Cult-ish
the power dynamics of aliens, demons, and men
The following is adapted from an Instagram Stories series.
If you prefer that format, you can find it here.
This is a lengthy read so go grab a cup of tea or a mug of coffee before settling into a comfy chair. Everything is better with your favorite beverage in hand, particularly this.
I’ve long had a fascination with cults and cult-like dynamics. What defines them? What draws people to them? Why are some revered while others shunned? Why do some people yearn for that level of control and power over others?
So why don’t we start with a definition.
cult /kəlt/ • noun | a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. An alternate definition | a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing.
The cult theme has been rising again. It goes through cycles. Know that this is an incredibly simplified version of complex dynamics and energies. We’re addressing the dark underbelly of human behavior and its connection to aliens and demons.
It’s easy to believe that each of us is immune to the pull of these organizations. Expect, how true is that really? The vast majority of them have at least a partial foundation steeped in sound spiritual principles. Followers are gradually eased into an altered belief system. By the time their intuition is screaming for them to get out, they’ve been conditioned to override it for the false support system.
And so they stay.
While what we address here are the extreme examples of this conditioning, the subtle cult-like ideologies and behaviors run rampant through many corners of the New Age belief system and spirituality. In many cases, they’re so readily accepted that few question them.
For a far more thorough explanation of this phenomenon, I encourage you to watch this video defining what I mean by cult-ish.
We must also ask — where do fame and idolization end and cult behaviors begin? It’s a fine line. Many things have been dubbed cults that are actually movements or communities while those with the more insidious traits are let off the hook.
Let’s address this by taking a look at some groups that have been specifically popping up on my radar.
CULTS PROPER
This section addresses those groups that are commonly defined as cults either through legal proceedings, tragic endings, or general consensus. For me, the truly illustrative characteristic of a cult is getting you to go against yourself or to embrace an action that is incongruous with your morals.
Again, remember that people are gradually eased into such situations and have had their will broken through various means such as sleep deprivation, starvation, berating, abuse, and so on. The shifts are so imperceptible that once you’re on the inside, they’re rarely evident.
NXIVM
NXIVM is one of the most fascinating cults I’ve seen because of the type of people they pursued. Right place, right time — I could see myself having gotten roped into attending one of their introductory seminars, particularly in my 20s. They sought out well educated, high performing, spiritually minded people. Does that describe you? [raises eyebrows]
The HBO documentary, The Vow, portrays the dynamic this instills. Those at the lower rungs of the organization were surrounded by others like them and often felt understood for the first time, a common cult dynamic. By the time things began to escalate with forced brandings and sexual abuse, members were already loyal to each other and did not want to get cast out of the community. We’re hard wired to not want that to happen, in case you hadn’t noticed. The social dynamic of expelling someone from the community is a common theme we see repeated with many of these groups. It’s also one of the main reasons people are reluctant to leave. Either they have known nothing other than this lifestyle or they can no longer imagine a world that can look any different.
In Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult, Starz offers an alternate perspective, that of a mother attempting to extract her daughter from the community. In both versions we see the extremes to which members are cut off from their families and taught to turn against them. Let’s take that a step further.
Peoples Temple
You might know Peoples Temple by another name, the Jonestown Massacre. (Can we also take a moment to address the lack of an apostrophe. Is this not possessive? Apparently not based on this explanation — What is the correct spelling of Peoples Temple?. Not the point.)
Jim Jones took isolation to the extreme. The community moved from Indiana to Guyana. Members were distanced from their families geographically but were also forbidden from contacting them. Jones then convinced his members that the United States was irrevocably racist to the point that they would not be safe there. He lead them to believe that if they were to return to U.S. soil, they would be killed instantly.
One aspect that I have yet to understand about Peoples Temple is the percentage of black followers in this community, particularly black senior citizens. Black members comprised roughly two-thirds of the group (according to The Demographics of Jonestown), all following an unhinged white man capitalizing on the fear of racism.
To solidify his members’ devotion to him, Jones practiced “White Night” drills in which everyone was awakened in the middle of the night to practice protecting the camp from imminent danger. These lasted until the sleep deprivation set in so heavily that no one could function.
We saw a version of this with NXIVM as well where members would receive a readiness call from leader Keith Raniere and would then have to perform various actions. It too was billed as a preparedness training, when in reality, it was much more a tool for manipulation and control.
Side Note: While researching this to make sure I was getting my terminology correct, I came across this headline in Variety — Joseph Gordon-Levitt Will Play Cult Leader Jim Jones. It made my blood run cold. The movie is slated to be titled “White Night.” [shiver]
You’ve most certainly heard the phrase, “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.” This harkens back to the Jonestown Massacre in which 918 died of cyanide poisoning, 304 of whom were children, by the ingestion of intentionally altered Kool-Aid. According to the accounts of survivors, some members drank it willingly. Those who did not were forcibly injected by other members.
Interestingly, Jim Jones did not die by cyanide spiked Kool-Aid consumption, rather by a single gunshot to the head administered by a member of his security team. In the documentary Jonestown: Paradise Lost, his son observes how cowardly this was. Watching the pain and anguish brought on by the poisonous cocktail, Jones did not want to endure that misery. He chose a bullet instead.
The massacre on November 18, 1978 was prompted by a visit from U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan, his team, and an NBC news crew who were there to investigate and remove any members who wished to defect. Rather than let anyone leave, Jones killed them all.
For more on Jonestown, check out Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple. The whole site is fascinating and sheds light on the positive aspects of the community as well as the atrocities committed there. I always appreciate a balanced view that depicts the appeal of such a group. All too often we only hear about the aftermath and are meant to wonder, “How could anyone fall prey to that?” These leaders are incredibly charismatic and know exactly how far they can push people before they break.
Osho
I haven’t watched Wild Wild Country, a documentary on the Rajneeshpuram community, since it was released in 2018 so the details are a bit hazy. It bears mentioning on this list even if we don’t get into specifics. What has stuck with me most from my viewing is the dynamic between Sheela and spiritual guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, also known as Osho. Their relationship is incredibly reminiscent of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. It’s not unusual to see a female frontman who more covertly holds power than the male leader. We see this again with Nancy Salzman and Keith Raniere in NXIVM.
We’ll save those power dynamics for another time.
The strong use of unified color — reds, oranges, and purples primarily — is another notable feature. Clothing has always been and will always be a prominent symbol of togetherness. Uniforms in particular have an incredible impact. It gives you a sense of belonging but can also remove individuality.
If I end up rewatching this series, we’ll revisit the fashion in greater detail, but that’s all I’ve got for now.
Heaven’s Gate
Next we have Heaven’s Gate. This one was specifically highlighted for me by the galactics. I’m at the very beginning of my digging. There are deep energetic connections to the current trans movement that will continue to be examined as the galactics elaborate.
The mass suicide happened on March 26, 1997. I remember it making the news, but that’s about it.
My family still lived in Cincinnati at the time, but we were in Michigan for the weekend. The evening that the Hale-Bopp comet passed through the night sky, we were driving along South Shore on Crystal Lake. We parked and got out of the car. The sky was pitch black since all the cottages were closed up at that time of year. Everything sparkled. My folks and I all remember watching Hale Bopp pass overhead.
This cult feels significant even though I don’t yet know why. It’s as though the happenings in the late 90s were a dry run on the part of the aliens for a more widespread manipulation that we are currently experiencing. While this group of aliens is rapidly losing power, it still has quite a bit of influence.
THE GRAY AREA
Then there’s the gray area. For these, it depends on who you ask as to whether they would deem these communities cults. Simply holding a belief system that does not align with your own does not lump people into the cult category, nor does having a corrupt leader.
That said, if we go back to the definition — a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object — it appears that some of them qualify. As I said, kind of a gray area.
Bikram
Oh Bikram. What a smarmy man. He lost me with his comb over. You’re not hiding anything.
I have zero objections to opulence and wealth in the spiritual community as long as it comes from an honored exchange of money and energy. I didn’t hear people knocking Louise Hay when she was driving around in a Rolls Royce. Yet this is one of the first things people point to when discrediting a once beloved leader.
The Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator documentary paints a pretty rough picture of his actions. Now, we know that documentaries can frame things to their liking (we’ll get to that later), but this depiction doesn’t seem like a huge reach. The allegations of rape and sexual abuse hit particularly hard because Bikram wasn’t the only one in the spiritual community using his celebrity to prey on his followers.
Bringing us to…
John of God
I’ve actually never understood this one. His pallor and demeanor have always been incredibly off putting to me, almost as though there’s a hungry void inside of him eating all of his energy.
Consequently he was on the far edges of my radar when he surrendered to sexual abuse charges in December of 2018. He was accused of sexually abusing more than 300 women when he turned himself in to Brazil’s Civil Police.
I suggest you read this piece in Lioness — Recovering from addiction, I told Deepak Chopra how men had exploited me. Then, he did the same. — recounting how such a dynamic can play out whether it be with Bikram, John of God, or, in the instance of this recounting, Deepak Chopra. The story is relatable and human, filled with the rationalizations we use to protect ourselves. It goes to the heart of how any one of us could fall into a similar situation and why people don’t walk away.
Teal Swan
Lots of mixed reviews were received when I posted that I was watching The Deep End, a documentary three years in the making. Some folks can’t get through five minutes of a Teal Swan video without turning it off. Others have benefited greatly from her work through the years.
Find the people who work for you. Personally, she has never been my cup of tea because her affect and delivery is devoid of all joy. I’m always suspicious when there’s no humor or levity. Teal also provides an excellent example of someone who weaves solid spiritual principles in with very manipulative behaviors.
The documentary itself leaves you bug eyed. I’m at a loss for how to even describe it. Let’s just say it does not paint a flattering picture of Teal. [cough, cough, understatement]
According to Teal, the whole thing is a gross misrepresentation of her, her work, and everything that was documented. Four rebuttal videos exist, one for each of the documentary segments. In these Teal breaks down her perceived inaccuracies of each episode.
Her delivery to camera, which appears to be a pre-scripted response read off of a teleprompter, was bizarre to me and poorly worded. While a high level of agitation is understandable, these reactions struck me as the kind of conversations you have with close friends, not those looking to you for guidance.
Teal considers Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, and Tony Robbins her peers. So I imagined how Tony would have handled a similar situation. First of all, he never would have signed off on a documentary that gave him zero editorial review, which Teal did. She saw the documentary for the first time when it aired. And while I understand that the exposure might compensate for the lack of financial incentive, it still makes me go hmm.
Mostly I suspect that Tony would have laughed the whole thing off. “You don’t like me? You don’t understand my methods? Why do I care?” and then bought another island. The rebuttal videos validated the documentary even though Teal had the opposite intent.
Production dynamics aside, the documentary itself left me with a few takeaways. In an early scene, we see Teal onstage at one of her live events. The camera pans over the audience. Scattered amongst the human attendees were a whole lot of demons. Yeah, not a term you generally hear me use.
While I don’t believe their presence is intentional on the part of Teal, it points to her inability to filter out unwanted beings and energies. I suspect this is why many of you find her so off putting. Someone will inevitably say, “But Libby! Her background!” Irrelevant. It is her responsibility to foster an environment of safety at her events. It’s no different than a singer making sure that a member of the audience doesn’t get trampled at a rock concert.
Which brings me to my next point. Followers? Really? The term followers makes me squirm. Yes, that’s technically the term used on Instagram and various other social platforms, but it is not appropriate for an audience or community, especially in the spiritual space. Scroll back a few paragraphs if you need a reminder of why.
We are in a time when these types of teachings should be pointing you back to you. Hear the ideas and the insights then run them through your own energetic system to see where they land. Do not blindly follow just because someone says she is an authority. An authority according to whom?
I came across a series of reaction videos by a licensed psychologist while searching for Teal’s rebuttal videos. Interesting points. I’m still holding out hope that The Behavior Panel offers their take on The Deep End. They have some of the best breakdowns of body language of anyone on the internet.
Here’s my suggestion. Watch the documentary for yourself, if you are so inclined. Watch a few of Teal’s videos. How does it make you feel? If the answer is not great, turn it off immediately. No need to dip deeper. Trust your read on the situation.
LuLaRoe
Not sure why this one is on the list, but I’m told to leave it here.
At the end of the day, my rule of thumb is to distrust anyone who tells me that they have THE only answers. Everyone gets a partial piece of the whole puzzle, even those who perceive more than most. As I’ve developed my own abilities, I’ve continued to realize the depths of what I don’t know. Our awareness is a speck of consciousness in this vast universe. Each expanded experience reminds me of that.
If you hear someone saying that they know it all, might I suggest removing yourself from that situation, immediately.
I truly believe that the prominent leaders over the past decades will not be the ones who lead us forward. New leaders are in the process of emerging. You’ve never heard of most of them. Within the next three years, that will change.
FAKE JESUS & THE NEW AGE
So here’s my big question. Who was the original cult leader? Non-rhetorical. I’m told there is one. Have thoughts!? Let me know!
Some would say Jesus, which is interesting in light of a current trend. Many are turning away from the New Age (capital n, capital a) belief system and embracing Christianity and a fake Jesus, one who is actually an alien masquerading as Christ.
The New Age movement has numerous cult-like elements. A reward and punishment system known as manifesting. A doctrine telling you, don’t question. If you question, you’re limiting your ability to receive. If there is hardship in your life, you are the only possible reason.
Seen through that lens, it’s not exactly the loving movement people make it out to be.
Back to the fake Jesus. Jesus is real. Believe in him or not, makes no nevermind to me. Aliens know that many people do believe. (You knew it was ultimately going here, right?)
Through the years, energies are recycled — some through reincarnation and others through alien manipulation or galactic participation. The way this applies to cult leaders in particular is that many of them have the same energetic imprints. In addition to the same group of aliens manipulating multiple people since their arrival here, the same souls keep coming back to Earth. In recent years, we’re seeing some of them pop up in the tech space.
But this is not the only trick up their sleeve. Since most of these alien groups have been kicked off of this planet at one point or another, they’ve developed a workaround, impersonating high profile ghosts. Pick any historical figure who has been mythologized. How well do you really know that person’s energy? You don't. This makes them easy to impersonate.
If I had to choose a percentage, I would say that 80% of what is being conveyed by these impersonators is accurate. The other 20% is pure manipulation. There are legitimately beneficial messages coming through, just like the underpinnings of a cult, but also some truly nasty stuff.
Why now? As more people open up to energies of higher dimensions, the aliens see their opportunity. In the coming years, there will be more and more of this. It will continue to be of utmost importance to use discernment when engaging with unknown energies. Don’t let your ego get the best of you.
One of the telltale signs that you’re dealing with an imposter is that the energy gets swirly. You start vacillating between decisions, second guess everything you’re doing, and are riddled with doubt. Come back to your breath and call in the highest version of yourself. There’s no way to impersonate you to you. She’ll comprehend all of this from a broader dimensional perspective. Let her assist you. Rely on her judgment. It’s yours after all.
The manipulation techniques that we associate with cults will permeate other aspects of culture and society. If you’ve been paying attention these past three years, you know that they already have. Aliens will continue to attempt to lure us into energetically compromising relationships. Strengthening your ability to spot the tells will serve you well.
The confidence to heed your instincts and intuition is unparalleled as we go into a heightened cosmic battle. We’re all going to be put to the test of whether we’re comfortable going against the crowd. Are you? Do you trust yourself enough to stand alone? That’s one of the greatest traits you can hone.
Phew! We did it!! High fives all around. That’s a lot of cults to cover to start laying the groundwork for further conversations. By the end of this, you better believe that I have a mighty strange search history. Obviously what I’ve shared here is a high, high level overview. If any of this intrigues you, I encourage you to do some digging and reflection of your own.
P.S. I keep getting the message, “Babylon,” and have no idea what it means.