The Academy for Psychic Studies - No Class

So, I guess it's always summer at
the Academy for Psychic Studies

A quick perusal of the Academy for Psychic Studies website can speak volumes.

I am not recommending you do (if you do, it's at your own risk) but if you do, you might notice something: most classes have run their course and there is a dearth of new ones starting.

What's listed are mostly one-day special event classes that have their sell-by date well expired.  Two are the infamous Healing 1 class due to start at the end of March and a Female Energy class due to start in April.

That's it.

There's a Calistoga trip for those who want to enjoy the hot springs, Academy for Psychic Studies style the day before tax day.  Maybe your time would be better spent hunched over your 1040 than sitting at the edge of a mineral pool next to a couple of porcine and brain-dead sycophants waving their arms and befouling the air.

So maybe this lack of attention to their class schedules is just a sign of a simple mix-up with the website or maybe it is just an oversight.

Well, those oversights and mix-ups are commonplace with the Academy for Psychic Studies.  We should know - we saw them every goddamn day!

Even worse is that the Academy has so few people able to grind out work for the Witches of Ellsworth Steet, there is just no damn way they can maintain a full roster of classes.

While there were a few people who were conscientious enough to operate the classes and locations with some competence, they have been long chased away from the Academy for Psychic Studies.

Nearly all of them cite the Witches of Ellsworth as the ones who did the chasing.

The bishop was essentially cut off from her subsistence when the Witches decided to end her meager stipend and reduce the revenue shares on hypnosis sessions and training to nearly nothing.

Others had run-ins from a sense of futility or serious personal conflicts with the Witches, which I guess are the same things.

So, is the Academy able to renew itself as a warm and nourishing Phoenix arising from the ashes of it's former existence?

Are you fucking kidding me?

When the Witches of Ellsworth Street are dragging the remains of their followers around by the ear to accomplish an endless, thankless and otherwise un-fulfilling set of tasks, just how successful do you think they'll be?

What I am looking forward to, what keep me and so many others in the hope that at last this decrepit mass of bodily fluids will sink into the ooze it was born from.

If that takes months or years doesn't matter.

Hope comes from the knowledge the daily activities of the Academy for Psychic Studies falls on its face with every step it takes and step by step, the Academy shows a renaissance can't be had.

When the Witches don't renew the lease on the hidden and horrible San Jose location, we'll know for sure the death watch has begun.

...or maybe it already has.

Iraq on the Delta

In honor of this shitheap and boat anchor in Bethel Island, CA being on the market for a year and counting, here is another classic article on "The Blue Sky Ranch".

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Iraq in 1992

I'd put a picture of the Blue Sky Ranch in Bethel Island here
but it's pretty much the same thing.

OK, so it's actually called "The Blue Sky Ranch" or "the farm". And it's not really in Iraq, it's in Bethel Island, California.

It is a fine example of a big idea poorly formed, poorly executed, badly planned and based on faulty assumptions and reckless disregard for good sense - just like us in Iraq!

The Blue Sky Ranch was conceived by Bill Duby as a peaceful country estate where animals and crops may be raised and the congregation could assemble for religious retreats or recreation. It would be "the people's farm" were we could come to release the pressures and stress of the city and our daily lives. We could indulge in the calm of the country while releasing the cares of the world.

Well not really, I guess, but that's how the dead bastard presented it to us.

We soon learned the Blue Sky Ranch was anything but the people's place for relaxation. Instead, we worked our collective ass off to prepare the ranch to raise livestock that died, crops that never sprouted and to build structures for pampered animals - Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva.

We actually did construct buildings for animals. Some of them had beds and a shower - for the two-legged variety of animal.

In any event, we worked and worked and worked on that farm. Bill Duby made it clear: Angela Silva wanted no one there unless the people were working or paying.

Sometimes it seemed like we were working and paying at the same time.

Regularly, the envelope was passed around. "Donations" were demanded from the congregation (especially and very forcefully from the ministers) to give money for construction, animal food, animal purchases, animal care, animal transportation, bullets to kill the damn animals when they got sick...

Not even the trash got a free ride. As there was frequently more debris from the various construction projects than could fit in the single household trash can we had available, the guys with trucks were usually pressed into service to haul away garbage. Where that garbage went was of no concern to the leaders. Just as long as it was hauled away somewhere. I saw where some of that garbage went - it didn't go to the landfill. And if you needed at least some reimbursement for gas, disposal fees and whatever other expenses incurred from dumping the leader's trash, you'd be told to pass an envelope of your own (which sometimes came back empty) or usually, you'd just get a foul look and a curt remark like: "that's your problem".

Anyway, we were made to pay and pay big. After we paid our money, we paid with our sweat. We were constantly cajoled, threatened and embarrassed into "contributing" our labor to the Blue Sky Ranch.

After all, it was for the church of the people. The Blue Sky Ranch was the place by the Spiritual Rights Foundation created at Bethel Island, CA for the people of the Spiritual Rights Foundation.

So we thought.

Over time, Bill made more and more crazy modifications to the property. His first foray was to build a 12-foot high fence - much higher than necessary. Not only was the fence that tall vulnerable to the strong winds of the Sacramento River Delta, it was totally illegal. Only shorter fence would be allowed.

So after we spent the money to buy the materials and sweat in the blazing sun to construct it, the county building inspectors arrived and ordered the fence taken down.

Later, out buildings were constructed. Fund raising drives were held to purchase building kits, trees, equipment, farm animals and just about anything else you would find on a farm.

That infamous envelope was passed around and a psychic club waved above our heads ready to crash down on the guy who hesitated to dig deep and give, give, give his hard earned wages to the spiritual farm of the people.

We paid for a lot of things on that farm. Our donations were made in cash, or check mostly. Some took advances on their credit cards or just charged it. But those donations were all made to the Spiritual Rights Foundation - we all thought the "SRF" farm was indeed owned by the Spiritual Rights Foundation.

Nope.

That farm which Bill Duby called "The People's Farm" while screaming at us to work at it, then "The Blue Sky Ranch" when he tried to lure people to visit, is actually a property owned by Robin Dumolin and Angela Silva. I know. I looked it up in the Contra Costa County Recorder's Office. They have the deed recorded there. The previous owner sold it to Robin and Angela, not SRF.

Click to Enlarge

So if that property is owned by two individuals and not the "church", why is it that SRF-ies are giving their time, money and whatever else to build and maintain that property? No one is being paid - at least none of the cult members are. And one cringes when he thinks of the money spent there.

That money was paid out for at least until September of 2010, when no other than Angela Silva and Robin Dumolin transferred the Blue Sky Ranch to the Spiritual Rights Foundation - a non-profit corporation where they serve as President and Vice President, respectively.  While for anyone else, transferring property to a non-profit would be seen as charitable.  For those two, transferring a property they own to a non-profit they control looks a little less than on the up-and-up.  Especially now as the property is up for sale.

That the farm has outlived its usefulness to the Witches of Ellsworth Street is pretty obvious.  Because of their current reversal of fortune, they are pretty much unconcerned about the money spent there (since most of it came from the followers) and are more concerned about getting out of it all they can.

But a lot of money was spent there. There were outbuildings for animals, equipment, supplies constantly being erected on the farm. So many outbuildings were constructed and so many vehicles were parked on the farm property the neighbors thought there were illegal immigrants living there.

The main residence was a mobile home, still on its trailer wheels and all.  Before the purchase, a law requiring buildings to be raised above flood level was passed. The previous owners were able to keep the home flat on the ground as they owned the farm prior to the law.

After he purchased the farm, Bill learned he had to raise his cheap mobile home trailer up on three-story high stilts if he wanted to keep it. The county insisted and insisted and Bill kept putting them off more and more. Bill sent person after person to speak with the county building officials trying to get an exemption. In the end, after years of wrangling, SRF could not keep bamboozling the county officials and finally had to raise the cheap mobile home up above the flood level. Why they didn't just get rid of the mobile home and find alternate ways to stay there was never said.

I imagine that Robin and Angela were not willing to drive in Bill's luxury RV and spend their time in there if there was a perfectly crap mobile home to stay in. If it had to be lifted in the air, then we will just get the followers to pay for it, just like they paid for everything else.

At any rate, the building was raised in the air. There was two stories of empty space between the ground floor (basically, just a concrete slab) and the mobile home on the top floor. Not being one to miss an opportunity, Robin and Angela started thinking and asking themselves what to do with the new space created underneath the now-raised building.

The solution: construct a dormitory, a kitchen and meeting space.

You can debate the wisdom or reasonableness of that concept forever. But the leaders made it clear to their followers: a dormitory in that area was quite illegal.  So SRF members were sworn to secrecy and construction was conducted quietly behind closed doors and tightly closed blinds.

Illegality was never an issue for SRF. They just went ahead and built out the sleeping quarters and kitchen. I know. I installed the floor coverings there.

So, if you were so unfortunate as to be trapped at the Blue Sky Ranch in Bethel Island during a flood you would find yourself housed in a dormitory that would eventually be underwater. I'd wear a life jacket if I were there in winter.

Worse yet, if you were caught in that dormitory in an emergency (like a guy going postal, fire or earthquake) you would find no way to escape. Why? Because in their infinite wisdom, SRF installed the small, narrow windows you would find in a maximum security prison throughout the sleeping quarters of the dormitory. The windows aren't just too small to bring in any real light, they are simply too narrow to climb through in an emergency. You can stick your arm out of them and wave for help, though. In an emergency, the leaders will gladly answer your call by holding out a last will and testament for you to sign (with the hand you are sticking out the window) leaving everything you have to them. Hey, you didn't think they would rescue your ass, did you?

Maybe the tiny widows were intended. After all, the leaders say you would suffer a spiritual death if you leave SRF. Installing windows far to small to use in an emergency would certainly keep you from leaving the holy confines of SRF to escape into the evil world. You should be happy they are keeping you from an untimely worldly death.

Instead, you'll suffer a spiritually enlightening death by drowning, fire, earthquake or at the hands of a madman with a gun because you can't escape the illegal dormitory through the stupidly small windows. And when the building collapses because the shifting, settling concrete slab it sits on finally gives way, you can rest in peace in the dormitory underneath the blessed and holy mobile home that smashed you into a human pancake.

Sounds good to me. Feeling suicidal? How about a trip to the next Blue Sky Ranch retreat? It'll work better than a rope.

The farm was built with a vision - maybe not a clear and well-formed one but a vision nonetheless. Bill wanted to build a spiritual paradise where his flock can live, work, retreat and work, attend life-affirming self-development classes and work, raise livestock and a few crops and work, and celebrate their leader and the Spiritual Rights Foundation while working.

Bill envisioned a community of spiritually aware people thriving and developing the farm - a collection of buildings and other support sheds strategically placed throughout the property with meeting halls and other building for special computer and internet work available.

The only problem: he couldn't do any of that. The land wasn't zoned for it, so all of that was illegal.  Bill famously complained about the law not allowing him to do what he wanted, so he did it anyway.

Besides, the farm was built on swampland. It is right next to the Sacramento River Delta and sits on loose, sandy soil. The main building on the farm is placed on a concrete slab and raised three stories in the air. Unfortunately, that slab is sinking and shifting - exactly what you would expect from an un-stabilized concrete slab poured on swampland.

The neighbors are not happy with it either. What with all the cars and traffic that appeared, the nutty, almost haphazard construction of outbuildings, the groups of too-giddy people congregating and making odd noises in this quiet place, the long-time residents were leery and suspicious of the people and the things that happen there.

At first the farm was a hub of activity with livestock being trucked in from animal auctions and their dead bodies being buried not long after. The death rate among the livestock was said to be about 90%. Trees were planted then pulled up dead. The muddy fields were filled with dirt to dry them but equipment got stuck anyway.

Horses were brought in then quickly sold when they discovered horses need to be fed, watered and exercised every day. Other animals lived at the SRF farm. Just not for long.

And that meeting hall? There is a dormitory in the illegal second floor, but for the most part it is unfinished with an unfinished stairway smack in the middle of it and unpainted, poorly built walls standing around the unfinished floor.

How about the other buildings? Apart from a few sheds still in use - most are empty.

The enthusiasm for the farm waned faster than Congress' interest in health care.

Now, the farm sits mostly idle. There are a few die-hards who remain, but only a very few of the dozen or so remaining at SRF have interest in the farm. The rest go there because they have to.

Whatever the vision of the Blue Sky Ranch was in the beginning, it has turned into a nightmare with unfinished projects, neglected opportunities for productive activities and illegal, unsafe and potentially lethal dormitories and facilities.

Or maybe that vision was a hallucination. That might explain the whole mess.

Academy for Psychic Studies - Killing Couples

I'm not calling The Academy for Psychic Studies a den of murderers. In fact, while at least one person was driven to suicide supposedly as a result of issues related to The Academy for Psychic Studies  I'm not aware of anyone else dying because of them.

What The Academy for Psychic Studies does do is humiliate couples, take their money, absorb all their time and even takes their children. Yes, you, your spouse, your bank account, your property and even your children are Academy property.

One couple I know recently escaped from The Academy for Psychic Studies. At the start of their relationship, The Academy was abuzz with their "blessed" and golden union. They a very handsome couple and it would not take long for them to marry. I was very happy for them both as they were (and still are) wonderful people who anyone would be thrilled to know.

The wife is African and the husband is Caucasian. Not a big deal these days. However, at The Academy for Psychic Studies heir differing family backgrounds were used against them in disgusting and degrading ways.

In accordance to church doctrine of "revealing", the wife said to the church founder (in a supposed private conversation) that her husband was less enthusiastic in bed then she would prefer.

The thought of discussing one's sexual relationship with a third party is pretty uncomfortable to most of us and is held as very private and confidential information by professionals and clergy. Well, professionalism and confidentiality simply does not exist at The Academy for Psychic Studies  Almost immediately, the church leadership (at least Bill and his partner, Angela) were openly discussing the husband's low level of activity activity with the entire membership.

It gets better. On Monday evenings, the members would gather for a popular trance and healing session with Bill. To open the trance session, he generally makes jokes at the expense of one or two of the members. Not just a few simple teases, deep, and personal jabs that will make you cringe.

That evening was our star couple's turn. Bill opened by saying "'X' says her husband can't put that big snake in her and she's can't scratch that itch in her pussy. Hey there slave massa, take your nigger to the big house and make her sing some gospel or she'll get it from someone else!"

Uh... what?

OK, so being good members, they went right home and performed as directed. Not long later, in the same setting, Bill announced those assembled: "So, 'Y' is coming home for lunch and getting a blow job while he's eating his fur burger. That boy is a pussy addict and she's the pussy mommy giving him a taste any time he wants."

Uh... what?

So, the guy turns up the heat in bed - as directed. Then he's shamed for following directions. Changing their tune in mid-course was a very common way to keep you off balance and unprepared. If you followed instructions, as you were required, the instructions were changed and usually, you were never told about it. At least, not until you cross over that invisible line.

It wasn't long before the husband crossed the invisible line (while doing exactly what he was told - turn up the heat in bed) and was condemned by the leadership to move out of his home and into a motor home, apart from his wife and shunned by the church. I still can't figure out what he did besides do as he was told.

That marriage took years to get back to normal.

In Memory of Sandy Caven

I am posting this from Joy's blog about Sandy Caven as there has been some discussion about her lately.

Sandy was one of the first people I met from the Spiritual Rights Foundation.  She was truly a good person and when I later found out how they were working her so hard, I was shocked.  Of course I did not know that until after I left, but I knew she was always kept running from place to place at the bidding of the leaders.

She never told me she had MS.  I did know there was something going on with her health, though.  I thought it was just overwork.  Now I know better.

Sandy endured so much physical pain to please her leaders, going so far as to clean houses for a living while running from San Jose to Berkeley to Bethel Island and back again over and over.

Sandy once told me about at time she was running around doing Bill's bidding and somehow was unable to come to SRF headquarters when Bill demanded it.  He punishment was to be "defrocked" and excluded from teaching or any contact with students.  I'm not sure what else they made her do, but I would believe she did all of it faithfully.  I guess her belief in serving others - the same belief we all held, was stronger than her need for her own well being.

That belief in service was not only her downfall, but it was her true blessing.  Sandy was always grateful for anything she received from someone no matter how small.

I remember taking care of her computer for her and her being so grateful for the help.  I replace her broken hard drive with a spare I had lying around.  It made all the difference and her expression was one I will always remember.

I know she was married when she entered SRF and like so many other unions, it was torn apart at the demand of the leaders.  Her next marriage was arranged by the leaders as well.  It didn't last.

When she was later hospitalized for MS, the leaders (Debi, Robin and Angela) went to see her for some reason.  After the visit, the leaders gathered the faithful around and told everyone Sandy was just looking for sympathy, she's just a complainer and that is what landed her in the hospital.  As an example, they said Sandy pressed the nurse call button and asked for something.  While speaking they were laughing and giggling.  It was disgusting.

Often, when someone is sick, SRF rallies to conduct "healing" rituals and prayer.  Not in Sandy's case.  She was just forgotten, left there on her own.  Left for dead.

This sad information is hard to write about but important.

Were it not for our own sense of self-preservation we may have suffered the same fate.

Please don't let this tale keep you from your own sense of service. Please keep giving to real charities and keep serving others as you can.  It's more of a tale of how the crooked and dishonest take advantage only of those with a good heart.

And those people are people like you.

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From Joy's blog: My Life at the Spiritual Rights Foundation Cult.

Sandy Caven was one of the directors at the Spiritual Rights Foundation Cult.

She had MS, but all the same Bill, Angela, Robin worked her as hard as her body could take and then racked her over the coals if she complained.

She was a sweet, dear, lovable woman who I took to immediately.

I did not understand at the time why she worked so hard, why she drove from one branch of the school to the other and then back again. I thought as people taught me to think that it was her fault she did so much that she was always in pain. Now I know better the poor woman was being worked to death by the lead "ministers" of the church.

She left the church some time ago, I am not sure when. Maybe 8,9 or 10 years ago. I was sad to here she was gone and don't remember them saying much about it. I was upset when hearing the bishop saying cold, harsh comments about her with her usual smile and happy go lucky attitude that seldom seemed to fit the circumstances.

She died about 4-5 months ago due to her MS. She stayed with her son for a while but then had to move out, don't know all the details.

These picture was taken January 8, 1999. I had her show her beautiful hands. She had such elegant long fingers and she did her own manicure. She always had perfect nails. That was her one luxury. I don't know how she did it since she worked as a house cleaner like half of the woman at the church did so they could be at the beck and call of the leaders to do stuff.

I would spend allot of time with her helping her with the tapes (audio recordings for Health and Wealth). She was so patient and kind to me. I believed that if anyone there could be an angel, she could be.

I feel horrible that she had such a horrible life and she had to suffer such a debilitating disease. I hate the fact that she got beat up at the church when she complained about her pain or wanted understanding that she was tired and maybe was doing to much.

I don't know what her life was like after she left the church. I hope, no I know it must have been better in some way even if her body was deteriorating more and more.

I pray she is resting now and has servants of her own if there is a heaven.