Esther Hicks

Esther Hicks is best known for talking about herself in the third person (seriously check out this YouTube video creepy). It seems that when she is talking, well it is not her that is really talking. A magic otherworldly being with the amazingly worldly name of Abraham is talking through her. Hicks who was a secretary before she started channeling (her fast typing skills were a plus for her selection as a vessel) has now translated the voice in her head into a series of books, lectures and workshops. All the material seems particularly obsessed with the Law of Attraction, a half-woo, half-pseudoscience that some New Agers are fawning over..

Amazingly the voices inside Hicks head started coming to her after reading the works of Jane Roberts another channeler who crossed over in 1984. Depending whether you ask Esther or reality these books either opened up her mind to commune with whatever it is she communes with or it opened up her mind to just how credulous the average American mark was to psychic woo.

Esther's primary partner-in-crime is her husband Jerry Hicks. Jerry was a former Amway salesman before they struck it rich in the cosmic channeling lottery. He has brought that certain icky Amway tough-sell feeling to most of the media in the Hicks' self-help dynasty. Esther probably said it best in one of her few interviews when, in a rare moment of valid self-introspection, she realized that some people think she might be crazy. "I'm sitting here and I am uncomfortable because people don't like Mormons, people don't like Amway, people don't like channellers."

Outline of Abraham-Hicks' Teachings

Hicks is really into the sham quantum physics routine. She is all about the observer effect allowing people to define their own reality using their thoughts. All of this of course is coming to her through her magical channeling of dead people, or aliens, or whatever the vogue term is. All this would be much cooler if she at least changed her voice when she spoke as the alien. Maybe take a puff of helium and then do Abraham? Funny voice or not Hick's get rich quick scheme for telling you how to live a wonderful life consists of the following:

• You are a Physical Extension of that which is Non-physical.
• You are here in this body because you chose to be here.
• The basis of your life is Freedom; the purpose of your life is Joy.
• You are a creator; you create with your every thought.
• Anything that you can imagine is yours to be or do or have.
• You are choosing your creations as you are choosing your thoughts.
• The Universe adores you; for it knows your broadest intentions.
• Relax into your natural well-being. All is well.
• You are a creator of thoughtways on your unique path of joy.
• Actions to be taken and money to be exchanged are by-products of your focus on joy.
• You may appropriately depart your body without illness or pain.
• You can not die; you are Everlasting Life.

All the elements of feel good gibberish is here. The basic theme is that the universe has a consciousness and "adores" everyone (this provides easy "meaning" to existence and confers cosmic significance to individuals), that people can create anything they want just by thinking about it (no effort required to reach whatever dream you may have), and that people are immortal (no need to fear death). This is the ultimate in McDonald's theology all the fears people have of meaninglessness, insignificance, lost goals and dreams, and ultimately death all taken care of with out the person needing to do anything. Also notice the use of "you" to add that extra personal touch. That is Jerry Hicks Amway sales experience coming through!

Publications

The main publisher for all this drivel is Hay House. A notorious publishing firm that thumps all the latest self-help gurus from the bland and "mostly harmless" motivational speakers to the truly insane psychology woo quacks like Esther and Jerry Hicks. For an example of just how creepy this stuff gets one need only know that Esther actually writes children books. Here is an excerpt:

“”“Do you believe in ghosts?” Annette just sort of blurted out. Sara and Seth both looked up with surprise. “Well,” Sara stalled, “I guess I do.” She remembered the night Solomon had visited her in her bedroom after Jason and Jimmy had shot him, but she hadn’t really thought about him being a ghost that night; she’d just been so glad to see her beloved feathered friend.

For the true connoisseur of creepy woo, nothing could compete with their 75 minute audio recording about the day she decided to fleece people for money started hearing voices met her spiritual guide (good news its Creative Commons licensed, so feel free to remix at will) .

The Secret

One thing you can always count on in the self-help world is that every major proponent and huckster is in it for the money. This is highlighted beautifully by the conflict between Esther Hicks and the director of the film The Secret. The film is a reality hit job, pushing the idea that the law of attraction can help people manifest whatever they want (from cars to making their brain tumor disappear). It was when Oprah decided to feature The Secret on her show that it went main stream and became a cash-cow. Esther Hicks appeared in The Secret originally to the tune of $500,000, but when director Rhonda Byrne wanted release an "extended edition" (the gift that keeps on giving) Hicks wanted more money. The conflict eventually ended up with Byrne editing out every appearance of Esther and Jerry Hicks in the movie, creating some seriously disjointed flow.

In a classic gambit Esther has come out and said that it wasn't her that had issues with the movie and the director, but rather her ultra-secret alien buddy Abraham who decided it was best for the world that they renegotiate the contract. And when that didn't work Abraham pulled a classic "cosmic guardian" stunt of taking his toys home to pout.