I just read a quick excerpt from Hassan's "Guru Papers" mentioning that the primary relationship of a cult member is expected to be that of "devotee" and "leader." generally speaking, other potential relationships are often disparagingly referred to as "attachments." i left behind an off-the-grid community which i suppose wasn't a cult in the
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

PS: i apologize for saying "obviously, it wasn't a cult." i have no idea. i have no idea if the situation i just left was a cult or not. All I know: the cult recovery resources have been extremely helpful. For some reason, your son's situation reminds me of my own. I hope things go well for both of you.
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

What a shame. I once lived on an extremely dodgy and dysfunctional off-the-grid community. Quite a few of the people associated with that community--lived there or who had lived there--were very active in the local AC ashram. something always struck me as "not quite right" with it all. But of course, I said nothing; the devotees were pretty starry-eyed--difficult to say anything cri
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Okay.. Not sure if the post i made before this one was rejected or is just still up for review. I'll give it another shot, though-- Frankly that one makes no sense without background... I just walked into a fight which is really none of my business... The sun dance in which IMO abusive sweat lodge leader was once heavily involved--and likely still is-- was begun by a woman named Bever
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The point: i wonder if i've put Little Thunder back in the line of fire... (Assuming that fire exists...There definitely is controversy...) i have no idea how to undo this.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Good to be reminded about choice. Sometimes I think I need to hear that one again and again. Still kind of tricky. Have a minor hook to a bad online relationship I'm tempted to respond to. Kind of red-flagged this guy a while back, but whatyaknow? I still wrote him a couple times after that. Think I'm still looking for his approval somehow. (Oh, somehow, if i'm just hone
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Wow. Looking forward to future posts, because I'm really struggling with that one.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Note: If you don't want to read a lot of soul-searching, skip to the last paragraph! Hmm. Not sure that this post wouldn't be more appropriate for a journal, but I'm kind of interested in input too. I did post in several places on the Newagefraud site. Also read some articles and many other posts. So now it's occurring to me: I really would be adding insult to injury t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Mind? No. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oops. I didn't mean to add this as a separate subject. It's related to the topic "Fake sweat, spiritual/sexual abuse.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for the heads-up about the newagefraud forum. I did find it.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks all, and thanks Rob. Yes. I did find the thread. Now getting my thoughts together to post. Whew... Yes. The whole thing was pretty disrespectful. I did have some philosophical concerns to hammer out in all this. It's true, I did make a decision not to attend sweats in general upon hearing of Lakota/Dakota/Nakota elders' wishes that "nons" refrain from having
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you for the input. Just wanted to clear up a few things. This wasn't in any way, shape or form a Native sweat (although the leader did claim to be Yaqui.) I don't want anyone's reputation in the Native community to suffer. I think she was trying to "cash in" in a sense, but not in monetary terms. It's one of the strange qualities that I think separates t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The lodge leader's name is Teresa Candelaria. The women's sun dance is scheduled to take place in Ribera, NM.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes. I've visited that page several times. "Known Frauds" is "coming soon." And yes, I'm aware of the whole cultural rip-off thing. Sadly, in many segments of the women's spiritual community, these sweats are common. If I knew then what I know now? Hey. I wouldn't be in this position. What can I say? I F'ed up. I'm just trying to get
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Mr. NotanantiGnostic: I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was necessary to get more academic with my speech before I would be heard. Please go back and read my new post at "Fake Sweat" and see what you have as response now. I also didn't realize I had to meet certain criteria before my experience could be labeled "cult-like." If I do not belong on thi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi-- I think this was one of the problems with this sweat. There was no tribal affiliation. There wasn't any oversight. There really was nowhere to take the concerns. And the members of the sweat itself were so bonded to the leader that you really couldn't speak against her without some pretty serious social consequences. I did give identifying details in my first post. It wa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Okay, I named a name, and apparently my post wasn't accepted. I still feel I need to talk about this. Some time ago I was attending a sweat lodge which at the time visited a small off-the-grid women's community in which I lived. The sweat was run by a woman who claimed to be Yacqui, but who wasn't affiliated with any tribe. (Thus, no oversight.) There were several problems
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've been repeatedly abused since childhood. In some ways, I think I'm almost "programmed" to seek out people like my family of origin. I think this has something to do with trying to repeat the experience with some kind of different result (all unconscious.) I'm wondering if anyone has this? And how is the pattern broken? Also wondering if anyone else felt they ha
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups