September 28, 2024
Liana Shanti, a controversial and alleged cult leader, reportedly attempted to bolster her perceived authority by claiming to have predicted Hurricane Helene around election time. It should be recognized that customarily, Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Any such prediction of a Hurricane would be given, and calling for one certainly is not extraordinary and somewhat expected. Combining elements of religious text and conspiracy theories, Shanti allegedly asserted that her “divine connection” allowed her to foresee the natural disaster. This claim appears to be a calculated move to exalt her leadership position within her group. By intertwining spiritual concepts with current events and conspiracy narratives, Shanti seemingly aimed to validate her supposed supernatural abilities and reinforce her followers’ belief in her extraordinary status. This tactic, common among cult leaders, leverages the human desire for meaning and insider knowledge, especially during times of crisis or uncertainty. Using a significant weather event as “proof” of her powers demonstrates how some leaders manipulate real-world occurrences to support their claims of unique insight or abilities, potentially strengthening their control over their followers.
Furthermore, Shanti’s strategy extends to social media, using others’ reposting of Instagram slides to solidify her leadership further. As people share and support her outrageous claims, it creates a self-reinforcing cycle of validation, making it increasingly difficult for followers to question or doubt her authority. Adding another layer to her narrative, Shanti claims that Hurricane Helene was not a natural occurrence but rather a man-made disaster resulting from HAARP (High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program). This project has long been the subject of various conspiracy theories. By invoking HAARP, Shanti taps into existing conspiracy narratives, further reinforcing her image as someone with access to hidden truths and deepening her followers’ distrust of mainstream explanations.
