Category Personal

1984: Looking to partner up with a US publisher

Geir Isene 13 Comments

After really good responses from readers in the Norwegian market, my publisher (Humanist Forlag) is looking for a US publiser as a partner to release my book to the English speaking market.

1984

This is the only book on Scientology written by a person who has done all the secret levels, and who reveals them all. The book gives an inside account on how it is to be a public Scientologist, about my gains in Scientology, the challenges, weirdness, mysteries and crap.

There are plenty of books that is looking at Scientology from the outside. And lots of books written by former executives within the Church of Scientology. This book tells a story from the ranks of the public Scientologists – a 25-year journey from the bottom of The Bridge to Total Freedom and all the way to the highest secret level, OT 8. This could have been your story, or your brother’s or sister’s, or a friend’s.

People should know what they enter into when they walk through the doors of the church. The book is balanced and throughly relates both the good and the bad in the controversial religion. The information in this book deserves to be open and accessible to all English readers. An English version would spell the end of the secrecy and mystery surrounding the greatest cash cows for the church.

There has already been hundreds of people asking me to get the book out in English. And so I put this out here to see if readers might have interesting connections that could lead to an English version being published in the near future. Feel free to spread the word.

From a talk on my book and my 25 years in Scientology

From a talk on my book and my 25 years in Scientology

A method for helping another

Geir Isene 103 Comments

I have gotten many requests to post more about what I do when I help people as a coach and mental trainer.

The toolbox is large and contains a vast array of methods to help others depending on what they want to achieve. But above all, I hold the attitude that the other person’s interest, desires and goals are more important than any tool or method. I practice winging it more than anything else.

But there is one tool that I often use to help a person get back on his feet. It is a method I have found very effective when dealing with everything from a person coping or struggling to those who consider taking their own lives. This has nothing to do with introspection or therapy – I leave that to others. It has everything to do with getting shit done.

Here’s the simple way you can help another (or yourself):

  1. Tell the person to write a list of everything he hasn’t completed. Everything that nags him, that he thinks he should have done or should do. Every bad conscience. Everything. If it takes a stack of papers, it takes a stack of papers. If the list is short, so be it. But ensure you have exhausted his bad conscience. You are not interested in why the actions wasn’t done or any explanation for them. Forget prioritizations or categorizations at this point. The list can be all messy or upside-down. Doesn’t matter. Just get everything down on paper.
  2. Tell the person to remove everything he no longer has the opportunity or ability to do. This could be items like “Be a firefighter before I become 25 years old” (he is now 35) or “Be the next great goal keeper on Barcelona Football Club” (he is 35 and has a bad left knee). Strike out anything that he can no longer do. Make sure he also removes it from his mind.
  3. Tell the person to remove everything he no longer wants to do. No matter what the reason is, anything that he really doesn’t want to do is removed from the list. Make sure he also removes it from his mind. He now has a list of actions that he can, will and should complete.
  4. Prioritize. In the order of what is really bothering him. The worst shit goes on the top, and all the way down to the more insignificant itches.
  5. Make him do the one thing that bothers him the most. Help him. Complete the action together with him, or sit there while he completes it. Then make him do the second biggest source of worry. Then the third, the fourth and so on. Until you are confident he can do more actions on the list as home work. Follow it through until the person himself is confident he can do anything on such a list all by himself.

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You do this, and you will have a friend for life. And your friend will have a different life. This happens to be the tool I use that has the most profound effect on a person who is struggling in life.

Try it. Let me know how it goes.

What I lost in Scientology

Geir Isene 143 Comments

While we hear about abuses, human rights violations, harassment, criminal conduct and “fair gaming” in the Church of Scientology, I have been very satisfied with the service I received in my 25 years being a member. Others have lost money, time, careers, family members, unborn children or even themselves. I lost none of that. But I did lose something. And it took me by surprise.

I was nervous as a child. Worrying about stuff – mostly social situations. I was shy, terrified to be asked to read aloud in class. There was often a cocktail of emotions, blood pumping, adrenalin, fear, uncertainty and doubt. Amid the social stress was a boy seeking refuge in hard core natural sciences where I could satisfy my appetite for knowledge and master the crafts. Logic and reason was safe. Emotions not.

When I got into Scientology in 1984, I was seeking new answers and new angles to particle physics and astrophysics. But they offered me a path to gain control of those unruly social situations. I was intrigued to learn that I could gain some level of mastery of shyness, stress and my worrying.

From the very first communications drills and all the way up Scientology’s Bridge to Total Freedom I was longing for less worrying, more control. Mastery of emotions, of self, of stress and of the worry.

And lo and behold, that was just what I got. In spades. No wonder I was happy with my Scientology services. I went from a worrying and shy boy to a radio show host to a CEO of several companies and a renowned public speaker. I got exactly what I wanted.

But be careful for what you wish.

I am seldom stressed or worried. I can be thrown headlong into any public situation, be it impromptu speaking on an unknown subject or going on radio or TV without preparation. No stress, just a pure “Fuck It” attitude to whatever the situation may bring.

I miss the stress. The anticipation of the unknown. The adrenalin. The rush. Much zest have been lost. If anything, that is a source of some worry.

This is why I seek situations where I am not in control. That is why I want challenges beyond my abilities to cope. I need to feel more of those emotions, that part of life.

It is harder and harder to find exciting challenges. If you have any ready, please throw it my way.

In hindsight, I would still do it all over again. Because the benefits of calmness and harmony outweighs the loss of zest. But it is a loss that I am very much aware of.

(From my heart, pure text, no graphics or even links. Delivered as-is.)

From the book release

Geir Isene 23 Comments

“Nittenåttifire” (1984) is the only book revealing the secret levels of Scientology written by a person who has actually done the levels. For the first time, The Church of Scientology cannot brush this off claiming it is only “heresay” or “rehashed urban myths scraped up from the fringes of the Internet”. No – this is the real deal. Told by a person who did it all.

1984-3

The room was packed. I believe it was the largest gathering of people on the subject of Scientology ever in Norway. The Church can’t get 100 people to come for an event here even when they threaten their parisoners. We made history yesterday. “Magic Bjørn” did a headcount, and at one time there were 88 people in the room. With some people coming and going, it was around 100 attendees on the event – a good number for a book release.

1984-1

Torgrim Eggen did an excellent job interviewing me. Smart questions. Funny. Deep. He covered many angles and the audience responded well. It was a fun hour where the attendees got an insight into the strange, the good, the bad and the hilarious of Scientology.

Thanks to all the people that came, to Torgrim, to my publisher (especially Bente and Pål Espen) and to those who shot these pictures.

1984-5

Book: 1984

Geir Isene 45 Comments

1984Today the book, “Nittenåttifire” (ISBN 9788282820592) became available for sale:

Link to the publisher

The main media coverage:

The main book release event will be held on Wednesday 18:00 the 18th (UTC+2, daylight savings) at Litteraturhuset in Oslo, Norway.

Video: Me on Scientology

Geir Isene 36 Comments

Here’s the full video of the interview J. Swift did with me this summer at Karen De La Carriere’s. It covers many aspects of Scientology. Although some parts have been released earlier, such as the part where I talked about how the church tried to manipulate Google, the full video covers many more aspects of Scientology. Feel free to leave comments also on my YouTube channel.

Update: David St Lawrence has an extensive analysis of the interview.

Magic Beat – ending with Midnight Magic

Geir Isene 16 Comments

A few weeks ago, Stein Halvorsen and I was invited to the Radio Show Magic Beat’s last airing – on June 28th. It would mark the end of a 6 year long era of the Spacesynth and Italo Disco music show on Radio Nova (Oslo, Norway). Pål Hverven was inspired by Midnight Magic, the show that Stein and I ran from 1987-1990. While our show featured role-playing on the air, Pål took the typical music we played and started the music show Magic Beat almost two decades later.

live_air

To end off Magic Beat with style, he invited us to do a full two hour Midnight Magic as part of his last three hours on the air. And in true Midnight Magic style, albeit somewhat rusty after our 23 years vacation off the air, we winged it and had a blast killing off several callers as they struggled to save the Earth. The theme of this show was taken from “The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” where each player calling in to the show had to save the Earth from extinction in a very short time. They faced a variety of dangers as the tried to reach the Council of Elders and convince them not to remove our planet to make way for a new intergalactic highway. But alas, none were successful, and Magic Beat truly did go out with a bang 🙂

on_the_air

In the middle of the show, we were thrown out of the studio as the fire alarm went off. So, expect some very different music during the show as the automatic system took care of the listeners as we were out on the street.

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The show is in Norwegian, but if you can’t understand a word of what we’re saying, there is still great music to be heard. Enjoy 🙂

The last Magic Beat Radio Show – 3 hours with the last two hours featuring Midnight Magic

Fritz, Nosmo King, Stein, me and Pål

Fritz, Nosmo King, Stein, me and Pål

I should add that the crew was really fun to work with. Pål is a warm and truly nice guy. And I had the pleasure to also meet Fritz and Nosmo King.

What’s brewing?

Geir Isene 16 Comments

coffee As I sit here in Café Rousso in Spetses, Greece, sipping a double espresso with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, I thought I should write a short post on what’s in the pipeline.

Wednesday the 18th is the big day with the release of my book. But before that, there will be a 4 page article in the biggest Norwegian magazine (Se & Hør) featuring Anette’s story, our relationship and the release of my book. The magazine will be out on Tuesday.

Shortly before that, on Monday I will release the full interview that I did at Karen’s. J. Swift did a great job as an interviewer, asking very pertinent questions. Until now, parts of the interview have been released in shorter videos over at Karen’s Youtube channel. The full 54 minutes of video covers pretty well my currents views on Scientology, the church and its future.

Stay tuned.

greece_panorama

My Scientology book release (September 18th)

Geir Isene 175 Comments

The date is set. The venue is booked. Noise will be made.

1984

Yes, the book is in Norwegian (for now).

English translation of the title: “Nineteen eightyfour. My way into Scientology’s inner secrets – and out again.”

If you are in Oslo on the 18th of September, you are welcome to join the party (including OSA – The Church of Scientology’s intelligence and dirty tricks arm).

Links:
The book release facebook event
The event at Litteraturhuset
My book at the publisher’s page
(Use Google translate as needed)