New-Age Separating Fools And Their Money
Penelope Green writes in The New York Times about new-age "housecleaners" who wish your house's supposedly bad vibes away:
Consider it internal redecorating, said Miriam Novalle, a perfumer turned tea purveyor who has her Harlem brownstone cleared by Barbara Biziou, a wildly well-publicized Huffington Post blogger and executive consultant (or "global wisdom keeper and agent of change," as she calls herself), every year for her birthday. "And I just had a big one," Ms. Novalle said, slyly ducking a question about her age."Think of how you get stuck at home and you can't move a pillow," she continued. Space clearing gets rid of that stuck energy, she said, adding that after one session with Ms. Biziou, she stayed up all night repainting her house.
Like Ms. Shaye's Web site, Ms. Biziou's erupts with testimonials, including those from marketers at Coca-Cola and Coty, as well as a founder of the spin studio SoulCycle and a former ambassador. What has changed in her 20-year practice, Ms. Biziou said the other day, is her client base, which in recent years has widened from those mostly in the entertainment industry to those in "the straighter professions," as she puts it, "doctors, lawyers, Wall Streeters." Another growth category, she said, is divorcing couples and the post-divorce house clearing.
In her early days, in the 1990s, Ms. Biziou recalled clearing the sets of the more obstreperous talk shows. "The skinheads would leave and everyone would say, 'I need a drink,' " Ms. Biziou said. "I'd say, 'Let's just clear the energy.' "
Anyplace that sees a lot of traffic, she said, "you really have to do it, just like you're going to clean your carpets. You have a party, and you feel drained. Now we can explain it; we understand quantum physics."
In short, what a bunch of shit.
"Now we can explain it; we understand quantum physics." - Barbara Biziou
Wow! Her quote proves this one:
"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
- Henry Mencken
JFP at June 9, 2013 11:40 PM
When I was in massage school, we learned about "aura stroking." While it was shown to us as a finishing touch, so to speak, some people opt to do nothing but aura stroking.
It's supposed to massage your aura. The massage therapist's hands pass over you without actually touching you.
And my thought, to quote Amy, was "what a bunch of shit."
Patrick at June 10, 2013 1:35 AM
Some people will pay a prime price for shit, however. Lay a mystical Eastern name on it - call it "feng shui" or "chakra" or some damn thing, and serve it with a little Ravi Shankar music and a cup of chai, and it's like owning your own mint.
Grey Ghost at June 10, 2013 7:03 AM
To the scammer's delight, there is no shortage of those with more money than brains.
Bar Sinister at June 10, 2013 7:23 AM
No one understands quantum physics.
What irritates me most is when these people try to attach scientific explanations to it. You wanna woo? Fine. Go ahead. But don't pretend it's science.
MonicaP at June 10, 2013 7:41 AM
Os anyone else ever tempted to hit stupid people in an effort to make stupidity so painful they stop being stupid?
lujlp at June 10, 2013 7:47 AM
Giggles: google Charlene Werner, dr of homeopathy
DaveG at June 10, 2013 8:49 AM
a wildly well-publicized Huffington Post blogger
That says it all - a cog in Arianna's unpaid woo-woo factory.
Kevin at June 10, 2013 9:01 AM
I have some acquaintances who actually spent money on a pet psychic at least a couple of times.
A nice hip new age lesbian couple with more money than brains.
Isab at June 10, 2013 11:27 AM
She's keeping her 'wisdom', which explains her clients' stupidity.
model_1066 at June 10, 2013 1:01 PM
The showed this over the weekend on CBS: Artisanal Pencil Sharpening. Each individual pencil is only $35.00.
Money, fool, parting ways.
Jim P. at June 10, 2013 2:15 PM
Wait . . . she can't move a pillow?
I have never had this problem. I can't even wrap my brain around that level of . . . . whatever it is.
Elle at June 10, 2013 6:51 PM
Don't be so quick to judge what isn't real to you. I know a woman who refused to move into the house her husband purchased for them, because it just "felt" really awful to her. So I hired a psychically sensitive "clearer" to go through it, who talked afterwards about a child being severally abused in house. After it was cleared, the woman felt totally comfortable moving in.
Just like severe peanut allergies, some people have sensitivities that are undetectable to others. Doesn't mean they aren't real.
dp at June 11, 2013 4:45 AM
"Now we can explain it; we understand quantum physics." - Barbara Biziou>/i>
I'd love to ask her a few real quantum physics questions.
Bullshit, dp. Peanut allergies are very detectable to others. The whole lying on the ground choking, breaking out in hives, and requiring CPR thing is a bit obvious. Your friend was being a melodramatic pain in the neck. See the difference?
Ltw at June 11, 2013 6:57 AM
I've pulled people out of dams and pools, done first response aid for severe asthma attacks, have a few other things I hope I never have to put in practice.
"Clearing" a house is not one of the skills I intend to acquire.
Ltw at June 11, 2013 7:15 AM
"Don't be so quick to judge what isn't real to you. I know a woman who refused to move into the house her husband purchased for them, because it just "felt" really awful to her. So I hired a psychically sensitive "clearer" to go through it, who talked afterwards about a child being severally abused in house. After it was cleared, the woman felt totally comfortable moving in."
My Grandson was worried about monsters under the bed. After it was cleared (by my checking under the bed and in the closets), he was totally comfortable going to sleep.
I didn't charge him, but I may have found something I can do part time when I retire.
Steamer at June 11, 2013 8:15 AM
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