Cousin : Am so sorry to read of this with you. How tragic! Congratulations for your determination and fortitude to support your cousin and provide this as learning experience to others. It's been apalling for me to find how many respectable therapists are NOT aware of the damage done by cults. I've personally known therapists who are either related to a high level cult member,
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Yes, so beautifully put. Sorry about your BF; glad you got out after only one year! Glad the postings are helping you. Thank you for helping others learn from your experience. No one REAL individual can compete with the "Voice of God", or "The Pure Love of The Lady." A real relationship would require true intimacy, honesty, sharing mutality, and acceptance of one anothe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

As an intelligent compassionate outsider to the painful manipulative experiences, and subsequent recovery, of the majority of folks on this board -- your understanding and insight is a valuable contribution. Yes, it IS hard to remain compassionate to those who are still sucked in the cult manipulation. After all, how many feel compassion for the brainwashed terrorists who carried out the trag
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Wow, hsuchij, your logic was EXACTLY what it was like trying to problem solve things w/ my exBF - a devoted member of a LGAT group. Conversations to solve problems, or to determine directions in life and relationship were totally circuitous, go nowhere, crazy making! He's a good hearted, kind and intelligent person, with the best of intentions. It was impossible to draw logical conclu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is all so sad.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I've seen the same blank expression with w/ my ex-BF, involved in The Miracle of Love (another LGAT cult). When discussing emotionally charged issues, he just went blank and stared. It was eery. He'd told me that in MOL Intensives, that the leader would scream at him "You're an ego maniac" and other such things. I've read that such can cause dissociation. May
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Yes, your ex's family probably has all kinds of 'rights' to which you will never know (maybe outlined in K's lifestyle book? I have no idea). Such 'basics' (to my peon mind) as honesty, fulfiling commitments, are not accorded to those of the Illusion. Truly, it's not malicious, just total LACK of awareness of others as equals. Even trying to communicate
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

How do i answer the poll? my answer "why would you want to do that to yourself?"
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Take a look at what this guy wrote! FYI... this book referenced in above link is titled "The Program", a mystery thriller about a cult, that is based upon a conglamoration of other cults (to protect the author from being sued), based primarily upon LGAT practices. While I was not a participant in an LGAT.. the title of the book makes me personally chuckle. My TM background
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi C & R : Yes, sounds like a challenging road ahead for you. Your children will benefit from your claiming of inner strength and independence. You've already taken yourselves through Wellsprings -- guess you know more than the rest of us do now! Please share. Other than that, I think it just takes time for adaptation, and then continuing a life of integrity. Good Luc
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was just sent this.. This link is from a site about abusive churches but this checklist has some remarkable similarities to MOL. (Again its sad but interesting that the more you learn about these groups the more similar they become) Each characteristic on the list has an essay that goes into greater detail. Valuable info about the use of multiple layers of membership, layers kept se
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am sorry for the children. It's painful for them to be taught that secrets are normal. Unsettling for the children to have a multitude of quasi-partners coming through. You are providing stability. You probably cannot change her, nor save her. Just to learn what you can about children who are raised in cults, helping them to recover from their inevitable issues. Their issues will b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey Liebnitz, FYI, I'm what used to be called a "Movement Brat" or one of the first "Children of the Age of Enlightenment", bopped around while my Mom was bopping around the world to attend courses with Maharishi. As a kid, I'd had exposure to all the 'early days' of the TM Movement. I call them the Early Daze! FYI, yes the Beatles got in trouble fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Some books can be purchased through amazon.com, some as special orders as used books through amazon. Some available on half.com Search under "Gourasana" and also under "Kalindi La Gourasana" and also under "Miracle of Love", "GMP", etc and under the headings of 'books', 'CD', and 'tapes'. You'll find a lot (I did).
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Jewels : I suggest phoning AFF (www.csj.org) they gave me some names that are not on the web sites. I had phoned them about the cult of my exBF. And guess what?! Even w/in the specialty of cult recovery therapists, AFF has them listed according to the various types of cults they specialize in... e.g. christian, terrorist, meditation, psychotherapy, sex, new age, political, and probably
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This just proves it! I AM in the wrong profession! I want to spend 30-40 grand a day in Italy! whine.. whine... whine.... :roll:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Escapee : Good job! You'll learn how to write when you get to college. They'll take you through a series of basic English classes, and then advanced writing classes. Then you'll write your stories! And they WILL sell! You could even record them on a micro casette recorder for now. Then transcribe (write) them out and have someone else edit them, or rewrite them for clarity
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

FYI : Someone founded an online support group specifially for MOLvictims and survivors. To join, access the following link and follow the prompts to join the group. Please state what your concern or interest is in MOL. Also, I was told that MOL has told everyone that now is a special time of 'calming'. No one is to work on "going deeper' right now. That's th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Lillygirl, I understand. My apologies if my warped sarcasm humor did not come across appropriately. It's just a coping defense. Truly, I was sarcasticly implying that we have the same psychological life trauma from which we are recovering. Yes, my family has been deeply scarred by MOL. That is why I've learned so much -- to help us heal. And if my/our pain can help others,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The following link refers to another LGAT "Lifespring" that uses many of the same methods as MOL. It could be applicable to post MOL recovery.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Escapee : Sounds terribly painful! Again, I suggest purchasing the video "Devil's Playground" about Amish youth. Similar, but minus the polygamy. You'll probably need a box of tissues with you while you watch it. hmmm.... www.factnet.org works for me. Maybe the website was having some problems when you tried it. I found my therapist listed on one of their pages
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Jewels : It IS soo worth swallowing your pride and getting to an appopriate specialist! I'd been to other therapists before, but they just don't 'get it'. This is BIG, and truly a specialty focus. And you don't even have to worry about your pride, this was done to you! You did nothing wrong. Just some minor tweeking may be all you need, to help release the vesti
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Ouch! Escapee, Tx for the book suggestion, I'll check it out. If you decide to attend college, you needn't worry about the age issue. Some of my former professors are now still my best friends; of course I did not relate well to the 18-22 year old classmates. The intellectual stimulation, and spending time with others who value the same was such fun and validating. BTW, lik
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks for the kind caution about my children. They are grown now, and relish their freedom. The oldest was 10 when we left; she still has memories. The other 2 remember very little. They do know their grandparents are 'weird'. Yes, my 'kids' enjoyed the easy rapport when visiting the group, but after a few days they couldn't wait to get away. Too stifling. Still
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Escapee, you made me laugh... :lol: in a good way. of compassion and understanding. Truly, at age 30 I thought I wasn't smart enough to go to college. After leaving the group and moving 2000 miles away, a coworker drove me to the community college and stood in line with me until I'd registered. Lo! I went on to work as hard as you are working now... 3 degrees with honors and
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Lilly, This is fascinating :D The following is a link to a therapist, I think she lives in Florida, who also leads Intensives. This maybe is who you are looking for, or maybe not: Additionally, although you did not ask for this, the following thread about psychotherapy influences within cultic groups applies to MOL. I suggest downloading and reading the various professional
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The nearest that I've been able to ascertain, is that having a family cult member creates dynamics very similar to that of having an addict (drug, alcohol, etc) in the family. Steven Hassan, a well known cult expert, referred to cult involvement as "a self imposed mental illness." There is an entire section on this message board that addresses family issues, as well as the link
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

No kidding! BTW, AFF (www.csj.org) now has available to purchase: videos from their last conference in Alberta, Canada. There is one video /session about about the effects of being raised in a polygamist setting.
Forum: Destructive Churches

Good questions, Jewels! Whoa! I have not thought about all of these details in a LONG time... so here goes : * Why did you leave? What influenced you etc.? I wanted to live my own life, without someone telling me my thoughts were wrong, or that i had to go to sleep at a certain time, eat only certain foods, use certain body lotions, etc. - all in the name of facilitating higher spiritu
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Jewels and Escapee : Interesting to share similar experiences, from varied groups. Tx for sharing. Jewels, likewise i remember carrying a sense of 'others' vs me/us for a long time. How wonderful that you could now identify that you still had that sense toward your husband -- identifying that issue is the first step toward working through and releasing it! whew. You're
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families