Nova and Wealth

The May issue of Nova has as its theme Wealth, which is probably appropriate given the massive financial enterprise that the Big Altie funded conglomerate of alternative therapies and supplements is.

The editorial points out

Wealth is a controversial topic, too. It's a widely held belief that people on a spiritual path can't make money out of their passion, their skill, their sacrifices. But then others ask "Why not?"

Which ties in nicely with the advertisement on the facing page for ShantiMayi.

ShantiMayi is one of the rarest flowerings of human consciousness, a Spiritual Master. In total dedication to the Spiritual Awakening of all beings. [...] To experience ShantiMayi is to experience Unconditional Love.

This enlightenment can be enjoyed by attending her "Experiences" (the advertisements don't specifiy whether they're talks, meditations, seminars, or telepathic illuminations) which seem to run almost every day, for the correct fee ("Season Cards available"). So the new paradigm is making money? Very newage. In fact, Nova is filled with advertisements for all sorts of woo, at a price. So where did the idea that "people on a spiritual path can't make money" come from? Or are the people advertising not on a spiritual path, but only a monetary one?

"A Meeting with Love" is an article that, in retrospect, is rather unfortunate featuring as it does Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, she who recently introduced large numbers of people around Australia not to enlightenment, but to measles.

Swami Amritaswarupanda's [the translator's] imperturbability has an infectious quality.

Also, according to Amma

Suffering can totally be removed because suffering is mostly because of poverty and starvation.

The upwardly mobile middle class devotees of Amma will be pleased to know that they do not suffer. Particularly not for health reasons. And especially not by having measles. Amma concludes by giving the correspondent a hug and a kiss to her hair. But hopefully not any pathogens.

Charmaine Saunders (PhD) advises us that

Money is energy, thus its inflow is directly in proportion with your outflow of energy. [...] If you keep money in an "emergency" account, you will for sure attract an emergency to use it for.

Spend your money now! Avert disaster! Let the emergencies hit those poor suckers with the money to afford it! After some more rambling about Postive Thinking, the whole thing rather collapses in a Hallmark-inspired dreary Molesworth "Hello sun! Hello sky!" way:

We live in a miasma of wealth; just look around you - the cloudless, endless blue sky, the tranquil river and the restless sea, a child's laughter, the entertaining playfulness of a cat, the unconditional love of a dog, sand in your toes, the healing power of music, losing yourself in an absorbing book, sitting in your garden on a balmy afternoon, the hug of a friend - the list is infinite.

Meanwhile, Melanie Hubbard enlightens us all as to how the scientific teachings of Master Choa Kok Sui can help us all:

Take a salt bath. [...] Salt is filled with green prana that quickly breaks down dirty energy. [...] Burn sandalwood. [...] Sandalwood is the most cleansing as it contains much high quality green prana. Pour water into a large glass jar or bottle and leave it in the sun for one to two days to absorb solar prana. [...] Face north in important discussions about wealth - your basic chakra will be slightly bigger.

EoR was also rather amused by a letter from Kim Murray regarding recent television advertisements for Lipton's Tea which present various newage beliefs (crystal healing and so on) as loony ideas that are made fun of and satirised mercilessly. Ms Murray, however, is a crystal healer.

[The advertisements] basically suggest that it's all a load of rubbish and the people who are into it are stupid and gullible.

EoR can only concur. Speaking of advertisements, "Bulimia Therapies Australia" had EoR intrigued with its claim for "Coaching for self-recovery" accompanied by a picture of a woman hugging a dolphin and the injunction "For information phone Dolphie". Dolphins have mobile phones now? And why does "Paula" put in an advertisement headed "Need a psychic?" Doesn't she know?

And as for the book review of Dr Sandra Cabot's Bird Flu Virus: Your Personal Survival Guide, the less said the better.

Dr Cabot argues that the best defence is a strong immune system. [The guide] contains invaluable advice about how to use herbs, vegetables and fruits, culinary ingredients, even aromatherapy to build strong immune systems.