http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1582701709
http://thesecret.tv/home.html
http://what-is-the-secret.blogspot.com/
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/books/269444,CST-FTR-secret23.article
'Secret' society
Quote:
February 23, 2007
BY MAUREEN JENKINS Staff Reporter
Imagine this scenario: Your bills are all paid, with unexpected dollars showing up everywhere you turn. Your career is flying high, with accolades and promotions coming fast and furious. You're madly in love; your kids are wonderfully behaved and earning top grades. Your body's in great shape and now that you think of it, you've never felt better.
...
She says it's all about harnessing the "laws of attraction," which through the power of positive thinking woo health, wealth, great relationships and other earthly joys into your life. She believes it's this law that governs the universe and everything in it -- and that you've got the innate power to imagine, and then create, the fabulous life you want. And the Universe longs to give it to you.
This 91-minute DVD (which came out last March) and the companion book (released in November) have grown into pop-culture phenomenons, spreading first through word-of-mouth and gathering steam thanks to appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Larry King Live" last fall and blowing up big time after being featured on "Oprah."
Spotlighted on the talk queen's Feb. 8 program, the book shot to No. 1 on the major best-seller lists. Last Friday's "Oprah" follow-up show boosted interest again, almost overwhelming the 20,000-e-mails-per-week Oprah.com Web site.
But just what nerve is The Secret touching in American culture right now? Why are folks hosting The Secret parties and passing the books and DVDs from friend to friend, encouraging each other to check out the wisdom spouted by Byrne and two dozen "Teachers"? And is this "law of attraction" talk really new, or a slick, mystically repackaged form of self-help?
...
Byrne says she conceived the idea after being given and reading 1910's The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. She felt she'd discovered wisdom that had been long-hidden from ordinary Joes and Janes, and translated that into the video "The Secret."
"People love the conspiracy thing," says Johnson, "but that also gives [The Secret] creators an out. 'Why isn't everybody doing this? Why isn't everybody rich? Because of the evil conspiracy that's keeping this away from everybody.' "
...
The book and DVD give examples of cancer patients who laughed and positive-thought their way back to good health -- and that troubles Siegler, who also is a medical doctor.
"They're starting to sell snake oil at that point," says Siegler, who otherwise is a "Secret" fan. "The medical piece is almost like a sick person would be blamed if they don't get over [his disease]."
...
'Universal values' without invoking religion
But what "The Secret" does well, says Siegler, is expressing the ubiquitous nature of humanity's hopes and dreams.
...
Although Borders shelves "The Secret" DVD under "religious video," publisher Cynthia Black insists it takes a "nondenominational approach to spirituality." But some critics charge that "The Secret's" vagueness and constant references to "the Universe" goes against traditional beliefs held by Christians and some others.
...
But Lisa Nichols, a Redondo Beach, Calif.-based life coach who's a Teacher in "The Secret," disagrees.
Telling people they can create their own reality does not exclude God, says Nichols, a Chicken Soup for the African American Soul co-author whose teachings come out of a Christian context. Someteachers on the DVD practice New Thought-Ancient Wisdom; others embrace metaphysics.
...
It's all about positive focus
Just what is The Secret, anyway?
It's a book atop the major best-seller lists, and a DVD that got its initial fame from word-of-mouth marketing. Both contain tenets designed to "bring joy to every aspect of your life." It's all based on the "law of attraction," the notion that you bring into your life what you think about most, whether positive or negative.
Among some other main principles:
• Your current life is a reflection of your past thoughts. Thoughts become things.
• People don't possess what they want in life because they focus more on what they don't want rather than what they want to attract.
• Shift your own reality by mastering your mind and summoning what you want through persistent thoughts.
• Whatever your circumstances right now, that is only your current reality.
• Shift your attitude to one of gratitude, which then will attract more positive things to be grateful for.
• Create "pictures in your mind of yourself enjoying what you want. The law of attraction then returns that reality to you" as you imagined it.
• The "Creative Process," which Byrne says is drawn from the Bible's New Testament, requires three steps for fulfillment: Ask, Believe, Receive. Ask the Universe for what you want. Believe that you'll get it. Receive this positive thing through "inspired action," which is effortless because you are "acting to receive."
Maureen Jenkins
BY MAUREEN JENKINS Staff Reporter
Imagine this scenario: Your bills are all paid, with unexpected dollars showing up everywhere you turn. Your career is flying high, with accolades and promotions coming fast and furious. You're madly in love; your kids are wonderfully behaved and earning top grades. Your body's in great shape and now that you think of it, you've never felt better.
...
She says it's all about harnessing the "laws of attraction," which through the power of positive thinking woo health, wealth, great relationships and other earthly joys into your life. She believes it's this law that governs the universe and everything in it -- and that you've got the innate power to imagine, and then create, the fabulous life you want. And the Universe longs to give it to you.
This 91-minute DVD (which came out last March) and the companion book (released in November) have grown into pop-culture phenomenons, spreading first through word-of-mouth and gathering steam thanks to appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Larry King Live" last fall and blowing up big time after being featured on "Oprah."
Spotlighted on the talk queen's Feb. 8 program, the book shot to No. 1 on the major best-seller lists. Last Friday's "Oprah" follow-up show boosted interest again, almost overwhelming the 20,000-e-mails-per-week Oprah.com Web site.
But just what nerve is The Secret touching in American culture right now? Why are folks hosting The Secret parties and passing the books and DVDs from friend to friend, encouraging each other to check out the wisdom spouted by Byrne and two dozen "Teachers"? And is this "law of attraction" talk really new, or a slick, mystically repackaged form of self-help?
...
Byrne says she conceived the idea after being given and reading 1910's The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. She felt she'd discovered wisdom that had been long-hidden from ordinary Joes and Janes, and translated that into the video "The Secret."
"People love the conspiracy thing," says Johnson, "but that also gives [The Secret] creators an out. 'Why isn't everybody doing this? Why isn't everybody rich? Because of the evil conspiracy that's keeping this away from everybody.' "
...
The book and DVD give examples of cancer patients who laughed and positive-thought their way back to good health -- and that troubles Siegler, who also is a medical doctor.
"They're starting to sell snake oil at that point," says Siegler, who otherwise is a "Secret" fan. "The medical piece is almost like a sick person would be blamed if they don't get over [his disease]."
...
'Universal values' without invoking religion
But what "The Secret" does well, says Siegler, is expressing the ubiquitous nature of humanity's hopes and dreams.
...
Although Borders shelves "The Secret" DVD under "religious video," publisher Cynthia Black insists it takes a "nondenominational approach to spirituality." But some critics charge that "The Secret's" vagueness and constant references to "the Universe" goes against traditional beliefs held by Christians and some others.
...
But Lisa Nichols, a Redondo Beach, Calif.-based life coach who's a Teacher in "The Secret," disagrees.
Telling people they can create their own reality does not exclude God, says Nichols, a Chicken Soup for the African American Soul co-author whose teachings come out of a Christian context. Someteachers on the DVD practice New Thought-Ancient Wisdom; others embrace metaphysics.
...
It's all about positive focus
Just what is The Secret, anyway?
It's a book atop the major best-seller lists, and a DVD that got its initial fame from word-of-mouth marketing. Both contain tenets designed to "bring joy to every aspect of your life." It's all based on the "law of attraction," the notion that you bring into your life what you think about most, whether positive or negative.
Among some other main principles:
• Your current life is a reflection of your past thoughts. Thoughts become things.
• People don't possess what they want in life because they focus more on what they don't want rather than what they want to attract.
• Shift your own reality by mastering your mind and summoning what you want through persistent thoughts.
• Whatever your circumstances right now, that is only your current reality.
• Shift your attitude to one of gratitude, which then will attract more positive things to be grateful for.
• Create "pictures in your mind of yourself enjoying what you want. The law of attraction then returns that reality to you" as you imagined it.
• The "Creative Process," which Byrne says is drawn from the Bible's New Testament, requires three steps for fulfillment: Ask, Believe, Receive. Ask the Universe for what you want. Believe that you'll get it. Receive this positive thing through "inspired action," which is effortless because you are "acting to receive."
Maureen Jenkins
Now that's a cornucopia to feast on. So out with the personal references. Got any self-help wisdom to share? Have you read any "Self-Help" books? I know I'm not the only who's glanced at friends' "Chicken Soup for the Soul" et al. What do you think of the genre or any specific books?
Is this more mind over matter evolution of the chimpanzees stuff?
Is this the evolution of religion in action? Or just another scientologyesque scam?
What say Thee the Divinely Annointed?