Oh wow - thank you for posting this video. I am sure that I would hate it if I could actually understand the Hebrew but it was great to see Leo in action. It warms my heart. Its funny that two people can watch the same video and see such completely different things. I see a man speaking his truth with warmth and care. And with some grandeur yes, but dang I loved his bold and grand statements.
I was in the Emin for 15 years...I left a few years after Leo died. I was honoured to have been able to be in his Emin during his lifetime, and when he died ....it just felt like something had been completed. And I moved on. I'll never forget what I learned there - the time I spent in the Emin was wonderful and magic and I wish that everyone could have that experience. It changed me in ways that I will forever feel grateful for. I never found it cultish - a little cliquish for sure...but people are what people are. When I read negative things about the Emin on the internet it is clear to me that the people writing them have no idea what they are talking about. The stuff written out there is weird, and bears no resemblance to my experience. It actually makes me sad because some of it is really creepy and I think somebody who might really benefit from being in the Emin will miss it because of that stuff.
Leaving was hard for me - kind of like leaving home when it's time to move out on your own. You don't really want to, but no matter which way you turn you realize that it's the best next step for you. Somehow that world became too small for me - instead of feeling inspired I felt stifled, and instead of the warmth of companionship I felt constricted by my companions. I think that's one of the downfalls of being part of any group for a length of time. It's hard to keep growing and changing. I craved new experience, and I craved becoming new to myself again. I realized that it was time to stop sitting around talking about growth and development, and time to get out there and start living what I had learned. I just left - and no one protested. Which actually kind of bummed me out, I was hoping someone might protest just a little. That kind of flies in the face of the whole 'cult' theory, in my opinion. You are definitely free to leave whenever you want and no one will ever try and talk you out of it...because why would they?
In any case anything you read out there about mind control, or brain washing or whatever is just bunk. I taught new groups of Emin students for years and I don't know any brain washing techniques at all. All I knew was how to teach some amazing lessons that changed my life - and I was happy to pass them on. And I loved when students asked me the 'hard' questions - because if what you believe can't stand up to questioning then it really isn't worth believing. And if you are in the Emin and are ready to leave that's ok too. You'll feel sad at first, like when you leave anything that you once loved - but eventually you'll find your way. And then you'll run into old companions and realize you share a bond with them unlike anything else.
I sometimes think about going back - but the truth is I'll never take the journey from nothing to something again. That's a one time thing - and really I'd love to have the chance to go through it all again from the beginning. Kind of like how I'd love to relive my University years. Except my University keeps phoning me and asking me for more money. The Emin never does that.
Also...secretive? Anybody I ever knew in the Emin was the opposite of secretive about it. You couldn't ever make them shut up about it...to the point of annoying people. Trust me, I annoyed lots of people talking about it endlessly.
And one last thing: I believe Leo's quote was 'beware the Jezebel that comes after me' not the 'Isabelle'...
I was in the Emin for 15 years...I left a few years after Leo died. I was honoured to have been able to be in his Emin during his lifetime, and when he died ....it just felt like something had been completed. And I moved on. I'll never forget what I learned there - the time I spent in the Emin was wonderful and magic and I wish that everyone could have that experience. It changed me in ways that I will forever feel grateful for. I never found it cultish - a little cliquish for sure...but people are what people are. When I read negative things about the Emin on the internet it is clear to me that the people writing them have no idea what they are talking about. The stuff written out there is weird, and bears no resemblance to my experience. It actually makes me sad because some of it is really creepy and I think somebody who might really benefit from being in the Emin will miss it because of that stuff.
Leaving was hard for me - kind of like leaving home when it's time to move out on your own. You don't really want to, but no matter which way you turn you realize that it's the best next step for you. Somehow that world became too small for me - instead of feeling inspired I felt stifled, and instead of the warmth of companionship I felt constricted by my companions. I think that's one of the downfalls of being part of any group for a length of time. It's hard to keep growing and changing. I craved new experience, and I craved becoming new to myself again. I realized that it was time to stop sitting around talking about growth and development, and time to get out there and start living what I had learned. I just left - and no one protested. Which actually kind of bummed me out, I was hoping someone might protest just a little. That kind of flies in the face of the whole 'cult' theory, in my opinion. You are definitely free to leave whenever you want and no one will ever try and talk you out of it...because why would they?
In any case anything you read out there about mind control, or brain washing or whatever is just bunk. I taught new groups of Emin students for years and I don't know any brain washing techniques at all. All I knew was how to teach some amazing lessons that changed my life - and I was happy to pass them on. And I loved when students asked me the 'hard' questions - because if what you believe can't stand up to questioning then it really isn't worth believing. And if you are in the Emin and are ready to leave that's ok too. You'll feel sad at first, like when you leave anything that you once loved - but eventually you'll find your way. And then you'll run into old companions and realize you share a bond with them unlike anything else.
I sometimes think about going back - but the truth is I'll never take the journey from nothing to something again. That's a one time thing - and really I'd love to have the chance to go through it all again from the beginning. Kind of like how I'd love to relive my University years. Except my University keeps phoning me and asking me for more money. The Emin never does that.
Also...secretive? Anybody I ever knew in the Emin was the opposite of secretive about it. You couldn't ever make them shut up about it...to the point of annoying people. Trust me, I annoyed lots of people talking about it endlessly.
And one last thing: I believe Leo's quote was 'beware the Jezebel that comes after me' not the 'Isabelle'...
