Berkeley Psychic Institute
Posted by:
anastasia_2023
()
Date: January 03, 2003 12:11AM
While I was there, one person in the c.v. training ended up getting into trouble with the law, and one person ended up in a mental institution. The director and staff take no responsibility, phrasing it as "that person's mockup" (or goal as a spirit in a body, if you will).
Whatever.
Oh, and as far as time commitment goes, it's 7.5 work hours a month (flyering or what not) which is reasonable and yes, after about 3 months of c.v. training, we were farmed out to all the psychic fairs, etc. I myself often felt prostituted out because I was paying them to take this training, and yet I had to do at least two psychic readings a week (plus attend class). I often did more than two readings a week, because I noticed I would feel better afterwards (sometimes worse - and that would be explained by - "You're handling some energy, let's get someone to look at you"). So I also felt cared for. A cared-for prostitute, what a dichotomy.
One of my friends who's a psychologist had a reading there that upset her - they told her essentially that her boyfriend wasn't faithful. While that proved to later be true (!) interestingly, she was really upset the way that they provoked her with the information, then just sent her away all upset. There was no one to talk to afterwards that she could "process" with. Her experience was that they seemed to want to shuffle her out and the host/hostess was "kinda mean." I know what she's talking about - I think that's how they hook people, esp. people who've been abused. What they tell us on the inside is not to "heal" people and that neutrality is best. It can come across to others as uncaring, like it did for my friend.
I don't know how other psychics work but I suspect not like that.
Incidentally, another person who was heavily involved then left because they thought it was a cult, and he said he knew of someone who went to another psychic to ask about MPI, and this psychic said to her client "stay away from that place."
Great.
As far as their recruitment policies, I honestly never felt any pressure to join the c.v. training. But I'm also subject to their psych. influence. so I may have been pressured and not known it. What I mean is there was never any "hard sell." The director popped in one of the basic level classes, and gave a brief lecture about what happens in our lifetime as we get older, we "forget" why we came here and our space shrinks (aura) as we get older and get more inundated with other people's pictures.
I was fascinated by the lecture and honestly felt like the director was talking directly to me. Yet when I went and talked to him, he was brusque and didn't go out of his way to "recruit" me for the c.v. training. I have since talked to other people they said he didn't go out of his way to recruit them for the c.v. training, either.
Some people come and only take basic classes and then they disappear. Some people come and take everything except the teacher training, then disappear. Most people who have taken the teacher training stick around, I think, because they like the power.
Yes I do recall the director and teachers talking about why it's important to talk to new people, because it keeps things moving and fresh. I understand what they're talking about, because I myself learn more about myself the more people I meet. And it's kinda fun now that I have some authority and seniority to look at new people, and look at their pictures and help them out (oh yeah, that's just resistance you're clearing - I myself was once there). Kind of like in AA when the old-timers help the newcomers - you know, chuckling a little bit.
But I realize it's much more serious than that. I watch my former c.v. classmates who are still heavily involved in the activities at MPI (I pop in only every once in a while for a workshop here and there, and even that is stopping), and there's one in particular - we'll call her Samantha.
Samantha was rude one night to one of my other friends who's in the c.v. training. Samantha didn't know that she was being rude to one of MY friends.
I just scoffed and told my friend to ignore Samantha; I was struck by how this person, who used to be my classmate (and therefore holds the same power status as I) was letting power get to her.
She never would have treated ME like that (nor I her).
I have already decided not to do the teacher training because of the nasty people I'd have to work with, who boss me around like a child then if I get mad, I have to "clear my resistance to them". We're all expected to find our neutrality and "be neutral," even when others above us are blatantly rude, mean, abusive, whatever. Those that have been there longer have more power.
There are two teachers who left BPI because of all the crap going on there and they found their own path. I have a lot of respect and admiration for Michael Tamura, and am working out my own thoughts and feelings about what he's done with the teachings.
Neither he nor his wife have ever done me any harm personally, and I may or may not continue to take workshops from them. They don't affiliate with any type of institute. Michael was a student of Lewis's, and he has a book out called _You Are the Answer_.
As far as BPI hierarchy, yeah, I talked to them on their psychic hotline once and the reader happened to mention "Our CEO...blah blah blah" and referred to him as a man. That's all I know, I don't know who their CEO is.
Speaking of books, I will check out that one that you recommended re: biochemical changes & meditation, etc.
Thanks so much - it really helps to have a board like this to vent on while I go through this process.