Article

Aramond Sebastian Van Rahamadalph

Published by Aramond Sebastian Van Rahamadalph on the 12th of January 2018

Cults masquerading as
Structural Organizations within the community
(A real problem the newly awakened face.)

~ORIGINALLY POSTED ON FACEBOOK IN OCTOBER 2016~

When you look at the Organizations within the Vampire, Therian, Otherkin, & even Pagan communities what do you see?

Do you see a place offering personal growth? How about a safe place to be who you are, un-corrupted by ego, or power struggles? Do you see leaders who put others needs before their own, or leaders whose sense of self-importance is so over-exaggerated it takes away from anything good they have done for those around them?

The problem with today’s community is that there are those who seek to use the community for personal & financial gain. Those who seek to form “members only” groups to exclude anyone who doesn’t meet their perceived notions of “perfection” or those who don’t meet their ideal personality.

Many of these people & the organizations they lead come off safe & “legit” on the outside, but once you step into their “inner circle” you soon find out all is NOT what it seems. This is a huge problem for the newly awakened & naive within the community as they can quickly be drawn in by the prodigious mystique about these organizations only to find out too late it’s nothing more than an undeniable facade.

Has your leader done the following:

Publicly announced that they are a tyrannical dictator & no one will stop them or what they do.
Claimed themselves – “answerable to no one”.
Claimed themselves – “divine” or “Death Incarnate”.
Only has their “lovers”, “submissives”, “closest friends”, or “trusted Nobles” allowed in the inner circle. All other members are to do as they’re told within the “outer court”.
Seizes control of “territory” outside their own area already governed or managed by another & demands that the “conquered” must answer to them now.
Have members paying “membership” & other undisclosed fees that are required of everyone just to be apart of the “inner court” cliche.
Forces members to bring in a minimum number of new members to gain special titles & “power” within the organization.
Claimed “there is no such thing as neutral. I remember who stand with me, & those who are against”. Giving way to the “Us vs Them mentality”.
Claimed “all those that do not support me, are not my followers, or who were followers & now speak out against me are all “mentally ill”.
Shows hate and contempt toward members of other community groups that do not “bow down” to his own.
Claimed non-members as “a bunch of cheap ass people who are not giving him their money”.
Has a “security team” to strong arm & silence ex-followers who break free & wish to speak out against them to the community all while bullying others and harassing them into obeying the will of the leadership.
Threatens to “purge” their organization or the community of those who question or oppose them, or do not wish to be apart of their cliche stating that “They will bend the knee or I will destroy them”.
Threatens former members & clients who come forward telling their stories about how unsafe they felt around him, or how they noticed his abusive nature, all in an attempt to hide his actions from the public.
Lied to the community & public to garner sympathy to make themselves look/feel special.
Made “official Blacklists” to isolate members from friends and family who speak out against what they are doing.
Claims to have special powers or divine guidance – calling himself “Death Incarnate”, and a “Hierophant” (an ancient priest who interprets the sacred mysteries of the gods).

To help those new to the community & to these organizations, Below are some characteristics that are common among such “Leaders” & Organizations.

Pay close attention to the “Leaders” who exhibit the following traits:

Has a grandiose idea of who he is and what he can achieve.
Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, or brilliance.
Requires excessive admiration from followers and outsiders.
Has a sense of entitlement – expecting to be treated special at all times.
Is exploitative of others, asking for their money.
Is arrogant and haughty in his behavior or attitude.
Has an exaggerated sense of power (entitlement) that allows him to bend rules and break laws.
Takes advantage of members of his group, sometimes sexually.
Is hypersensitive to how he is seen or perceived by others.
Publicly devalues others as being inferior, incapable, or not worthy.
Is frequently boastful of accomplishments.
Needs to be the center of attention and does things to distract others to ensure that he or she is being noticed by arriving late, using exotic clothing, over-dramatic speech, or by making theatrical entrances.
Doesn’t seem to listen well to needs of others, communication is usually one-way in the form of dictates.
Haughtiness, grandiosity, and the need to be controlling is part of his personality.
Behaves as though people are objects to be used, manipulated or exploited for personal gain.
When criticized he tends to lash out not just with anger but with rage.
Anyone who criticizes or questions him is called an “enemy” and “mentally ill”.
Refers to non-members or non-believers in him as “the enemy.”
Ostracizes & anathematizes anyone who questions or doubts him, his ideals, or ways.
Believes himself to be omnipotent.
Is superficially charming.
Habitually puts down others as inferior and only he is superior.
Has a certain coldness or aloofness about him that makes others worry about who this person really is and or whether they really know him.
Is deeply offended when there are perceived signs of boredom, being ignored or of being slighted.
Treats others with contempt and arrogance.
Is constantly assessing for those who are a threat or those who revere him.
The word “I” dominates his conversations. He is oblivious to how often he references himself.
Hates to be embarrassed or fail publicly – when he does he acts out with rage.
Doesn’t seem to feel guilty for anything he has done wrong nor does he apologize for his actions.
Believes himself “deified” or “saintly”.
Rigid, unbending, or insensitive describes how this person thinks.
Tries to control others in what they do, read, view, or think.
Has stated that he is “destined for greatness” or that he will be “martyred.”
Seems to be highly dependent of tribute and adoration and will often fish for compliments.
Uses enforcers or sycophants to ensure compliance from members or believers.
Sees self as “unstoppable” perhaps has even said so.
Doesn’t think there is anything wrong with himself – in fact, sees himself as perfection or “blessed.”
Their sense of righteousness and their simplistic black and white mentality cause them to wage war against anyone with different ideals; i.e., outsiders.

Pay close attention to the “organizations” who exhibit the following traits:

The group is preoccupied with making money.
The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. ‪
Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members.
The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members’ participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group.
The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
Complete, almost unquestioned trust in the leadership.
Leaders are often seen as “special individuals”.
Increased submission to the leadership is rewarded with additional responsibilities and/or roles, and/or praises, increasing the importance of the person within the group. i.e.
Their group is the only true system or one of the few true ways.
Us against them mentality. Therefore, when someone (inside or outside of the group) corrects the group in doctrine and/or behavior, it is interpreted as persecution, which then is interpreted as validation.
Showing great attention and love to a person in the group by others in the group, to help transfer emotional dependence to the group.
Instructions and/or knowledge are sometimes said to be received by a leader(s) through visions, dreams, or new interpretations of sacred scripts/texts. This leader then informs the members.
The teachings of the group are repeatedly drilled into the members, but the indoctrination usually occurs around “Special” or “inner circle” Knowledge.
The group’s coherence is maintained by the observance to policies handed down from those in authority.
There is an internal enforcement of policies by members who reward “proper” behavior, and those who perform properly are rewarded with further inclusion and acceptance by the group.
Avoidance of and/or denial of any facts that might contradict the group’s belief system.
Those who do not keep in step with group policies are shunned and/or expelled.
often an individual or small but powerful leadership group holds control of the group’s teachings and practices.
often requires tithing to the leader(s) or organization.

The need for safety & security within the community & the silver-tongued facade of these ostentatious leaders can lead newly awakened & naive into the arms of their cult-like organizations.

It is our responsibility as Leaders, Teachers, Elders, Family & Friends to educate the younger generations about the dangers that they can come across in their journey in life.

He is the lists on Cult Leaders and cult organization traits:

- Typical Traits of a Pathological Cult Leader
- Similarities, Trump Cult Leaders
- Characteristics Associated with Cults
- Checklist of Cult Characteristics