Cults are dangerous groups that seek to control people, and are responsible for different forms of abuse. Find out signs you are in a cult and what you can do to leave if you realize you are in one.
Some people are beyond memorable. The first time you meet them, they can change your life forever. Some of them form close relationships with you, and others invite you to join their small, close knit group of people they share life with. Sometimes they become good friends, and other times, they belong to cults. Has this happened to you? Join Mysticsense to find out. Discover what a cult is, some cult leader traits, and signs you have found a cult. Don’t worry even if you have, because you can leave, and we will tell you how. Cults are bad in more ways than one and you don’t have to be trapped in one. Read on to find out why.
What’s a Cult?
Cults are typically small, tight knit groups that have extreme, often religious beliefs, high suspicion of anything or anybody who is not in complete agreement with them, and who often seek to live completely isolated with one another away from society. They have extreme devotion to the group, whatever causes or beliefs they ascribe to, and typically cult leaders have complete control of everything and everybody in their cult. They typically say they have the “real truth” and everybody who disagrees with them is wrong, lost, and in need of their guidance. Some cults are small groups that amount to literally nothing, but others grow in number and can be very dangerous.
Jim Jones’ cult, for example centered around him and ended up being responsible for the death of 900 or more people, who committed suicide together with him. The cult did not start out fatally. Jones started a small church in the 1950’s and by the 1970’s, he had moved his church from Indiana to California, believing that location would protect members from nuclear disaster. Although Jones’ church was known for humanitarian work and attracted thousands of followers, he beat and humiliated members and coerced them into signing their property over to him.
The public was suspicious of the cult for years and finally, a member was found dead, so congressman Leo Ryan showed up to investigate the property Jones operated out of. Some members of the cult started leaving during the investigation, and the congressman started to help them. Unfortunately, members of the cult eventually opened fire on the investigators, shooting one victim over 20 times. After this, Jones implored people to commit suicide with him by drinking drug laced Kool aid. Only about 90 members of the cult survived.
Not all cults are this deadly, but they all share similar qualities. Cults control member’s thinking, activities, and sometimes even control their finances and resources. They see themselves and their members as superior to members of other groups, believing they hold great wisdom and secrets lost to other people. They claim they are establishing a perfect organization the rest of the world needs to follow. People who feel alone, misunderstood, or shunned by others are highly susceptible to being sucked into a cult. They may feel welcomed, loved, and supported in the codependent, suffocating environment of extreme control. Cults are controlling but you can get out of controlling relationships. Find out how here: How to Get Out of a Controlling Relationship
Cult Leader Traits
One way to recognize a cult is by their leader. All skillful leaders have dynamic personality traits and have ways of getting people to want to follow them. However, cult leaders have special toxic traits that normal, healthy leaders don’t. Their charisma is noteworthy, and they assume complete control. They are great at love bombing, yet demand unquestioning obedience. They manipulate, brainwash, and isolate their followers too.
Charismatic
Charismatic people are magnetic naturally. They are highly persuasive and draw a lot of people to them. People just naturally want to be around them, follow them, and absorb what they feel is their positive energy. They just have a way of making people interested in them. They are brilliant conversationists, and tend to show a real interest in other people. They seem to know just what to say and do to make people comfortable. They are inspiring and somehow make people want to devote themselves to them and their leadership.
Complete Authority and Obedience
Although cult leaders draw people to themselves naturally, they don’t allow freedom. They expect people to recognize them as the authority figure. They also demand obedience. Arguing, disagreements, or insubordination is not allowed and it might be punished. Physical punishment might not be what results in insubordination, but shunning from the leader or other cult members might be. For some people, the cold, empty feeling of being shunned might feel worse than physical punishment. Some cult leaders have some assistant leaders who help them, but the top leader will have complete say over anybody else. One Zodiac sign that hates being ruled over is Sagittarius and you can read about them here: Sagittarius | Traits Star Sign in the Spotlight
Love Bombing
Love bombing is displays or words of excessive love and attention used to gain control of someone. Especially lonely people tend to react favorably to love bombing, because they love the attention. Cult leaders are experts at finding people who seek love and attention and they lay on the attention heavily, especially at first. They will withdraw attention if they are displeased or if they want to coerce someone to do something. They are especially good at closing in on people they have just met with inappropriate amounts of immediate love and friendship.
Manipulative
Cult leaders want people to do things for them. They want followers to make them feel powerful, and they want people to do things like give them money, favors, and some even want sex. Some cult leaders are completely financially dependent on their followers, and go out of their way to get more and more money from them. They may have their followers sign over their property, their whole paychecks, or pay all their bills for them. They demand people do whatever they want, and if someone refuses to, punishment may include being expelled from the cult. If someone has been controlling, you can take back control of your life. Find out how here: Overcome Powerlessness and Take Command of Life
Isolationist
Cult leaders seek to remove themselves and their followers from the presence of other people they deem undesirable. Some will go so far as to buy land or property as far as possible away from other people, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere. They will then build up their own little community, and take their followers to go live with them there. Some will remove themselves and their members from “the grid” allowing no electricity, or contact with the outside world. This also makes it easier to control their followers.
Brainwashing
Cult leaders have unique views they share with whoever listens. They believe their way is the only right way to live, and they demand their followers all agree with them. They often say that society has taught people all the wrong things, and they insist that they were put on earth to right these wrongs. Some people raised in a cult have no idea that other beliefs or lifestyles exist, and are only allowed to read, learn, or be around their cult’s ideologies. The cult leaders demand and find ways to ensure complete control of what people think and believe in these ways. Trusting again after being so controlled can be difficult, but it can be done. Read how here: Learn to Trust Again After Relationships
Signs of Cults
There are countless signs you may be in a cult or know someone who is. Five signs stand out. No questions are allowed because your cult leader will demand absolute control and authority. They seek to build their own world away from the rest of society. They believe they are different from the rest of people, and that you are either one of them or not. They are highly secretive to non-members and attendance is not voluntary- but mandatory.
No Questions Allowed
Questioning anything your cult leader says or does is not tolerated. They demand unquestioning obedience and blind faith in all they tell you. They may lack the intellectual skills to explain themselves, but even if they don’t, they will not want to. Questioning things is seen as being against them, and one thing a cult leader can’t stand is feeling like someone is not on their side. If you are discouraged from asking questions or punished for doing so, you have a cult leader.
Building Their Own World
Sometimes, being around people who are the opposite of everything you are can be exhausting. However, it’s impossible for us all to be the same. Cult leaders do not like this. They want to build their own world away from the rest of society. They may not be able to afford their own settlement, but they will seek to surround themselves only with people who are just like them. They say they want to build a safe place for themselves, but cults are not safe. Find out how to create a true safe space here: Sanctuaries - How to Create Safe Spaces
Us and Them Mindset
The people the cult leaders seek to surround themselves with are the ones who they feel are like them. They want to shut out people they are different than. If you are not for them, you are considered to be against them, and they may even go so far as to call other people enemies. Cult leaders seek to defend themselves from other people they perceive as a threat somehow. They also seek to turn their followers against these other people. If you are being drawn in by someone who wants you to help them fight against a majority of society they believe oppresses them, you might be in a cult.
Secrecy
Information is available to members only, and no members are allowed to share certain secrets with non-members under any circumstances. Some cult leaders won’t allow non-cult members at their gatherings, on their property, and betraying the cult’s secrets can result in serious punishment or being banished. If you belong to a small group that hides things from the general public, they may be doing something dangerous, illegal, or just unkind. You might be in a cult. Cults aren’t the only ones with secrets. Each of the Zodiac signs have secrets and you can read more here: The Zodiac Signs Dark Secrets
Mandatory Attendance
To belong to the cult, you must attend. Absences can result in punishments or being expelled. You are almost never allowed to take a break from cults, or you will be considered a deserter. Cult leaders try to surround themselves with as many members as possible at all times. Some of them are insecure, and others have some form of emotional problems and don’t do so well alone. If attendance is mandatory, and you are discouraged from taking a break, you might be in a cult.
Leaving the Cult
Cults try to keep members. Some cults have a policy that once you leave, you can never return, and all remaining members must cut off communication with whoever leaves. This makes some people want to stay because they don’t want to lose the close relationships they have formed with other cult members. Some cult members would have to never see or hear from blood relatives who remain in the cult if they leave. Losing all the people who they love, some of whom they have known their whole lives, may seem impossible for people. This is one method of control cults use to make sure members don’t leave.
If a cult has isolated their members outside of society, leaving can be difficult. The inability to get someplace makes leaving difficult enough, but the fact cults often control people’s resources, including money, and whether they own a car, have a job, or a place to live outside from the cult ensures even more control for the cult. Being brainwashed into believing your cult holds supreme knowledge and society is a dangerous or evil place the cult protects you from will make people not want to leave. The fear of making a mistake in leaving and not being allowed to come back will make people afraid to leave. Some people who have little to no family outside the cult may have felt lonely before they joined, and they can be too afraid of being alone again to leave.
Leaving a cult is easier if you live on your own. Just cut off contact with the cult, and refuse to rejoin. Some members may still reach out, trying to get you to come back, but if you send them away enough, they will eventually stop asking. If you don't live outside of the cult, getting away may take careful planning, and it might take a while to save resources, find a place to stay, and find a way to leave. You can reach out to local authorities like social services or police if you need help leaving. Just because you have been in a cult doesn’t mean you have to stay with one forever.
You might be able to tell immediately that you have been drawn into a cult, but it’s not always obvious. Signs of cult activity are a charismatic leader who demands complete and unquestioning obedience. Signs you are in a cult include that it is mandatory to belong and never leave, and your group seeks to completely live away from the rest of society. If you’re in a cult, you don’t have to stay forever. Plan a way out, even if you need help from the authorities to escape. People who truly love you will not mistreat or manipulate you like cults do.
If you’re in a cult and need someone to talk to, reach out for a reading anytime. We are always here for you.
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