Book, New Age, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Ramtha's School of Enlightenment, Ashlen Hilliard, People Leave Cults, Workshop, Troubled Teen Industry, Netherlands, Cults and Law
A new book from journalist Leah Sottile explores the link between New Age spirituality and political extremism in our region and beyond.
"Leah Sottile didn't set out to write a book about political extremism. The longtime Pacific Northwest reporter has logged years exploring the Northwest's long history of right-wing militant movements. But when she started working on her new book, Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age, she was surprised to see major overlap between these spiritual belief systems and hate groups — especially in the West.
From Elizabeth Clare Prophet in Montana; to Ramtha's School of Enlightenment, the Yelm-based spiritual center started by JZ Knight, a Washington woman who claimed she could channel a time-traveling being named Ramtha; to notorious fascist William Pelley, Northwest communities and charismatic leaders figure heavily into the history Sottile maps out.
"I think it goes back to the way the West was colonized, and this perception that continues, in some ways, that this is wide open space where you can come and live out your utopian ideas," said Sottile of why the Northwest seems to attract a disproportionate share of New Age groups. The problem, she said, isn't so much individual beliefs: "There's no harm in my mind if you have crystals in your pocket or are engaging in a wellness retreat that is helpful to you." But when leaders claim to "have all the answers" or focus beliefs on hatred, "there is a real distinction."
This is what happened with Pelley. As Cascade PBS has reported before, he led a fascist group called the Silver Shirts and propagated antisemitic conspiracy theories. His campaign was headquartered in Seattle, and when he ran for president in 1935, Washington was the only state where his name appeared on the ballot."
Step into the mind of Ashlen Hilliard, renowned Cult Intervention Specialist, Founder of People Leave Cults, with a Master's degree in Psychology of Coercive Control. In this episode, we discuss why people join cults and what it takes to break away from them. Ashlen unpacks the psychology, manipulation tactics, and hidden dangers that cults use to control their members.
Come hear Ashlen Hilliard at Psychology of Cults on November 23rd at the Bankhead Theater for a gripping, eye-opening, and thought provoking event.
Get your tickets now at LivermoreArts.org
When: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 from 10am to 12pm, Central Standard TimeWhere: Fully online, via Zoom (link will be sent to attendees once registered)
What: A workshop for adults on how to support and engage therapeutically with survivors of the Troubled Teen Industry
Cost: $30.00 per person ($15.00 for students)
Sign-up here: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6681327
Horrific accounts from survivors of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) have been shared in recent documentaries, books, and podcasts. Noting their implicit coercion and historic abuses, some have called for these types of youth residential programs to be abolished, citing the significant trauma carried by survivors.
This workshop provides a trauma-informed path forward in supporting and engaging survivors of the TTI. Attendees will learn about the historical concerns within the TTI, and be provided practical, innovative, and gentle ideas for how adults can provide empowering, healing spaces for youth and families in the wake of a TTI placement.
" ... The 14 mayors in the Twente region have issued an urgent letter to the national government, calling for stricter regulations on cults. Among other things, they want cult leaders and abuse to be dealt with more firmly and are calling for the establishment of a new reporting center.
"Municipalities are receiving signals about destructive cults, but current legislation offers insufficient tools to respond effectively," they wrote to outgoing ministers David van Weel (Justice) and Daniëlle Jansen (Health).
Regional media outlets recently reported that there have been allegations of abuse for years at the Pater Pio Foundation, a controversial Christian group in Tubbergen. According to the mayors, such reports "underline the relevance and urgency of this issue."
The Cabinet is working on a bill to tighten regulations on cults. The Twente officials are supportive but believe that municipalities should be given more leeway to act earlier when signs of wrongdoing emerge, in order to protect their residents.
At present, there is a lack of coordination in addressing abuses within cults and following up on reports, the mayors stated. According to them, the Public Prosecution Service, inspectorates, and police operate too much in isolation due to the absence of a clear point of contact."
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