Hello Coz and other readers,

Thanks for sharing the info a few days ago on the techniques used by leaders when group sexual rituals are used in cults. Also, thanks for the references to check out about children growing up in groups. I'll be reading those today and also passing the info along to other former members of Gentle Wind Project.

It was great that you took the time to check out credentials for one of the so-called endorsers of the Gentle Wind products -- the "healing instruments" that are available for large "donations." It could well be that this woman doesn’t even know that GWP has crowned her with a Ph.D. Two years after leaving GWP, they were still using one of my endorsements on their website, which I had gladly provided while enthralled with the group. I asked them to remove it, which they did. Then, just this past year, they put it up again! Finally, it’s gone. Now, in their rebuttal to our stories, they are posting an exuberant recommendation of their services written by me in 1999 – while I was still under the influence of whatever forces were holding me in that group.

In the future, I'll explain a little more about who some of the endorsers are on the GWP “feedback” pages and why many of them are so effusive in their praise. Many of them are 20-year members of the group and completely under the influence of the leaders; thus it is easy for them to say positive things about the "healing instruments." And, they can easily sway new recruits because they truly believe what they're saying, in addition to having degrees and licenses after their names.

In “A Husband’s Perspective,” one of the pages on our website: [www.windofchanges.org] the former member writing this explains a lot about the GWP “funny” credentials, their research techniques, etc. He hasn’t embellished any of this; it’s actually true, even though, for some, it must be difficult to believe. In fact, there is much more to tell, which we intend to do. A shorter general overview of the group, which also speaks to strange credentials and Gentle Wind’s methods of finding endorsements, is at: [www.windofchanges.org]

Take care,

Wind of Changes
[www.windofchanges.org]
email:windofchanges@prexar.com

There is some superb new material posted on the Tantra Fraud thread. Wordgirl, Leopardgirl and survivors of Gentle Wind may be especially interested!

Go to the most recent posts on the Tantra Fraud thread

[forum.culteducation.com]

This article really stood out. I plan to copy it as a Word document for my home files.

[www.resonateview.org]

This article is excellent, too

[www.resonateview.org]

Thanks for the articles. We read the first one but couldn't access the next two. Will do a search rather than clicking within the post.

As outrageous as the story is about the "Tantra Master," there are some very close similarities to many cult leaders who try similar tactics, though perhaps on more subtle levels.

Has anyone read the special edition of Cultic Studies Journal (published by AFF) called "Women Under the Influence," which was edited by Janja Lalich? I highly recommend this. Reading these personal accounts about and by women in all different kinds of cultic groups, and Janja's introduction -- was a real eye opener for me a few years ago. Several described their experiences in groups that used sexual activities as mystical manipulation and control.

Gentle Wind Project leaders have moved their denials, disclaimers, threats, and warnings to their secondary website: [www.eyeofthesky.org.] This may be because they have recently been busy issuing legal warning letters to all detractors. And so it goes!

We continue to add material to our former members' website for this group -- [www.windofchanges.org] -- and invite comments and suggestions there also.

Take care,

Wind of Changes

[www.windofchanges.org]

windofchanges@prexar.com

Hello again,

The URL for the Gentle Wind Project website (mentioned in my posting yesterday) isn't working from that posting. I put a period after the address, so that's probably why. Here it is again:

[www.eyeofthesky.org]

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Take care,

Wind of Changes
(former member, Gentle Wind Project)

[www.windofchanges.org]

email: windofchanges@prexar.com

Dear Friends,

As some of you may know, we former members of Gentle Wind Project (GWP) have been telling our personal stories about involvement with that group – for the first time – through a new website at www.windofchanges.org

As a result we were sued by the GWP leaders and had to hire attorneys that have now filed a motion to dismiss the charges. This motion will, hopefully, be responded to favorably by the Court later this summer. GWP has also sued nine other people and organizations that have published our accounts or links to our website from their own sites. The lawsuit and motion to dismiss can be viewed at www.windofchanges.org

A new Gentle Wind Victims Yahoo discussion board is available at [health.groups.yahoo.com] This is open to everyone.

For news stories and updates about GWP activities, please go to www.us-sia.org a nonprofit investigative agency that has been examining the activities of Gentle Wind. These stories are also available at www.culteducation.com and www.cultnews.com

For an investigative TV-News special about GWP, you can read the text or download the TV footage at www.thesandiegochannel.com/investigations/3468797/detail.html

We aren’t commenting publicly right now because of the lawsuit. However, we are happy to answer any questions you might have for us personally, and will be pleased to respond to email sent to windofchanges@prexar.com

With thanks,

Former members
Gentle Wind Project
windofchanges@prexar.com

Dear Friends,

Those of us defending ourselves as former members named by the Gentle Wind Project leaders’ lawsuit are currently waiting for the Judge’s decision on our “Motion to Dismiss” the Federal charges. The Motions, as well as the GWP lawsuit, can be read on our website, www.windofchanges.org

Others being sued by GWP are at varying stages of defense.

There has been some good publicity about the lawsuit, resulting in the GWP leaders’ activities being brought out into the open and also, according to the Special Investigations Agency of San Diego - www.us-sia.org - being scrutinized by government authorities:

[www.fosters.com] -- “New Age Therapy Group Sues Over Web Site”

[www.religionnewsblog.com] -- same article plus links to others, including “Non-Profit Accused of Cult Activity.”

[www.thesandiegochannel.com] -- “Gentle Wind: Phony or for Real.” This ABC-TV news story can be read in text form or viewed as video.

We have received words of support from many people and appreciate all of it.

Thanks, and good wishes,

Former members of “Gentle Wind Project”

www.windofchanges.org
windofchanges@prexar.com

The following message from "Health Care Workers in Support of Gentle Wind" is being posted on message boards that have included information about Gentle Wind Project and their lawsuit against former members and others. This one (below) was posted on FactNet.org. We wonder what to make of this?

Former members of Gentle Wind Project
[www.windofchanges.org]


[www.factnet.org]
Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 10:39 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health Care Workers in Support of Gentle Wind

We are a group of well-respected health care professionals who use the Gentle Wind healing technology with our patients and colleagues. We work in various clinical settings and most of us employ forms of alternative and complementary medicine in our practices. We have found the Gentle Wind Instruments to be effective beyond the placebo effect. We are available to chat with other health care professionals and consumers who might be interested in what we have to say.

Since November of 2003, The Gentle Wind Project has been under attack on the Internet by former supporters of this Project who were also consumers of this technology. See www.gentlewindproject.org . Click on Resources then Project News and scroll down to locate the lawsuit.

We know the Gentle Wind technology and we know it works for many people. We know the staff. We know about the research efforts and expenditures of funds. We know firsthand that there’s nothing improper going on.

We are publishing our opinions of The Gentle Wind Project because we believe that alternative and complementary technologies are the hope of the future. To have something that can alleviate the emotional suffering of some of our patients is a dream come true. We urge you not to shy away from Gentle Wind because of misinformation on the Internet but to take the time to find out about this technology for yourself. The people associated with The Gentle Wind Project have integrity and a vision for the future that carries hope for humanity. We cannot afford to allow any work of this nature to be destroyed.

We would be happy to answer your questions and share our experiences with you. You can e-mail us at healthcareworkers@yahoo.com.


Health Care Professionals in Support of Gentle Wind.

It seems to me that those are the same people who profit from using the GWP stuff, so they are trying to do some internet propaganda.
There are no actual names, just an anonymous Yahoo email address.
They say "health care worker" as that terminology carries a certain credibility.
But there is no credibility without accountability.
Someone could email them from an anonymous email address and try to get their names.
But they would never give them.

Coz

For anyone interested in the ongoing Gentle Wind Project (GWP) lawsuit against former GWP members and others:

We learned this summer that an independent "browsing directory" web page of most documents in the Gentle Wind Project lawsuit had been set up, along with a "docket sheet" page (outline of court filings in the lawsuit). These documents are public information.

We've now heard that these two pages have been updated so that the files are linked and can be opened, without registration or cost.

The website providing these pages is about another subject, thus the “why are they dead” URL.

[whyaretheydead.net]

[whyaretheydead.net]


Wind of Changes

(Website for former members - Gentle Wind Project)
[windofchanges.org]

[pressherald.mainetoday.com]

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Judge: Web site can't be sued for 'cult' comment

By GREGORY D. KESICH, Portland Press Herald Writer

The operator of a Web site based in New Jersey should be dismissed from a lawsuit that he faced for publishing articles comparing the Kittery-based Gentle Wind Project to a "mind-control cult," a U.S. Magistrate judge ruled Monday.

Judge David Cohen wrote that a court in Maine has no jurisdiction over Rick A. Ross and his Institute for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements.

Cohen said that because Ross has no connection to Maine, he cannot be sued here for alleged defamation.

On his Web site, Ross referred to Gentle Wind, a nonprofit corporation that has collected millions of dollars in donations for distributing plastic healing devices, as "a rather odd group" and a "purported 'cult.' "

Gentle Wind argued that those statements have damaged its reputation and reduced the donations that are its only income.

But Ross said he had never even visited Maine, and Cohen found that Gentle Wind had failed to prove he ever intended to do business here.

If Cohen's recommendation is accepted, the only defendants remaining in Gentle Wind's case will be James Bergin and his wife, Judy Garvey. They are former adherents to Gentle Wind's spiritual healing ideas who published Internet articles critical of the group.

In articles on their own Web site and linked to others, the couple said they were financially exploited and Garvey said she engaged in sexual rituals with Gentle Wind's inner circle.

Gentle Wind and six of its officers filed a defamation lawsuit in federal court.

The lawsuit alleges a violation of federal racketeering laws. If Gentle Wind is successful, Bergin and Garvey will be liable for triple damages and attorney's fees.

Their attorney said they will object to Cohen's recommendation and ask that the racketeering portion of the lawsuit be dismissed.

"These are serious, meritless allegations," Jerrol Crouter said.

Gentle Wind's attorney said the recommended decision is good news for his clients, even though Ross could be dismissed.

"It streamlines things and creates a tighter focus," Daniel Rosenthal said. "The people at the center of this are still in the case."