Complaint Review: Star's Edge International - Avatar Course - Harry Palmer

@Moonmaid- Do you still have the notes? I am former student as well and do not want to pursue Masters to get notes.

I learned of Avatar and had experienced the compassion and beliefs exercises. I found the content to be eye-opening and it led me to a greater understanding of myself and my beliefs. I have also purchased a few books, which I have enjoyed reading and working through. I inquired about an upcoming course, and when speaking with an Avatar Master, John Toomey, I went though a few of the exercises again, with a great sense of awareness. THAT experience was wonderful. I was prepared to sign up for the course, but wasn't sure I could afford to do the 9 day workshop - both financially and in terms of being away from my family for so long.

I informed Mr. Toomey that I intended to do the "Resurfacing" workshop, a 2-day course. At that point, he applied numerous sales "tactics" which ranged from using some of the infomration I had shared about myself, my work and general life goals as fear-mongering (trying to get me to "put some skin in the game"), to outright mocking and bullying.

I asked him to back off for a couple of days while I gave it some thought. During that time, he did not contact me, but he had another Master text me to "confirm and prepare" for the upcoming Resurfacing course (for which I had still not officially registered). I replied to that person, asking him to repsect that I had asked Mr. Toomey to leave me some space until I reached out again. That person was respectful.

After a couple of days, I reached out to Mr. Toomey and told him that I had decided not to take the course afterall, and asked him to leave me alone. He was quiet for about 2 weeks, but then began making subtle, under-handed comments on a thread on my Facebook page. I quietly ignored his remarks until he directly asked (on my public page) if I would be signing up for the next course. I subsequently blocked him from my private page and thought I had done the same on my business page, but was apparently unsuccessful, as I have since received a note from him berating me for blocking him, stating..."You created a person in your life who was prepared to totally get in behind your inspiration and not back down and it seems your ego might not have been able to handle it. It is no help to anyone, especially yourself, posting all this spiritual stuff on Facebook when you know deep in your heart you backed away from transcending your own limitations. It is extraordinary to feel that a person who is saying they can help others change their lives is not prepared to take a genuinely honest look at their own..." He also made remarks about my children and their father, which I omitted from this post, but felt were threatening and bullying in nature.

I don't know about the business of Avatar, and I am frankly unfased by the prices or any for-profit status of the company. I take no issue with making money delivering personal development products and services (I am an executive coach, and I 'sell' personal development products and services, though by invitaiton, not by force). However, using personal information that was shared in what was meant to be a safe coach/mentor capacity is objectionable, at best, and highly abusive and threatening. I have a strong support system and have managed to get beyond the pain points and perceived weaknesses that Mr. Toomey targeted, though I fear how this type of sales technique would affect a less emotionally stable person.

I am by nature a skeptic. I am not a joiner and have a natural distrust of "groupspeak" or cultish new age easy solutions to complex situations. That being said, I took a chance and investigated the Avatar course on line and took the course. I had a very positive experience. There is absolutely nothing illogical or magical about the principles and methods taught at the course. My wife took the course after me. She is a traditional marriage and family therapist. She feels that the Avatar techniques are very efficient tools for growth, and don't conflict with any accepted methodologies in therapy or psychology. Nothing weird or cultish here. There was no authoritarian or guruish attitude among the course leaders. No insistence that there is any absolute truth that the student needs to adhere to. In fact the opposite is stressed,  that your belief is yours for the making and it is for you to decide what is true for you. The principle is that beliefs that don't serve you may be revisited and discarded. The question of whether the course is too expensive and whether or not anyone is getting rich off of it is something that I am still grappling with. But it doesn't change the fact that the course materials are in line with generally accepted spiritual principles (r.e "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you") and are very valuable and uplifting. It's about integrating these "golden" principles into your daily consciousness and getting rid of intrusive "transparent" beliefs that don't work for you any more.I recommend that you investigate this course without prejudice and come to your own conclusions without any knee jerk reaction that it must be a cult. It isn't.

I am an Avatar Master. The courses are often life changing. They are, in that sense, worth the cost as it's not something you can really put a value on. Regarding the cost, the 9 day courses are very long days and some of the best therapy there is. In that sense, they are a bargain, I mean how much do years of psychological counseling cost at $150 an hour? Certainly far more than an Avatar course and the Avatar course would be more effective for many people.

Harry Palmer used to be involved in Scientology but who cares? Does that mean this course is related to Scientology or that it's not not effective, I don't think so. The thing is, for the course to be effective, you have to be willing to be completely honest with yourself. If you're not there or there are other issues, you shouldn't take the course and the Trainers are very careful about that.

The course is fascinating, amazing, life-changing and well worth it, or at least it was for me. I have never regretted taking it and as for being "sold" to go to other courses, I went when I wanted to go and didn't go when I didn't want to. But I have gained so much from every course that none of this stuff is an issue, really. What else was I going to spend my money on or save my money for? Stuff? Consumer goods? Sorry to say this was a better value! Before I took the Avatar Course I was wound up so tight I thought I was going to have a stroke any minute. Since... I am calm and happy, my mind is quiet, I am not angry anymore, I don't "roll around" in old slights and hurts... my blood pressure is down, and I quit smoking on the Course... and that was two years ago and I had been trying everything for 15 years and been unable to quit up till then.

I am alive and full of gratitude....Life is good.

I took the Avatar course.  There is the use of some scientology terms in the course.   Harry Palmer and his wife ran a mission for scientology.   The  first students of his avatar  course were scientology associates of his.  There is pressure to take advanced courses.  I still receive dvds and mailings seven years after taking the course promoting the advanced course. As someone earlier said you can't take your notes with you and it is hard to keep your skills after completeing the course.  I was told that I could repeat  the class for free whenever I wanted. Further that there would be a monthly review meeting to practice the course.  The montly meetings ended after a few months and the free reviews now have $300 in fees associated with each repeat and you have to fly to Florida to take the class. 

The course can touch some sensitive personal issues and the seminar leaders are not mental health professionals.  I won't take the course with anyone with whom you have a relationship and issues could come up that would damage the relationship.  The course does work for some people it didn't work for me.  If you don't get results in 9 days you may be out of trouble until the next time you take get to Florida and take the course to complete the lessons.

I am a former Avatar student with some comments about my experience.  I was recently
contacted by the person I took the classes from, and it got my blood boiling as I thought about
the class again.  I wondered if this company and group of scammers was still around. So,
that's how I found this report.

I took the Avatar introduction class several years ago, and I believe I also took the first level,
 but I can't remember what they called it.  I did not go on to take the Master and Wizard
classes, for reasons I'll explain. 

I don't have any particular comments about the content of the class.  I'm not familiar with Scientology, so I can't compare the two.  The teaching was not like anything I had done before.
I also don't have a comment about Harry Palmer's background.  Leave that for the legal folks to deal with.

My problem is with how they do business. The classes are very expensive.  That's one reason
I didn't go on to take any other classes. 

The first thing that really p***ed me off was that I wasn't allowed to keep any of my notes or
any class materials at the end of the class.  I've taken numerous classes over the years, and
have never been told I couldn't take my class notes with me.  They, of course, have some
trumped-up reason for this policy, like I'm going to go out and try to teach the stuff myself
 (without them making any money off me).  The real reason is that you get the materials
when you take the next over-priced class.

I complained to my teacher about the fact that I couldn't take the materials, and she said she
knew of another woman who had felt that way, but she so desperately wanted them that she
took the next class!  Problem solved!  She saw no problem with giving this explanation.  I
remained p***ed.  Fortunately, I had taken notes during our lunch time and kept them in my
car.  If I hadn't done that, I would have left that class that lasted several days with nothing
more than one sheet of paper with the "Creation Handling Procedure" steps written by the
teacher.

Another thing that p***ed me off happened at a social event attended  by mainly Masters and
Wizards.  There were only 2 or 3 of us that hadn't taken the advanced classes.  Several times
throughout this social event, when they started talking about something that must have been
related to the advanced classes, they would stop and say, "Oh, we can't talk about THAT with
THEM here."  I couldn't believe what I heard, after learning in the class about removing labels.
I figured that any program that produced pompous graduates with such self-important attitudes
was NOT the place for me.

Lastly, I kept getting phone calls from Florida from people obviously trying to get me to sign up
for the advanced classes.  I finally had to tell them to leave me alone.

I hope this helps anyone thinking about taking these classes to see what this company is really
like.  I think it's a cult, in some sense of the concept.  It's definitely an indoctrination into a
different way of thinking, but one that benefits the company financially.

I think there should be a class action lawsuit against this company.  Even though I took my
class several years ago, I would love to get a refund, as I think it's a scam to line Harry Palmer's
pockets.

I am a potential customer who was just about to think that these people were up to something good. Spreading compassion and making people pay for it (so that they take it seriously)--what a wonderful idea. I was about to believe these were good people.

But then I remembered what Ghandi said. "Be the change you want to see in others". And then I saw how the company had attempted to completely destroy the life of a dissafected employee. Surely court evidence and court "truth" can be skewed towards who has more million dollars to pay them. And then ordinary people who might actually be closer to the truth (or the beautiful Absolute Truth) are thus crushed.

What a nice example of compassion. I wonder who might be right, or, at any rate, closer to God (in the spiritual world--not in the million dollar one... :-)

I am so glad I read this report. And I thank this brave soul who dares speak his version of the truth despite merciless companies' attempts to shut him up. How ironic isn't it?

The avatar course is NOT religious at all. It is about belief management, NOT belief promotion or adherence. Belief management is the ABILITY to CONSCIOUSLY pick and choose one's beliefs at any given moment in life, rather than UNCONSCIOUSLY doing it. This improves a person's psychological well being, as any psychologist, worthy of the title, will tell you. Any three-year-old could understand this premise Eldon. What happened to you?

Cult's have no interest in a person's capacity to pick and chose their beliefs. They expect you to conform to theirs.

Harry Palmer and Star's Edge have EXPLICITLY (
I am totally unaware that Harry Palmer is offering Scientology to anyone here. The reason I am unaware of such an offering is because that offering isn't happening. You, Eldon, are the only person using Scientology terminology to somehow create a connection to Harry Palmer's work. At no time have I heard any Scientology terminology in the Avatar Materials, or the promotion thereof in any literature, presentations, seminars, or live courses, with the SOLE exception of his own self-revelation of his own history for our open perusal of how he proceeded thru his learning experiences in life. Are we allowed to learn Eldon? Harry has been open about everything with himself. Are you ready to be open about YOU Eldon?

Is this how you attack People, Places, and Things, for God knows whatever reason (perhaps feelings of inadequacy), with false connections to negatively controversial topics? By the way Eldon, are you implying that the study of any subject by anyone on the planet should be prohibited and punished if it doesn't fit within your model of thinking? Hitler did! He burned books too, remember?

Or is this really all about the money? Hmm, seems to me that RELIGOUS organizations get freebies and tax breaks from the Government (citizen's money) because they are classified as RELIGIONS! Am I mistaken? Last time I checked a Cult has to be RELIGOUS in nature (you know, a collection of HAVE TO beliefs), in order to get Government funding? SO...that fact that Star's Edge CHARGES for it's services would seem to communicate the fundamental idea to an INTELEGENT HUMAN that it is not a RELIGOUS/CULT organization. Is any of this making any sense to you?

Good day Eldon.


Darin Walker
An Avatar Graduate
(I have spent many years studying multiple disciplines, philosophies, and systems of psychology, including religions. I assume full responsibility for my life including the suffering from my own ignorance and blame.)

Oh, P. S. Eldon.., I'm still waiting to see this report with actual case histories and evidence for the claims you are making. I did NOT see even ONE throughout the report. I was under the impression that Rip-off Reports is about ACTUAL case histories of Rip-offs. Would you care to supply one for our amusement?

I just had to make a point about Harry Palmer and the Avatar Course.

I haven't done the course nor do I intend to at the prices they charge. However, as a researcher in the nature of mind, consciousness and experiential reality for over 25 years I have never heard anyone speak so much sense about the nature of our own conscious awareness as Harry speaks in his video podcasts. Until one explores the nature of how we build our own conscious experience from the awareness that is always already there, we cannot deal effectively with the ups and downs of life. Personality is comprised of 3 parts - beliefs-emotions-behaviors. By examining our beliefs and seeing how mistaken they *all* are, we can free ourselves from the fears that cripple our self-expression and self-fulfillment, and live truly masterful, compassionate lives. Then we see our Self reflected in all that we experience, including other people. Avatar, like many spiritual practices, can produce profound shifts in consciousness in those that follow it which when seen from the outside can look like a cult.

As far as I can tell with my powerfully discriminating mind, Avatar does offer a modern synthesis of ancient spiritual practice designed to create inner peace and abundant compassion. I would hope for the money they charge those who can afford it, they would offer scholarships to those who can't. Oh well... that's just a symptom of the supply and demand culture we are all trapped in at the present time...

with love and respect,

a goodman
uk

Before you accept what this guys says:

Avatar Bashers: Eldon and Ronald
(Basher: A person who, with or without justification, DESIRES to blame, humiliate, and hurt others.)

Some recent rumors intentionally circulated on the Internet and via e-mail have resulted in some confused ideas about Avatar, Harry Palmer and Star's Edge. Here is the real story behind them.

1. The story began in 1991 when Eldon, a Provisionally Licensed Avatar Master, was caught cheating on royalties he owed Star's Edge, Inc. (the company that manages the Avatar network). When he still refused to pay after several attempts to negotiate, his license to deliver the Avatar Course was suspended. 1

1. Eldon admitted to this in pre-trial disclosures in Harry Palmer and Star's Edge vs Eldon Braun, Case No. 6:00-cv-1662-ORL-31JGG
2. Perceiving license suspension as an insult to his self-importance, and not being invited as a complimentary guest to the premier Wizard Course as an additional insult, Eldon decided to punish Star's Edge and Harry Palmer, author of the Avatar Course.2 Thus Eldon began a ten-year campaign to libel and discredit Avatar, Star's Edge, and Harry Palmer.3 He demanded large sums of money to stop. Using his advertising background and his study of black (negative) propaganda techniques,4 Eldon twisted facts, quoted statements out of context, and lied outright to further his ongoing, malicious campaign.

In 2001, within days after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers, Eldon published terrorism-related threats toward Harry and his wife.5 A criminal stalking complaint was filed against him with Florida law enforcement.
2. Eldon wrote an expose on Harry called the Wiz of Orlando that described events that Eldon had no first hand knowledge of and had only heard about through gossip and rumors. Much of the gossip Eldon generated himself. The article is angry, vindictive, and inaccurate. Eldon boasted that he would correct any inaccuracies, but after more than 50 misrepresentations were highlighted in a copy given to Eldon's attorney, Eldon refused to make changes, contending that the statue of limitations for libel had run out on the article. At trial Eldon's attorney defended Eldon by pointing out that the libelous statements posted on the Internet in 2000 were the same as those in the 1991 Wiz of Orlando and since the statue of limitations had run out... The judge didn't buy it and found Eldon guilty of malicious libel.

3. US Judge Presnell's Preliminary Injunction finding was that, "Eldon engaged in a ten year campaign to discredit Harry Palmer." The final judgment added libel.

4. According to Eldon he worked for the Church of Scientology Public Relations department in the early 1980's.

5. Eldon stated that it was his Jihad to bring down Avra and Harry's Ivory tower.

3. Eldon's posted intentions are to "dismantle Star's Edge", "bring Harry Palmer down", and "to see Harry Palmer panhandling on the street."6 Ironically, at the time of these posts, Eldon had only seen Harry Palmer at public lectures and a graduation barbeque party at Harry's home where he was one of more than fifty students. In 1999, Eldon decided to steal the Avatar Materials and rewrite them as his own Source Course.7
6. These were postings that Eldon admitted to in trial.

7. From Joint Final Pre-Trial Statement: [Eldon published the Source Course because he saw a "marketing opportunity" and a "way to make money" for himself by selling the Source Course to Avatar students.]

4. After failed attempts to mediate with Eldon, Harry Palmer and Star's Edge filed suit against Eldon in US Federal Court in 2000 for copyright infringement and libel.8 After a formal trial, the court determined that Eldon had infringed Harry Palmer's copyrights, and was spreading malicious libel about Palmer. The court eventually ordered him to pay fines and attorney fees of over $450,000.00 to Harry Palmer and Star's Edge.
8. United States District Court, Middle District of Florida Harry Palmer and Star's Edge vs Eldon ---, Case No: 6:00-CV-1662-ORL-31JGG

9. URL: avatarfriends.com/Doc243Attorney%20Fees-1.pdf
5. In an attempt to abort justice, on or about July 15, 2005, Eldon filed for bankruptcy in California. Besides the $450,000.00 owed to Harry Palmer and Star's Edge, Eldon had stuck credit card companies to a tune of approximately $35,000.00 After a hearing, the United States Bankruptcy for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division discharged the credit card debits, but ruled that, because Eldon's actions against Harry Palmer and Star's Edge were willful and malicious, any and all amounts awarded to Harry Palmer and Star's Edge were not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

10 Star's Edge attorneys were then able to collect approximately $80,000.00 from property that Eldon owned in California. A balance due of $370,000.00 remains to be collected.
10. United States Bankruptcy Court for Northern District of California Case No. 04-33139 DM7
6. Eldon is still trying to threaten Star's Edge and Harry Palmer into not collecting their judgment.11 Eldon has ignored evidence contrary to what he wants to believe and continues to use the Internet as a weapon to spread his propaganda and lies. Eldon has posted over 5,000 critical statements about Harry Palmer, Star's Edge, and Avatar on the Internet under his own name or under anonymous names. Eldon has said that he will not stop his libel campaign unless he is paid a million dollars. Eldon has been unemployed for several years.

11. Eldon email of 8/25/2005 entitled "More Levels of Exposure to Go": Remember my comment about the next level? I'm not sure exactly how many more levels to go at this point, but I can provide several at least. Best, Eldon
Braun of 9/3/2005 entitled "Class Action": Do you want that legal experience? I'm arranging it for you. It will prove educational. Best, Eldon email of 9/16/2005 entitled "Next Step": You are already largely isolated from human society. Soon to be quarantined. You had your chance, but of course you muffed it.
7. Eldon preys on mentally ill people, and using lies and manipulation, recruits these unfortunates into joining his attacks. He advertises for disgruntled Avatars and Masters to contact him and then he tries to exacerbate whatever upset or misunderstanding they have into an attack on Avatar.12 His recruiting spiel plays heavily on money, feeling victimized, and on the failure of Star's Edge to recognize the recruit's elevated self-importance. He manipulatively coaches the recruits to blame Harry Palmer, Star's Edge, and Avatar for their failures in life. One of a small hand-full of recruits that Eldon has managed to coax into attacking Avatar is named Ronald Cools. At different times, several different Dutch Avatar Masters have tried to help Ronald Cools assume responsibility for his upsets and actions. After several free reviews, he was finally banned from attending Avatar deliveries since he was continually critical and had no interest in self-examination.
12. This soliciting was offered into evidence at trial and admitted by Eldon.
8. Ronald Cools describes himself in an Internet post: "Hi, I am Ronald, an 43 year old homosexual. I am living a very lonely life, without a relationship, no work, almost (sic) no friends. I feel I cannot bear this isolation any longer. I am suicidal for 3 years now, and every day is a torture for me. My method of stepping out of life is with sleepingpills (sic) (NItrazepam) and a plastic bag. I hope I have the strength to do it this week. Is here anyone in the same circumstance? Please tell me. Warm regard, Ronald Cools from Holland" Cools did not commit suicide, probably didn't intend to. Instead he counseled others on how to commit suicide. Here is an excerpt from one of his posts: "Giving information how to commit suicide is not prohibited by law. Holland is a very liberate country Barbara, maybe you have to get used to that... Our birthright(sic) is also a choosen(sic) dead if you really want to step out of life. IMO Karin Spaink is helping people who have a concrete deadwish,(sic) and I also sometimes give people information how to commit suicide. I don't see anything wrong with that...Cools wrongly believes that because he is diagnosed with a personality disorder and is on welfare, that Star's Edge will not sue him for his blatant libel and copyright infringement. To date, every friendly attempt to stop him, or reason with him, has been interpreted by him as a threat that he uses to justify increasing his libel and copyright infringement activities.

14 He has ignored a US Federal judge's injunction against publishing Eldon's infringing Source Course--with Eldon's approval, of course. In 2005, Eldon coaxed Cools to create a hate website (avatarscam) directed at Avatar. Most of the material on Cools' website have been written, re-written, inspired, or collected by Eldon, some of it from a disgruntled Scientology employee, Gale Lyons, who Harry fired 19 years ago.15 Cools has also collected an e-mail list of Avatar Masters and periodically spams them with libelous out of context information about Harry Palmer, or stolen copyrighted materials.

13. Posted on Usenet at alt.suicide.holiday

14. Cools brags that he has caused Star's Edge to file the most Digital Millennium Copyright complaints of any organization with Google. Google has honored all complaints and removed the infringing material, but Ron continues to violate Star's Edge copyrights.

15. Gale Lyons has admitted that she manipulated the editor of the Elmira Star Gazette into publishing an expose that was anti-Palmer and anti-Scientology. [Posted 8/12/2000 by Gale Lyons: "I knew someone that was good friends with the editor in chief. It took us a while. She heard him say that someone had called the paper concerned about a family member that was connected to Scn. and he could find no info. She of course told me before she said anything. We made a plan to set it up as a terrible secret and fed him tidbits until he begged her to talk to me. After much begging I 'reluctantly' said ok. He called me to set up a meeting. I went back to 'the rest' and told them the Star Gazett (sic) was interested. They reluctantly (for real) agreed and I stepped into the background."] Marjorie Kuentz-Hoffman, the Scientologist featured in the article, used her Public Relations training to spin a soulful tale of manipulation and deceit, which in fact, was almost entirely fiction. Two fired employees and three ex-students were dragged in to spin an even more exaggerated story of woe for the gullible 20-something reporter.

When Eldon reposted the story on the Internet, the new Elmira Star Gazette editor, informed of the stories inaccuracies and the circumstances surrounding its publishing, twice legally ordered Braun to remove it. Braun complied, but then reposted the story on a French website outside of US jurisdiction.

9. Eldon directly (or indirectly through his disgruntled recruits) spends many hours per week repeating variations of his five favorite lies:
Lie 1: that Avatar is a dangerous cult
Lie 2: that Harry Palmer is dishonest and insane
Lie 3: that Avatar training harms people
Lie 4: that Avatar is connected with, or is an offshoot of, the Church of Scientology
Lie 5: that Star's Edge was, or is, engaging in criminal activities.
These are malicious lies and have been documented with evidence and testimony as lies in U.S. Federal Court. Eldon has been ordered to pay large fines for spreading them. The final court ruling can be viewed at the Court's website:

ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200313963.pdfThe final judgment for cost against Braun can be view here:
avatarfriends.com/Doc243Attorney%20Fees

16. Eldon knows this is false, but uses the positioning to manipulate Church of Scientology critics into bashing Avatar.
To evade U.S. justice and the fines and other penalties levied against him, Eldon fled back to Paris where he continues to spin his lies to uninformed people. He uses his handful of recruits to confirm each other's lies and spread misleading and manipulative stories to local press, TV talk shows, school boards, and governmental agencies (including the Florida and Texas Bar Associations, and, according to Cools, the Dutch police, the Dutch Government, and the FBI). Among Eldon's favorites slurs are that Avatar is a UFO brainwashing cult and associated with, or similar to, the Church of Scientology. Both statements are deliberate lies intended to inflame people who have no experience with Harry Palmer, Star's Edge or Avatar.
If you encounter any effects from Eldon's or Cools' propaganda, feel free to use this Situation Report to establish the reality of the situation. Every statement in it is accurate and documented. (Star's Edge will provide court documentation, deposition transcripts, and evidence to responsible journalists.)
17. Star's Edge has three file cabinets of Eldon and company's faxes, emails and Internet posts.
When Eldon and Ronald get over being right, they are invited, on their own time, to cycle between the Integrity (1) and Forgiveness Option (5) mini-courses until they feel personally responsible for their actions and no longer have any desire to blame, humiliate, or hurt others.

The mini-courses are available for free download here: avatarepc.com/html/mini-eng.html

In spite of Eldon's malicious lies and Ronald's spam e-mails, the Avatar Network continues to expand. Star's Edge Trainers and staff salute the many thousands of aligned Avatar Masters, and tens of thousands of Avatar graduates, who are motivated by service to others, and compassion, and who are contributing to an Enlightened Planetary Civilization.
"In a universe based on duality, there is always an opposite viewpoint." --Harry Palmer

avatarepc.com/sitrep1.html
Wishing you success and prosperity,

The Senior Avatar Council Star's Edge International