especially when you are a practitioner in a tradition that the larger culture stereotypes in a negative way.
When this is the case, people in a dysfunctional lodge, group, or coven, risk being isolated. Unlike being in a particular Roman Catholic parish (say), one cannot just 'transfer' to another parish.
If you are in an esoteric group, and that group turns dysfunctional, you find you must choose between your health and welfare, vs your your entire community. Unlike the ease with which our hypothetical Roman Catholic can pick and choose between parishes, if a person must leave his or her esoteric group, finding another such group, lodge or coven is painful, difficult, and you may have to begin probation all over again. In such circumstances, it is tempting to stay put.
Worst of all, there is almost no one in the larger culture who will understand what you have been through.
So that is why esoteric groups, lodges and covens are especially vulnerable if a leader turns eccentric or harmful, and why all members in these groups have to be mature and be admitted only after a long probationary period. Surgeons need to practice a far higher level of hygiene than most of us, do because the consequences are so much greater.
The author of this paper addresses this issue. She's in a differentn tradition than yours, but her observations may apply.
[
pub26.ezboard.com]
'First you have to establish an understanding of the subjective-hypnotic nature of magick with your students and lodge members. I strongly advise against initiating anyone who refuses to accept this concept... I will admit to having made the mistake and finding out that there is no convincing such a person afterward to abandon his objective view. You will only succeed in convincing him that you are a poor magician because you are unable to make the floor burst open and spill forth the legions of Tartarus in cinemascope and stereophonic sound.
'In this case rely on a good preliminary screening test rather than informal questioning. In cocktail party chatter such a person my seem sophisticated, mentioning Jung and Crowley glibly, but then turn out to be a semi-literate barbarian in lodge. Be warned!
'If you are fully honest about the hypnotic nature of magick, you cannot avoid ethical considerations...The most pointed example of this one-sided Svengalism, was a student of mine who absolutely refused to enter a trance state himself, but was most eager to use our dark mirror Goetia technique to beguile others (especially young women). In 1972 he left the O.T.A., and went on to establish a reputation as a sorcerer-at-large. Since that time several of his students have found their way back to the original fount of his knowledge. '
Someone once wrote to us asking in concern about (Ordo Templie Orientis) OTO, because he or she was worried about a loved one, and wanted to know if OTO was, itself, a cult.
All we could do was reply that each OTO lodge must be assessed individually.
Lodges are as different as families.