A look at the claims, predictions and behavior of a media "psychic".
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A look at the claims, predictions and behavior of a media "psychic".
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Novus Spiritus - A Matter of ControlA look at Sylvia Browne's efforts to keep the philosophy (and members) of The Society of Novus Spiritus totally under her control. 
The church's April 2007 newsletter. PrefaceIn recent weeks, I have been contacted by a number of current and former ministers and novitiates within Sylvia Browne's church, The Society of Novus Spiritus. Some have become disenchanted with the church's philosophy, but all of them have become disillusioned with Browne, and with the organization. This is the first in a planned series of articles about Novus Spiritus ("NS"), based partly on information from these inside sources. Topics will include the reality of the church versus how it is promoted, how poorly it is funded by Browne, and how much money Browne and her board members make from it. Any members of the society - past and present, disillusioned or not - are encouraged to contact me with their thoughts and opinions. I guarantee your anonymity, and will only quote you with your explicit prior permission to do so. BackgroundAs has been discussed elsewhere on this site, Sylvia Browne has shut down, with threats of litigation, a number of web sites and forums where her own supporters gather to talk about her and her philosophy. This has included a number of sites and forums set up by and for members of her own Church of Novus Spiritus, on-line locations where they can meet and discuss her books, and the philosophy behind Novus Spiritus (Browne's particular variation on Gnostic Christian teachings, mostly an amalgamation of various other Gnostic religions). Why would she shut these sites down? Is it a matter of keeping this particular source of her income under control? Recently, the April 2007 "Novus Connection" newsletter was sent out to the NS ministers, as well as the other members of NS "study groups," with a firm warning for all. Study GroupsTo understand the purpose and impact of this warning, it is first necessary to understand how Novus Spiritus "study groups" operate. A "study group" is the NS equivalent of a bible study group. According to the official NS Study Group Information Page:
In order to start an official NS study group, a person must read and sign an agreement, then send a $20 registration fee to NS headquarters in Campbell, CA. The group must study books from the Required Study Materials list, which - not surprisingly - consists solely of books written by Sylvia Browne, each of which must be purchased from NS headquarters. These books, the eight-volume "Journey of the Soul" series (which differ from Browne's commercially-available book series of the same name), are printed and bound at NS headquarters. Each volume consists of spiral-bound 8.5 x 11" paper, and is sold to every member of every study group at a "discounted" price of $20. That can make for a total of $160 from every member of every study group. Each study group is required to send in a $20 monthly fee, for which the group receives an audio tape of a "Sunday service" performed by an NS minister, and a copy of the "Novus Connection" newsletter. The rest of this article focuses primarily on the April 2007 edition of that newsletter. The NewsletterThe newsletter is titled "Novus Connection - News and Good Tidings from The Society of Novus Spiritus", but the two-page April 2007 newsletter seemed to be short on "good tidings" and long on threats of litigation, with a liberal amount of advertisements for Browne's other revenue streams thrown in for good measure. Nearly half of the newsletter is taken up by the main article, "Society of Novus Spiritus™ & Sylvia Browne™ Trademarks, Copyrights & Websites". Here are some excerpts:
Once again, Browne and her crew seem to be blissfully unaware of the right to freedom of speech (or perhaps are hoping that her followers are). For example, I have used the words "Sylvia Browne" and "Society of Novus Spiritus" many times on this web site, and it is squarely within my rights to do so. Later in the article:
Study Group coordinators are then warned that if they do not shut down their on-line groups immediately, they are "subject to repeal of their Study Guide charter." Why are they trying to disallow online discussions of their philosophy? The article gives the following explanation:
Is this the true reason? It would seem to me that everything described in that paragraph could just as easily happen within face-to-face discussions as with on-line ones. So, is Sylvia Browne really worried about "miscommunication and misinterpretations?" Or is she worried that people who discuss her materials online might not feel the need to spend the $160 to purchase her eight-volume set of spiral-bound PC printouts known as "The Journey of the Soul Series?" AnalysisIt isn't hard to see that the NS "study groups" are a money-maker for Browne. Not only are there the monthly fees, and all of the sales of her books, but it also gives her access to a built-in mailing list of people who are open to purchase more of her materials (one-fourth of the April 2007 newsletter was devoted to advertisements for her upcoming book and for her $2,000 "Hypnosis Certification Classes"). It is easy to see why she would not want to lose control over this lucrative source of revenue. ConclusionBrowne's draconian attempts to control the study and discussion of her materials makes solid sense from a commercial standpoint. But from a spiritual standpoint, they are much harder to justify. Is she more interested in "spreading the word," or in making money from it? So far, all of the former Novus Spiritus ministers, novitiates and members who have contacted me have sadly concluded - after years within the organization - that the money is what motivates both Browne and the Society of Novus Spiritus. It is one of the many reasons that these people are now ex-members. Related LinksClicking on any of these links will load a separate browser window for viewing the linked page. StopSylviaBrowne.com is not responsible for the content of any of these linked pages.
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