Harry Palmer (author)

Harry Palmer (born April 3, 1944) developed the Avatar self-development system of courses. Palmer founded and owns Star's Edge, Inc., which trains and licenses Avatar Masters (teachers) to deliver the Avatar Course worldwide. He released the first version of The Avatar Course on October 15, 1986. The course now has five sections: licensed Avatar Masters teach the first three; and Star's Edge, Inc. teaches the two advanced sections.

In his literature, Palmer describes himself as a " [w] riter, teacher, lecturer, scientist, programmer, environmentalist, businessman, spiritual leader, explorer ... truly a Renaissance man." [cite web|url=http://www.internationalavatarcourse.com/whoisHarry.html|title=Who is Harry Palmer?|accessdate=2007-11-24]

Published works

All of Palmer's works are currently published by Star's Edge, Inc.

* "The Thoughtstorm Manual: An Evolution In Human Thinking" (ISBN 1-891575-03-1) - a group exercise handbook originally published pre-Star's Edge in 1986
* "Living Deliberately: The Discovery and Development of Avatar" (ISBN 0-9626874-3-X) - a quasi-historical account (by his own admission) of the story of how Harry Palmer developed the Avatar materials, including some biographical details. The Avatar website offers a free e-version.
* "Resurfacing: Techniques for Exploring Consciousness" (ISBN 0-9626874-9-9) - the workbook associated with Section I of the Avatar courses.
* "The Avatar Master's Handbook" (ISBN 0-9626874-8-0) - associated with Section IV of the Avatar courses.
* "Love Precious Humanity: The Collected Wisdom Of Harry Palmer" (ISBN 1-891575-23-6) - a book of quotations from Palmer
* "Inside Avatar The Book: Achieving Enlightenment" (ISBN 1-891575-13-9) - a collection of previously published articles

Additionally, Palmer has published course instructions and workbooks collectively known as "the Avatar materials".

Education and credentials

Since a 1991 issue of the "Avatar Journal", Palmer's company's literature and associated websites have portrayed Palmer as an Educational Psychologist, including claims that he received a Masters in Educational Psychology (or alternatively having a major in in Educational Psychology )from Elmira College. In his book "Living Deliberately", Palmer claims to have majored in Educational Psychology as part of the Triplum Program at Ithaca College. In fact he received a Bachelor of Art in English from Ithaca College in 1969 and a Masters in Education from Elmira College in 1971, and gained certification to teach English in secondary schools. Neither Ithaca College nor Elmira College ever offered a major or minor course of study in Educational Psychology; and Educational Psychology never formed part of the Ithaca Plan (Triplum Program). [cite web
url= http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/avatar/avatar-academic-title-lie-palmer.html
title= Is Avatar a (psycho) cult?
accessdate= 2008-09-02
author=
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date= "01-08-07"
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work= www.AvatarCult.Info
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quote= "To the best of our knowledge, Educational Psychology was not offered as a major or minor, in the graduate or undergraduate level."

Registrar Elmira College 02-03-2007 [...] "Ithaca College's Dept. of Education did not offer a major or minor; rather it taught the courses needed for secondary school teacher certification for Biology, Chemistry, English, Math, Languages (French, German, Spanish), Music Ed, Speech Correction & Physical Education (Phys. Ed. also did elementary-level methods classes)."

Ithaca College Library / College Archives14-05-2007]

The Florida Department of Health investigated the academic credentials of Harry Palmer in 2005/2006. The Department found that he used the term "psychologist" illegally and made him sign a cease-and-desist agreement. [Photocopies of court documents and links to proof of claims appear at:cite web
url= http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/avatar/avatar-academic-title-lie-palmer.html
title= Is Avatar a (psycho) cult?
accessdate= 2008-09-02
author=
last=
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coauthors=
date= "01-08-07"
year=
month=
work= www.AvatarCult.Info
publisher=
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quote= ] However, some web sites associated with Star's Edge still ( as of the end of 2007) have not complied with the cease-and-desist agreement. The federal and state authorities have decided not to pursue criminal charges against Harry Palmer at this time.

Scientology background

Contrary to Palmer's downplaying his involvement in Scientology, including saying it was related to a brief time of research for a program for the school district he taught in, both Harry Palmer and his partner, Avra Honey-Smith, studied Scientology for many years and achieved higher levels. From 1974 until at least 1984, Harry Palmer officially operated a Scientology mission for the Church of Scientology in Elmira, New York. [http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/h/harry-palmer.html] [http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/a/avra-honey-smith.html]

In 1975 the Elmira Mission incorporated under the name "the Elmira Mission of the Church of Scientology" and the following year it gained a license to use all Scientology trademarks and service marks held and controlled by L. Ron Hubbard. In exchange for that right, Palmer paid 10% of its income as a tithe to Scientology.

Six years later Hubbard assigned his rights in all Scientology trademarks to Religious Technology Center (RTC), which the Church of Scientology had organized especially to own and protect all Scientology trademarks. RTC immediately increased the licensing fee. On September 9, 1982 Palmer signed a new License Agreement requiring the Elmira Mission to pay 15% of its income as well as additional fees to RTC in order to continue using the Scientology trademarks.

When in November 1984 Palmer ceased making any payments to the Church of Scientology, the Church filed a lawsuit against Palmer and the Elmira Mission for trademark infringement. [ [http://www.xenu.net/archive/CourtFiles/occf134.html Church of Scientology International, Religious Technology Center and Scientology Missions International v. The Elmira Mission of the Church of Scientology a/k/a Church of Scientology, Mission of Elmira, a/k/a Dianetics Center, a/k/a Scientology Elmira, a/k/a Center for Creative Learning, Harry Palmer and Avra Honey-Smith] — ruling in motion in case CIV-85-412T, United States District Court, W.D. New York, ruled August 1, 1985] The Church won on appeal and the details of the settlement were sealed. [ [http://www.xenu.net/archive/CourtFiles/occf126.html Church of Scientology International, Religious Technology Center and Scientology Missions International v. The Elmira Mission of the Church of Scientology a/k/a Church of Scientology, Mission of Elmira, a/k/a Dianetics Center, a/k/a Scientology Elmira, a/k/a Center for Creative Learning, Harry Palmer and Avra Honey-Smith] — final ruling in case CIV-85-412T, United States District Court, W.D. New York, argued December 6, 1985, decided June 23, 1986] About this time Palmer produced the first of the Avatar-related materials, including the "Thoughtstorm Manual".

On February 28, 1998, in a court case he lost against former employees before the State Labor Board, Palmer stated that the center was "renamed on March 11, 1987, pursuant to Federal Court Order, the Center for Creative Learning". [New York State Dept. of Labor, claim numbers 07-87-0419 & 07-88-0136 [http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/avatar/avatar-court-hearing-1989.html] ]

The original Avatar materials made extensive use of Scientology terminology. Harry Palmer sold them to other Scientologists, claiming that they achieved "end of case" and "cover [ed] the entire Scientology Bridge, the Buddhic path and beyond." Many of the terms continue in use in Avatar today, such as "Rundown", "Identities", "handling"; and Avatar offers similar courses of the same names ("Integrity Course" and "Professional Course"). [Original 1986 Avatar Course materials [http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/avatar/avatar-beyond-buddha.html] ]

In addition to this history, similarities to Scientology in policies, structure, secrecy, and doctrine taught in higher levels have caused European news articles to refer to Palmer's Avatar Courses as "Scientology-Lite", picking up a term originally coined by Texas columnist Roahn Wynar. [http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/avatar/avatar-scientology-lite.html]

The Galactic Confederacy

Harry Palmer introduced the story about the history of consciousness in the Milky Way galaxy at the first Wizards Course in 1991. The tale includes his version of Scientology's Galactic Confederacy: that Earth was one of the planets seeded with life, and that humanity risks destroying itself through a "blight bomb" that stops photosynthesis. The introduction and end-comments indicate the story is not meant to be symbolic, but a representation of a true story. [Excerpts on p.71-74 "Soul Snatchers: The Mechanics of Cults" by psychiatrist and professional criminologist Jean-Marie Abgrall, Algora Publishing, New York, 2000. The full text appears online despite legal requests to remove it due to alleged copyright infringement. [http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/avatar/avatar-galactic-confederacy.html] ]

Other references to Palmer's claimed extraterrestrial knowledge and experience occur rarely, but exist in other speeches and texts, such as an excerpt from "The Translurian Record" [In his book, "Resurfacing", Palmer writes a passage " [f] rom the Translarian Record, an unfinished manuscript by the author, which chronicles the spread of sentient life throughout the Milky Way galaxy" and includes "Translarian" precepts that are found thrioughout the materials, indicating they are derived from or inspired by an extra-terrestrial source.] and his claim to have read firsthand the equivalent of the "Prime Directive" of Star Trek. [Professional Course, October 1995. [http://www.gatago.com/alt/clearing/avatar/8197728.html] ] [In Palmer's "Seat of Being" speech at the Master Course on December 6, 2003, Palmer declared "if ... you find yourself on a planet across the galaxy — like I did — you’re going to have a pretty good idea of how to get Avatar started." [http://www.wizardcourse.com/html/SeatofBeingTranscipt.pdf] ]

Harry Palmer, Star's Edge versus Eldon Braun

In 2000 Harry Palmer sued Eldon Braun, a former Avatar licensee and Palmer critic, for copyright and trademark infringement, unfair competition, breach of contract, intentional interference with a business relationship, and libel. In 2005, the court awarded Palmer $36,000 in damages for copyright infringement, $20,000 for libel damages, and $364,527.68 in attorney’s fees, with all other claims dropped or dismissed.

The copyright claim related to a self-study course Braun developed called "The Source Course", which Braun billed as "an analog of the Avatar Course", "a refresher" for the Avatar Course, "a take-home manual" for graduates of the Avatar Course, and the "equivalent" of the Avatar Course materials. A preliminary injunction against the work failed, but the appeal concluded against Braun. [http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200313963.pdf]

References

Further reading

;Court material
* [http://www.xenu.net/archive/CourtFiles/occf134.html Church of Scientology International, Religious Technology Center and Scientology Missions International v. The Elmira Mission of the Church of Scientology a/k/a Church of Scientology, Mission of Elmira, a/k/a Dianetics Center, a/k/a Scientology Elmira, a/k/a Center for Creative Learning, Harry Palmer and Avra Honey-Smith] — ruling in motion in case CIV-85-412T, United States District Court, W.D. New York, ruled August 1, 1985
* [http://www.xenu.net/archive/CourtFiles/occf126.html Church of Scientology International, Religious Technology Center and Scientology Missions International v. The Elmira Mission of the Church of Scientology a/k/a Church of Scientology, Mission of Elmira, a/k/a Dianetics Center, a/k/a Scientology Elmira, a/k/a Center for Creative Learning, Harry Palmer and Avra Honey-Smith] — final ruling in case CIV-85-412T, United States District Court, W.D. New York, argued December 6, 1985, decided June 23, 1986
* [http://laws.lp.findlaw.com/11th/0114511opn.html U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (April 9, 2002): PALMER v BRAUN]
* [http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200313963.pdf U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (July 13, 2004): Harry Palmer Star's Edge vs. Eldon Braun] (PDF)
* [http://avatarfriends.com/Doc243Attorney%20Fees-1.pdf UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA (11/18/2005): Harry Palmer Star's Edge vs. Eldon Braun] (PDF)
* [http://www.avatarepc.com/sitrep1.html Situation Report] (Star's Edge response to Braun court case)

External links

;
* [http://www.avatarepc.com Official Avatar Website] - includes links to free materials (mini-courses), short bio of Harry Palmer, Avatar Course student experiences, etc.

;Pro-Avatar sites run by Avatar members or pro-Avatar without verifyable ownership
* [http://www.avataroverdrive.com www.AvatarOverdrive.com] - archived Avatar / Star's Edge materials since inception; bulletin board (guests welcome)
* [http://www.emmabragdon.com/articles/art-03.html "Speaking of Avatar: In Dialogue with Ancient Spiritual Traditions"] - Emma Bragdon, PhD (Transpersonal Psychology)

;General information, articles, and discussion
* [http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~thegroundoffaith/issues/2005-04/spirituality_21.pdf "Spirituality and Cults: An Experiential Analysis"] - a detailed analysis of the cult aspects of various groups including Avatar by former Avatar Master, Elliot Benjamin, Ph. D
* [http://www.csj.org/infoserv_articles/benjamin_elliot_avatar.htm "E-Newsletter: On Avatar - Personal Experiences with the Avatar Program"] - Elliot Benjamin, Ph.D. ICSA
* [http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/000349.php Article: "What is an Avatar Master?"]

;Avatar critics
* [http://www.scientology-kills.org/avatar/avatar_wiz.htm A critical view of the Avatar system] - on an exposeé-style website that covers Scientology and its offshoots ("squirrels")
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~jeta/avatar/ www.avatarcult.info] - Dedicated website. Includes the secret "Entity Exorcism Procedure" from the Wizard course
* [http://members.aol.com/eldonb123/avatar-EDF.html "Avatar: A Cult in the Company"] - exposeé by Avatar Master turned critic about Avatar and cults in France
* [http://perso.orange.fr/eldon.braun/elmira "Harry Palmer & Scientology"] - includes local newspaper exposeé of Harry Palmer's Scientology Mission / Avatar center, Elmira, NY