B6opathie%E2%80%93Betrachtung_aus_Sicht_der_Wissenschaft-PP-Version3.pdf Timm, H.: Homöopathie – Betrachtung aus Sicht der Wissenschaft S.8] on blog.piratenpartei-nrw.de 08.12.2011</ref>

Taken serious scientifically, the principle is easily disproved. It does not take more than to come up with one disease which cannot be cured by similars. One such example is sufficient to falsify (disprove) a theory expressed so broadly. Even viewed as a mere rule of thumb, it may be expected to find a vast majority of diseases which will be cured by remedies causing similar symptoms. However, such a general proof of efficacy could not be provided. Therefore, the law of similars corresponds to magical thinking and has no relation to science.

[[Samuel Hahnemann]], the founder of homoeopathy, referred to his successful chinchona test which had inspired the law of similars. This experiment, however, could not be replicated, and is to be seen as one of the errors of homoeopathic doctrine. The law of similars already had been discussed prior to Hahnemann, but was made popular first through homoeopathy.

{{OtherLang|ge=Simile-Prinzip|en=law of similars}}

[[category:Homoeopathy]]

Samuel Hahnemann

2012-03-10T19:17:15Z

Omikronn: /* Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy */

[[image:Hahnemann.jpg|thumb|150px|Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann]]
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, [[occult|occultist]], and [[freemasonry|freemason]] of the lodge "Minerva of the Three Palms". He is the founder of [[homoeopathy]]. Hahnemann studied human medicine in Leipzig, Vienna, and Erlangen and became a doctor and author.

In 1796, Hahnemann composed the [[law of similars]] underlying homoeopathy. Shortly after 1800, there were first attempts of applying the treatment. Homoeopathy became popular about 1811, and Hahnemann established a practice in the town of Köthen.

As of 1830 first disputes about homoeopathy arose among supporters.
During the last years in his life, Hahnemann emigrated to Paris.

==Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy==

* (In German) Hahnemann S, Versuch über ein neues Princip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen. In: Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, Bd. 2 (1796), 3. Stück, S. 391 ff. sowie 4. Stück, S. 1 ff.
* Hahnemann S, [[Organon of the Rational Art of Healing]], Dresden 1810. Later editions, increased and altered, with the title: Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, 2nd edition: Dresden 1818.
* (In German) Hahnemann S, Reine Arzneimittellehre. Theil 1-6. Leipzig, 1811-1821. 2nd increased edition: Leipzig 1822-1827.
* Hahnemann S, Chronic Diseases. Their specific nature and homoeopathic healing, published in five volumes. 1st edition: Leipzig 1828-1830. 2nd increased and altered edition: Leipzig and Dresden 1835-1839.
* Materia Medica Pura, translated and annotated by S.H. 2 Volumes. Leipzig 1790.

{{OtherLang|ge=Samuel Hahnemann|en=Samuel Hahnemann}}

==Weblinks==
* http://books.google.ch/books?id=EnEFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahnemann, Samuel}}
[[category:doctor]]
[[category:author]]
[[category:freemason]]
[[category:homoeopath]]
[[category:occultist]]
[[category:pseudoscientist]]

Category:Freemason

2012-03-10T18:56:10Z

Omikronn:

'''Purpose''': Marks all articles about freemasons.

[[category:Person]]

Category:Doctor

2012-03-10T18:55:37Z

Omikronn:

'''Purpose:''' Marks all articles about doctors.

[[category:Person]]

Category:Doctor

2012-03-10T18:55:08Z

Omikronn: Created page with ''''Purpose:''' Marks all articles about doctors.'

'''Purpose:''' Marks all articles about doctors.

Samuel Hahnemann

2012-03-10T18:53:14Z

Omikronn:

[[image:Hahnemann.jpg|thumb|150px|Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann]]
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, [[occult|occultist]], and [[freemasonry|freemason]] of the lodge "Minerva of the Three Palms". He is the founder of [[homoeopathy]]. Hahnemann studied human medicine in Leipzig, Vienna, and Erlangen and became a doctor and author.

In 1796, Hahnemann composed the [[law of similars]] underlying homoeopathy. Shortly after 1800, there were first attempts of applying the treatment. Homoeopathy became popular about 1811, and Hahnemann established a practice in the town of Köthen.

As of 1830 first disputes about homoeopathy arose among supporters.
During the last years in his life, Hahnemann emigrated to Paris.

==Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy==

(In German) Hahnemann S, Versuch über ein neues Princip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen. In: Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, Bd. 2 (1796), 3. Stück, S. 391 ff. sowie 4. Stück, S. 1 ff.
* Hahnemann S, [[Organon of the Rational Art of Healing]], Dresden 1810. Later editions, increased and altered, with the title: Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, 2nd edition: Dresden 1818.
* (In German) Hahnemann S, Reine Arzneimittellehre. Theil 1-6. Leipzig, 1811-1821. 2nd increased edition: Leipzig 1822-1827.
* Hahnemann S, Chronic Diseases. Their specific nature and homoeopathic healing, published in five volumes. 1st edition: Leipzig 1828-1830. 2nd increased and altered edition: Leipzig and Dresden 1835-1839.
* Materia Medica Pura, translated and annotated by S.H. 2 Volumes. Leipzig 1790.

{{OtherLang|ge=Samuel Hahnemann|en=Samuel Hahnemann}}

==Weblinks==
* http://books.google.ch/books?id=EnEFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahnemann, Samuel}}
[[category:doctor]]
[[category:author]]
[[category:freemason]]
[[category:homoeopath]]
[[category:occultist]]
[[category:pseudoscientist]]

Category:Freemason

2012-03-10T18:46:47Z

Omikronn: Created page with ''''Purpose''': Marks all articles about freemasons.'

'''Purpose''': Marks all articles about freemasons.

Category:Homoeopath

2012-03-10T18:46:06Z

Omikronn:

'''Purpose''': Marks all articles about homoeopaths.

[[category:homoeopathy]]
[[category:person]]

Category:Homoeopath

2012-03-10T18:12:45Z

Omikronn:

Purpose: Marks all articles about homoeopaths.

[[category:homoeopathy]]
[[category:person]]

Category:Homoeopath

2012-03-10T18:10:37Z

Omikronn: Created page with 'Purpose: Marks all articles about homoeopaths.'

Purpose: Marks all articles about homoeopaths.

Samuel Hahnemann

2012-03-10T18:09:40Z

Omikronn:

[[image:Hahnemann.jpg|thumb|150px|Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann]]
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, [[occult|occultist]], and [[freemasonry|freemason]] of the lodge "Minerva of the Three Palms". He is the founder of [[homoeopathy]]. Hahnemann studied human medicine in Leipzig, Vienna, and Erlangen and became a doctor and author.

In 1796, Hahnemann composed the [[law of similars]] underlying homoeopathy. Shortly after 1800, there were first attempts of applying the treatment. Homoeopathy became popular about 1811, and Hahnemann established a practice in the town of Köthen.

As of 1830 first disputes about homoeopathy arose among supporters.
During the last years in his life, Hahnemann emigrated to Paris.

==Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy==

(In German) Hahnemann S, Versuch über ein neues Princip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen. In: Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, Bd. 2 (1796), 3. Stück, S. 391 ff. sowie 4. Stück, S. 1 ff.
* Hahnemann S, [[Organon of the Rational Art of Healing]], Dresden 1810. Later editions, increased and altered, with the title: Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, 2nd edition: Dresden 1818.
* (In German) Hahnemann S, Reine Arzneimittellehre. Theil 1-6. Leipzig, 1811-1821. 2nd increased edition: Leipzig 1822-1827.
* Hahnemann S, Chronic Diseases. Their specific nature and homoeopathic healing, published in five volumes. 1st edition: Leipzig 1828-1830. 2nd increased and altered edition: Leipzig and Dresden 1835-1839.
* Materia Medica Pura, translated and annotated by S.H. 2 Volumes. Leipzig 1790.

==Weblinks==
* http://books.google.ch/books?id=EnEFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahnemann, Samuel}}
[[category:doctor]]
[[category:author]]
[[category:freemason]]
[[category:homoeopath]]
[[category:occultist]]
[[category:pseudoscientist]]

Main Page

2012-03-10T18:07:02Z

Omikronn: /*New articles*/

__NOTOC__
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==Welcome to Psiram.com==

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==New articles==
[[Samuel Hahnemann]] ⋅ [[Banerji protocol]] ⋅ [[Allopathy]] ⋅ [[Law of similars]] ⋅ [[Homoeopathy]] ⋅ [[Eckankar]] ⋅ [[Antineoplaston]] ⋅ [[Doreen Virtue]] ⋅ [[Lee Carroll‎]] ⋅ [[ThetaHealing]] ⋅ [[Wilhelm Reich]] ⋅ [[Cloudbuster]] ⋅ [[Orgone radiator]] ⋅ [[Orgone accumulator]] ⋅ [[Orgone]] ⋅ [[NEXUS Magazine]] ⋅ [[G. Edward Griffin]] ⋅ [[Transmutation‎]] ⋅ [[Zirconium fusion reactor of Bolotov]] ⋅ [[Energy Cleaner by Crock]] ⋅ [[CETI Patterson Power Cell]] ⋅ [[Joseph Mercola‎]] ⋅ [[Gary Null]] ⋅ [[Mike Adams]] ⋅ [[Raum & Zeit]] ⋅ [[NET-Journal]] ⋅ [[Claus Wilhelm Turtur]] ⋅ [[Low Energy Nuclear Reactions‎]] ⋅ [[Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer]] ⋅ [[HHO]] ⋅ [[Mike Brady]] ⋅ [[Pure Energy Systems Network Inc.]] ⋅ [[Cold Fusion]] ⋅ [[Water-fuelled car]] ⋅ [[Free Energy]] ⋅ [[Felix Würth AG]] ⋅ [[Testatika]] ⋅ [[Steorn]] ⋅ [[Perendev-Group]] ⋅ [[‎Joe-Cell]] ⋅ [[‎Hydrino]] ⋅ [[‎Matthias Rath]] ⋅ [[Inverted Occam's Razor]] ⋅ [[Occam's Razor]] ⋅ [[Pseudoscience]] ⋅ [[Thomas E. Bearden]] ⋅ [[John Bedini]] ⋅ [[Perpetual Motion]] ⋅ [[Magniwork]] ⋅ [[Bovis scale]] ⋅ [[Kiesha Crowther]] ⋅ [[Chemtrail]] ⋅ [[Victims of New Medicine]] ⋅ [[Conspiracy Theory]] ⋅ [[Miracle Mineral Supplement]] ⋅ [[Jim Humble]] ⋅ [[Eleanor McBean]] ⋅ [[Esotericism]] ⋅ [[Deer Tribe]] ⋅ [[Night Milk Crystals]] ⋅ [[Mayan Prophecy and 2012]] ⋅ [[Hopi and Pseudo Hopi Prophecies]] ⋅ [[Prahlad Jani]] ⋅ [[Andreas Moritz]] ⋅ [[Sodium Bicarbonate Therapy according to Tullio Simoncini]] ⋅ [[Cancer Diet]]

[[category:!Psiram]]

Category:Homoeopathy

2012-03-10T18:00:54Z

Omikronn: added to Category: Pseudomedicine

'''Purpose:''' Marks all articles about Homoeopathy.

[[category:Pseudomedicine]]

Boiron

2012-03-10T17:58:12Z

Omikronn: moved from category:Homeopathy to category:Homoeopathy

[[image:Sales_Boiron.gif|Consolidated Sales 2008/2010 (Source: <ref name='Report2010'>http://www.boiron.com/en/content/download/3589/22995/file/BOIRON%202010_GB.pdf</ref>)|226px|thumb]]
[[image:Boiron.jpg|Certificate for alleged student "Donald Duck" as ''Boiron certified specialist'' (Italian: Paperino = Donald Duck, Source: <ref>http://medbunker.blogspot.com/2011/01/paperino-lomeopata.html</ref>)|360px|thumb]]
French pharmaceutical company '''Boiron''' is the world largest manufacturer of [[Homeopathy|homeopathic]] products. Branches of the listed company exist in 59 countries. However, Boiron has no presence in German speaking countries.

In 2009, Boiron had a turnover of 526 million Euros (91 million Euros profit) with a slight decrease to 520 million Euros in 2010. In 2010, turnover in France amounted to 279 million Euros and Boiron employed a workforce of 4,081 persons. The majority of shares is held by the Boiron family, the general manager and the chairman of the board of directors are members of this family as well. Boiron spent about 128 million Euro on marketing in 2010 but only 6.3 million on research (pharmaceutical companies in general spend around twice as much on marketing than on research) - a ratio of 20 to 1.<ref name='Report2010' />

In June 2005 Dolisos Laboratories, another manufacturer of homeopathic products, was bought by Boiron.

Their range of articles include classic homeopathic preparations according to [[Samuel Hahnemann|Hahnemann]] as well as so called "poly"-preparations from [[homeopathic combination remedies]].

==History==
The actual founder was Parisian pharmacist and homeopathic adherent René Baudry, who founded the "Pharmacie générale homéopathique française" in Paris (boulevard Malesherbes 68, 8. arrondissement of Paris) in 1911. In 1922, Baudry sold his business and founded a "Laboratoire central homéopathique rhodanien" in Lyon.

The brothers Jean und Henri Boiron (both pharmacists) contacted Baudry later and were employed by him. In 1932, the Boiron brothers founded the "Laboratoire central homéopathique de France" at the aforementioned address which later became the "Laboratoires Homéopathiques Modernes" (LHM).

The Boiron-Group was formed in 1967 by a union of several homeopathic manufacturers. The company went public in 1987 (Lyon). Boiron took over several other pharmaceutical companies during the following years.

==Oscillococcinum==
[[image:Oscillococcinum.jpg|thumb]]
One of the best known products of Boiron is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscillococcinum Oscillococcinum] (''Oscillo''), a milk sugar concoction which allegedly is effective against influenza. The name is derived from a presumption of French physician Joseph Roy (1891–1978) who, during a flu epidemic in 1917, believed to have observed the bacterial genus Oscillococcus in the blood of diseased patients. Oscillococcinum C200 is the best-selling homeopathic product in the U.S. It is also called "the $20-million duck" there. Annual turnover of the product is $ 20 million. The compound is produced from duck liver, but only a single duck liver is needed for the entire turnover - and even from this one liver, the best part will go wasted: The potency C200 means the ratio of liver to solution is 1 to a number with 400 zeros.<ref>http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/homeo.html</ref> For comparison: The whole universe including earth consists of about 10 to the power of 78 particles. Ingredients of Oscillococcinum:

:Active ingredient: Anas Barbariae Hepatis et Cordis Extractum (extract of Muscovy Duck liver and heart) 200CK HPUS 1×10−400 g. Inactive ingredient: 0.85 g sucrose, 0.15 g lactose (100% sugar)

Efficacy of Oscillococcinum against influenza is not proven scientifically. A Cochrane review found seven studies on the subject and came to the conclusion that only two of them can be evaluated and no evidence of efficacy could be established:

:''Main results - ... There was no evidence that homoeopathic treatment can prevent influenza-like syndrome...Oscillococcinum treatment reduced the length of influenza illness by 0.28 days (95% CI 0.50 to 0.06). Oscillococcinum also increased the chances that a patient considered treatment to be effective (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.00)...Authors' conclusions - Though promising, the data were not strong enough to make a general recommendation to use Oscillococcinum for first-line treatment of influenza and influenza-like syndromes. Further research is warranted but the required sample sizes are large. Current evidence does not support a preventative effect of Oscillococcinum-like homeopathic medicines in influenza and influenza-like syndromes.''<ref>Andrew Vickers, Claire Smith: ''Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes'', The Cochrane Library, 15.4.2009, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub3 [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub3/abstract abstract]</ref>

The review, however, concluded that further research was warranted. It was criticized heavily for this conclusion and was withdrawn eventually.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588329 WITHDRAWN: Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes.], PubMed</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/homeopathic-thuggery/ Homeopathic Thuggery], Steven Novella, Science-Based Medicine</ref>

In August 2011 a class action complaint was filed in California:
:"Oscillococcinum(the "Oscillo") is nothing more than a sugar pill that Defendants falsely advertise has the ability to cure the flu. In reality, Oscillo has no impact on the flu or any symptoms that accompany the flu."<ref>[http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/08/05/SnakeOil.pdf Boiron Oscillococcinum Class Action Lawsuit], CourtHouseNews</ref>

==Lawsuit threats against Boiron-critic and blogger Samuele Riva==
[[image:Boiron_Riva1.jpg|Threathening letter from Boiron, page 1 (click to enlarge)|left|thumb]]
[[image:Blogzero.jpg|Offending article with caricatures promptly removed (note in red letters) at blogzero.it|320px|thumb]]
[[image:Boiron_Riva2.jpg|left|Threathening letter from Boiron, page 2|thumb]]
[[image:Boiron3.jpg|Attentive tracking of the thread and reactions to it in the internet ("Streisand Effekt") at "börsennews.de"<ref>http://winfuture.de/news,64979.html</ref>|320px|thumb]]
The actions against Italian blogger Samuele Riva from Milan by multinational pharmaceutical company Boiron with a budget of millions seem to be an uneven fight matching David against Golitath. On July 13 and July 27 2011, the 28-year-old computer scientist added two ridiculing articles on homeopathy to his blog, titled "Homeopathy - myth and legend" (''omeopatia mito e leggenda'') (Article 1: [http://www.blogzero.it/2011/07/13/omeopatia-mito-e-leggenda-1/] Article 2: [http://www.blogzero.it/2011/07/27/omeopatia-mito-e-leggenda-2/]). The blogger also showed two pictures of Oscillococcinum with comments. According to the threatening letter of Boiron company, Riva added the following text below the pictures:

*13.7.2011..''Il piu Nulla totale che secondo la Boiron cura l'influenza ... diluito 200K non contiene alcuna molecola di pricipio attivo. ("The absolute nothing which is supposed to cure flu according to Boiron" ... "diluted 200K it does not even contain one molecule of the active substance")

*27.7.2011..''Nuoce gravemente all'intelligenza (di chi lo aquista)..'' ("Serious harm to the intelligence (of the buyer)")

Boiron's Italian branch acted irritated and threatened a lawsuit because of libel. The blogger removed the pictures from the articles. According to the "British Medical Journal" (BMJ) which collected information about the lawsuit threat and contacted Boiron, Boiron employee Silvia Nencioni had approached the blog hoster on Juli 28 2011 and in writing asked them to remove all references to Boiron and block access to the articles. Otherwise Boiron would sue. According to Boiron, the statements in the articles were “untrue and derogatory both of homeopathy and [the] company,” and responsible for tarnishing the company’s reputation and causing "serious damage". The hoster refused to disclose address and identity of the blogger to Boiron, this information would only be disclosed to government agencies under certain circumstances. Riva commented on the lawsuit threat:

:''[...] When I was informed of the threatening letter, I removed the pictures and the direct references to the company and its products, while leaving the articles about homeopathy online. I also sent an email to the company telling them I had complied with their requests, but have not received a reply so far [...]'' (cited from BMJ)

Riva continues to document the progression of the lawsuit threat in his blog [http://www.blogzero.it "blogzero.it"] and also created a website in English, since the affair gained international attention: [http://www.blogzero.it/contatti/prova/]. More than a hundred blogs and websites have reported about the lawsuit threat so far (as of Aug. 9, 2011). In his blog, Riva reports that said articles were read by less than 150 persons in the first 56 hours after publication. After the lawsuit threat, his blog now gets visited several thousand times per day (as of Aug. 9, 2011) <ref>http://www.blogzero.it/2011/08/09/caso-boiron-contro-blogzero-blog/</ref>. A long and growing list of blogs support Riva meanwhile: [http://www.blogzero.it/2011/08/12/boiron-vs-blog-elenco-siti-supporter/ List of supporters - further supporters can register there].

According to BMJ, Boiron is "monitoring all media including the web to see what is being said about our company".

{{OtherLang|fr=Boiron|ge=Boiron|en=Boiron}}

==Literature==
*Fabio Turone: "News - Homoeopathy multinational Boiron threatens amateur Italian blogger", BMJ 2011, 343:d5197 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d5197 (12. August 2011)
*Oscillococcinum, le joli grand canard. Science et Pseudo-sciences, Cahiers bimestriels de l'Association Française pour l'Information Scientifique, Nr. 202, März-April 1993

==Weblinks==
*[http://www.boiron.com Website of Boiron]
*http://droit-medical.com/actualites/4-evolution/952-laboratoires-boiron-action-contre-blogueur-amateur
*http://www.blogzero.it/2011/08/02/boiron-omeopatia-querela-denuncia-blog/
*http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d5197.extract
*http://skepticblog.org/2011/03/03/oscillococcinum
*http://www.homeowatch.org/history/oscillo.html
*http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/homeopathic-thuggery
*http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2010/feb/04/homeopathic-association-evidence-commons-committee
*http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/1309--boiron-oscillococcinum-class-action-lawsuit
----------------------------------
*http://blog.psiram.com/?p=3832

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Company]]
[[category:Homoeopathy]]

Samuel Hahnemann

2012-03-10T17:54:22Z

Omikronn:

[[image:Hahnemann.jpg|thumb|150px|Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann]]
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, [[occult|occultist]], and [[freemasonry|freemason]] of the lodge "Minerva of the Three Palms". He is the founder of [[homoeopathy]]. Hahnemann studied human medicine in Leipzig, Vienna, and Erlangen and became a doctor and author.

In 1796, Hahnemann composed the [[law of similars]] underlying homoeopathy. Shortly after 1800, there were first attempts of applying the treatment. Homoeopathy became popular about 1811, and Hahnemann established a practice in the town of Köthen.

As of 1830 first disputes about homoeopathy arose among supporters.
During the last years in his life, Hahnemann emigrated to Paris.

==Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy==

(In German) Hahnemann S, Versuch über ein neues Princip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen. In: Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, Bd. 2 (1796), 3. Stück, S. 391 ff. sowie 4. Stück, S. 1 ff.
* Hahnemann S, [[Organon of the Rational Art of Healing]], Dresden 1810. Later editions, increased and altered, with the title: Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, 2nd edition: Dresden 1818.
* (In German) Hahnemann S, Reine Arzneimittellehre. Theil 1-6. Leipzig, 1811-1821. 2nd increased edition: Leipzig 1822-1827.
* Hahnemann S, Chronic Diseases. Their specific nature and homoeopathic healing, published in five volumes. 1st edition: Leipzig 1828-1830. 2nd increased and altered edition: Leipzig and Dresden 1835-1839.
* Materia Medica Pura, translated and annotated by S.H. 2 Volumes. Leipzig 1790.

==Weblinks==
* http://books.google.ch/books?id=EnEFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahnemann, Samuel}}
[[category:doctor]]
[[category:author]]
[[category:freemason]]
[[category:homoeopathy]]
[[category:occultist]]
[[category:pseudoscientist]]

Samuel Hahnemann

2012-03-10T17:53:33Z

Omikronn: /* Weblinks */

[[image:Hahnemann.jpg|thumb|150px|Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann]]
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, [[occult|occultist]], and [[freemasonry|freemason]] of the lodge "Minerva of the Three Palms". He is the founder of [[homoeopathy]]. Hahnemann studied human medicine in Leipzig, Vienna, and Erlangen and became a doctor and author.

In 1796, Hahnemann composed the [[law of similars]] underlying homoeopathy. Shortly after 1800, there were first attempts of applying the treatment. Homoeopathy became popular about 1811, and Hahnemann established a practice in the town of Köthen.

As of 1830 first disputes about homoeopathy arose among supporters.
During the last years in his life, Hahnemann emigrated to Paris.

==Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy==

(In German) Hahnemann S, Versuch über ein neues Princip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen. In: Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, Bd. 2 (1796), 3. Stück, S. 391 ff. sowie 4. Stück, S. 1 ff.
* Hahnemann S, [[Organon of the Rational Art of Healing]], Dresden 1810. Later editions, increased and altered, with the title: Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, 2nd edition: Dresden 1818.
* (In German) Hahnemann S, Reine Arzneimittellehre. Theil 1-6. Leipzig, 1811-1821. 2nd increased edition: Leipzig 1822-1827.
* Hahnemann S, Chronic Diseases. Their specific nature and homoeopathic healing, published in five volumes. 1st edition: Leipzig 1828-1830. 2nd increased and altered edition: Leipzig and Dresden 1835-1839.
* Materia Medica Pura, translated and annotated by S.H. 2 Volumes. Leipzig 1790.

==Weblinks==
* http://books.google.ch/books?id=EnEFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahnemann, Samuel}}
[[category:doctor]]
[[category:author]]
[[category:freemason]]
[[category:homoeopathy]]
[[category:occultism]]
[[category:pseudoscientist]]

Samuel Hahnemann

2012-03-10T17:52:23Z

Omikronn: added image of Hahnemann

[[image:Hahnemann.jpg|thumb|150px|Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann]]
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, [[occult|occultist]], and [[freemasonry|freemason]] of the lodge "Minerva of the Three Palms". He is the founder of [[homoeopathy]]. Hahnemann studied human medicine in Leipzig, Vienna, and Erlangen and became a doctor and author.

In 1796, Hahnemann composed the [[law of similars]] underlying homoeopathy. Shortly after 1800, there were first attempts of applying the treatment. Homoeopathy became popular about 1811, and Hahnemann established a practice in the town of Köthen.

As of 1830 first disputes about homoeopathy arose among supporters.
During the last years in his life, Hahnemann emigrated to Paris.

==Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy==

(In German) Hahnemann S, Versuch über ein neues Princip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen. In: Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, Bd. 2 (1796), 3. Stück, S. 391 ff. sowie 4. Stück, S. 1 ff.
* Hahnemann S, [[Organon of the Rational Art of Healing]], Dresden 1810. Later editions, increased and altered, with the title: Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, 2nd edition: Dresden 1818.
* (In German) Hahnemann S, Reine Arzneimittellehre. Theil 1-6. Leipzig, 1811-1821. 2nd increased edition: Leipzig 1822-1827.
* Hahnemann S, Chronic Diseases. Their specific nature and homoeopathic healing, published in five volumes. 1st edition: Leipzig 1828-1830. 2nd increased and altered edition: Leipzig and Dresden 1835-1839.
* Materia Medica Pura, translated and annotated by S.H. 2 Volumes. Leipzig 1790.

==Weblinks==
http://books.google.ch/books?id=EnEFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahnemann, Samuel}}
[[category:doctor]]
[[category:author]]
[[category:freemason]]
[[category:homoeopathy]]
[[category:occultism]]
[[category:pseudoscientist]]

File:Hahnemann.jpg

2012-03-10T17:51:57Z

Omikronn: Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann

Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann

Samuel Hahnemann

2012-03-10T17:50:28Z

Omikronn: Created page with 'Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, occultist, and freemason of t…'

Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April, 1755, Meißen - July 2, 1843, Paris) was a Saxon doctor, author, translator, [[occult|occultist]], and [[freemasonry|freemason]] of the lodge "Minerva of the Three Palms". He is the founder of [[homoeopathy]]. Hahnemann studied human medicine in Leipzig, Vienna, and Erlangen and became a doctor and author.

In 1796, Hahnemann composed the [[law of similars]] underlying homoeopathy. Shortly after 1800, there were first attempts of applying the treatment. Homoeopathy became popular about 1811, and Hahnemann established a practice in the town of Köthen.

As of 1830 first disputes about homoeopathy arose among supporters.
During the last years in his life, Hahnemann emigrated to Paris.

==Well-known works of Hahnemann on homoeopathy==

(In German) Hahnemann S, Versuch über ein neues Princip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen. In: Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, Bd. 2 (1796), 3. Stück, S. 391 ff. sowie 4. Stück, S. 1 ff.
* Hahnemann S, [[Organon of the Rational Art of Healing]], Dresden 1810. Later editions, increased and altered, with the title: Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, 2nd edition: Dresden 1818.
* (In German) Hahnemann S, Reine Arzneimittellehre. Theil 1-6. Leipzig, 1811-1821. 2nd increased edition: Leipzig 1822-1827.
* Hahnemann S, Chronic Diseases. Their specific nature and homoeopathic healing, published in five volumes. 1st edition: Leipzig 1828-1830. 2nd increased and altered edition: Leipzig and Dresden 1835-1839.
* Materia Medica Pura, translated and annotated by S.H. 2 Volumes. Leipzig 1790.

==Weblinks==
http://books.google.ch/books?id=EnEFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hahnemann, Samuel}}
[[category:doctor]]
[[category:author]]
[[category:freemason]]
[[category:homoeopathy]]
[[category:occultism]]
[[category:pseudoscientist]]