The Omega Directory was started some 39 years ago to help people find New Age study groups and churches.  At the time we did not use the term New Age but used the term “metaphysical” instead.

        As we grew (and eventually began to use the term New Age) we discovered that there were individuals who were calling themselves psychics, but who were bilking their clients out of hundreds, even thousands, of dollars with fraudulent claims and dishonest advise.

        We began a campaign to alert our readers to this danger. We called these bilko artists gypsies and told our readers how to recognize them.  This campaign was successful, though every now and then we have to remind our readers of the existence of this peril..

Over the past few years we have become aware of a similar problem—people who called themselves New Agers who were in it just for the money.  Of course recognize that everyone has to make a living. We are not talking about a fair price for an honest service. We are talking about individuals who clearly do not believe in what they are selling.

To many of you this may seem obvious, But I missed it. Perhaps I am too trusting.

When I attended my first big psychic fair many, many years ago, being raised as a good Mormon boy, I was shocked to see psychics smoking and drinking coffee.  I got over it.

But I am experiencing a similar personal reaction when I run across individuals who are selling a “New Age” service who really don’t believe in what they are doing and are charging outrageous prices for what they are offering.  The “sweat lodge killer” is an example of this. He is charging thousands of dollars for her seminars and workshops, that are not quality productions. In this case, they are not only not quality, they are dangerous. 

He had problems in the past, but that did not stop him or even cause him to spend a few dollars to improve the product and make it safe. He did not care. All he was interested in was the money. They money to pay for his high living—fancy cars and several expensive homes and who knows what.

Whether or not he ever existed, isn’t Jesus the ideal that we expect our spiritual New Age leaders to model themselves after? No, they don’t have to sacrifice their lives, but they should be concerned enough about us, to be sincere. To offer the best product or service they can and not to charge outrageous prices.

What we are saying is: Keep your eyes open and be guided by spirit, not by ego. If you have any questions about a service, give us a call and we will tell  you what we know.

What has happened since 9/11? Fewer and fewer people are interested in UFOs and crop circles. Attendance at metaphysical, New Age churches has declined.  Why? Wouldn’t you think that as we enter the New Age, MORE people would be interested in it

Actually more people are interested in it, but the number of New Age churches, study groups and books stores has increased. 30 or 40 years ago, if you wanted to attend a New Age study group or church, you had less than a dozen to choose from.  Things have changed.

Today there are nearly 200 New Age groups and businesses in the area. Quite a difference.

So, even though more people are interested, because there are so many options, each venue gets only a few of them.

But also, in 9/11, people got scared, they woke up from their fantasies and realized that there was a REAL world out there. The result: fewer and fewer people looking into alternative realities, things not necessary for self preservation.

Fear also caused the masses to revert to the habits of their past. Attendance at Main Line religions rose as fear compelled people to return to old, familiar patterns. It times of fear the rule is not to be caught on unfamiliar ground.

I cannot tell you how disappointed I am in President Obama.

Here was a man with great promise, with the nation ready to follow him anywhere. Did he take advantage of this situation?

You bet he did. He really took advantage us all of us. The man who many of us thought might be a messiah, turned out to be nothing more than s smooth-talking Chicago political crook who wanted do to the American what he had already done to Chicago. And he’s doing it. And we are letting it happen.

Rev. Dr. John Rodgers  is Arizona's most widely read New Age columnist, For nearly a quarter century his column has appeared in the Omega Directory.  Dr. Rodgers is the founder and leader of the New Age Community Churches, the editor of the Omega Directory, and web-master of aznewage.com and its related web sites.