Cults commonly employ a tactic known as “love bombing” to recruit and control new members, using an overwhelming display of affection and attention to disarm individuals and build dependency. Love bombing involves showering recruits with compliments, encouragement, and validation, making them feel valued and appreciated in a way they may not have experienced before. This initial phase creates an emotional high, drawing people in and fostering trust, which cult leaders later leverage to promote loyalty and compliance.
Liana Shanti, who leads the Lemurian Mystery School, is a prominent example of someone accused of using such tactics to manipulate and control her followers. Shanti, a self-styled spiritual guide, allegedly encourages women to cut off family connections, even convincing some followers to move different locations. Through social media, particularly Instagram, she uses curated aesthetics and spiritual messaging to attract vulnerable individuals. Her posts often include motivational content and calls for “true spiritual awakening,” which resonates with those seeking a sense of purpose or community. Once engaged, new followers reportedly experience intensive love bombing, which quickly escalates into more manipulative behaviours like gaslighting and isolating members from external influences.
Shanti and similar figures typically use public praise to reinforce obedience, rewarding those who conform to group ideals while employing criticism to punish dissent. This “hot and cold” treatment—alternating affection with neglect—keeps members emotionally dependent and eager for approval. Shanti’s followers, for instance, report being praised when complying with her teachings but ignored or chastised for expressing doubts. By enforcing strict loyalty and reliance on the group, cult leaders like Shanti gradually erode members’ independence and reinforce their commitment to the group’s ideology.
Overall, love bombing serves as the initial hook in a calculated process of psychological control. After building a solid emotional connection, cult leaders manipulate members’ perceptions and realities, often using a blend of pseudo-spiritual language and targeted emotional abuse. This strategy keeps members aligned with the group, discouraging them from questioning the leader’s authority or seeking support outside.