Energetic Synthesis: A Case Study of an Online Spiritual Community

Aug 11

What’s true about Energetic Synthesis? Is is a safe place to recover from trauma? What about for survivors of Organized Extreme Abuse seeking spiritual support? Is it a cult, or does it have cult dynamics at play with its charismatic leadership?

In August 2024, I created a video detailing my experiences as a paid member of Energetic Synthesis from Spring 2020 - Summer 2023. I shared how I was helped, and how I was eventually expelled from this community for asking questions and raising concerns with a few other members privately, outside the discussion forum.

Despite frequent protests by leader Lisa Renee (no last name) that this community is not a cult, when I was there it turned out to be, with imbalances financially, leadership promoting inept and predatory “spiritual” practitioners, and fostering passivity and dependency, not empowerment, among members.

However, I took down my video because I feel that it is time to let go of that more detailed protest of this group and move on. I leave the below for discerning “E.S.” seekers to consider:

What is a cult? From an article at verywellmind:

Absolute authoritarianism without accountability.
Zero tolerance for criticism or questions.
Lack of meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget.
Unreasonable fears about the outside world that often involve evil conspiracies and persecutions.
A belief that former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave.
Abuse of members.
Records, books, articles, or programs documenting the abuses of the leader or group.
Followers feeling they are never able to be “good enough.”
A belief that the leader is right at all times.
A belief that the leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or giving validation.