SFBMoore, thank you for sharing these intimate and disturbing observations. I and all the other posters on Rick Ross' sites congratulate you on your "escape" and recovery from what is clearly an LGAT seminar for swingers. You also point out one of the similarities of other LGATs, and that is NO PSYCH TRAINING.

How many people lose years from their lives trying to come to grip with the insanity that Human Awareness Institute has left them with? How many people are sexually damaged?

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to remember the details of what happens on a typical weekend at levels 1 and 2. Do you suppose that the activities that occurred at levels 3 through 6 were so damaging that your mind won't allow you to remember, or is does HAI use some kind of brainwashing technique to make people forget? I ask because, when my girlfriend says "nothing happened" at the workshops, maybe the experiences have somehow been removed from her mind too. Is that possible? I haven't found anybody on this forum that can say specifically what happens after level 2. Now I'm also trying to understand this seemingly supernatural power that HAI has over its members....

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CommuniqueResearch
Do you suppose that the activities that occurred at levels 3 through 6 were so damaging that your mind won't allow you to remember, or is does HAI use some kind of brainwashing technique to make people forget? I ask because, when my girlfriend says "nothing happened" at the workshops, maybe the experiences have somehow been removed from her mind too. Is that possible?

I don't think its mind-control, I think it is "sameness".....over and over and over and over again you do essentially the same thing with only small and minor variations. Levels 1 and 2 break down the inhibitions, and the rest of the levels are reinforcement and expansion of the sex-cult experience. I can't remember the exact exercise because they were all so similar. If I really spent the time, I might remember more details, but I have no desire to keep going back to HAI!

Besides, it has been a number of years and I've moved on with my life.

I do believe, however, that there is almost a hynotic spell that is cast on the participants without them knowing it. Something about the workshops reaches down and grabs some unfulfilled fundamental need in the participants and they suddenly feel like part of a family, with all of the implied loyalty and financial support. If you look at the individuals who are very caught up in it, they are almost always single, not in a relationship, have had issues with their family of origin, are usually misfits, and are lonely. Many people, like your girlfriend, envelope themselves in the psycho-babble and spew it forth because they have no ability to find their own language to express themselves...messages of "love" are easy because everyone wants more love.

My experience of those who are caught up in it is that they talk and talk and talk about their experiences at the workshop almost like a mantra or a badge of honor. If she is saying "nothing" then she is intentionally keeping information from you in an effort to entice you to go see what it is all about. This sounds manipulative to me.

SBFMoore is correct that the format of the workshops from Levels 1-5 do not change much. So here's the format and exercises of Level 1 (as I remember them from many years ago):

Level 1

Dinner
Introduction and Logistics
Hand on Heart
Large Group Share
Mill and Hug
Choose a small group
Small Group Discussion
Mill and Hug
Choose a Buddy/Partner
Buddy Exercise (gently stroking face)
Large Group Share
End of Day

Breakfast
Warm up, Children’s Games (Hokey Pokey, etc.)
Mill and Hug
Large Group Share (Level 1 disrobe)
Mill and Hug
Buddy Exercise (face and body stroking)
Large Group Share
Mill and Hug
Two person exercise (face and body stroking)
Mill and Hug
Small Group Discussion
Large Group Share
Lunch
Mill and Hug
Two Person Exercise/ World Peace Exercise (face and body stroking someone you would not normally choose)
Mill and Hug
Large Group Share
Mill and Hug
Small Group Discussion
Large Group Share
Dinner
Entertainment/Talent Show
Dancing
End of Day

Breakfast
Warm up, Children’s Games (Hokey Pokey, etc.)
Mill and Hug
Large Group Share
Mill and Hug
Buddy Exercise (stroking face and body)
Large Group Share
Mill and Hug
Two person exercise (face and body stroking)
Mill and Hug
Small Group Discussion
Large Group Share
Choose Group of Four
Lunch/Shower (as Group of Four)
Group of Four Exercise
Body Stroking
Verbal Appreciation
Angel Shower (Exaggerated applause for each member of the group)
Large Group Share
Mill and Hug
Small Group Discussion
Closing Hand on Heart
End of Workshop

I do believe there is some exploitation of vulnerable women at the workshops. For that I would not recommend it. Unfortunetly, most people do not really know where their boundries are until they have crossed them and that can be a painful experience/lesson. I do not think people need to know anything more about the workshops. Those who are looking for more tantillizing details would be better served checking out one of the many porn sites available on web.

SFBMoore, thank you for the info.

Its helpful when former people of a group are able to take the time to write out some of the details of a group. That will help a lot of people over time. This is the best way to combat these various cultlike groups, to expose the facts of what is going on.

People have a RIGHT to know what is going on in these groups, when it is deliberately kept secret by the group. They all do this, every single group keeps their content as secret as possible, for various reasons, marketing included.
But the most important reason is the psychological techniques work best on unsuspecting people. Once you know what they are doing, and why and how, it doesn't work as well.
And they know that, which is why they keep things secret.

All of what you describe above are common group LGAT and some cult group influence techniques.
Planting converts in the group, the social pressure to conform, group chanting exercises, group touching of strangers, opening up people's psychological traumas and emotions, strategic and methodical breaking down of psychological barriers to the strangers in the group, Love-Bombing, Sex-Bombing, sleep-deprivation, long hours, etc.
In this case, people start out small, and by the end of the weekend are asking strangers to have sex, and even having sex with groups of strangers. In other groups the same type of things happen, just without the sex. (in the seminar, anyway).

The HAI marketing literature is deceptive, as most of these sex-groups are. Its ironic, as they all preach they are being sexually and emotionally HONEST, then in fact they are not. Its the same with OneTaste by Daedone, Lafayette Morehouse by Victor Baranco, and others.
They talk in public about Sensuality, and Lovey-Dovey stuff, to attract Love-Starved people.
Then behind closed doors, its impersonal sex, sex addicts, some predators, lies, mind-games, and all the rest of it. The irony is critics of these groups are the ones being dishonest.

And of course, its all used generally as a technique to make money off people. And sex is an easy way for them to make a lot of money.

But all of the sex, and Transactional Analysis aside, there are even more important things going on. The people who developed these multi-level seminars, know EXACTLY what they are doing after decades of trial and error, and research. Most of them have learned all the tricks of the trade from Werner Erhard right down the line.
So its the invisible powerful influence techniques that are actually the most important.
In this case, the HAI people are getting naked. But the same group dynamics can occur in LGAT seminars with people in business suits, or wearing new age crystals, or Buddhist robes, or anything else.
So its helpful to seperate out the "sex" and the "content" like Transactional Analysis, from the meta-level techniques being done on people, like they obviously are in HAI.
Of course, most people involved don't know anything about that, just the leaders.

CommuniqueResearch:
keep in mind that nothing the HAI people are doing is magical, supernatural, or mystical.
These are all very specific standard techniques that have been used for decades, but countless groups. So keep up the Research!!
But when someone is saying "nothing" goes on, obviously they are not being honest.
Obviously part of not getting lured into cults and groups, is once a person learns the techniques of the cults, is having string boundaries, and good bullshit detectors, and also a good feeling of self-worth, to walk away from people who are doing that.

But the POWER that HAI has over people is more than just sex, or love. And its not magic or supernatural.
They are using the powerful thought-reform, and behavior-reform techniques that all LGAT seminars use, which is what cult-studies are all about.
After studying the methods for a long time, they become very easy to spot, sometimes in seconds.
There is no magic in these methods.

Just Technique.
Same as a stage magician, to the audience it looks like magic, but its all just good technique.
Good technique looks like magic to those who don't know how they are doing it.
HAI is obviously very old-school, they are still doing stuff from the 1970's, but the sounds of it.

There are people doing these techniques now so subtly, it seems 99% of people can't see them.

Are there any support groups for people who have been affected by people in sex cults? I think I need to get into one to help me let go....

Anticult,

Maybe I should re-phrase for those who did not get what I was saying. I did post the details of Level One, that's it. If one reads the posts of SBFMoore and others on this and other strings, most of the "hi-lites" have been thoroughly discussed. I feel any other "details" would not result in any increased understanding of HAI or the people there and would only be for the voyeuristic perversion of those who are on this message board. I will not go there.

Nice bit of guilt tripping but it wont work.

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I feel any other "details" would not result in any increased understanding of HAI or the people there and would only be for the voyeuristic perversion of those who are on this message board. I will not go there.

If anything were posted that was fodder for voyeurs and perverts, Mr Ross would get it removed immediately.

We're studying LGAT technique and methods for attaining instant intimacy.

The technique for that is cold hearted, retains its power by being used without full awareness of the subjects especially newbies.

Witholding information is about power, not innocent pleasure.

The Second Earl of Rochester (1647-1680), in his poem 'A Ramble in St James Park' summed it up very well:

'Such natural freedoms are but just:
There's something generous in mere lust.'

HAI sounds very planned and orchestrated, with the planning and orchestration kept well hidden from the newbies and seems stingy, rather than generous in sharing information with those new to the game.

.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2009 10:28AM by corboy.

if you want my 2 cents, which you may not, but here it is.
Since according to your posts you have not attended a HAI workshop, it would seem this is more of a personal relationship issue. Even though it appears some of the HAI tech was used in private life.

but why not think of it as a personal relationship that went sour, and didn't work out? Of course, beyond that, its a personal matter for people to work out, and that can be painful.

From what has been said though, people should stay far away from these HAI seminars.
Its not just about sex, or even love. HAI clearly is running a complex series of techniques on people, which are highly organized, and condensed from decades of refinement.
A person could go to a seminar and be against what they are doing, and easily be "converted" in the course of a weekend.
Again, its not just the sex-bombing and love-bombing and nudism. Clearly, there is much more to it than that.
This is not a nudist camp.

This is a Naked LGAT. I think someone said its like Landmark without clothes. That seems to be correct.
Also, the sex-cult modality has been used a lot, like with Rajneesh, and many other groups and cults.
They are not just messing with people's minds, also their bodies, and sexuality, very powerful stuff.

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CommuniqueResearch
Are there any support groups for people who have been affected by people in sex cults? I think I need to get into one to help me let go....

InPassing,

of course anyone can not-post, or post anything they wish.
But there is nothing I have seen on these boards that is prurient in the least. Exactly the opposite, actually.

That overview of Level I is a starting point, but there is no information there. At best, its a list of "content". Don't have time now, but I think HAI's own website even has some basic details like that.

But that is not enough.There are several other levels going on. The "content" is often just a distraction.
For example, your list has the Hokey-Pokey. You see what they are doing? Invoking childhood games, and then moving into sex-play? That is not an accident, that is carefully planned.

ANGEL SHOWER: That is called Love-Bombing, and is a very old school cult technique that is very powerful. Anyone can research Love Bombing on the internet.

I don't have time now, but even that basic list shows basically constant Love-Bombing, and for Love-Starved people, that is like crack cocaine. Beware.

As far as "voyeuristic perversion" that is senseless. Again, these so-called "honest" enlightened sex groups, are often the most dishonest! They try to make their advertising sound like its all about Sensuality Research into Love, when in fact its nothing of the sort.
People have a right to hear the blunt facts BEFORE they show up at the seminar.
If some type of "orgy" happens on Sunday afternoon, or whatever, people have a right to know about that before they show-up. People have a right to know the facts.
If people are naked when you walk in the seminar, you have a right to know that before.

You see, every LGAT uses similar methods. The most important thing they do is to keep their methods SECRET as then they are more powerful.
HAI would not want people to know exactly how the sex happens, as that will stop some people from going, for instance, some younger women who are getting exploited. They want people to come with an "open mind" so they can be influenced by the LGAT process.

of course, consenting adults can do what they wish, that's their business. But here's the problem.
"Consent".
These LGAT seminars have spent decades learning how to engineer consent, to manufacture consent.

So stating the facts of these seminars, even when distasteful and shocking, is very important.
For example, there was a Men's Group, which had men getting naked and videotaped, or whatever. People have a right to know before they go somewhere that there is going to be videotaping when you are naked, so you can THINK RATIONALLY before you are in groupthink.

It doesn't matter if its HAI, or Landmark, or Scientology, or whoever. An LGAT seminar is not Vegas, where what happens there, should stay there.

The only way to really combat these LGAT's is with facts and education.
And sex-groups go into a very complicated area of human psychology. People need to be very cautious, and learn the facts.

So I couldn't disagree more about people not needing to know anything more about the HAI workshops!
Wow, ignorance is not bliss, its extremely dangerous.
Society needs 1000x more education about these LGAT seminar methods, nude or non-nude, as its almost completely ignorant of what's being done to people.

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InPassing
Anticult,

Maybe I should re-phrase for those who did not get what I was saying. I did post the details of Level One, that's it. If one reads the posts of SBFMoore and others on this and other strings, most of the "hi-lites" have been thoroughly discussed. I feel any other "details" would not result in any increased understanding of HAI or the people there and would only be for the voyeuristic perversion of those who are on this message board. I will not go there.