the Academy for Psychic Studies - and you thought you weren't psychic...

Man, what a crystal ball...

You think she can do that to mine?

I was perusing the blog tonight and checked out the comment section on this post.  It's the post where I announce I made the Witches of Ellsworth go back to their cauldron by way of the court system.


The post was originally made some two years ago.  The below commenter made some incredibly cogent and amazingly predictive insights:

SRF will be disbanded within the next 2 years, and I don't have to be clairvoyant or in present time with my reading to know this will be true.

You'll lose more ministers this year after this settlement as SRF will no longer be attractive to staff members still there.

It will provoke thoughts of jumping a sinking ship, or metaphorically speaking, its like a team player wanting off a losing team and going to a winner.

You will forever have your fingerprints on this corpse or watch when the ship sinks at SRF.

The question will be, will you go down with the ship and take it with dignity, or will you bail and jump ship, pointing fingers at everyone but yourself?

Considering the ranks have thinned from almost 40 to a new low of about, oh, EIGHT people - seven other shell-shocked victims (OK so, it's maybe TWO raving, scowling lunatics and six shell-shocked victims) and one small child, ONE corpulent, raving, scowling lunatic, maybe this commenter is psychic after all!

The Academy for Psychic Studies confined a still-sustainable number of ministers in its detention centers in Berkeley and Bethel Island before we kicked the Witches of Ellsworth's asses two years ago. Since then, the number of members and ministers have dropped from small to pathetic practically nothing.

As the Academy's Bishop, her husband and the Witches' most enthusiastic and eager female minister have departed on not-so-warm-and-nourishing terms thanks to the parsimony and outright greed of the Witches, I'd say the departed are jumping from the Titanic to something like a Carnival Cruise.

Since it's traditional for the captain to go down with the ship, you'd hope Angela Silva and Robin Dumolin would take their fall from grace and reversal of fortune with some amount of dignity.

Are you fucking kidding me?

The finger-pointing has been underway for a while now. I mean, if the Bishop and the woman with a well of potential and overflowing success were being shaken down for the things the Witches crave (it's green and fits into an envelope nicely) and if the the Witches' mafioso advances were rebuffed, could you see Angela and Robin raising their hands and saying "my bad..."?

Would the Witches of Ellsworth Street apologize and vow to change their ways and become generous, helpful and supportive to their flock?

Ummmm... yeah.

As their parting shot to this blog, the Witches insisted on posting an idiotic statement blaming their misfortunes and the real experiences I and others write about here on US.

The Witches say we suffer from a psychological condition they don't understand and that we are driven by the forces of greed, vengeance, megalomania and anything else they saw on Jerry Springer.   Of course they issued that statement two years ago, after they got their asses kicked the first time and only a few months before they got kicked a second time.

The Witches of Ellsworth claim we who write, read, peruse or otherwise agree with anything said or depicted here suffer from the psychological condition called "projection" and as support for their psychological diagnosis, they use the definition they saw one of Dr. Phil's drug and alcohol addled guests blurt out.

So, I guess I understand why they wanted to post that statement. I don't understand why they are blaming all of us for their stupidity.

Actually, I guess I do understand as I have a bit more understanding of the psychological phenomenon of "projection" or: "he who smelt it, dealt it."



Projection is all about seeing in others or accusing others of having the kinds of qualities you don't want to see in yourself.  So if you were say, Robin Dumolin, and you saw in, say, a sibling the qualities of laziness, greed, disloyalty, stupidity, larceny and greed (oh, and greed too) you just might be trying to convince yourself (and the followers you locked in the basement) your sibling has all of your own personal faults - even though your sibling has nothing of the sort.  


Now don't take this too seriously.  None of us really want to acknowledge we have all the bad qualities we see in others and almost every time, there isn't any kind of correlation between another person's behavior and inner demons and you (which for we infected with the SRF teaching is a "matching picture").

Since "projection" is a psychological condition that allows the "projector" to avoid acknowledging his or her own faults and shortcomings, it's no wonder that Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva see in others all the parsimony, greed, laziness and overall evil we have experienced from them every day.

After all, it's easy to ignore your own faults if you see everyone around you with those problems. And it's easy to continue with your reign of evil if you think your followers are conducting similar evil antics.  Besides that, when Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva experience anything from the usual speed bumps in life to outright disasters, they have pointed their gnarled fingers at anyone with a pulse hoping that person will accept the blame and their weary followers will believe the lie.

But when those followers become ex-followers, don't be surprised if they take a look at their crystal balls and see even more of the strife and struggle you are experiencing today your futures, Angela and Robin.  Just take a look at the comment I quoted up there - that commentor took that look into the near future and made quite a prediction, don't you think?

That may be just the start, and while I've been using my crystal ball as a fountain decoration, many others are using theirs to divine your next few years.  I have the sense they'll be as accurate as the commentor above and they will also see something like what he saw.


Makes sense, doesn't it Angela and Robin?  After all, you did train them to be psychic...

The Academy for Psychic Studies - Press Here

I ran across the below article the other day.  Apart from this being one of the last positive articles on the Academy for Psychic Studies, you'll notice something else:  not one person mentioned in this article remains at the Academy for Psychic Studies today.

It's amazing.  The Academy for Psychic Studies has a tremendous history of not following-up on any of their positive press.  Actually, that's not true.  They followed-up their good press with a string of really bad press - so bad the slow dribble of new faces at the Academy dried up to nothing.

That doesn't mean the Academy for Psychic Studies can't handle the press.  They have a great reputation for cursing at and hanging up on anyone identifying themselves as a reporter (especially reporters who are willing to give them a really positive story), the Witches of Ellsworth Street are so paranoid, they require all visitors to their cult of perversion to sign a statement pledging the visitor is neither a member of the press nor a government employee.

I wonder who else the Witches would exclude from their lair of exploitation?  Girl Scouts?  Rock Stars?  Reality TV Producers?  I'm hoping that list will get longer and longer.

I honestly believe, based on all the crazy things that have been happening to them, the Witches of Ellsworth's level of paranoia has reached an all-time high.  Take a look at the Academy for Psychic Studies website - Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva are notably absent.  Look at the Health and Wealth, Inc. website - where just a couple of years ago the Witches were prominently featured, they are all but gone.  Strangely, the dozens of recordings made by the ex-bishop are still available.  I guess if they pull those recordings from the inventory, there won't be any inventory left.

With so much fear of the outside world, with so much they have to hide, with so much they need to overcome just to look even somewhat normal, the Witches of Ellsworth Street are just so far behind the curve when it comes to engaging the people they need most, the only direction they can move is backwards.

Enjoy this last bit of good news you'll ever hear about this perverse and demented cult.  I guarantee you'll never see another article like it ever again.

The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Intuitive Reader: Donna Hart gives a psychic reading to Anne-Marie Furmanek at the open house.

The curious gather at open house of psychic academy

Berkeley academy opens a Willow Glen office on the Avenue

By Christine M. Lias

The dark-haired woman sits in her chair, eyes closed, palms suspended in air. She begins to drag her fingers through the air, at times flicking her fingertips as if to rid herself of something stuck on them. She smiles slightly and envisions the woman sitting opposite her on a college campus, books piled on her desk. She explains in detail what the other woman is going through--relationship problems, being a good friend.

The dark-haired woman, eyes closed, has never met this woman she has fully described. All the information that was given to her was the young woman's name. Psychics call this process "feeling people's energy."

The Willow Glen office of the Academy for Psychic Studies, which recently began operating, opened its doors to curious Glenites on April 5. Twelve psychics, most of whom are students at the academy's Berkeley office, offered their services for $8 at the site at 1090 Lincoln Ave.

About 50 people dropped in, many leaving with colored drawings of their aura, the energy fields that surround the body. Some came to have their chakra (energy centers) cleansed of negative energy. Others had the opportunity to ask the psychics questions about love, business or their future.

"I see you five years from now, alone, very much concentrated on your career," the dark-haired psychic told one woman.

The Academy for Psychic Studies opened in 1982 in Berkeley. The Rev. Cathleen Hodgson, director of the new Willow Glen academy location, says she was first drawn to the psychic world after having a reading done herself.

"I was looking for some way to heal myself and ended up loving it," Hodgson said. "I took some classes and saw that my self-esteem got better. My life got better. I enjoyed it so much that I stayed with it."

Hodgson said she held the psychic open house to acquaint the neighborhood with the academy's services. The academy's South Bay office had been located in Santa Clara for four years before its lease expired last month. Hodgson saw Willow Glen as a "cute community" that she was drawn to.

That's great news for some, including 19-year-old psychic student and reader Joy Butler. Butler, dressed in a bright floral jumpsuit, with perky curls bouncing around her face, has changed tremendously since she was first drawn to the academy three years ago, Hodgson said.

"Cathleen gave me my first reading on my 16th birthday," Butler said. "I didn't come back for a couple of months, even though I wanted to. The reading was right on, and I wanted to learn how to do it."

Butler explained how shy she used to be, how her hair used to hang in her face. She said her body tingled during the reading.

"Why was I feeling this? It felt very different. I wanted to find out more," Butler said.

Butler and her brother began to take classes at the Santa Clara location three years ago. Butler, who lives on the outskirts of Willow Glen, said the move is a welcome change that brings the academy closer to home.

The academy offers a free healing clinic on a drop-in basis, every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Classes, meditation and readings are given on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

"They've been around a long time and have a solid reputation and foundation," said Demetri Rizos, manager of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association, of the academy personnel.

"Everyone has psychic abilities. The information has been around for a while," Hodgson said.

"Throughout every culture, there has always been a healer, a shaman. These are very normal feelings."

And for the skeptics, Hodgson has a detached viewpoint.  "A person has their own beliefs and will continue to have their own beliefs," Hodgson said. "We won't try to prove anything, but this is very real. And if you talk to anyone, see how their life is so much better, that's our testimony," she added.

---

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page |Archives ]

This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, April 15, 1998.
©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Blue Sky Shenanigans

Click to Enlarge - I mean, really... click it.

Looks like the Witches of Ellsworth Street are up to even more shenanigans.

Take a look at the above public record.  It shows that Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva have transferred their farm in Bethel Island, CA from themselves to the warm and nourishing arms of the Spiritual Rights Foundation.

To most, that would be a charitable act to assist a worthy cause.

However, as Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva are respectively the Vice President and President of the Spiritual Rights Foundation and control all the cult's assets, you might not see this action as quite as charitable as they would want you to see it.

In 2008, both Robin and Angela were pissed I out'ed their personal ownership of the farm we were told was owned by the Spiritual Rights Foundation.  

So a few months into 2009 (it takes longer when they have to move their lips when they read) they sued, saying, in essence, it was untrue, libelous and defamatory that I said they were the actual owners of the Blue Sky Ranch in Bethel Island - the ranch we were told was "the people's place" and as such, the property of the Spiritual Rights Foundation.

Of course, they were met with a vigorous defense.  An anti-SLAPP motion and demurrer were filed in response as well as a copy of the deed with their names on it, certified by the clerk-recorder of Contra Costa County.  Upon reading the Mount Everest sized stack of legal substantiation and evidence, the attorney for Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva curled up in the fetal position and lamely offered a settlement as there was no damn way he or anyone else could fight the truth.  Unfortunately, the settlement did not relieve Robin and Angela from their legal liability to me.  So, the court not only declared I beat them, it ordered them to pay me the costs of fighting their idiotic actions.  It was an expensive tantrum indeed.

Since then, they quietly tried to cover their tracks by transferring the farm to SRF in September of 2010 - long after they were defeated in court and even longer after they tried to conceal the truth through force and intimidation.

Even with their empire crumbling around them, Witches of Ellsworth Street haven't changed their deceitful ways.  That act is a blatant act of trying to hide their sneaky ways - and a cheap, amateurish act at that.

So what's the difference when you transfer real property from your personal ownership to the non-profit corporation you not only control, you presumably "own" through stock ownership?

Sounds a lot like "piercing the corporate veil" to me.

What that term means is: there is a fine line between what is corporate business and what is personal business.  Same thing for personal vs. corporate property.  In order to keep things legal and proper, corporate property and business must always be kept separate from personal property and business.  A failure to maintain separation can result in the corporation being declared your own sole proprietorship, which carries a lot of crappy consequences.

It's no question the Witches have been lavishing themselves with corporate credit cards as well as having their own credit card bills paid by the Spiritual Rights Foundation, Inc.  Now that they have transferred personal real property to SRF, they've gone into a whole new level of shenanigans.

So, how to you think this will affect the sale of the Blue Sky Ranch in Bethel Island?

I don't know either but I believe someone, somewhere will start asking questions if they find in a title search the property went from personal ownership to ownership by a corporation operated by the very same individuals who owned it personally.

Let's hope that happens.

Until then, I'd better watch out how much I say "shenanigans".

Who in the hell is left at the Academy for Psychic Studies?

It's a question people keep asking me and one I ask often.

I joined the Academy for Psychic Studies just at the peak of its heyday in the mid-90's. Steve Sanchez made a monumental effort in directing his San Jose "parish" and was able to attract many of us to his church. Don't worry, I never held it against him. In fact, I count Steve as one of my closest friends.

We joined a thriving and apparently enthusiastic and vibrant organization filled with like-minded and seemingly supportive people. Academy for Psychic Studies headquarters seemed abuzz with the excitement and energy that only a happy and fulfilled congregation could have created.

For we newbies, it was a happy and wondrous time, full of exploration and sustained by the encouragement of Bill Duby, his wives and the people around us.

The end of the decade, though, brought about an abrupt and stunning turn.

Fathers were being marginalized and separated from their children. Women were being worked hard. One was worked so hard, she fell ill and eventually died. The excitement was waning. The happiness began to fade into a more sullen and somber mood.

The start of the 21st century ushered in even more discontent and for the first time, public exposure of the financial, emotional and even physical abuses practiced at the Academy for Psychic Studies. News coverage began in earnest - none of it favorable.

Legal actions over truancy, divorce and custody issues appeared.

SRF was embarrassed at the public exposure and their involvement in the legal issues of their members. In fact, many members cited SRF's involvement in their personal lives and relationships as one reason for taking legal action in the first place.

Over the years, the number of those remaining at the Academy for Psychic Studies has dwindled and dwindled.

At its heyday, there were nearly 40 people at the Academy for Psychic Studies.

Now there are only about a dozen two one.

There were a good number of strong men to do the physical labor.

Now, hardly enough to patch a hole in the wall just the bastard who has to suck it in to get through the door.

Who's left?

Most of them are The sole survivor is in middle-age or their golden years. A few are a little younger.

But the youth, the enthusiastic and fearless ones - they are all gone. None are coming in.

The healing clinics attracted many from all walks of life. Today, a few middle-age women come in and turn their noses after seeing that the Academy for Psychic Studies isn't the kind of thing Oprah told them to expect.

ISHI Hypnosis is experiencing a dearth of new students. The last class (highly touted and endlessly shilled on the radio show "Total Prosperity") had a less-than-prosperous one student.  Now that the only instructor has flown the coop, who's teaching the class?  The ISHI website was last updated May 15, 2011 with classes from last August.

No one but those trapped in the Academy for Psychic Studies cesspool buys the Heath and Wealth items.

Only the faithful few Who the fuck attends the Academy for Psychic Studies retreats anymore?

The 90's wave of enthusiasm for the Academy for Psychic Studies has collapsed into a few drips of interest.

I hope it stays that way.

=========================

In the last few days, I've fielded more than a few direct accusations and subtle hints that I am behaving vengefully towards the Academy for Psychic Studies.

I'm not looking for vengeance. That kind of thing is the action of a person who wants to damage a person or organization for his own personal satisfaction or gain.

I have a mission. It's a mission to inform the world - to tell our side of the story.  I have the moral and spiritual duty to acknowledge my own participation in this den of iniquity and exploitation and with that acknowledgement, I have the responsibility to do all I can to create balance and fairness to those who may become tainted by the cesspool called the Academy for Psychic Studies.

I want to see no more victims of this spiritual cesspool.

I hope those who are young enough and have so much of their lives ahead of them see the writing on the wall and head out the door for good not step in the door.

I pray those who have their golden years to look forward to turn their back on their abusers, acknowledge their role in perpetuating the exploitation and live the life they richly deserve.

For those who read this blog, I hope my information and my opinions help them see the evil that permeates the Academy for Psychic Studies and allows them the freedom of thought to decide for themselves when faced with a choice for their spiritual fulfillment.

I'm not interested in vengeance. I am interested in freedom.

And I am dedicating myself to help others obtain and keep theirs.

You Say Psychopath, I say Sociopath. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

I was rummaging around looking for something completely unrelated when I bumped into the below article.

Somehow I got the feeling I saw someone with exactly these personality traits before. 

Now, I am no psychologist but I know someone who will be.  Anyway, think about the things outlined here.  What about them are familiar to you?  Maybe you see someone in a minister's robe with his dick hanging out, chasing your daughter? 

 =====================================

Profile of the Sociopath
This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.

• Glibness and Superficial Charm
  
     
• Manipulative and Conning
  
  They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
     
• Grandiose Sense of Self
  
  Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."
     
• Pathological Lying
  
  Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
     
• Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
  
  A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
     
• Shallow Emotions
  
  When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
     
• Incapacity for Love
  
     
• Need for Stimulation
  
  Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
     
• Callousness/Lack of Empathy
  
  Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
     
• Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
  
  Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others. 
     
• Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
  
  Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
     
• Irresponsibility/Unreliability
  
  Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
     
• Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
  
  Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts. 
     
• Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
  
  Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.
     
• Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
  
  Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.
     

 ====================================

Glibness and Superficial Charm
Didn't they bank on this to lure us into the black hole of the Spirtual Rights Foundation?


Manipulative and Conning
Yep.  Any questions?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller?


Grandiose Sense of Self
So, who's birthdays did we have to always honor with lavish gifts, big parties and never less than a happy face and spiritually perfect attitude?  I know it wasn't mine.  It wasn't any of our fellow inmates either.


Pathological Lying
How many of us were told we would receive retirement cottages on a pleasant farm in the country after 10 years of ministerial service?   How many of the ministers received them after their 10 years of service?  How many other lies were told?  OK, so how many truths were told?  That should be a lot faster to answer.


Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
I think a comment one person left some time ago sums it all up.  When one of the leaders was asked to give a much-needed apology, she responed with a monotonous and flat statement sounding like it came from a disgraced (and rich) athlete's press conference rather than a real apology.


Shallow Emotions
Love Bombing, anyone?  How many of us saw the love turn to disdain and hostility as soon as we were captured in the cult's spell?  Do they really love you?  Or maybe they love what's in your wallet?


Incapacity for Love
Bill Duby himself said his wife was pretty much an emotionless woman.  Well said, Bill.  Of course, Bill wasn't exactly emotionless.  Well, he was if you ignore all the reaming, the tantrums, the spitting and the mind games he played on everyone.  I guess he did love though.  But it wasn't people he loved.  I'm still not sure what he did love besides manipulating people.


Need for Stimulation
Hell, we were always busy fulfilling someone's fantasy.  Things like working for free at a bookstore that made more selling porn than books.  Working at an SRF construction company for less than prevailing wages and benefits.  Staying up all damn night working for free making recordings to capture more victims.  Digging holes for dead animals at the farm.


Callousness/Lack of Empathy
One commenter said when Sherry developed breast cancer and was on a course of chemotherapy, the leaders complained about her "laziness" as Sherry suffered through side effect hell.  The same was said about Sandy Caven when she had MS.  Hell if I know what the Witches of Ellsworth said about me when my damn heart gave out but I presume it wasn't much different.  All I know is no one got any support when they were sick or otherwise in need.


Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Bill made his juvenile delinquency and subsequent confinement and foster care exploits legend.  I'm not sure if he set fire to small animals or conducted other torture but I would bet he did - based on his adult explotiation and abuse of his followers.


Irresponsibility/Unreliability
What can you say about a guy who says he does nothing, says nothing and is responsible for even less?  Oh, we've been saying it all along?  Yeah, I guess you are right - he really was an asshole.


Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Unfortunately, there is only limited space to write about this topic.  Let's just say Bill acted like all the dirty priests all rolled up into one perverted package - his ministerial robes flapping in the breeze and his dick pointed up in the air.


Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
How about the way we worked our asses off to fulfill Bill's warped and deluded fantasies?  Who worked at his bookstore for free?  Who worked his construction firm for next to nothing?  Who sweated at his farm?  How many of Bill's visions for a better life came to fruition?  How many were doomed from the start?   And how often did he blame his failures on us?   Yeah, I thought so.


Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
You know, when the Witches of Ellsworth sued me, they used the harshest legal language they could find and made the most outrageous claims of defamation they could concoct.  They were positioning themselves as all-powerful, fearsome, a force to reckoned with.  But after they got pummeled by our brilliant and talented attorney (who would take no shit from them) the Witches became "warm and nourishing" fairy godmothers wiping tears from their eyes sobbing about the unfairness of the hostility aimed at poor little them.


It never ceases to amaze me.  The Witches of Ellsworth and Bill Duby continue to slap you in the face while picking your pocket.  They cry about their own poverty and humble nature while racking up fortunes for themselves and forcing their followers to throw lavish birthday parties in their honor. 

There is, apparently, a psychological difference between psychopathy and sociopathy.  It's a difference that the mental health professionals can discern.

But me, I say they are one and the same for my purposes.  And however you characterize Bill Duby or the Witches of Ellsworth, they are all cut from the same cloth.