Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
View your shopping cart Shopping Cart | My Account | Help | Become a Fan on Facebook Become a Fan | Follow Us on Twitter Follow Us | Watch Us on YouTube Watch Us | Subscribe to our RSS Feeds Subscribe
Browse ProductsAuthorsArticlesBlogsEncyclopediaNewslettersAffiliate ProgramContact UsBooksellers
Advanced Search
ENCYCLOPEDIA
Glossary
What's New
Most Popular
List of Articles

Email Exclusives
Sign up to receive special offers and promotions from Llewellyn.

Get the Latest Issue of New Worlds

New Worlds Spring/Summer 2013 Issue

New Worlds Catalog

Get the FREE app for your tablet and mobile device. Now available in the iTunes Store and the Google Play Store

Also available as a PDF File.

Click for more information about New Worlds or to receive issues via mail.


The Llewellyn Encyclopedia
Print this Term Print this Article

Cults

This article was written by Donald Tyson on May 14, 2002
posted under Psychic Powers

The word "cult" used to be synonymous with the word "sect" It meant a religious group. Therefore, Judaism, Christianity or any religion could be considered a cult.

But today the word "cult" has taken on a very ominous meaning. Today when the word "cult" is used to describe an organization, be it religious or otherwise, there is the implication of brainwashing leading to an end such as the slaughter at Jonestown. Today there are numerous cults. Here are some signs that you may be becoming involved in a cult:

The people trying to get you to join will not tell you who they are without you asking them several times for the information. They may give you the name of a cover organization.

They will put you on a low protein diet. For Westerners, used to high amounts of protein, this sudden lack can affect the frontal lobes of the brain and have the effect of lowering your judgment capabilities.

Members of the group will "love bomb" you for hours. They will smile, tell you about how everybody in the group loves everyone else, and how much they all love you. As our society becomes more insular, this sounds wonderful. But its purpose is to build an us-versus-them mentality in order to get you to leave your family and friends who become the "them" in this equation.

They will give you long hours of work to do and allow you little sleep. Again, this lowers your judgment abilities.

The only news of the world you will be allowed to hear is that which has been cleared by the group. Thus, you only get their side of the news. This one-sided view prevents you from being able to make up your own mind after hearing all sides of an issue.

You will be isolated from your friends and family. You only experience love and affection from members of the cult and can become dependent on them. Sometimes, isolation becomes total and you would be allowed to see nobody for long periods of time.

You will be put through meaningless repetitions of meaningless words, phrases or actions. In genuine Eastern traditions, when your Guru gives you a Mantra, he or she also explains the meaning of every letter and sound.

The leader of the group is considered to be God or is the only one to have a direct line to God. Only through the cult can you follow God’s wishes and be at one with God.

You may face the threat of death. The fear this induces can radically change your behavior.

You may face forced use of drugs or alcohol or the control of your sex life.

You may face torture or pain.

Intelligent people are just as likely as less intelligent people to be victimized by cults. Colleges are popular places for cult recruitment Awareness of the techniques of these organizations will help you to avoid falling prey to them.

This article is about the nodal axis from the perspective of evolutionary astrology. A central teaching within Evolutionary Astrology is that the Soul contains within it two antithetical, yet co-equal, desires: one to return to source, and one to separate away. Evolution occurs as the Soul progressively purges and exhausts separating desires from... read this article
The Mibramig Magical Tarot
Cultivating Bliss: 4 Ways to Explore Your Inner Garden
Exercise: Asking for a Dream Visit from a Loved One in Spirit
The Final Secrets of Enochian Magick
Career Opportunities for 2013 by Sun Sign

Most recent posts:
The Hidden Factor of Magick
"Will this ritual or spell really work?" There are really only two possible answer to this question: "No" or "I don't know." There are some...

Dreaming with the 4 of Cups
The Book of Shadows Tarot, volume 2: So Below is now available! This morning, I shuffled my deck, fresh from the box and drew a card for this...

I Saw Your Future And He's Not It Author Louise Helene on Examiner.com
Check out a fascinating interview with I Saw Your Future And He's Not It author Louise Helene on Examiner.com, detailing her book and relationship...


One of the questions I often receive is a request for contact with an occult group, order, coven, etc. As a policy, I don't recommend such...



Llewellyn's 2013 Moon Sign Book Llewellyn's 2013 Moon Sign Book
Conscious Living by the Cycles of the Moon

By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $5.50 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Calendar Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Calendar
Horoscopes for You Plus an Introduction to Astrology

By: Llewellyn
Price: $13.99 $7.00 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Calendar Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Calendar
By: Llewellyn
Price: $13.99 $7.00 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Datebook Llewellyn's 2013 Witches' Datebook
By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $5.50 On Sale!
Llewellyn's 2013 Magical Almanac Llewellyn's 2013 Magical Almanac
Practical Magic for Everyday Living

By: Llewellyn
Price: $10.99 $5.50 On Sale!