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A suspect 'goddess' in search of rebirth: Farrah Ashline launches four Web ventures in the Capital Region(Times Union (Albany, NY) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 8--ALBANY -- Four years after her social Web site for women collapsed in controversy, Farrah Ashline still owes thousands of dollars in court judgments against her in the Washington, D.C., area. But that hasn't kept the self-described "goddess" from launching four new online businesses from Schenectady -- including one offering wellness services for senior citizens. Ashline, 33, is also organizing a "Goddess Girls" meet-up group on the Web for women in the Capital Region -- despite the prior venture's failure. "Welcome, Schenectady women!" stated a pitch for the group, which is "designed to bring all women from 18-60 together, who desire to meet dedicated, soul-infused, fun, and REAL women in a social setting." The site, which includes 195 members, is active four years after Ashline's once-popular D.C.-area site, http://www. girlsgoingout.com, became defunct, with former colleagues irate over still-unpaid judgments in Fairfax County, Va. Unlike the Washington site, the new meet-up group, one of at least two she is running online, is not a business. But she is running four Web sites as businesses, which cover ground ranging from relationships to interior decorating. One of the sites -- http:// www. potenzential.com -- promotes "health and wellness" and "senior wellness." "The mission of PotenZENtial for SENIORS," it said, "is to help engage their total health and wellness plan with a variety of proven Eastern methods that can be shared during a single session or regular ongoing visits." Ashline could not be reached Monday. In recent days, her claim of being a licensed massage therapist has been removed from her Craigslist ads, but that hasn't kept her from listing various forms of massage available on the PotenZENtial site. Described as an "Eastern Approach to Business, Community and Personal Well-Being," the site offers various types of massage even though Ashline has no massage license. It was unclear if she or another person would perform the rubdown. Ashline has previously identified herself in ads as a "licensed massage therapist." In listing various rates for health and wellness services, the Web site states, "We prefer cash or money order only," adding, "Tips are always appreciated for your body therapist if you feel the service went beyond your highest expectation." Ashline also has http:// www.affordableindia.com, which offers travel to India, and http://www.heartachehelper .com as well as http://www. getmethatdesigner.com, which advertises interior decorating. A fourth site, http://wwww. nayka.com., identifies her as a "world renowned Tantra dakini and soul healer." On that site, Ashline continues to highlight an "apprenticeship" at Harvard, though a school spokeswoman, citing "red flags" in Ashline's account, said the school does not have them. Gavin can be reached at 434-2403 or by e-mail at rgavin@ timesunion.com. To see more of the Albany Times Union, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesunion.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Albany Times Union, N.Y. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |