Unwellness: The Dark Side of the Wellness Movement

Key Takeaways:

• The New Age cult is a modern movement that can be subtle and insidious, with beliefs ranging from benign to harmful.
• The cult’s ideology can lead to rejection of mainstream reality, including medical care and vaccination.
• The indoctrination process can be slow and subtle, making it difficult for individuals to recognize the harm it is causing.
• It is possible to integrate wellness and spiritual practices into one’s life without rejecting mainstream reality or falling prey to misinformation.
• Critical thinking and questioning of ingrained thoughts and beliefs are essential in avoiding the pitfalls of cult-like movements.

Introduction to the New Age Cult
The concept of a cult is often associated with a group led by a charismatic leader, where members follow strict rules and dress alike. However, modern movements like the New Age cult do not fit this traditional description, yet they can still have a profound impact on individuals. Chantal, a former member of the New Age cult, shares her story of how she was slowly and subtly indoctrinated into the movement. The cult’s beliefs range from the benign, such as the natural world being a source of spiritual experience, to the harmful, like treating cancer with detoxes instead of proper medical care.

The Indoctrination Process
Chantal’s indoctrination into the New Age cult was a gradual process. She was drawn to the movement’s emphasis on holistic wellness and the natural world, but over time, she began to absorb more extreme beliefs. She was told that vaccines were the cause of chronic illness, that anything unnatural was harmful, and that pharmaceutical companies were corrupt. These beliefs were presented as truths, and Chantal found herself questioning the medical system and rejecting mainstream reality. As she delved deeper into the cult, she began to experience depression and chronic anxiety, but she believed that medication was a cop-out and instead sought alternative treatments.

The Hierarchy and Elitism
As Chantal became more involved in the wellness industry, she noticed a hierarchy and elitism within the movement. Certain individuals were seen as more spiritually enlightened and pure, and they were treated with reverence. This created a power dynamic that was difficult to navigate, and Chantal found herself feeling inferior to those who were deemed more enlightened. The movement’s emphasis on natural and organic living also created a sense of exclusivity, with those who did not conform to these standards being viewed as less spiritual or less enlightened.

The Wake-Up Call
Chantal’s wake-up call came during the pandemic, when she was exposed to extreme conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine rhetoric. She was shocked by the level of warped reality that had infected her friends and acquaintances, and she began to question her own beliefs. A turning point came when a friend posted a conspiracy theory about Jacinda Ardern being behind the Christchurch massacre. Chantal realized that she had been living in a bubble and that it was time to re-evaluate her beliefs and her involvement in the cult.

The Road to Recovery
Chantal’s journey out of the New Age cult was not easy. She had to unfollow friends, isolate herself, and cease online contact with those she knew in the cult. With the help of her now-husband Joshua, she began to think for herself and question her beliefs. It was a painful process, and Chantal experienced a deep mental breakdown as she annihilated her old identity and rebuilt anew. She has since written a book, Suspended Belief: Memoir Of A New Age Apostate, which documents her experiences and serves as a warning to others about the dangers of cult-like movements.

A New Beginning
Today, Chantal’s life is quiet and grounded. She lives in a Nelson apartment by the sea with her husband and their 5-month-old daughter. She has found a sense of balance and centredness through daily rituals like morning walks, evening yoga, and tending to her houseplants. Chantal’s advice to others exploring wellness or spiritual communities is clear: it is possible to love nature, yoga, and breathwork without rejecting mainstream reality. She encourages individuals to question their thoughts and beliefs and to integrate wellness into their lives in a healthy and balanced way. By sharing her story, Chantal hopes to help others avoid the pitfalls of cult-like movements and to find a more nuanced and balanced approach to spirituality and wellness.