posted August 10, 2002 02:22 AM         

The leaders at Waco and of Heaven's Gate were genuinely psychotic, and their followers were profoundly disturbed individuals. No one here seems that lost to me. Linda Goodman loved people. She'd never harm anyone, and her readers would have a hard time believing that Linda would invite them on a fatal "spaceship ride." So many readers have found comfort in Linda's work and have found, too, the path to empathy and love for others. If these are the lessons learned from Ms. Goodman, then bless her.

Deepak Chopra, M.D., has for years espoused an anti-aging, anti-death belief. His theories are based on Eastern religions and lifestyles. He's begun to back off a bit of late, believing that in order for a soul to evolve to its highest level, death is necessary. It's okay to have differing belief systems--until we push our own on someone else. I can tell that you know this, and you are most certainly correct in posting your opinion. Please don't fear for the Knowflakes here. They're on their own spiritual paths, and will be fine.

Skystone

posted August 10, 2002 04:45 AM         

Crystal is no longer associated with the Linda things (legal battles and petty squabbles understandedly wore her out), but you can find Greg at www.consciousevolution.com

posted August 10, 2002 05:36 PM         

Your views are interesting, and I appreciate your concern. Since you seem interested, I'd like to express how I see this board.

For me, (just speaking as an individual knowflake) I have lots of beliefs and philosophies that I think are probably very different than yours, and also different than many other knowflakes here and even different than Linda's. For instance, I do believe in reincarnation because I have recalled past lives and have many strong intuitions about it, so in my opinion it is possible that someone could be back here on Earth after they have died...just in a different body. But there are other things I have not experienced, and since one can never be SURE something is true or not until they experience it for themselves, I hesitate to lay judgement on any concepts I am not experienced in, which would be true about immortality, channeling, etc.

Gurus I believe in, although I have never met one. I have had lots of experience with synchronicity and "message deliveries" from unlikely sources though, and so I am sure that gurus exist.

I would never drink poison if someone told me Linda Goodman had Utopia waiting.

Utopia is a great concept though... no denying that! I always have a vision of trading silk pillows for some carrots, or music for a comedy hour. Everyone happy...but I am a Pisces.

Do you believe in reincarnation or heaven/hell? If not either of those, I'd be very interested in your beliefs since you may have something to teach me. I believe that anything someone feels with passion is valid and should be at least considered. Also, since you believe in astrology, do you feel we go through all the signs or is it a one time experience? I don't mean to pry, but would really like to discuss this with you...

Anyway, talk to you soon

Pearly

posted August 10, 2002 08:11 PM         

my 2 cents

Goatgirl

------------------
The human mind is not capable of grasping the Universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. ...It does not understand the languages in which they are written. But the child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books....a mysterious order which it does not comphrehend, but only dimly suspects.

posted August 10, 2002 11:07 PM         

If anyone has not read her books, they are really missing a wonderful collection of information, to say the least!

pearly

posted August 10, 2002 11:23 PM         

Linda talked about chromotherapy and after getting books on the subject I've found that it works.

Also the Waco things with the Davidians, my friend hired out a doco and it talked to people that were there, had images from a spy plane when the whole massacre was happening, and what the press reported and what happened are completely different.

It also has recorded dialogue between David Koresh and the police telling the police to stop the firing, but there was no communication between them and the DEA.

There wasn't a guns cache at the property, and that most Texan families that lived in the surrounding area would have the same amount of firearms.

The Davidians didn't start shooting first, you can see this clearly from the spy plane footage, and the enforcement officials only stopped shooting after two hours because they ran out of ammo.

The use of CS gas was another point raised, simply stated CS in a confined space is extremely combustible and the authorities knew this and still used it.

posted August 10, 2002 11:34 PM         

Okay, in my "PROFESSIONAL" opinion it's best to closely observe a patient who professess a profound belief in unusual cults or what we might consider "off-the-wall" religious practices. Forget Waco and Heaven's Gate for a minute--there are still fundamentalist Christian sects hidden away in the American South that handle poisonous snakes as part of their Sunday services. Of course, these days the snakes of choice, rattlesnakes, are secretely milked for their venom before the service begins. These cults, or "splinter groups," as other Christians call them, also used to include the drinking of gasoline or drain cleaner, in response to an Old Testament verse that says the faithful may drink poison and handle venomous snakes without harm if their belief in God was sufficiently strong. I'm sure you've heard of this. Every year or so some elder dies from too much misplaced faith and too little snake-milking. They interpret this portion of the Old Testament literally, which is their right. I personally don't play with rattlers, and would urge a patient not to either.

If I had a patient who told me that he or she was going to join a wonderful, enlightened group of kind souls who wanted lots of money and real estate, like the Heaven's Gate folks, I'd check out the group with the proper authorities and inform the patient's family of that person's intentions. When lives are at stake, one must act. If I had a patient who was just bummed over the government, and who isn't from time to time, I'd keep an eye on that person until they decided to drop out of society, then I'd talk to that patient's family as well. (In the latter case, it's best to let people chose to live outside society if they can do so peacefully. These folks are hiding out all over the Northwest portions of America and aren't killing themselves or each other--too often.)

If a patient told me that a channeled Linda Goodman told him to jump off Pikes Peak in order to join her in Never-Neverland, I'd have him in a protective hospital environment immediately, and have an MD--a psychiatrist, take over that case.

I can't ride herd on mental states of folks on message boards, and neither can anyone else. The moderators can X out obscene language, but that's it. This spot is here for us all. The rational responses of Purplel, Goatgirl and Pearly are typical of the openminded members of LindaLand. The colleague I mentioned before majored in Comparative Religions in college, and I in World Literature. We talk a lot, and I edit her works gratis, as a friend. We are both 51 year old women with years of people experience. Both married 30 years to great, intelligent men. We're lucky, I guess, and like everyone else here we seem to be fairly normal. (Hey, in 1965 we formed a successful all-girl rock band and played high school gigs for four years. We finally let a GUY in when our drummer dropped out. This guy rocked out! I was lead guitarist, Pat lead singer, harmonica and guitar player. We did a lot of Rolling Stone and Otis Redding covers! Those were the days.)

If I seem to be wandering, its because I need to let you see that we are all so multifaceted and deeply dimensional. I'm the Prep Mom now. No one believes I'd ever boogied on stage, had boy-groupies, and made "A's" in high school to boot. I had to answer to very strict parents, yet they let me do my thing because I was a trustworthy young girl. I yank out the old scrapbooks and clippings, and there I am, high leather boots, ruffled Edwardian shirt and a white electric Gibson, a true mid-sixties rocker.

Yet,"musicians" like Eminem repell me. I'd be far more afraid of guys who put out this vicious anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-law,anti-human message. These guys have killed more young people already with hysteria-induced gangster behavior than Jim Jones did in Guyana. (Now THERE was a dangerous man, indeed.)

Dark Angel, if you're young,as I suspect you to be, please continue to read everything you can on spirituality, reincarnation, Eastern religions, and mysticism. You're lucky to live in this information age--do as I did and explore all worlds and belief systems. Continue to question all.

I do think there are channelers--I know there are. But in my practice, I'd be very leary first of any patient who claimed to be one. I'd look for delusional behavior, temporal lobe epilepsy, and disassociation. Yet, I'd listen, too, and ultimately use my own hard-won judgement. One of my professors had a female patient who was a member of a Wiccan community. He didn't believe in Wicca, or the Old Religion, but he knew her to be sane. She was mentally stressed to the max, and her beliefs gave her respite and comfort. He'd listen to her, nod and accept her beliefs because she was in control of herself, and no one was taking advantage of her. No harm done. (Years later, she's well, happy, and still Wiccan.)

I understand your concern for the folks on this site. We all read each other's postings, think, OK, and go on. Trust in the wisdom of the individual to know what is right for him or herself. I trust you--you challenge and demand answers. I'm happy you're out there, aware and thinking.

Well enough, already. But hey, this is the week of the anniversary of Elvis' death, and our local paper has a contest on for the weirdest Elvis stories and sightings! This "The King Lives" blossomed only a week after Elvis died, and it's been rampant ever since. Elvis is DEAD, but for some of his fans he lives on in a way you and I don't understand.

Much love to you, Angel friend!
Skystone

posted August 11, 2002 03:35 AM         

Nothing like a cult here, just a bunch of adoring fans who appreciate the wonderful gift of communication of emotions using word pictures. Have you read Gooberz? I imagine if you did, you would understand much better why Linda is so well liked.

Donna

posted August 13, 2002 01:24 AM         

Skystone: Please don't jump to conclusions and assumptions about my age. I'm not some ignorant teenager who doesn't know what she's talking about. I'm an adult. and I am very informed about alot of topics concerning spirituality, metaphysics, science and cults. And I could care less about the christian lunatics with thier extreme tests of faith. They fall under this catogory too. And as for Eminem,I think he is very talented, original and he's not afraid to speak his mind. He's very comical and only people with a sense of humor could appreciate that. Now if people want to kill themselves or practice other types of negative behavior because of his music, then they are the ones with the problem, not Eminem! They were weak individuals to begin with. Everyone is responsible for thier own actions.

posted August 13, 2002 10:29 AM         

I'm a little confused by your post.
What made you choose the user name "Dark Angel"? You ask about Greg & Crystal as if you have posted here before - yet as Dark Angel, you've only made 4 posts. What was your previous user name? And why did you change it?

posted August 13, 2002 08:05 PM         

Ps. Can't you see that everyone who has written to you is trying to be calm and nice. I'm sorry but I'm going to say it, your trying to act like a bash and I don't think thats right. Don't offend Cat and Mambo for there opinions again.

-Peace to you and everyone here.

posted August 14, 2002 01:29 AM         

Sorry I made assumptions about your age: I just know a lot of teenage girls who love to use "Dark" in front of everything:"Darksprite," "Dark Fairy," etc. It's a symptom of youth. Let alone that TV show aimed at young girls and BOYS!
Oh, and remember how cute Wynona Ryder was in "Beetlejuice?" "My whole life is just one big, dark room," spoken with the glumness of the bored, unhappy young teen.

If you really are a Funeral Director, my hat is off to you. I know a family of funeral directors who've buried everyone I know in my original home town. I always kid the guys in the business who are my age (their father is there, their children work at their two locations) about getting my old bones eventually. I grew up with these kids, and they're great. Nothing at all "dark" about them. They're very kind, compassionate people who have helped generations of families deal with death. I love them dearly.

Which brings us to the great HBO series "Six Feet Under." The dysfunctional family at its best! The daughter of the family is mocked at school; her classmates call her "Cemetery Girl" and "Morticia." How silly. No one called my friends anything of the sort.

If your boyfriend gave you that name as an endearment, I'd say he's an imaginative guy who loves you very much.

Keep up the good work. Reading metaphysical books surely must help when dealing with your clients, whether alive or dead, and maybe your line of work has angered you against silly deaths like those that befell the Branch Dividians and Heaven's Gate.

Sorry I can't appreciate Eminem--he beat the daylights out of his wife a year or two ago, and that just doesn't sit well with me. Besides, I just used him as an example. I was afraid if I named guys like Puff Daddy (Sean Combs, Puffy, P.Diddy, make up your mind, dummy!) and the really cruel rappers,
I might be perceived as a racist. I've heard a lot of their stuff from cars next to me in traffic: "I'm gonna F--- that B----then cut her f------head off, etc. That's the kind of stuff I REALLY despise. Eminem's humor eludes me, maybe. I myself have a "wild and crazy" sense of humor, but it's fairly sophisticatd: no gutter stuff.

Your line "everyone is responsible for their own actions" is right on the mark. No book or song, writer or muscian ever made me go out and do anything I wouldn't ordinarily do.

Don't be too angry at people on this site: they don't want to convert you, they respect your opinions, and are merely responding to them. It's easy to get angry on message boards. People become very impassioned over being criticized or attacked. Everyone is sensitive, after all.

Continue in your profession with kindness and love, and you'll be rewarded every day with a sense of grace and achievement.

Later,
Skystone
(Who is smiling at waving at you in NYC, but who is too dumb to learn how to use the lovely symbols available on this site!)

posted August 14, 2002 03:12 AM         

I don't worship or idolize Linda but she does have valid points.