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A Is for Accident is the debut live album by American dark cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, a collection of live and studio recordings from 2001–2003, which was released on May 27, 2003 by Important Records. Future pressings were handled by 8 ft. Records and didn't include the bootleg recording of the band covering "Stand by Your Man" by Tammy Wynette. On October 20, 2009, the band released the album at Bandcamp.com, with two unlisted bonus tracks available to those who purchase the entire album (the digital download version, in a variety of formats, is free as of 2012).^[2]

Most of the tracks were recorded at live shows around the Boston area: T.T. The Bear's Place, the Lizard Lounge, and Sanders Theater in Cambridge, MA; WMBR 88.1 FM at MIT in Cambridge; WBRS 100.1 FM at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA; and the Milky Way in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Several of them have local references: Christopher Lydon is a well-known radio interviewer at WBUR in Boston; "Bank of Boston Beauty Queen" takes place in Lexington, MA; "Truce" mentions a number of streets and places in Boston.

Amanda Palmer stated at their 31 October 2010 reunion show that the band owns the rights to this album and receives all proceeds from its distribution.

Track listing[link]

Personnel[link]

• Amanda Palmer – piano, vocals, lyricist, composer, songwriter
• Brian Viglione – drums, guitar
• Meredith Yayanos – violin on "Will"
• Greg Disterhost – guitar on "Stand By Your Man"
• Jim Smith – bass guitar on "Stand By Your Man"

References[link]

This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (October 2010)

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Esther Hicks (born Esther Weaver) is an American inspirational speaker and best-selling author. She has co-authored nine books with her husband Jerry Hicks, presented workshops on the Law of Attraction and appeared in the first release of the film The Secret.^[1] The Hicks' books, including the best-selling series The Law of Attraction, are — according to Esther Hicks — "translated from a group of non-physical entities called Abraham." (Hicks describes what she is doing as tapping into "infinite intelligence").^[2][3]

Biography[link]

Esther Hicks was born 1948 in Coalville, Utah. In 1980, she married Jerry Hicks, then a successful Amway distributor and former acrobat at a circus in Cuba, musician, MC and comedian.^[1][2][3] She has one daughter, Tracy, by her former marriage.^[3][4] Jerry Hicks died on 18 November 2011.^[5]

Outline of Abraham–Hicks' teachings[link]

According to Esther and Jerry Hicks, Abraham is a group of entities that are "interpreted" by Esther Hicks. Abraham has described themselves as “a group consciousness from the non-physical dimension.” They have also said, “We are that which you are. You are the leading edge of that which we are. We are that which is at the heart of all religions.” Abraham has said through Esther that whenever one feels moments of great love, exhilaration, or pure joy, that is the energy of Source, and that is who Abraham “is”.

"Jerry and Esther never used the word channeling," Abraham clarifies. "It is used when applied to them, but they have never used it, because it means many things of which they are not, you see."

"You could leave the channeling out of it. Call it inspiration; that's all it is. You don't call the basketball player a channeler, but he is; he's an extension of Source Energy. You don't call the surgeon a channeler, but he is. You don't call the musician, the magnificent master musician, you don't call him a channeler, but he is. He's channeling the broader essence of who he is into the specifics of what he is about."

Esther herself calls Abraham "infinite intelligence," and to Jerry they are "the purest form of love I've ever experienced." Her teachings (referred to as Abraham–Hicks teachings) are based on this experience. The basic tenets of the teachings include that people create their own reality through their thoughts, that emotions are constantly guiding people toward where they want to go, and that life is supposed to be fun. The essence of Abraham–Hicks' teachings since 1986 has been presented as follows:^[6]

• Individuals are physical extensions of the non-physical.
• People are in their bodies because they chose to be.
• The basis of life is freedom; the purpose of life is joy.
• People are creators; they create with their thoughts.
• Whatever people can imagine is theirs to be, or do, or have.
• Individuals choose their creations as they choose their thoughts.
• Emotions indicate what people are creating.
• The Universe adores people; it knows their broadest intentions.
• Individuals should relax into their natural well-being, and know that all is well.
• Life is not meant to be a struggle, but a process of allowing.
• People are creators of "thoughtways" on their unique "paths of joy".
• Actions and money are by-products of focusing on joy.
• Individuals may depart their body without illness or pain.
• People cannot die; their lives are everlasting.

A large part of Hicks' work centers around the Law of Attraction, a concept written about in the early 1900s by William Walker Atkinson (1862–1932), in his book Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World (1906).^[7]

Film[link]

Esther Hicks was a narrator and star of the original version of the film The Secret, as well as a central source of the film's inspiration.^[3] The footage featuring Hicks was removed from the later "Extended Edition" after the film's creator Rhonda Byrne, who has been involved in contractual disputes and litigation regarding the film, rescinded the original contract covering Hicks' participation,^[4] and asked that Hicks relinquish her "intellectual property rights in these areas forever".^[8] In an open letter posted on the internet, Hicks stated that she had been "uncomfortable with what felt to us like a rather aggressive marketing campaign," and that ultimately Abraham gave her the following advice: "Whenever you are given an ultimatum that says, 'if you don't do this, then we will have to do such and such,' it is best that you just let it go and move on. Otherwise there is always another, and this, and this, and this?"^[8] The letter doesn't condemn Byrne, but clarifies why Hicks no longer appears in The Secret.

Hicks has since posted a video on YouTube further explaining her discomfort with The Secret and finally, her decision to discontinue involvement with the film.^[9]

Books[link]

Ask and It is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks

Hay House, Inc. published the Hicks' best-selling book, Ask and It is Given, in September 2004. Since that book they have also published five more New York Times Best-Sellers: The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent (January 2006), The Law of Attraction (October 2006), The Astonishing Power of Emotions (September 2008), Money and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Health, Wealth & Happiness which ranked #1 two weeks after its release in August 2008 and The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships.^[10][11] A series of fictional children's books, Sara I, II, and III, is also available. Several of their books were translated into Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Swedish, Czech, Slovenian, Slovak, Serbian and Russian.

• A New Beginning I: Handbook for Joyous Survival, by Jerry and Esther Hicks. Published by Abraham–Hicks Publications, 5th edition, 1988. ISBN 0-9621219-3-2.
• A New Beginning II: A Personal Handbook to Enhance Your Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness, by Jerry and Esther Hicks. Published by Abraham–Hicks Publications, 1991. ISBN 0-9621219-1-6.
• Sara and the Foreverness of Friends of a Feather, by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Published by Abraham–Hicks Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-9621219-4-0.
• Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Published by Hay House, 2005. ISBN 1-4019-0799-7.
• The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent: Living the Art of Allowing, by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Contributor Louise L. Hay. Published by Hay House, 2005.ISBN 1401906958.
• The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham Esther and Jerry Hicks. Published by Hay House, 2006. ISBN 1-4019-1227-3.
• Sara, Book 1: Sara Learns the Secret about the Law of Attraction, by Esther and Jerry Hicks, Illustr. by Caroline S. Garrett. Published by Hay House, 2007. ISBN 1-4019-1158-7.
• Sara, Book 2: Solomon's Fine Featherless Friends, by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Illustr. by Caroline S. Garrett. Published by Hay House Inc, 2007. ISBN 1-4019-1159-5.
• Sara, Book 3: A Talking Owl Is Worth a Thousand Words!, by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Illustr. by Caroline S. Garrett. Published by Hay House Inc, 2008. ISBN 1-4019-1160-9.
• Money and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Health, Wealth & Happiness by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Published by Hay House, 2008. ISBN 1-4019-1881-6.
• The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Published by Hay House, 2009. ISBN 1-4019-1875-1.
• Getting Into The Vortex: Guided Meditations CD and User Guide [Hardcover] by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Release date November 15, 2010. Published by Hay House, 2009. ISBN 978-1-4019-3169-8.

See also[link]

• Channelling (mediumistic)
• Jane Roberts

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Esther Hicks

• Abraham–Hicks Official Website
• Abraham–Hicks officially released videos on YouTube
• Introductory Tape as an MP3 download on the official Abraham–Hicks site — A 75 minute introductory audio released under the Creative Commons license. It summarizes how the Hicks' were introduced to Abraham.