Jaya Gibson

I'm an ex Falun gong cult survivior, Shen Yunorganiser (UK) and Epoch Times Global MarketingDirector 1998-2012 I was recently interviewed by theNew York Times for an article about Shen Yun.

My childhood was far from normal. I was born into a cult in England, a world of wealthy hippies and esoteric beliefs. It wasn't the kind of upbringing that makes for easy playground conversations. After that, I drifted in and out of a couple of other cults in London, always searching for something to believe in, something to make sense of the world.

Just before l moved to New Zealand, my father found his 'thing' -- Falun Gong. I had a look, was intrigued and left it at that. It took a year in New Zealand, and witnessing my father's newfound health, before I was intrigued enough to give it a go.

At first, it seemed benign. Qigong exercises in the park, no religious trappings. But then came April 1999, and everything changed. Human rights protests, strange rituals, bizarre beliefs....was so focused on the human rights aspect that I wilfully ignored the more and more bizarre stuff and the strange behaviours that took place.

it took years of therapy for me to realise l was in a cult. My whole life had been cults, so l had no reference point for what was normal. The breakthrough was painful, like waking up from a dream.

Working for the Epoch Times, the cult's newspaper, was another surreal experience. It was chaos, incompetence, and financial struggles. I was the Global Marketing Director, but it felt like herding cats. The cult mentality permeated everything

The company broke laws, the staff lived in poverty, and the leadership was clueless. I felt like I was banging my head against a wall most of the time. I came up with a marketing plan and strategy but it just went over everyone s heads

The final straw was my father's death. He refused medication, a devout believer until the very end. The reaction from fellow practitioners was callous, cold. That's when I started planning my escape,

I ended up in NYC, working for the Epoch Times there. More bizarre stuff, more questions, more frustration. Li Hongzhi, the cults leader, was supposed to be the creator of the universe, but his actions and pronouncements didn't add up.

I left Falun Gong, disillusioned and heartbroken. I wasted 13 years of my life, and lost my father in the process. I'm still picking up the pieces, trying to rebuild my life.

Petertompolicy: What was the most difficult part of leaving the cult?What do you miss?How would you help other people leave cults or avoid joining them?

Jayamgibson OP: Leaving a cult is difficult, but you're not alone. Preparation is key: Research cult actics and available resources. Build a strong support system of trusted friends family, professionals (therapists, counselors), and ideally, other former members Financial planning is crucial if your finances are tied to the cult: regain control by opening separate accounts and securing important documents. If you’ve experienced abuse, meticulously document everything. Prepare mentally for the emotional and psychological challenges ahead, including quilt, fear, and confusion Prioritize your physical safety; develop a safety plan if you feel threatened.

The exit itself: Decide on a gradual or abrupt departure based on your circumstances and safety. Serving ties with the cult is essential but can be difficult;be prepared for manipulation and harassment. Professional therapy with a cult recovery specialist is highly recommended to process your experiences and address trauma. Be patient with the healing process, which takes time, Focus on rebuilding your life by pursuing education, finding a job, developing hobbies, and building healthy relationships. If you've experienced abuse or exploitation, consult an attorney about legal options.

Important considerations: Be aware of potential re-programming attempts and strengthen your support system, Expect cognitive dissonance - conflicting belief- and allow yourself to grieve the loss of your community and former identity. Leaving a cult is courageous. You deserve freedom and a fulfilling life. Don't hesitate to seek help.

Jayamgibson OP: Buying the plane tickets. My friends.

Leave

· Plan: Research cults, build support network (friends, family, professionals, ex-members), secure finances, document abuse, prepare mentally, prioritize safety.

· Leaving: Choose exit strategy (gradual/abrupt), cut ties (carefully, prioritize safety), seek therapy (essential for trauma), be patient with healing, rebuild life, explore legal options.

· Important: Be aware of re-programming, cognitive dissonance, grief. Leaving is courageous; you deserve freedom. Seek help.

Don't Join

Always do your research. With the Internet, there’s little excuse you can make these days, unless you were recently born into a cult that denied access to the Internet. There's so many free resources out there now, like how to recognise red flags and so on. For those who want to leave, its very different. Every case is different. But in my experience, the best thing I did was move away from the core of the group.

SJammie: Your 13 years are not lost, there are experiences and connections that might not have lasted, but have shaped who you are. My old boss tried to get me into Falun Gong and that was frightening enough so the fact you've survived all this and walked out says you're a stronger person than most of us will ever know.And I see below that you're in a survivors group, helping others. I don't have a question, I just want to say that I think you're brave and strong.

Del  snafu: How did the cult influence the newspaper?Did they try to prevent you from leaving and/or did they hunt you down after you left?

Jayamgibson OP: The cult ran the paper. Every staff member was a practitioner. There was nothing left to something as flimsy as mere influence. It was all Falun Gong doctrines translated directly into an editorial strategy. Every single decision made by anyone within the paper was based on the cults beliefs or directives from the leader.

No they didn't prevent me from leaving because I didn’t tell them I was leaving. I said I was moving to New Zealand to be with my family - there was an Earthquake in the city where my wife lived. so it was a good time to make an excuse and leave

i wasn't hunted down at all. Mostly because they didn't know l had left until years later I staved in touch with literally a couple of close friends, but when 2016 came around and they were all going nuts about t-rummp and how he was sent from heaven to save mankind I couldn't take it anymore and cut ties with them too.

They are coming after me now, but I've got nothing to hide and a lot of support from friends and professionals.

Str8sin1:  I saw Shen Yun once, and I was expecting a really high quality dance show.. or was ok ,but I thought the quality was like a $40 show, not worth the $120 I paid. (The ads made it look way better than it was, of course. ) Do the show make decent money for the cult:Are all the dancers and singers true believers?

Jayamgibson OP: Yes, the show is extremely profitable. It made $30 million in profit and is worth approx $226 million. Yes, the performers are all believers. but many are forced into it by their parents at a young age and are unpaid and abused during their training.There are many leaving and beginning to tell the truth. I'm part of a private group of survivor's and some of the stories you hear from ex dancers are heartbreaking,but they are not mine to tell.

Jayamgibson OP: Yes, the quality is pretty bad. Especially if you've experienced a genuine ethnic performance. I compare it to Disney on Ice.

Source Link：https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comments/1imqqy1/im_an_ex_falun_gong_cult_survivior_shen_yun/