Lady_Elaine
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Forest Queen
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Posted Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:37 pm...
Avoiding Toxic Magical Groups
By Estelle Daniels
Being a good magical pratitioner means using consumer skills in evaluating a psychic or magical group before you join it. Most groups are ethical and healthy, but some are not. One has to take constant care to avoid unhealthy situations.
The most important rule to remember when examining a group is your instincts. Don't argue against your own common sense. If it feels wrong or bad to you, don't let anyone talk you into being otherwise. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the claims of the leaders sound overblown or unrealistic, they probably are.
Be willing to investigate and verify claims. If the leader says something like, "I was trained by Merlin Ambrosius who awarded me his special third degree," ask for Merlin's number and follow up. Diplomas can be faked, so a piece of paper is no guarantee. If your request to check up is met with bad feelings, threats, or curses, be wary.
If a person makes mundane claims (for example, "I consult for the local police"), call for confirmation. If the police say, "We have never heard of this person," this can confirm someone is not telling the truth. If the claims are fantastic or unverifiable (like,"I was an NSA agent researching psychokinetics"), be wary. There are people who feel compelled to boost their importance. A good teacher or leader is a good teacher or leader, and that's all you should need.
Ask for references. Watch people's reactions. Are they polite, surprised, hostile, or paranoid? The more extreme a reaction is to a benign request, the more it signals warning. If they tell you to take everything on faith, use your instincts. They might try to make you feel bad for doubting or having natural reservations. They might have a million reasons to combat doubts ot misgivings. Beware. The more they try to persuade or coerce, the more it could be a scam. Alternatively, the more secretive and enticing it sounds, and the more they appear to resist you, the more barrieres you have to hurdle, the more they can be trying to set you up.
How you hook up with this group is another indicator. Were you referred by a friend, or do you have a contact in the group? This is the best way of assuring the group is okay. However, there are groups that capitalize on this. If an old friend from out of the blue tries to recruit you, be wary. If a friend gets into something, and his or her behavior changes, evaluate whether the change is positive or sinister befroe you decide to follow.
If you make a contact through the Interent, be extremely cautious. Make sure the first meetings are in a public place of your choice. Bring friends along if you are apprehensive. If it feels wrong, leave and never turn back. Some people count on the anonymity of the Interent to foster their schemes.
Was the contact through a bookstore or coffeehouse? Ask the proprietors about the group or person. If they know nothing, use the same techniques for the Interent. If you answered an ad, be cautious also. If it does turn out to be a scam, inform the paper.
Before you commit, find out your obligations will be, in time and resources. Find out what you will learn, what the teachers or leaders will do. Get a feel for the group and people. Get a good idea of any financial obligations. If it's a training group, will you be guaranteed a degree? Be honest with yourself. Don't try to make the group something it is not.
Once you are in the group, do not abandon your instincts. Keep perspective. A group that demands all of your time has wrong priorities. Is it you who are choosing to take the time or is the group making demands on you, or both? If it's too much, you may have to drop out. It happens.
Beware of a group that states all books are wrong except theirs. Ask about the rules up front. If the rules are nebulous or changing, watch out. If punishment for breaking the rules seems out of proportion or is threatening, run away. If you are required to undergo some ordeal, make sure you have some idea of what it entails. Psychological and verbal challenges are common, but requirements to imbibe unknown substances or inhale unfamiliar things are not. Tell the group you have allergies and must know always what you are ingesting. If you are made to feel vulnerable in some way (no clothes, in an unfamilar place), be sure you are okay about it. If you are isolated for a day or more, be very wary. This can be a possible attempt at psychological reprogramming.
If you are coerced or pressured to have sex with anyone affiliated with the group, run away. There are unethical people everywhere, and sex in exchange for something is a common coercion. Romance does happen, but in the context of a magical or religious group, it should be carefully examined.
Are threats made by group members? This can range from threats of cursing you if you leave, to threats of horrible disasters befalling friends and family from supernatural forces. These are more common in religious-based groups, but magical groups can do this also.
If you leave a group and group members cause problems for you, take action. If a crime is committed, go to the police. If you explain the circumstances, most law enforcement personnel will understand, and since the time of Jim Jones they are more educated about these scams.
Don't beat yourself up if you did make a mistake. Take the experience as a lesson, and make sure you do not repeat it. Learn the warning signs and keep them in your mid.
I hope you will never have a bad group experience, but if you do, use these guidelines. If you keep your eyes open and examine people and claims with a critical eye, you should avoid the worst manipulations.
By Estelle Daniels
Being a good magical pratitioner means using consumer skills in evaluating a psychic or magical group before you join it. Most groups are ethical and healthy, but some are not. One has to take constant care to avoid unhealthy situations.
The most important rule to remember when examining a group is your instincts. Don't argue against your own common sense. If it feels wrong or bad to you, don't let anyone talk you into being otherwise. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the claims of the leaders sound overblown or unrealistic, they probably are.
Be willing to investigate and verify claims. If the leader says something like, "I was trained by Merlin Ambrosius who awarded me his special third degree," ask for Merlin's number and follow up. Diplomas can be faked, so a piece of paper is no guarantee. If your request to check up is met with bad feelings, threats, or curses, be wary.
If a person makes mundane claims (for example, "I consult for the local police"), call for confirmation. If the police say, "We have never heard of this person," this can confirm someone is not telling the truth. If the claims are fantastic or unverifiable (like,"I was an NSA agent researching psychokinetics"), be wary. There are people who feel compelled to boost their importance. A good teacher or leader is a good teacher or leader, and that's all you should need.
Ask for references. Watch people's reactions. Are they polite, surprised, hostile, or paranoid? The more extreme a reaction is to a benign request, the more it signals warning. If they tell you to take everything on faith, use your instincts. They might try to make you feel bad for doubting or having natural reservations. They might have a million reasons to combat doubts ot misgivings. Beware. The more they try to persuade or coerce, the more it could be a scam. Alternatively, the more secretive and enticing it sounds, and the more they appear to resist you, the more barrieres you have to hurdle, the more they can be trying to set you up.
How you hook up with this group is another indicator. Were you referred by a friend, or do you have a contact in the group? This is the best way of assuring the group is okay. However, there are groups that capitalize on this. If an old friend from out of the blue tries to recruit you, be wary. If a friend gets into something, and his or her behavior changes, evaluate whether the change is positive or sinister befroe you decide to follow.
If you make a contact through the Interent, be extremely cautious. Make sure the first meetings are in a public place of your choice. Bring friends along if you are apprehensive. If it feels wrong, leave and never turn back. Some people count on the anonymity of the Interent to foster their schemes.
Was the contact through a bookstore or coffeehouse? Ask the proprietors about the group or person. If they know nothing, use the same techniques for the Interent. If you answered an ad, be cautious also. If it does turn out to be a scam, inform the paper.
Before you commit, find out your obligations will be, in time and resources. Find out what you will learn, what the teachers or leaders will do. Get a feel for the group and people. Get a good idea of any financial obligations. If it's a training group, will you be guaranteed a degree? Be honest with yourself. Don't try to make the group something it is not.
Once you are in the group, do not abandon your instincts. Keep perspective. A group that demands all of your time has wrong priorities. Is it you who are choosing to take the time or is the group making demands on you, or both? If it's too much, you may have to drop out. It happens.
Beware of a group that states all books are wrong except theirs. Ask about the rules up front. If the rules are nebulous or changing, watch out. If punishment for breaking the rules seems out of proportion or is threatening, run away. If you are required to undergo some ordeal, make sure you have some idea of what it entails. Psychological and verbal challenges are common, but requirements to imbibe unknown substances or inhale unfamiliar things are not. Tell the group you have allergies and must know always what you are ingesting. If you are made to feel vulnerable in some way (no clothes, in an unfamilar place), be sure you are okay about it. If you are isolated for a day or more, be very wary. This can be a possible attempt at psychological reprogramming.
If you are coerced or pressured to have sex with anyone affiliated with the group, run away. There are unethical people everywhere, and sex in exchange for something is a common coercion. Romance does happen, but in the context of a magical or religious group, it should be carefully examined.
Are threats made by group members? This can range from threats of cursing you if you leave, to threats of horrible disasters befalling friends and family from supernatural forces. These are more common in religious-based groups, but magical groups can do this also.
If you leave a group and group members cause problems for you, take action. If a crime is committed, go to the police. If you explain the circumstances, most law enforcement personnel will understand, and since the time of Jim Jones they are more educated about these scams.
Don't beat yourself up if you did make a mistake. Take the experience as a lesson, and make sure you do not repeat it. Learn the warning signs and keep them in your mid.
I hope you will never have a bad group experience, but if you do, use these guidelines. If you keep your eyes open and examine people and claims with a critical eye, you should avoid the worst manipulations.
If you cant explain it simply, you dont understand it well enough.-- Albert Einstein
Blessings Bright and Dark,
