Yes folks roll up, roll up, for the festival that will blow your mind and empty your wallet. It’s time once again for Mind Body Spirit, affectionately known as the “Mind Body Wallet” festival. Take a deep breath, check your temper and let’s delve into what they have planned for us this time ’round.
The main stage, with a hippy banging a drum
Seems only yesterday when I had my first experience with this festival of “woo”. Some of you might recall my run in with a Live Blood Analysis salesperson, detailed on the SkepticZone podcast (episode 2) and the accompanying blog.
And this year looks to be a similar affair. A brief perusal of the programme revealed delights representing a wide spectre of woo, including Tea Cup Readings with Betty (sounds like something straight out of the 1950s), Nana Mays Magic Hands (ditto), the Church of Scientology, and Noseworks Neti Pots (I’m serious – check out the hilarious how-to video on the website).
The amazing computerised horoscope machine - looked like something from a 60s side show alley
Of note are several seminars from our favourite psychics from The One (more on that later) but one that immediately caught my attention was “Psychic Spoon Bending and Egyptian Alchemy” by Elisabeth Jensen. Who is Elisabeth Jensen you ask? Some of you may remember her from this gem of a video, in which she bends spoons with her psychic powers and the muscles in her hands! Seriously folks, her preceeding spiel is a lot of jibberish about meditating and imagining the spoon getting white hot, that there is a candle flame underneath it etc., then she simply physically bends it! I urge you to take a look at the video, you won’t believe your eyes! So I imagine this is what she had planned for MB$ next week. Andy Milman, spoon-bending extraordinaire and myself plan to attend, just to see it for ourselves. (Note: Elisabeth requests that you please bring your own spoons).
Next on the schedule is the (Rev Dr) She D’Montford. She is giving a seminar about discovering your own psychic powers so that you too can be “The One”. According to the programme, She will also reveal the secrets of what really happened behind the scenes on “The One”. Hmmm. Sounds intrguing.
Next on the schedule is Ezio De Angelis! His seminar is entitled “Connecting with Spirit”. I anticipate a whole lot of, “Can I come to you my sweets?…is there a problem with the plumbing my love?…” in rapid fire. This guy’s cold reading is a bit like John Edward, fast and furious, thereby increasing the chances of a hit.
Head in on Friday at 4.30 pm to see Mitchell Coombes, “Psychic to the Stars” in “Messages from Beyond”. Yet more cold reading. But cheaper than going to his stadium shows, a bargain at $16 for the festival compared with $35 for his RSL tour.
Some of the other gems making up the free seminars include “Weight loss, causes of weight gain, how to lose (but spelt “loose” in the programme) weight and keep it off” with Natasha Flynn. No information is provided as to Natasha’s qualifications apart from “works alongside Dr Sandra Cabot” who wrote the best selling book, “The Liver Cleansing Diet”. It appears Dr Cabot (or McRae) is a legitimate doctor which makes her promotion of “woo” even more unacceptable. and according to her website she studied medicine at Adelaide Uni, my alma mater (how embarrasing). I’ve got an idea for how to lose weight and keep it off, eat less and move more. Simple. Sheesh.
And yet more nonsense “Food Intolerances, Digestive Enzymes And Alkalisation” presented by Philippe Thebault. This guy has discovered two new enzymes that increase your ability to digest food. BS.
So there we are people, 4 days of nonsense, expensive supplements, magic Goji berries from the Amazon, nose candles (possibly I made this up) plus all the usual suspects like reiki, chiropractic, iridology, magnets, chinese medicine, cleansing etc etc. Fortunately, there is no sign of the Live Blood Analysis people. Shame, these guys really get my goat, they had me shaking in the corner last year (ask Andy Milman if you don’t believe me).
If you be brave and live in Sydney, come join us on Sunday November 9 at 1 pm for a trip to the other side.
Browse Timeline
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- » The Jokes Are Just Too Obvious
Comments ( 9 )
[...] have an accompanying blog about MB$ on scepticsbook.com. Thanks to everyone who has been emailing me, I appreciate your feedback, comments and [...]
Mind, Body, Wallet returns to Sydney « Skeptic Zoners added these pithy words on Nov 06 08 at 1:07 pmAggrevado added these pithy words on Nov 02 08 at 7:58 amIt seems to me that you are actually promoting this event and encouraging people to go…? It seems that a better way to go about combating this type of nonsense is to abstain from supporting it, and educating the public in more proactive ways. Perhaps a skeptical stall to educate people about the harm these things cause. Because by PAYING to go, you are SUPPORTING them, and promoting them on this blog.
Frode added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 10:19 amCan’t believe they have this thing on so soon – why does the world need so much woo-woo, so often?
Anyway, I’ll be there (that’s my plan, subject to change, of course) to try to keep you from going rabid at the woosters.
Naon Tiotami added these pithy words on Nov 10 08 at 7:50 amI can see why people go to these conventions: the atmosphere imparts a sort of authority to the products and lifestyles the people there sell and promote. Plus, you have heaps of people believing the same stuff you do, which only reinforces it all. Sometimes you really can’t blame people for not thinking.
Oh, and I tagged you. Sorry, but it had to be done: http://informalskepticism.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/ugh-ive-been-tagged/
Michael Gray added these pithy words on Nov 10 08 at 11:06 amMost amusing! Thank you.
But one thing that I have difficulty with is identifying exactly who is referred to by the first person pronouns in the article, as there is no attribution that I am able to spot in the header to the piece.
A minor point, but one that occurred to me when I read that you are also an alma mater of the U of Adelaide.
Well, whomsoever you may be, please keep wielding the sharp barbs with which you so ably prick the pretentious balloons of the deluded woo-woo folk!
Michael Gray
Adelaide
South Australia
Amanda added these pithy words on Nov 12 08 at 1:20 amHi Michael, it’s a bit hidden but there is an author tag right at the bottom of the post. In this case, “by Maggie.” But I see now that only appears on the front page, if you open the post page iot disappears. Hmmm. I will have a look at that. I hope to add bios for our authors soon. It is on the list.
Thanks for reading!
Amanda added these pithy words on Nov 12 08 at 1:21 amAh, in that case the author name is at the top right hand corner of the page, at the start of the post.
Maggie added these pithy words on Nov 12 08 at 1:36 amHi Michael, thanks for you comments. Part of the reason why I have not been completely open about who I am is for fear of litigation. A sceptical colleague of ours was recently threatened with legal action for satirical YouTube videos mocking some woo people. So here, I have resorted to using “screen names” for my friend (i.e. Andy Milman) and myself (Maggie). If you have seen the BBC comedy Extras, you will know to whom I refer. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
Maggie
Maggie added these pithy words on Nov 12 08 at 1:50 amHi Aggrevado, sorry for not getting back to you – your comment was caught in moderation which we thought we had turned off. I take your point, however this is the precise reason why we do go, to research these crazies in order that we may expose them later. By posing as a punter and talking to these people we are able to glean much more information about the nonsense they are espousing, and then take the appropriate action. For example, after our visit on Sunday we are currently in the process of reporting one group to the TGA for fraudulent claims. We would not have been able to do this without talking to them, give them enough rope as the saying goes.
I personally collected a plethora of nonsense, in black and white, which I intend to use in blogs, articles, on the podcast and where necessary, take to regulatory bodies for further investigation/action. Being an arm-chair sceptic has a purpose, but sometimes we need to get in there and experience it first hand cause there is no substitute for your own research. And even though it is painful and at times, blood-boiling, I learn a lot about how these people work, hence improving my arsenal for attack later on.
Your point about having a stand has been discussed – logisitically it is not easy. These things are expensive and contrary to the woo, we are not selling anything (ie., shafting people). This plus a 4 day commitment when we all have full time jobs, makes it difficult!
BUT, not out of the question. I would love if we could do it.Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. I have a few reports planned detailing my experiences from Sunday.
Maggie
