Dr Joe Dispenza and Seth

[Deb]

"This is not about positive thinking. This is about changing how you think, act, and feel, to create a new personal reality. How would you use this knowledge to make your own personal change?"  ~Dr Joe

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a workshop given by Dr. Joe Dispenza. I took my 20 year old son, who surprised me by willing to be open-minded enough to go, listen and hopefully learn something new.

If you don't know about Joe: He's trained as a chiropractor but also continued his education in neuroscience, neurobiology, neuroplasticity and epigenetics. He teaches that we make our own reality, our health or disease, the power of the mind. Teaching the Seth concepts, but using scientific evidence as proof and explanation for other nerds like me (and my son). Joe's being a chiropractor from the beginning says he was thinking outside of the box of mainstream medicine from the start. But he became even more interested in the body's innate ability to heal itself at the age of 23, when he was struck by a truck while in the biking portion of a triatholon. He had major compression fractures in 6 vertebra, from his neck to lower back, and was told by several doctors that he would be paralyzed from the neck down if he didn't immediately have Harrington rods inserted in his back. He decided to heal himself instead. And he did. He was back at work in 8 weeks, and still at the age of 50-something, has no lingering back pain. To say that how he accomplished his healing is inspirational is an understatement.

His recovery spurred an interest in spontaneous remissions in people who were critically ill—on their deathbeds actually. His goal was to find out what those people had in common, to find out the "secret" of their recoveries. His conclusion was, simply, that they changed their minds and therefore changed their bodies.

More studies on brain function, neuroscience, cellular biology, genetics, quantum physics, beliefs and the chemistry behind thinking-becoming-being brings him to where he is today. He has it all figured out, or at least to me what he says makes sense. He's in alignment with Seth's teachings, but is actually teaching people HOW to utilize the concepts to change their lives. It's working! There are a lot of people that walked into his workshops with physical ailments and walk out either cured or at least on their way to recovery. Other attendees had non-health problems in their lives that were solved.

That brings me to his most recent book, You Are The Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter (double entendre there). An amazing book on a multitude of documented cases of people recovering from all sorts of illness by taking a placebo, sometimes even knowing it was a placebo and still healing. How can you argue with the power of the mind when you see someone cured from lymphoma, heart disease, Parkinson's and more by taking a sugar pill, or having saline injections or even fake surgery? Fascinating stuff.

But Joe doesn't limit his teaching to physical health. He sees the bigger picture and while a lot of the people that attend his workshops are there because of a physical ailment or disability they want to cure, there are just as many that want to make their lives in general to be as rewarding as possible.

I'd love to be able to work with him in some capacity. To get involved with a practical way to spread the Seth concepts to a broad, open, audience. To work and spend time with people who feel the same way. Not to mention that he teaches workshops all around the world... every one of them being sold out.

I've met him a couple of times, been to lectures and a workshop, back before he was well-known. Had lunch with him, traded hugs. He's a great guy. Devoted and passionate about his work. I just need to find a way to worm my way into his environment. I guess I need to keep working on my beliefs and my frequency, .

Who knows, in a couple of months I could have a new career, traveling the world, helping spread the nature of reality and learning more nerdy details about the science that is us.

[SumariDeb]

That's awesome that your son was open-minded enough to go with you and listen. My kids thought I had joined a cult when I first got into Seth, and still think I'm a weird new-age hippie. (Okay I am, but that's not the point here  )  I only know Joe Dispenza from "What the Bleep...", but I liked him.

What the average person doesn't get is that ALL medicine is a placebo.   

[Deb]

My kids thought I had joined a cult when I first got into Seth

My son kind of thinks the same about me, but he loves me anyway.

Yes, ALL medicine is a placebo. Joe presented evidence of surgery being the same. There have been studies done where people with bad knees volunteered to be in a study where some people would actually get arthroscopic surgery, others would just be cut and sewn up again. Just as many people who did NOT have the actual surgery recovered. No doubt their recovery time from the "surgery" was shorter too.

I really need to start collecting more quotes from Seth on medicine, surgery, natural remedies for my "Seth On" section. He talks about how the body can recognize and use natural remedies. I have some questions about nutrition, supplements and whether our bodies really need anything to maintain themselves. Even food? Hmmm.... must read more.

[John Sorensen]

Hi Deb,


You may be interested in the Marathon Monks of Mt Hiei. a.k.a. "Running Buddhas" I have a great book on them and it talks about how they run consecutive marathons for 100 days as part of their training for enlightenment. In the old days if they failed during their training they had to commit ritual suicide, but that part has been done away with in the modern era.


After running the consecutive marathons they have a period of intense meditation for several days whey they are not allowed to sleep, eat or drink any water or consume food , after this "rest" they resume their training.

Another interesting sidenote is that during their marathon days, they consume very little food, less than half of what your average westerner eats who sits on their ass all day in an office job, and the runners maintain a relatively consistent bodyweight, despite their energy demands.
Another thing to consider is that our primary energy source is oxygen / breathing - not food. Food then while supplying energy gives us nutrients, micro/macro minerals, trace elements etc that oxygen does not.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hiei#Mount_Hiei_in_folklore

Marathon monks[edit]John Stevens wrote the book The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, chronicling the practice of walking long distances – up to 52 miles (84 km) a day for 100 straight days, in an effort to attain enlightenment. The practice of walking is known as the kaihōgyō.
A 2010 US National Public Radio report described the sennichi kaihōgyō (thousand-day kaihōgyō) as...1,000 days of walking meditation and prayer over a seven-year period around Mount Hiei. [The 13th disciple since WWII to complete the cycle] walked 26 miles a day for periods of either 100 or 200 consecutive days — a total distance about the same as walking around the Earth

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/scni41a2.htm

The marathon monks of Japan are a group of Buddhists who push the limits of human endurance in search of a higher plane of spirituality. The ritual followed by these monks is almost beyond belief:

[/size]1st year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2-mile marathons, beginning at 1:30 a.m., each day after an hour of prayer[/size]2nd year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons3rd year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons4th year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons - performed twice5th year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons - performed twiceOn the 700th day, the monks undergo a 9 day fast without food, water, rest or sleep - a mind-boggling feat which would result in certain death for most human beings, before having a short rest of a few weeks and increasing their gruelling schedule6th year: 100 consecutive days of 37.5 mile marathons7th year: 100 days of 52.2 mile marathons and 100 days of 26.2 mile marathons.

[Deb]

Marathon Monks. Wow, it never fails to amaze me what people will do for enlightenment. I can't even imagine.

And now for the Joe Dispenza workshop. I don't even know where to begin. So I'll just jump in with both feet.

This was an advanced workshop, focused on the materials presented in You Are The Placebo.

Basics: We make our reality. We make our bodies and our health (or lack thereof). The mind that created the problem cannot create the solution. Matter cannot change matter: to change we must move our consciousness out of the material (particle) world into wave (quantum field of possibilities, the zero point field, The Field). We are more than our bodies, we are simply housed in our bodies. The bodies come and go. We are eternal.

Much of his solutions are based on deep meditation: getting us out of our heads and into The Field. While we're "gone" our bodies, our autonomic systems, have a chance to clean house, repair, create balance. Also while we're gone, we can plant the seeds in the field for a new reality for ourselves. Time. Space. We covered it all.

Science-based, he explains how we create our bodies (genes are merely blueprints for proteins that make up our bodies). We perceive with our senses, we interpret our perceptions through the filter of our beliefs. With each perception- thought- interpretation, the brain then sends chemical messengers to various glands to produce certain hormones that make us feel a certain way and affect gene expression (epigenetics). We get into repetitive thinking to the point that we get stuck in loops. Thoughts create emotions which create feelings which cycle around and around. We express genes incorrectly, or the blueprints begin to wear out. His advice: We have to learn to think greater than we feel. The body becomes the mind, habitual. We can't let it get away with that.

This workshop was intense: early morning getups, long 12-13 hour days (and longer), three guided meditations per day (at least an hour each, one was four hours), breath work, different tools to coax that mind out of the body, and very high emotions running constantly. Two walking meditations in the early morning at a nearby park: dark, rainy, cold. And yet one of the most amazing experiences I've had.

He presented loads of research: he's been gathering data during these workshops via EEGs, heart monitors, energy measurements in humans and ambient room readings (Sputnik). So hours of explanations of the EEGs, readings of brain activity levels from beta, alpha, theta, delta, etc. Measurements taken before, during, after meditation. Some results that have the scientific community looking over his shoulder in awe and disbelief.

The bonding of the group as a whole during these workshops is amazing too. This time there were 500 of us. Synchronicity/coincidence was the norm. Two people from the October workshop I attended had completely healed themselves of their chronic conditions by this point. One was a woman who was in Stage 4 ovarian cancer (you know what the cure rate is for ovarian). The other had a serious back injury that incapacitated her for years. After trying everything medically possible her mother forced her to go to the October workshop. She's healed herself completely since then, bounded up onto the stage to tell her story. She just about knocked Joe over as she threw herself at him in her enthusiasm.

Although this workshop was incredibly exhausting, it was the most amazing thing I've done in a while. I've never seen people so excited and devoted to their work as Joe and his staff. Long hours, non-stop, giving it everything they've got. I'd so love to be part of the team. Me, and about half the other attendees. I need to send him a huge thank you letter. I wanted to tell him in person, but I would have been too choked up to get it out. Must work on that throat chakra.

Sorry this was so long, it's hard to whittle 4.5 days down to one single post. But I'm still sorting through it all in my mind as well. So much to take in, in such a short time period.

[John Sorensen]

Thank You Deb!    We look forward to hearing more of your experiences.


Can I ask what was involved in the walking meditation?
I've been doing a backwards walking meditation several time a week for about 3 years now, along with my usual seated morning meditations and it is an awesome exercise.

[Deb]

Can I ask what was involved in the walking meditation?

You'll be sorry... (don't know if you've seen American Horror Story...)

Backwards? Oh John, you are certainly a breath of fresh air. I wish I had some people in my life that were more like you.

Well, let's see if I can explain the walking meditation. I tried to tell a friend about it today, she and I are on completely different wave lengths and I wasn't very successful with her. But that seems to be the standard for us. An odd friendship: I think we have just about nothing in common, but we've been friends for 20+ years and she's one of the nicest people I know. I think that's what I love about her: she's pure.

So Joe has many guided meditation mp3s that you can buy on his web site. He created a walking meditation one (actually, now a 2nd one) that was sent to the workshop attendees, for free, for download. So we all had the meditation on some sort of mobile device.

We all met at a park at a specific time. Since there were 500 of us, it was not coordinated. We all just plugged ourselves in and started the audio on our own schedule. It starts off standing still, and he drones on (intentionally, it's mesmerizing) about sensing the space within in us, the space around us, the space within the spaaaccceeee.... you get the idea. Coaxing our focus out of the here and now material world and into a more expansive place. All heart-centered. Then a tone sounds, the music switches and we're instructed to start walking, at this point almost in a trance state. Awareness of the nature surrounding us, the energy field within and without, etc. After a certain period of time, a tone and change in music. We're instructed to stop walking and there's more guidance. That goes on a couple more times... I couldn't say for sure, at some point I tend to lose track of time and space and myself. Being in the dark in a natural setting, mist, rain even, is surreal.

What was amazing for me was being a part of that, and also seeing the other 499 people spread throughout the park. Everyone was in a different "place" -- some walking, some standing, some in wheelchairs, some physically handicapped, blind... in a cold, dark, wet park. Tacoma is a very wet climate. Evergreen to a degree: moss on trees and ground, evergreen plants, daffodils and crocus already blooming (I live in an arid climate where cactus and yucca grow outside my gate; I won't see plant life greening up until April and it will continue to snow into May). Everything about the scene was alien to me, and I loved it. I was so completely out of my element that I felt like I was in another dimension.

On the second walking meditation, I had such a profound moment that I'm still thinking about it. And it's what I want to describe to Joe.

It was closer to the end of my walk. Temperature around 36° F. Just above freezing. It was damp, dark and cold. I was wearing just about every piece of clothing I'd packed, plus a sweatshirt I'd bought at the workshop. At that point my fingers, toes and face were pretty much frozen. But I looked around and saw all of these people there, each very involved in their own very personal journey. Every single one of them (us) were there for a reason: there was something in our lives that we earnestly wanted to change. Every reason was different: some were critically ill or had other serious medical issues, some handicapped, some at a turning point in their lives and needed guidance. A variety of ages: from 20s to 80s. Different ethnicities. But all were united with a common goal. And all had found Joe and his passion for life and teaching others how to find their own way. Every one of them (us) deserved what we wanted.

That's when it hit me how profound it is what he is doing. He has made his own sacrifices to do what he is doing. He is so dedicated to helping anyone, everyone, that he spends what little time he has between workshops trying to find ways to better explain the concepts to the attendees so they'll understand and be able to put them to their own use.

I enjoy meditation, but I have to say that meditation in a group is so powerful and amplified that the intensity can transport anyone to a place that I can't even explain.

I was so overcome by emotion at that point that I thought my heart was going to just burst right out of my chest. And that's what I wanted to tell Joe: how much he's appreciated, what he is doing does not go unnoticed. I so much wanted to thank him in person and didn't know how to say that without dissolving into a puddle of goo. Because that's exactly what would have happened.

I've been a "fan" of his for a number of years and while I thought what he was about was interesting and then lost interest for a while, I have to say the past year is like he turned on his beacon and is broadcasting who he truly is—with an intensity that I can't ignore. I'm a moth to the flame.

So... I'm sure you got way more than you'd asked for and have probably zoned out quite a bit, which is understandable and expected. But I just had to get this out. Maybe I can simply copy & paste this into an email to him, lol.

[John Sorensen]

Thanks for sharing Deb, I am very obsessive-compulsive and I like super-ulatra-nerd-detail, so the more the better. Sounds like you had some awesome experiences.


I've meditated by myself (which I prefer for various reasons, anxiety being one of them) for many years, but I remember when I first started doing regular meditation I went along to some group meditations for a couple months, and I still look back with fondness on those experiences.


I'm a little jealous reading about Joe, doing what he loves, which is sharing and teaching, that is my passion also, but I have not found any venue / way yet to really unleash that burning desire. It drives me mad at times. I read like 100's of books a year, mostly non-fiction and am always applying things in real life, and I am very good at synthesizing, simplifying and incorporating different teachings and knowledge from different sources. Like your Joe Dispenza's, Greg Braden's, Wayne Dyer's of the world etc.


It seems podcasting would be the thing for me, the most direct way of reaching a potential audience along with writing. I love to talk, and can talk for hours etc on many topics, but there is no point if there is no audience etc.
Being currently unemployed for over a year and being turned down for even the most rubbish jobs of course is rather frustrating, it just seems endless.


Thanks for sharing and I know all the other folk who visit here will be eager to hear more of your experiences. I don't mean to be demanding, it will take time to decompress and remember things I imagine, and how much you share is of course your choice, but it is always most welcome with this Sethie lot.


I was inspired to start rereading "lose your mind" this week after reading your posts Deb, so thank for that as I am enjoying it. It's been perhaps two years since reading it.


I really enjoye the backwards walking meditation, which is a Chinese exercise with various arm movements, it sort of comes from the same family tree as Tai Chi and Chi Gung.
I usually go for around 30 minutes, and the longest has been in warm summer weather for two hours. It really has two components, the outer form (walking) and the inner form (meditation) and I often think many Westerners who have never meditation would be better to start with any type of moving meditation rather than seated as I find it more immediate, like Yoga, where you changing your state of mind by manipulating your body, rather than changing your body by using your mind. Both are useful of course, and I mean a different thing that Joe talks about, which is basically being unconscious in habit/thought/deed - letting the body run the mind.
What I getting is more the union of Yoga (which I also have practiced) applied to the walking meditation.


I have also come up with a variant on the walking meditation, where instead I start doing random movements and spiral and odd shapes, and purposely losing focus of the here and now. In this version I usually walk in bare feet on the grass (summer here in OZ) and last time I did this, it was more like a trance walk than a meditation, more free associative than the discipline of meditation.


Anyhow, last week when I was doing the trance version I asked myself "why has my shoulder/ arm been itchy for several weeks" and I got an impression of being shot with a rifle in that arm (a non fatal wound? I don't know) with the sort of rifle that would be World War 1 or earlier type of model.


Anyhow, I just want the bloody itching to stop, it's like an insect bite but spread over a section of my arm, which like having a many mosquito bites, hmmm, more like buckshot from a shotgun really.


I don't know, my arm is telling me something, but I don't much care right now!


Enough rambling for now. 

[Deb]

I'm so glad I didn't bore you out of your mind. Sometimes I just have to write (you can tell who the bloggers are on this forum). I don't worry so much about it being read, I just like putting it out there.

I woke up thinking about your backwards walking meditation. It sounds interesting, do you just walk around in your house or yard? There's an empty field behind my home, a lot of times when I feel the need to be grounded I'll throw on some moccasins and sort of walk-meditate in a serpentine pattern. Too many cactus and yucca and scratchy grasses and weeks to even consider barefoot. I don't think I'd dare backwards out there, too many holes from voles and other critters. But I'm very grateful to have that right out my back door.

I first did walking meditation at the Shambhala camp up at Red Feathers Lake. It was a 3 day weekend of "contemplative walking." It was the first time I'd heard of walking meditation but was very enjoyable. All done in silence, in the mountains, with some sit-down time at the top of a mountain with journals to sketch and write. Beautiful.

Your shoulder/arm -- is the skin marred, or is it just itching? Interesting. I wonder what it's trying to tell you... and why right now?

Glad you're enjoying Breaking the Habit. I have it in hardbound, have never read it for some reason. Although I accidentally got Joe to sign it twice for me--funny story. But now you're making me want to read it. I've read (on audio) The Placebo Effect twice. That book is powerful, it's what got the Joe fire started under me again.

God I want to work for that man, helping him do what he does so well. Even if I had to be a personal chef. I'd just love to be able to do something like that, something incredibly rewarding and meaningful. Ah well, I'm not dead yet.

[BethAnne]

I got an impression of being shot with a rifle in that arm (a non fatal wound? I don't know) with the sort of rifle that would be World War 1 or earlier type of model.

Do you feel this a reincarnational thing?

[BethAnne]

Thanks for sharing your experiences.  I was wondering how it was going for you.  I listened to Joe and passed on the link.  I had found him and Bruce Lipton about the same time a couple years ago.  He seems like a very good man.

It will be interesting to hear how it's affected you after awhile.  I love those encounters where you sense your life has taken a Right Turn because it was so powerful.   

[John Sorensen]

I got an impression of being shot with a rifle in that arm (a non fatal wound? I don't know) with the sort of rifle that would be World War 1 or earlier type of model.

Do you feel this a reincarnational thing?

I acknowledge that it could be, but at this point I do not know. Whether literal or symoblic, these sorts of experiences for me are ongoing rather than finite. All I know is that say 3-6 months from now, I will have learned something from the experience, I don't know what that will be, but I trust in the process.


I have had various experiences which are related to simultaneous incarnations, bleed-throughs from other life times, and I have had experiences which were purely symbolic and not related to other life times. Some experiences are very dream like, while others are as vivid as this waking every day reality. The details are really not important to me, so much as the feelings and impressions communicated that stimulate me to look at something from a different perspective, or make a previously unknown connection in the ever expanding seamless mass reality.

[John Sorensen]

Thanks for sharing your experiences.  I was wondering how it was going for you.  I listened to Joe and passed on the link.  I had found him and Bruce Lipton about the same time a couple years ago.  He seems like a very good man.

It will be interesting to hear how it's affected you after awhile.  I love those encounters where you sense your life has taken a Right Turn because it was so powerful.   

Hi Beth Anne, if you are interested in those dudes, also check out talks etc from the following (if you have not already)

Rupert Sheldrake
Graham Hancock
Greg Braden

Who all talk on similar things, from different perspectives.


The more fundamental changes I see in my life, the more I see of myself manifesting from who I was / am before incarnating into this particular lifetime, that is, the more I see of the symbolic blueprint of my lifetime, interests, passions, intentions and pre-agreements, and where I have diverged from that pattern, or been in alignment with those choices. That is the choices that bring the possibility of growth in my own potential. At various points of course we peer into choices not made, and from the over-selfs point of view, no choice is wasted, all experience is valid.

[BethAnne]

I (nerdily) love those guys!  Add Joseph Campbell and you have a Complete Package!

[John Sorensen]

Some interesting writers / speakers show up in this page on "New Thought" - a number of my favourites in there.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Thought


https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_New_Thought_writers&from=J

[Deb]

This little video from my Dr. Joe weekend just became available. It's more of just a Preview than anything else, but contains some fond memories. And it's interesting to see the variety of people that attend Joe's workshops: men, women, young people, old people, handicapped ill, people from all over the world. And a whole lotta hugging going on, lots of emotion.

[John Sorensen]

Any physical healings take place during the time you were there Deb?

[Deb]

Any physical healings take place during the time you were there Deb?

Not that I'm aware with the people attending the workshop. But I wouldn't be surprised, there were some people having "come to Jesus" moments during meditations. (Remember "When Harry Met Sally," the restaurant scene, lol.) Just the two women from the Oct. workshop were mentioned. If you watch the video, the one woman with the back problem was on stage (at about 5:22). I doubt I'd hear about any healings from the workshop I until go to another one. Joe always gets these "you're not going to believe this" emails after his workshops. I have my eyes on the Follow-up in November.

When I went to my first Joe workshop years ago at Shambhala, a man in a wheelchair showed up towards the end. He had been in a car crash, was a quad with brain injuries and told he'd never progress. But here he was because he heard Joe was going to be in Colorado: in his wheelchair, talking, using his arms and had started getting bowel control (TMI) and sensation in his legs. He had started following Joe after his accident and wanted to thank him for what he had done. So... the mind is the placebo or a powerful healer at the minimum.

I'm just so thrilled with Joe's intention to teach people how to heal themselves, give them the tools, rather than stringing people along like forehead slapping Benny Hin, "You are heeeeellllleeed."

[John Sorensen]

Yeah, and then they bring out the snakes. The healing power of snakes! Praise Jesus! Praise the Lord!
Well, whatever works I guess.


Thanks for sharing Deb.
Although when I read "come to Jesus" my mind goes to bad places, LOL.

I was listening to some Joe talks on my ipod this week, and he talked about some of the various healings people had experienced. I'm skeptical about this sort of stuff. Not that I doubt any of it is possible, just you know, how many bogus healers have there been in the US of A over the years?

I like that Joe understands real science, and the value of having a consistent repeatable methodology. No disrespect to any genuine healers intended. But it shits me when people claim all sorts of miracles, but can't reproduce the same sorts of results in a controlled study etc.

Although there has been plenty of research on placebos / no-cebos etc.

[BethAnne]

This little video from my Dr. Joe weekend

Wow!  I can see why you are so Jazzed!  I liked the analogy of particle to wave....   Two of my Grandkids are related to Geronimo. 

[duper]

Hi John and anyone else looking for an honest review of JD's progressive workshop,

I just participated in a workshop with JD, that I hesitate to name cause it seems that his team Encephelon cleans up the Internet with impeccable detail! (no Wiki page, or anything less than flattering anywhere...) So what "Joe" dispenses in his  new age message is done with a typical motivational marketing team that should be off-putting to the average person with a grain of discernment and a meditation practice. 

In general, in his last book his newer line of thinking sells the idea that the human mind can change the manifestation of reality and change his fate; all this can be done by a certain personal discipline including meditation . Until now it sits well with the newer current of ideas.  I like the idea of meditating and love the idea of manifesting too!  About the science facts, I'm not sure, but it sounds interesting and I'm willing to suspend disbelief and try it out.

What pains me though, is the method of delivery of this so called Workshop ...where there never was a schedule handed out, we were left at the mercy of JD. In particular, he proceeds to claim to have witnessed spontaneous remissions of serious illnesses in his workshops, and I noticed several participants in wheelchairs or on crutches ... not counting all the participants with undetectable disease in the hall ... these people are especially vulnerable to false hopes  that healing is instantaneous and about to happen ... ! At no point does he show any real testimonies of miraculous healings ... his anecdotes should suffice to make us believe in a better tomorrow ...

Then, his workshop was fairly expensive, and it is said that this cost is justified since it included videos (about 5 hours) of a previous workshop that no longer exists but which must be watched before you attend the progressive workshop ... the majority of the workshop I attended (progressive)  was the verbatim repetition of that video!!! ... is it brainwashing or lack of imagination or information ? I would say that this is the recycling of old stock. They also strongly encourage us to read his latest book BHBY which again a rehash of the same thing..? (Enough already!)  Even his anecdotes are the same!   He seems to have learned his text very well.  But don't expect him to interact directly with the participants; he can't go off script.

In addition, the meditations (which I find interesting) of the 2.5-day workshop are the same as those he sells online ... but it appropriates some ancient techniques of meditation (among others Kundalini ) claiming that enlightenment is imminent and easy to obtain if you follow to the letter his instructions ... ex. you have to push the energy of the first chakra to the seventh with forced breath holding - a bit like self-asphyxiation -which can cause particular sensations ... pffft!
However, I appreciate the fact that he encourages his "disciples" to install a daily meditation practice.  But to judge as wrong or right the personal practice of a meditation, and to expect some kind of magical effect is not right.  Meditation takes many forms and is individual...and is not a result oriented practice...it should be a journey.  Pushing for results is not the way...

I especially hated the obvious marketing in the workshop where he plugs advertisements for the upcoming workshops, publications, at all times; and where the electoral campaign/pep rally  style is used by encouraging the participants to dance and clap after the breaks to lively music for no apparent reason except to make promotional videos (looks like you're having fun here -! artificial enthusiasm for a meeting where calm should be nurtured...)
I also noticed that JD does not care entirely about our questions on site (you could ask questions at his paying webinars I guess), or our learning ( no leader came to our table to guide, there were no group activities) ... he seems to be more interested in our wallet ...
He also seems to use a type of communication with his technical team by pretending to make us interact (ex. - «poke your neighbor» and «discuss what you understand») that are not often logical since he did not give enough info for discussion and he obviously seeks a break for some reason ... perhaps he needs to blow off some time during these pauses ....or hear his next line in his earbuds.

He also makes an unnecessary use of Youtube videos to so-called "spark our enthusiasm and inspire the imagination of our emotions" ... I think even here he gets a small break on stage ... all these videos were  "déjà vu" for any subscriber to FB! Is it perhaps because the average age of the participants was more boomers and pre-boomers and they are not all subscribers to social media?

Finally, I come out disillusioned and annoyed to have spent to attend a workshop with such manipulation techniques and lack of concern for the participants! I love all the same some of his ideas, and I come out a little more aware of the dangers of this kind of workshop. I have compassion for some of his "fanatical groupies" and even some exalted shouters during the meditations ... (could these be the hired actresses?)

I hope my reflections and questions will spur discussion or at least  "enlighten" a few ... I wish I had read this kind of criticism before spending ... but I think his team is efficient at digital scrubbing .

[Sena]

Then, his workshop was fairly expensive, and it is said that this cost is justified since it included videos

The good thing about Seth is that he has no use for the illusion of money.

[Batfan007]

Hi John and anyone else looking for an honest review of JD's progressive workshop,

I just participated in a workshop with JD, that I hesitate to name cause it seems that his team Encephelon cleans up the Internet with impeccable detail! (no Wiki page, or anything less than flattering anywhere...) So what "Joe" dispenses in his  new age message is done with a typical motivational marketing team that should be off-putting to the average person with a grain of discernment and a meditation practice. 

In general, in his last book his newer line of thinking sells the idea that the human mind can change the manifestation of reality and change his fate; all this can be done by a certain personal discipline including meditation . Until now it sits well with the newer current of ideas.  I like the idea of meditating and love the idea of manifesting too!  About the science facts, I'm not sure, but it sounds interesting and I'm willing to suspend disbelief and try it out.

What pains me though, is the method of delivery of this so called Workshop ...where there never was a schedule handed out, we were left at the mercy of JD. In particular, he proceeds to claim to have witnessed spontaneous remissions of serious illnesses in his workshops, and I noticed several participants in wheelchairs or on crutches ... not counting all the participants with undetectable disease in the hall ... these people are especially vulnerable to false hopes  that healing is instantaneous and about to happen ... ! At no point does he show any real testimonies of miraculous healings ... his anecdotes should suffice to make us believe in a better tomorrow ...

Then, his workshop was fairly expensive, and it is said that this cost is justified since it included videos (about 5 hours) of a previous workshop that no longer exists but which must be watched before you attend the progressive workshop ... the majority of the workshop I attended (progressive)  was the verbatim repetition of that video!!! ... is it brainwashing or lack of imagination or information ? I would say that this is the recycling of old stock. They also strongly encourage us to read his latest book BHBY which again a rehash of the same thing..? (Enough already!)  Even his anecdotes are the same!   He seems to have learned his text very well.  But don't expect him to interact directly with the participants; he can't go off script.

In addition, the meditations (which I find interesting) of the 2.5-day workshop are the same as those he sells online ... but it appropriates some ancient techniques of meditation (among others Kundalini ) claiming that enlightenment is imminent and easy to obtain if you follow to the letter his instructions ... ex. you have to push the energy of the first chakra to the seventh with forced breath holding - a bit like self-asphyxiation -which can cause particular sensations ... pffft!
However, I appreciate the fact that he encourages his "disciples" to install a daily meditation practice.  But to judge as wrong or right the personal practice of a meditation, and to expect some kind of magical effect is not right.  Meditation takes many forms and is individual...and is not a result oriented practice...it should be a journey.  Pushing for results is not the way...

I especially hated the obvious marketing in the workshop where he plugs advertisements for the upcoming workshops, publications, at all times; and where the electoral campaign/pep rally  style is used by encouraging the participants to dance and clap after the breaks to lively music for no apparent reason except to make promotional videos (looks like you're having fun here -! artificial enthusiasm for a meeting where calm should be nurtured...)
I also noticed that JD does not care entirely about our questions on site (you could ask questions at his paying webinars I guess), or our learning ( no leader came to our table to guide, there were no group activities) ... he seems to be more interested in our wallet ...
He also seems to use a type of communication with his technical team by pretending to make us interact (ex. - «poke your neighbor» and «discuss what you understand») that are not often logical since he did not give enough info for discussion and he obviously seeks a break for some reason ... perhaps he needs to blow off some time during these pauses ....or hear his next line in his earbuds.

He also makes an unnecessary use of Youtube videos to so-called "spark our enthusiasm and inspire the imagination of our emotions" ... I think even here he gets a small break on stage ... all these videos were  "déjà vu" for any subscriber to FB! Is it perhaps because the average age of the participants was more boomers and pre-boomers and they are not all subscribers to social media?

Finally, I come out disillusioned and annoyed to have spent to attend a workshop with such manipulation techniques and lack of concern for the participants! I love all the same some of his ideas, and I come out a little more aware of the dangers of this kind of workshop. I have compassion for some of his "fanatical groupies" and even some exalted shouters during the meditations ... (could these be the hired actresses?)

I hope my reflections and questions will spur discussion or at least  "enlighten" a few ... I wish I had read this kind of criticism before spending ... but I think his team is efficient at digital scrubbing .

Thanks for sharing.

Many of my favourite books and teachings (other than Seth) came from human beings who have done some terrible things, or have been publicly accused of such things as murder, rape, child molestation and other unpleasant thing.
If you look deep enough, many so called "teachers" have been accused of doing this, that and the other.

For me, if a written text or whatever speaks for itself, I'm good with that. Human beings are fallible. If i write the best text today, but murder someone tomorrow, that doesn't change the content of the text, but does taint anything to do with the person who wrote it.

I don't believe we should blindly follow anyone or anything and have a critical attitude to pretty much everything.
Remember Bill Cosby? I've loved his stand up comedy and TV shows for years, turned out he raped a lot of women. Not a few, A  LOT, over 30 known so far - with knowing accomplices in the "Biz' who should be in prison in my view.
Horrible as that is, those shows if you watch them are still funny, well written etc. His criminal and immoral actions don't change the work he did, anymore than the mechanic who changed your oil yesterday, who rapes somebody tomorrow makes your car wrong, evil, or not safe to drive.

So yeah, we've gotta find our own experience of things and go with that. I don't know anything about Joe's workshops, having only read his book, which ideas check out with similar ideas and concepts in the work of Wayne Dyer and Seth books etc. I also have no attachment to him one way or another, but do enjoy his free videos on youtube. I have no interest in the many over priced materials on his website.
However, anyone that writes, creates their own materials can charge whatever price they see fit. That's their choice/business.
Wayne Dyer was in the self-promotion business for over 30 years. It's how he got his message out there. Without marketing, business and yes selling and dirty stinky flighty wonderful MONEY, we would never even hear about these ideas to contemplate, make use of, or be ignore.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

EDIT: I am not defending or forgiving any of the actions of people who broke the law, or harmed other human beings. Just making a distinction in the examples. If a dude turns out to have I don't know, burnt down his old school, but he wrote  a great book on Permaculture, I'm not going to throw out a useful book because of it.

[Deb]

In less than a month I get to attend the "final" Joe Dispenza workshop (final for me, the Advanced Follow-up). I'm very excited, they're always amazing events.

At the previous workshop, months ago, he had us meet at 4 a.m. to do a 4 hour meditation. I'd only had a cup of coffee that morning, but by hour 3.5 I started to feel the call to nature. His rule is, if someone walks out of a meditation for any reason, they can't return. So I toughed it out, then afterwards got in line outside the ladies' restroom with about 400 other women (and 6 stalls). After the workshop I had this funny idea for a product, playing on the name Dispenza: Dependzas, adult diapers for 4 hour meditations. I finally decided to comp up the packaging design on my computer so I can give Joe a copy. He has a great sense of humor and I hope he appreciates it. I sure had a lot of fun making it.

If you click on the picture, it will enlarge if you want to read the finer print. (Nothing earth-shattering.)

[LenKop]

Awesome Deb!

I hope he laughs as much as I did.

LK

[JimK]

OMG I think we might have just witnessed the birth of a new product!, lol Hey Deb 400 women standing in line has to say something. Good going!

[Batfan007]

In less than a month I get to attend the "final" Joe Dispenza workshop (final for me, the Advanced Follow-up). I'm very excited, they're always amazing events.

At the previous workshop, months ago, he had us meet at 4 a.m. to do a 4 hour meditation. I'd only had a cup of coffee that morning, but by hour 3.5 I started to feel the call to nature. His rule is, if someone walks out of a meditation for any reason, they can't return. So I toughed it out, then afterwards got in line outside the ladies' restroom with about 400 other women (and 6 stalls). After the workshop I had this funny idea for a product, playing on the name Dispenza: Dependzas, adult diapers for 4 hour meditations. I finally decided to comp up the packaging design on my computer so I can give Joe a copy. He has a great sense of humor and I hope he appreciates it. I sure had a lot of fun making it.

If you click on the picture, it will enlarge if you want to read the finer print. (Nothing earth-shattering.)

Sounds a bit rough, why would he want to stop people from urinating? Your body makes urine whether you drink or not, and holding it for long periods of time does nothing to improve the quality of any meditation imo.
I don't think I could go to such a thing, as if I paid money, and then had someone say if I left the meditation I could not return, well I'd be having words with that person, no matter who else was there, what embarrassment was caused and would likely ask for a refund because that is some Grade A bullshit in my opinion.

[Deb]

and holding it for long periods of time does nothing to improve the quality of any meditation imo.
I don't think I could go to such a thing, as if I paid money, and then had someone say if I left the meditation I could not return, well I'd be having words with that person, no matter who else was there, what embarrassment was caused and would likely ask for a refund because that is some Grade A bullshit in my opinion.

It's interesting that I have the complete opposite opinion. Hah, one man's ceiling is another man's floor, I guess. His meditations usually last about an hour. The four hour one was a one-time thing. Of course he warns ahead of time that there will be no in-and-out privileges and gives plenty of opportunity & reminders for people to make one last trip to the bathroom. His reasoning is that people coming and going all the time is distracting to everyone else they have to weave through. Also we're meditating in darkness. Picture a hotel conference room set up with 10-person round tables with chairs, from 200-400 people depending on the event. Then add to that that we sometimes meditate lying down on the floor, with blankets and pillows or whatever people are using to be comfortable. There's not much room on the floor, I've had to cozy up to a lot of strangers, stick my legs or head and shoulders under the table, etc. just to squeeze in. Add to that a good percentage of the crowd is older, a lot of people have physical challenges, so lots of tripping opportunities. Also add that some people just refuse to plan ahead. It could be a big mess. It's BECAUSE I'm paying to be there (and have traveled) that I appreciate being able to meditate and not have people stepping on, kicking or tripping over me, with doors opening and closing, letting light in... I can meditate usually undisturbed. Except for those few people who think they have to moan or talk or rock back in forth in meditative bliss, lol. Very few people leave the room during meditations because Joe has set limits. The ones who just can't wait will leave, not wanting to have an accident. And will plan better for the next meditation. For those who can't hold their water for an hour, they're probably already wearing Depends. Or Depenzas.

I recently saw Deepak speak and the crowd was allowed to do what they wanted, which is fine. Quite a few people came in late (as much as 30 minutes late for his 60+ minute lecture), climbing over other seated attendees to get to their seats. Then there was a constant stream of (women) people coming and going to, I'm assuming, the bathroom. Annoying, but listening to a speaker is different than trying to meditate.

[Batfan007]

That's fair enough. I got the impression it was a regular thing to have the 4 hour med with no bathroom break, I mean some people could not do that for medical reasons, so to me it would be bad customer service.

If you've signed a thing that says no refunds and you can't return, well that doesn't give anyone the right to just do whatever they like, they still have to operate within the law.

I just would not go to that sort of thing.

To each their own.

There was an example a few years back where some guru took some folks into a sweat lodge (for too long) and the rule there was "no water", and a bunch of people died.

So yeah, I feel pretty strongly about people being little dictators when it comes to basic human functions like urinating and drinking water.

There is nothing the least bit spiritual about not taking a piss for four hours.

However I totally agree about being free of distractions, which is why I meditate alone, for as long as short a period of time as I prefer.

For certain types of meditation, it really is more beneficial to have no distractions whatsoever, however for any long term meditators, they ought to be able to deal with distractions easy enough, in my view meditation should take you deeper INTO life rather than out of it.

But also if we are learning a new skill,  (or new meditation) then it does make sense to have as few distractions as possible, and be respectful of people's personal space and boundaries.

I'm really not a good example as I'm easily frustrated, but I also can and do meditate anywhere, I've had some deep fantastic meditations next to literal buildings /walls being knocked down, jackhammers going off and people rushing about noisily in the middle of the city. To me it's all part of the practice of Accept everything, Reject nothing (in that moment, meaning all of life).

anyhow, I hope you had an awesome time Deb and I am a cranky pants at the best of times so please don't take my comments in a mean fashion, I am always thinking of the people who are disadvantaged in any way by arbitrary rules, part of it is that I've worked for years as a carer, and so I've often been in a public space and said (in different words) "fuck your rules" , people come first, not stupid conditions. We make the reality, the reality does not make us. 

[Deb]

If you've signed a thing that says no refunds and you can't return, well that doesn't give anyone the right to just do whatever they like, they still have to operate within the law.

I'm sure if anyone challenged Joe's rules there would be some cooperation, I think he just does that to try to keep some order. People these days seem so insensitive or unappreciative to others, whether workshop speakers or other audience members, so i think he's laying down some rules to make people more conscious of how their behavior affects others.

There was an example a few years back where some guru took some folks into a sweat lodge (for too long) and the rule there was "no water", and a bunch of people died.

Wasn't that Tony Robbins? Just a couple of years ago? People have to make their own decisions regardless of what others tell them the rules are. If I had to pee so badly that I couldn't last another minute, I would certainly take care of my own needs first and the hell with the rules. I have to wonder about people that don't do the same. Yes 'fuck the rules' is the best policy, based on personal needs.

anyhow, I hope you had an awesome time Deb and I am a cranky pants at the best of times so please don't take my comments in a mean fashion,

Oh, go as cranky pants as you need. I'm not so easily offended, I feel everyone has their own opinions and I don't take them personally. My workshop is in the 3rd week of November and I am SO looking forward to it. I'll of course update with any fresh insights or extraordinary experiences. Hmmmm... November in Seattle. Warm clothes, umbrella, boots, blankie, Depenzas (not, it was just a joke).

[Batfan007]

No some dude I have never heard of other than the article about the deaths. Pretty sure he went to prison.
I've never heard of Tony Robbins associated with any deaths. The dude who made people sit and dehydrate for too long was obviously a fucking idiot. I love saunas, but nobody wants to be saunad to death.

[Deb]

Ah, now I remember. Yep, his name was James Arthur Ray. Convicted of negligent homicide, two years in Arizona State Prison.  It happened in 2010 in Sedona, AZ, one of my favorite places.

Tony Robbins got in trouble for people being burned during a fire walk. I've actually done one myself, set up by David Elliott, a healer/trainer I've done some retreats with. It was pretty amazing. Of course I had to test the validity of what I was doing and it's true, if you concentrate you can do amazing things. I broke concentration for a split second and could suddenly feel the heat. It was enough to make me go right back into focus and I was able to walk the entire 20 feet or so in comfort, no unbearable heat, no burns. But that split second... was enough to make me realize the power of the mind.

[Batfan007]

Ah, now I remember. Yep, his name was James Arthur Ray. Convicted of negligent homicide, two years in Arizona State Prison.  It happened in 2010 in Sedona, AZ, one of my favorite places.

Tony Robbins got in trouble for people being burned during a fire walk. I've actually done one myself, set up by David Elliott, a healer/trainer I've done some retreats with. It was pretty amazing. Of course I had to test the validity of what I was doing and it's true, if you concentrate you can do amazing things. I broke concentration for a split second and could suddenly feel the heat. It was enough to make me go right back into focus and I was able to walk the entire 20 feet or so in comfort, no unbearable heat, no burns. But that split second... was enough to make me realize the power of the mind.

Yeah, that was the dude, I don't remember him, but when you said Arizona ding ding ding, we have winner.

The Tony Robbins fire walk burns thing was a myth misreported and that later media retracted and apologised for.
Some alarmist people THOUGHT people were being burned (nobody did) and then some media picked up on it, and if you know what a MEME is, then you know the rest.

So , I guess thoughts DO influence our reality after all 

[jbseth]

Hi Deb,

Thanks for your interesting posts on Dr. Joe Dispenza. I've never heard of him before; he sounds awesome.

This is one of the things that makes this forum so great. There are many people who like the Seth information here, but each one of us has a unique background and in the group sharing our experiences, we each have opportunities to learn new things.

For a very long time, even before I found the Seth books, I've always believed that some people at least have the ability to heal themselves and/or heal others. This has occurred very often throughout human history.  More recently, there's the story of Anita Moorjani, who completely recovered from late stage cancer.

Thanks again for sharing.

[Sena]

For a very long time, even before I found the Seth books, I've always believed that some people at least have the ability to heal themselves and/or heal others.

I think it is Kryon who suggests taking medication in lower doses than usual. That seems to work for me. Haven't reached the stage of giving up medication altogether!

[Deb]

Thanks for your interesting posts on Dr. Joe Dispenza. I've never heard of him before; he sounds awesome.

This is one of the things that makes this forum so great.

I totally agree. So many people here have different experiences and knowledge, I'm always learning.

OK, so I've been at a Joe Dispenza Advanced Follow-up workshop this weekend. The focus of this workshop is to activate the pineal gland (third eye) in order to be able to access the 'void,' the place (wave) where nothing material (particle) exists. It is the place of pure potential. It's also called the Quantum Field of Possibilities in physics. It's where creation of reality and all it's potentials begin.

One of the things that caught my interest was the Eye of Horus (ancient Egyptian). Joe shows it along side a photo of the pineal gland. Lots to say there, but I'll keep it short. Bottom line, I bought one of his tee shirts today (I liked it, could also use some extra long-sleeve tees for horseback riding). It has the Eye of Horus on the front, a pine cone (pine—>pineal) under the hood on the back. I stopped at Trader Joe's to grab something for dinner and the cashier asked, "Hey, is that The Eye of Horus?" Wow, nice catch!

Back in my room I just had to look up more information about the Eye/Pineal gland. Lots of conspiracy-type stuff out there, but also some interesting information about the third eye symbol throughout history, it being on the US dollar bill, and several mentions about how fluoride kills the pineal gland (don't get me started on fluoride, but I can just say I have a reverse osmosis filter for drinking/cooking water, a shower filter that hopefully filters the poison out, and I make my own fluoride-free toothpaste). Seth, I believe, also mentions the pineal but I'm far away from my books right now. Very interesting stuff.

Edgar Cayce: "Keep the pineal gland operating and you won't grow old—you will always be young."

Dr. Dean Burk, PhD: "In point of fact, fluoride causes more human cancer death and causes it faster than any other chemical."

Tube of Crest toothpaste: "Warnings: Keep out of reach of children under 6 yrs. of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact Poison Control Center right away.
Directions: • do not swallow • to minimize swallowing use a pea-sized amount in children under 6."

America is so carcinogen-conscious and yet it puts fluoride in water, toothpaste, soda, dentists soak kids' teeth in it.

I've never been into conspiracy theories because I think excessive speculation (i.e. the nightly news) is a waste of time. I've always gone with my gut instincts. Well, my gut is grumbling a bit about the third eye, the pineal gland, fluoride...

http://in5d.com/pineal-gland-portal-of-higher-dimensions/

http://www.mysticbanana.com/pineal-gland-our-third-eye-the-biggest-cover-up-in-human-history.html

[Batfan007]

For a very long time, even before I found the Seth books, I've always believed that some people at least have the ability to heal themselves and/or heal others.

I think it is Kryon who suggests taking medication in lower doses than usual. That seems to work for me. Haven't reached the stage of giving up medication altogether!

There's a similar principle there in homeopathy, taking very small amounts of something combined with the idea of healing.

I don't like taking pills of any kind, but when I've had a raging headache for over 8 hours and I want to do some writing, but I can't even focus on the screen I say fuck it and take a general pain killer.
Sometimes it has no effect whatsoever, other times it brings rapid dramatic relief.

[Batfan007]

Thanks for your interesting posts on Dr. Joe Dispenza. I've never heard of him before; he sounds awesome.

This is one of the things that makes this forum so great.

I totally agree. So many people here have different experiences and knowledge, I'm always learning.

OK, so I've been at a Joe Dispenza Advanced Follow-up workshop this weekend. The focus of this workshop is to activate the pineal gland (third eye) in order to be able to access the 'void,' the place (wave) where nothing material (particle) exists. It is the place of pure potential. It's also called the Quantum Field of Possibilities in physics. It's where creation of reality and all it's potentials begin.

One of the things that caught my interest was the Eye of Horus (ancient Egyptian). Joe shows it along side a photo of the pineal gland. Lots to say there, but I'll keep it short. Bottom line, I bought one of his tee shirts today (I liked it, could also use some extra long-sleeve tees for horseback riding). It has the Eye of Horus on the front, a pine cone (pine—>pineal) under the hood on the back. I stopped at Trader Joe's to grab something for dinner and the cashier asked, "Hey, is that The Eye of Horus?" Wow, nice catch!

Back in my room I just had to look up more information about the Eye/Pineal gland. Lots of conspiracy-type stuff out there, but also some interesting information about the third eye symbol throughout history, it being on the US dollar bill, and several mentions about how fluoride kills the pineal gland (don't get me started on fluoride, but I can just say I have a reverse osmosis filter for drinking/cooking water, a shower filter that hopefully filters the poison out, and I make my own fluoride-free toothpaste). Seth, I believe, also mentions the pineal but I'm far away from my books right now. Very interesting stuff.

Edgar Cayce: "Keep the pineal gland operating and you won't grow old—you will always be young."

Dr. Dean Burk, PhD: "In point of fact, fluoride causes more human cancer death and causes it faster than any other chemical."

Tube of Crest toothpaste: "Warnings: Keep out of reach of children under 6 yrs. of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact Poison Control Center right away.
Directions: • do not swallow • to minimize swallowing use a pea-sized amount in children under 6."

America is so carcinogen-conscious and yet it puts fluoride in water, toothpaste, soda, dentists soak kids' teeth in it.

I've never been into conspiracy theories because I think excessive speculation (i.e. the nightly news) is a waste of time. I've always gone with my gut instincts. Well, my gut is grumbling a bit about the third eye, the pineal gland, fluoride...

http://in5d.com/pineal-gland-portal-of-higher-dimensions/

http://www.mysticbanana.com/pineal-gland-our-third-eye-the-biggest-cover-up-in-human-history.html

I don't think there is any kind of cover up. There is loads of free information easily available on just about every topic imaginable  today, I think many things just come down to ignorance, or no frame of reference / context.

Nobody is stopping anybody from developing their natural abilities, but a lot of new agey books really like the "drama" of koo-koo conspiracy theories.

My main issue with mass conspiracies is:

*Every one I read / encouter completely contradicts every other one I read. For even a small amount of them to be true, every person involved would have to be in like 100 different secret governments, cliques and cloak and dagger members. Most politicians barely have enough time to wipe their own ass, let alone keep track if multiple memberships in societies so secret they don't even know where the meeting is today.

*For most of the big conspiracies to exist, it implies an ENORMOUS amount of fore-knowledge of an event, and MASS co-operation by seemingly selfish, evil people. I don't know an awful lot of truly selfish evil people who are good at long term co-operation on a mass scale where the end result of said conspiracy in no way could really be known. Who knows what happen tomorrow, let alone 50 years from now? Nobody. Who is going to commit to that long term a goal? They outta put a book out and call it "Staying the Distance: Conspiracy Goal Setting for Super Elite Achievers and Mischief Makers and Rule Breakers"
I could probably learn a thing or two from these mythical people.

*Main reason? I think humanity is too stupid to organise the mass out there wacky koo-koo conspiracy theories that litter the internet.


Hitler was a saint and America was the villain in WW2!
The holocaust never happened! The Jews benefited from WW2!
All those thousands of people who were thrown into a pit, or saw their relatives deceased corpse thrown into mass graves are liars! The soldiers, the peasants, the the police, they were ALL in on it, and then kept up the mass lie it for three generations, even telling lies and faking photographs from before computers and photoshop even existed to give to their grandkids! Who would not even exist for another 20+ years. While starving to death and being forced into slave labor. I guess photographs must have been easy to fake in the 40's with all their space age technology (stolen from lizard men and greys no doubt), and certainly not expensive to create while a world war is on, no sir!

JFK's body was switched with a doppleganger!
Well that ones true. Because OF COURSE it is, it's just common sense!!!! According to the "documentaries" every contract killer in America just happened to be in Dallas the same day as JFK. I think they mistook the motorcade for the rifle range. Whoops.

Aliens are responsible for the microchip!
Hmmm, an easily researchable topic, the history of computers and the microchip is well known, well documented, this is one of the dumbest assertions I have ever heard, usually from people that know nothing about microchips or computers, or um... Science.

The X-Files is all true! 
Yeah it's not. It's sad that people take this awesome show as a semi-literal truth for underground conspiracies. The show creator/writer would be the first to say so. I'm not joking, some people have based modern conspiracy theories on the FICTION of this well written TV show.

Lizard men are out to get us!
Okay, questionsssssss: Where do they shit and eat? Their poops would tell us a lot, the digestive tract of mammals, reptiles etc all have their own unique variance that make it easy to know what kind of animal / digestive system that poop came from, and what was consumed. Come on tabloid media, you already dig through garbage, get out there and find those lizard men poops!

How do they keep warm seeing as reptiles are cold blooded? How do they take on human forms? Can they morph their physiology? Are they using some sci-fi light refraction technology out of star trek to make them appear human?
Where are their tails? Where are their fossils and skeletons?
Seeing as reptiles are slow moving and cold blooded, but move faster in general when warm, could we not find all the Lizard men in the hottest countries in the world?

Oh... and where are all the Lizard ladies? No, I'm not looking for a hot date, T-Rex's are more my kind of kink, but it seems all the gossip is about Lizard,MEN, are they asexual? Do there reproduce? Where are the Lizard ladies! Somebody is keeping them down man, it's sexism in  new form. We should really get a Lizard Women civil rights movement going, and they are probably not getting paid what they are worth either! Raises for Lizard Women please.

If we could get a female Lizard person on the ballot, I'd vote them in for sure. How could they do any worse than the usual gang of idiots?
And Lizard people fashion could be the new thing "Scales are Sexy!"

Sure I'm taking the piss here. But honestly, the times where I have read the odd ill-conceived conspiracy theory, I feel that intelligence goes flying... well more like crawling out the window in favor on sensationalism.

The actual verifiable facts of horrible people doing really fucked up things that have actually proven to be true, to me are far bigger things to be concerned about that fringe lunatic theories.

As for Fluoride, I don't think it does our body any favors. Nature saw fit to provide minerals in very small amounts in our food, large amounts of just about any type of mineral are deadly. Below deadly levels are known to cause long term illness.

However, I think the mass consumption of toxic chemicals in our society comes down to basic public safety.
When the alternative is drinking like 3rd world waste water that most likely would kill us quite fast, I'll take the chlorine water.
Personally I think it's best to reduce our exposure to all types of toxic chemicals, and be wary of the ones that will make us sick or dead even in very tiny amounts, and take steps to avoid / reduce / eliminate them from our air, water and food. We can choose different food and water in some cases, the air however not so much. Other than taking oxygen therapies etc to clean up the blood.