James Ray Seminar

[carenkh]

Wow, am I disappointed! I went to a James Ray seminar here last night. I knew that some of it would be upselling to his weekend seminars, so I was prepared for that... what I wasn't prepared for was that the ENTIRE thing was pushing the weekend event.

I got a seat nice and close because, well, he's very nice-looking! plus I wanted to see what I could pick up energetically. He's a very dynamic speaker... but he's not there at all! He made eye contact a couple of times - and Elvis had left the building! I believe he believes he can help people, but I think he's gotten very caught up in the selling of it all.

After the speaking part, he was available for signing books, etc. I stood in line, and asked "If we're to live from where we want to be, rather than where we are, how can I do that in the financial realm, and not be irresponsible?" It's a question I've had for a while; I think there's something I'm not seeing there. Do you know what he said? "What would you do if you had an accident and had to go to the hospital? You'd find the money!" He totally didn't hear my question, he was pushing the weekend! And since I get a lot of information from touching people, I gave him a hug - and he wasn't there at all. Just a buff body in a suit, with dyed hair.

I wasn't a big fan or anything, I haven't read everything he's written, etc. I just thought - this is free, it's close to me, I'm open to receive! He was the first person I heard from the Secret really say "You HAVE to have action", so I appreciate that about him. And I love his idea of harmony, rather than balance (I'm sure that's not original to him, but he's made it accessible) - but I SO do not want anything he was offering. There may be some value in his new book - but I don't wanna read it. Rather than selling his weekend (at the low, low price of $1297!) he lost me.

[Savage]

I've heard similar feedback from others who went to his "free seminar" -- that it's nothing more than an upsell for an expensive paid seminar.

I liked his audio program that I reviewed a while back, but I think he's gotten off track since The Secret became a hit. When I saw that happening, I removed The Science of Success from my recommended products list, although I decided to keep the interview with him online.

[carenkh]

Yep, I was thinking of you while I was there... hoping you do what you need to stay present and open, as the Steve Pavlina empire expands.

I was just thinking - he's caught in his own machine - he has employees who depend on him making $$$, etc.

It has caused me to look at myself and wonder where I'm pushing my agenda and opinions, rather than being present and available.

[donnazor]

Well - I went to one of the expensive seminars and am trying to get my money back. After many positive seminar experiences, this is the first that I felt was a waste of time, money and energy. James' "Creating Absolute Wealth" Seminar is very effective - for James. Anybody actually succeeded in getting a refund from this company?

[supertom]

are his books any good??

[briant]

I've listened to the Science of Success Program. I enjoyed it. I got a lot out of it.

I've listened to the Millionaire Mindset. I enjoyed it and got stuff out of that too.

What intrigues me, like carenkh, is that he promotes harmony and not balance (I believe balance is bogus too) and that he's about taking action.

I'm part way through his new book "Harmonic Wealth". Funny thing I was going to post a thread about this book and what people thought and here there was a thread going in that direction already! (Is that LOA? ). What was stimulating me to start a thread was a point I just came across in the book.

He actually says - whether you can afford it or not (and he always says you can afford it) - that things like laundry, yard work, and other menial tasks distract us from spending time earning what we want to earn.

There's good stuff in the book so far, but this a few other points kind of stick in my craw and might be distracting me from other good messages.

Any one else read it?

Brian

[SunnKali]

I have his new book, but haven't gotten very far into it yet. I appreciated his story about his rise and fall and explorations into spirituality, and re-creating himself.

I have the Collapse The World Program, and when I went through the CD's last year, I liked the program a lot. He takes you very deep into meditative states and guided imagery and I remember my energy feeling very alivened and expanded. It's recommended to dedicate a month to the 6 CD's, and I haven't done that yet. It's on my list of practices to explore this summer.

I haven't been to a free seminar, but I wonder if for self-protection, he detaches himself somewhat from the audience. When I went to a Doreen Virtue 2-day seminar, she talked about needing to protect herself from the audiences energies, and letting us know it wasn't personal. She also did personal energy cleansing at the end of each day. I think when you become a celebrity author/speaker, people knowingly or not, can try to leach energy off of you. When I had my book signed, and I hugged her, her energy felt almost prickly, her defenses were so strongly in place.

For the OP, I wonder if you had an encounter with him in another place, if his energy would feel the same.

Now I'm curious to go to a free event sometime, just to see what I can pick up.

[Interpreneur]

I like James Ray. The book Harmonic Wealth is one of the best books I've read in recent years. Of course, it's not for everyone (just like Pavlina's stuff is not for everyone).

I also understand his business practices. If he blows his wad in a free seminar, why would anybody pony up the money for the weekend?

I think James Ray is a few years ahead of other teachers / spiritual leaders / gurus (or whatever you want to call them) and that of course will always create friction and criticism.

[briant]

I have a problem with some of the things I've read in Harmonic Wealth. Especially where he says that you should - even if it isn't financially feasable - hire people to do things that he calls distractions. Like: clean your house, your yard work, wash your car, do your laundry, etc. He feels if you're busy off doing these things you're not having enough time to earn your maximum potential. I have a tough time swallowing that one.

From what I understand James Ray uses something called LGAT - Large Group Awareness Therapy (or Training?) in his seminars. From my reading I understand that this method breaks you down by long hours in seminars and training, allowing little sleep and not enough food. Then they build you back up again.

Many have called it a method of "brain washing" and I've read about people who then shun their families and friends because they don't fit into their new way of thingking.

I understand that T. Harv Eker uses something similar in his week long affairs also.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[Matthew22]

So here's a guy who is using his charm and looks to seduce suckers, and I was one of them. Obviously I could care less about his looks, but I thought he was sincere. Yet my intuition screamed at me from the start.

This guys is a piece of work. The whole way he handled the sweat lodge deaths is totally unacceptable. He is directly responsible for their deaths. He has the audacity to write little stupid comments, 'I too would like to know what happened and went wrong'. As if he doesn't know. Who knows, maybe he was too coked out to remember. Look - people died because of his influence and misleading them. Those who continue to follow this heartless criminal are only serving to spread his ability to do this again. It's illegal to finance terrorism and his actions sure do come damn close to that.

I went to his freebie event and my wife wanted us to take a trip to his 1297 seminar. What a joke. All it was was James dancing around and selling his high end seminars. Oh, don't let me forget - we got to make a goal card. That was the big learning experience... My advice, just go the library and read any old self-help book. It will save you thousands, potentially your life (if you follow this lunatic), and if you're looking for a guru...

Good luck. Those days are gone. Humanity has awakened to where we no longer require a silverback gorilla to manipulate us anymore - wake up James Ray 'sheep'... it's apparent you're heading to the slaughter.