This is NOT a "Secret..."

[ricochetastroman]

Reading all of this ridiculous knee-jerk reaction to "The Secret" makes me think...

It's like a wittel kid who says, "You promised me! But it's not fair!"

All of this anti-Secret sentiment is amazing to me. Granted, the movie not perfect but why don't folks see the point here!? Things are improving. People are more conscious. Yes, individuals COULD have done something to stop the holocaust by controlling their thoughts. Haven't folks heard of group consciousness? Yes, what you think about gets manifested. We are evolving and a lot of "The Secret" got it right. Granted, it's silly they way they implied conspiracy, etc. And the sales pitch gets mixed in with McDonalds and Chevy ads, but the point is clear: We are getting the message that we are responsible for our lives. And maybe someday we'll practice what's been preached to us for millenia, i.e., that we're ALL ONE.

As soon as someone steps up to promote such ideas, haven't they always been shot down?

When I did astrology readings years ago, people had little or no idea that they were bringing in the "bad" to their own lives. Today, people are much more with it. They know they create their own universe. To what degree, I'm not sure yet, but they/we're getting there.

Behind the mistakes and the marketing of this landmark movie lies a wonderful message: That we are co-creators with God, and maybe more importantly that we can transcend the money-grubbing implications of what some have taken from the movie and start to think much more about "His Will" which really is another way of saying let's take care of each other, isn't it?

[Celebration]

1. it's the materialists

Yeah, the secular humanists and those that deny anything other than the five senses and what they can prove just really have their own materialistic belief system. They don't like to see that challenged. Anything that smacks of intuition at all is thought to be anti-science. Some even get it mixed up with religious fundamentalism.

I don't even think of it as co-creating with God. (I probably use different terminology that means the same thing.) It really is just a common sense way to live your life.

The Secret must be challenging a pretty strong belief system to create this much angst.

[Love Bug]

2. The belief system The Secret is challenging is the "everything

that goes wrong in my life is someone else's fault" belief system. A good many people will not take responsibility for their own bad choices and then wonder why their life goes to shit. Sure, The Secret as a DVD/book is not perfect. The law of attraction is an old idea, and The Secret is just another way to market it to the masses. So what!

[ricochetastroman]

6. Zactly

It's OK, it's a sign of progress...really.

[judaspriestess]

3. I tried valiantly to get my upline lady to show this film

in a training session. She said no because it seemed "New Agey" to her and she did not want to impose this on people. I told her ok whatever, but its about realizing our potential. Her loss.

[MorningGlow]

4. I'm amazed at the backlash, too

Sure, there have been plenty of these "methods" over the years (as the Gloomy Guses are so keen to point out)--nobody is saying there haven't been (a point the GGs fail to notice)--so why all the fuss over this one? Because Oprah brought it into the mainstream instead of leaving it to languish and die in the self-help section of the megabookstores? Or because of the cheesy marketing by the publisher (implying "you must buy this book/DVD to find out the secret" like one of those "be a millionaire--just pay $300 for my course on how to do it")? Or because of something else?

Perhaps this is finally hitting a nerve--just what the GGs don't want to hear: It IS possible to get what you want out of life, but you have to make an effort. As far as I can tell, the GGs are bridling at this because they WANT to feel like victims, and they don't like the whole "you are God" thing that's at the base of it--they'd rather feel like someone else is in control of their lives; that way, when something goes wrong, they can say it wasn't their fault.

Plus they really like being cynical. We can't forget that! :)

[wickfordbard]

5. I'm going to play the devil's advocate!

So don't go off on me, please! bEcause all of you seem so invested in this, I just want to give another perspective on what I read in Salon.

First, I know that the information in "The Secret" has always been there and that its real.

But . . .

I've always said that the more conscious you are, the more you are responsible for how you interact with less conscious people. If you are the adult, you have to act like the adult, and not expect the child to get it unless you show them how to get it.

So, with regard to the secret, they did make lots of mistakes in their presentation. If they only are preaching to the choir, then maybe it's fine that they don't define every little bit of their story. They expect we'll know what they're talking about. And many of us do.

But, when it's going out to people who are not "there", (wherever there is) yet, there is going to be confusion and a backlash - especially when people aren't getting the results they expect. You can't make a check saying the universe owes you $20,000 when you have no source of income where that might come from. If you already have an income stream, you can manifest more. But will a pile of cash show up at your door (unless Halliburton dumps it there by mistake. Or maybe not!)? If any of you can do that, I want lessons!

The first thing that is wrong with the presentation is its foundation. I feel they needed to BEGIN with the idea of character, consciousness and self-knowledge. Without that, abundance does become all about money in many ways. If you don't have a foundation in your own sense of self and values, then you're playing with fire. It's like young kids going into a new age store to buy candles to do spells because it's cool. they don't know what the repercussions are. Because basically, we're talking about what the old occultists called 'magic'. Creating a thought-form in the etheric and astral planes and manifesting it.

I know lots of people who can manifest their whatevers, but that doesn't mean they are conscious. yEs, the secret gang says be grateful, begin the day with gratitude - that's how we try to live our lives. But you know, don't you think that bush and co. do the same kind of visualizing and manifesting. I'm sure they're grateful they're in power for another year and a half to continue getting us in deeper sh** than we're already in. They all use astrology and 'magic'. only it's black. White magicians have always felt that you need to study for about 20 years or so, and then only do magic as a last resort.

So, maybe the secret was kept a secret because of all the things that can happen when you're not trained (as Harry P. is getting trained) in the most basic things about being human. Otherwise you create black magic. Isn't that what Hitler and gang tried to do. And I'm sorry, but people don't create their illnesses - they might not deal with them on an emotional level so it becomes physical, but it might be their initiation into consciousness. (And it's definitely our poisoned environment that creates illness. Our Biological Terrain isn't kept healthy, but who knows about that? Has anyone taught us that?) We each have soul lessons we have to go through to evolve. So I have to consider that there has to be a balance between staying positive and focusing on our goals, and understanding that we might have lessons that we need to go through that have nothing to do with being positive. I really didn't hear that in the video.

Now, before you get too annoyed at me, just let me say that good teachers begin with the basics and then go on to the possibilities. I've only seen the secret once and watched the larry king show on them, and even though I know all the information and I understand what they're saying, I still came away with the impression that abundance = money. I didn't come away from it with the stories about the joy these people had helped create in the world, or the consciousness that had resulted from the 'hard' lessons they learned.

Okay, and here is where I'm not being the devil's advocate anymore - my favorite poet is Rainer Marie Rilke and in one of his books called On Love and other Difficulties, he says something to the effect that, Love is work. We think it is only play and pleasure and that anyone can do it, but it is work. And since work is one of our greatest blessings, we have to work hard to become good lovers. (His words are even better.) Hard work isn't the issue. The issue is when we do deadening work. Hard work is good work, joyous work, work that brings us blessings. If we start to define Hard as a bad thing, then I believe we get the kind of kids we have today who think the world owes them things without them having to do and be something, just because we're all special.

I could go on, but you get the drift. And you can all get annoyed at me, because I won't mind. I'm out of town and I don't get on the internet very often. And I'm throwing this out there so we can have a conversation about what the secret really is and how we can really make use of it. Because once again, it's my impression only, it seems that if we don't have abundance in our lives, we're to blame. That sounds like the Puritan ethic to me - God loves me so I have abundance in my life. God doesn't love you because you don't. My experience is that rich people - for the most part - have alot of money because they've got power over people or industry or they know someone like "Oprah" who are willing to back them and make them more money. I'm sure each of you have amazing gifts - it would be great if O sponsored you and what you know. Does that make you negative about your life? My experience is that it's who you know, not what you know. (Too generalized and there are exceptions)

I love all you guys. I hope you don't kick me out of the group for this!
:evilfrown:

[ricochetastroman]

7. Very beautifully state Wick

Very eloquent.

You said it right. I understand you clearly. I guess I needed to be a bit clearer. To me:

1. Transiting Jupiter traveling square to Transiting Neptune last year was huge.
It symbolized great evolution and the download from ON HIGH to us all year.
2. This year: Transiting Jupiter traveling square to Transiting Uranus, just as big.
3. NO COINCIDENCE that within 10 days of the eclipse forming (which is when its effects start to show), "The Secret" goes on nationwide TV on Oprah.

Well, I don't care if it's Oprah or SchmOprah...it hit the NATIONAL conciousness.

That's what matters. That's absolutely huge - just like when "What the Bleep?!"
came out.
I see what you are saying about abundance = money, etc. and much of that is appalling to me. However, it is a major step towards our only hope. Spiritual growth. It's the only ladder out of this Worldly pit we've dug, in my view.

Therefore, hooray. What a start.

[wickfordbard]

10. thanks and of course you're right.

Spiritual growth is on the rise and I firmly believe we will transform the world.

I just think we can do better at helping those other people really understand what the secret is trying to teach. If we teach better.

:evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

8. Well thought-out post, wickford.

And you do bring up valid points, IMHO, particularly about people who know little or nothing about the things The Secret talks about, like many of us do. I confess that I didn't even think of that point initially, except (haha) I've been working on explaining things about The Secret to a friend of mine. He's skeptical, but open to what I'm saying. I'm respectful of him, and he of me, so that helps a lot. When we attempt to teach someone about something, we have to start near the level that person is, not from where we are.

[silverlib]

9. Thank you for playing devil's advocate

I have previously mentioned on this forum that although I liked some of the concepts, I also see some possibilities for adverse reactions from the practices. I wish they had simply left money out of it. So many of the citizens of the world are only where they are because of where and when they were born and the concept of abundant monetary wealth is not a conceivable manifestation. I loved the gratitude part and the concept of thinking positive thoughts about situations and people - this can be used by even the poorest of people and people in terrible situations.

I doubt seriously if you will be booted out of the forum. I really enjoy reading the views of different posters in this forum. All of their posts, including yours, will foster better understanding of the potential for a world full of peace, love, and growth.

[rumpel]

11. I like very much what you said...

To me it was more an introductory piece, an extended trailer, if you will. I thought it lacked more in depth discussion of the why, but had the impression they will continue with a follow up piece. So some will react to it by an urge to find out more, but many who already are predisposed to deny anything remotely "out of the ordinary", or people who have become cynical because of all the scams, jumped on it.

From a marketing standpoint it is quite clever, from the title to fancy re-enactment scenes but ultimately, it seems to have had the reaction it did - money driven.

I have not seen the original. As I understand it, 2 visionaries' segments were edited out. Perhaps that is when things got screwy. Reading the reasons behind it; of a request to relinquish all rights to the producers of the Secret raised questions inside of me. You just can't wrest such rights away from the owners.
In production we always used to say that what happens behind the scenes will show in the final cut. So if there is disharmony or disorganization - it will ultimately show.

But overall I am amazed and happy that so many are ready for this type of information. It created a buzz, we just have to assist in the next step.

:)

[lildreamer316]

12. Pssst...I have the original.

If I can figure out how to send such a large file; I would be glad to share it with anyone who wants to see it with Esther in it.
However; it can still seem like one big infomercial if one is so inclined to view it that way. I confess I saw it that way for awhile, after I was not getting any results. I backed away and decided that I was just going to choose to get what I could use from it and leave the rest (I used the Secret on the Secret! Ha ha!). Since this decision; I have benefitied greatly and had several AHA moments (as you all are well aware!).
I'm going to write a more comprehensive answer to wick's post here in a bit...

[I Have A Dream]

14. Here's a link to the original version...

http://tinyurl.com/24b3yj


(Someone here posted it a week or so ago.)

Of course, someone would need to have high speed access to be able to view it. :(

[I Have A Dream]

15. Please see post 14 below. n/t

[I Have A Dream]

17. Wick, I just wanted to take a quick moment to address your...

last sentence. I think that it's really important that everyone here feels comfortable saying what they truly believe even if it goes totally against what the majority believes (as long as it is done respectfully, which you absolutely did).

I think that the only thing that you could say that would get you "kicked out of the group" would be that you think that "W" is doing a heck of a job! :)

Thanks for your honest feelings about this. We certainly don't need sheep in the spiritual community.

:hug:

[wickfordbard]

18. Thanks Dream

I just didn't want to offend anyone and I haven't been around that long. But in fact, I wasnt' really all that worried. You are all so smart and funny and with it that I really knew that it would go down well. But I didn't want to take it for granted.

Now I will. :crazy:

[ricochetastroman]

19. Baaa, you're exactly right IHAD

Kudos to Wick for being bold and respectfully saying her piece.

:applause:

[DemExpat]

22. I am seeing this thread a bit late, but just want to thank you for

expressing your viewpoint on this.

I also have been very put off by the abundance=money theme of the movie, even though I am most familiar with intention/thoughts creating our reality!
Naturally a movie about this incredible theme doesn't have to be "perfect" to be valuable, but the materialism portrayed through the first half (when I turned it off) puts the whole movie in misguided IMO light.

Thanks for taking the time to play devil's advocate,

:hi:

DemEx

[magnolia]

13. When the student is ready.....

....the teacher will come.

If "The Secret" came out in a mass production form, it may be because the masses are ready.

[ricochetastroman]

16. You got it!

:bounce:

[Rock_Garden]

20. Someone gave me a "Secret" whomp up the side of the head this week.

Out of a clear blue sky, the human resources director where I work paged me to come to her office. When I did, she smiled and said, "I know The Secret! Do you?'

"Do you mean the book 'The Secret'?" I asked, and I was stunned, because this is a very negative woman, but she's also an Oprah freak.

"Yes," she said, "I watched the Oprah show about it a while back and made notes, and I've been using The Secret. I knew that if anyone in this company would have heard about it, it would be you, since you're our resident New Agey person."

I was rendered speechless by the idea of our "inhuman resources" director using The Secret, but I also thought it was wonderful. Two days later I had to take something to her office.

"I hope you're not heaviy involved with that Secret thing," she said.

"What?" I asked.

"You know, that Secret thing," she said. "I checked around, and I found out it's a dangerous cult. It's evil, really, and I don't think you should be involved in it."

"I never said I was involved in it," I told her. "You said you were using The Secret, and I said 'good for you', and that's all."

"No, you said you "do" The Secret," she said.

"No," I said, "you said you were "doing it". I only listened. That's all."

"Oh," she said. "Well, it's bad, so I thought I'd warn you."

"Thanks," I said, and left.

[Me.]

21. The Loss Is Theirs

I recently read The Divine Matrix by Gregg Braeden. He basically says everything The Secret says but backs it up with the work that has been done in physics to confirm it. It is hard for people to accept responsibility for their lives, so many have bought in to being victims or martyrs. In addition if you come to believe that we are all connected, how could you possibly consider starting a war, swiftboating a brave man, stealing on a mass level, treat brave vets like animals, lie or cheat others. It doesn't pay for some, they are too entrenched in their behavior and would find it really difficult to face themselves.

If you try the concepts and find them working for you, lovely, if for some reason you are having a hard time, you've lost nothing by thinking in a positive and constructive way. Persistence may be the key, but you lose nothing by following the concepts they promote.

I saw a thread that said wealth and health do not bring you happiness. I beg to differ. They are certainly preferable to illness and poverty (though I do not discount the lessons that may come from these states). But depending om each individual life, other things may be as or more important. That's a choice, but it is yours to make.

I believe certain groups and religions have a vested interest in this information being discounted or diminished. Will we need churches as much if we come to realize the kingdom of heaven is within us, by taking back our power and thinking and deciding for ourselves?

I find the recent campaign against this type of thinking to be suspect in and of itself. Not all ways or concepts work for everyone. There are many credible systems out there. As they say, all roads lead to Damascus.