Heidi Thompson was born into the Seventh-Day Adventist apocalyptic religion. She escaped at age 19 to attend college at the University of North Texas where she completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. While in graduate school, she learned about a spiritual organization called the Rudra Center for Enlightened Awareness. She began attending their sweat lodges, meditation, and shamanic psychology classes. She soon became part of the inner circle and was eventually introduced to its parent organization called the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society. After her recruitment into the Deer Tribe, Heidi became actively involved in their sacred sexuality workshops called ‘Quodoushka.’ Quodoushka claims to teach people that sex is “natural, sacred and beautiful.” Heidi was told these workshops would help her heal from sexual trauma. However, while attending these workshops, she was manipulated into doing many perverse and corrupt sexual activities she did not want to do. These experiences left her deeply traumatized. In early 2022, Heidi decided to speak out to the community about her experiences. Immediately, former participants began writing to her about their own stories of sexual exploitation and manipulation at these Quodoushka sex workshops and other Deer Tribe events. She hopes that by speaking out publicly, it will help others avoid and walk away from destructive high-control groups. Today, she is recovering and rebuilding her life with her husband.

In this revealing and courageous conversation, Heidi shares her story of religious and sexual trauma for the very first time, explaining to Rachel the generational family dysfunction that primed her for seeking healing in a faux Native American organization, which turned out to be an abusive sex cult. Heidi succinctly articulates the complex emotional turmoil of her familial relationships as well as her yearning for healthy spiritual practice.

Before You Go: Rachel cautions against ascribing meaning to the often nebulous phrases of spiritual leaders' which can actually be bereft of any true depth when closely examined with critical thinking.

Heidi’s social handles and website:

www.instagram.com/theheidithompson/

www.linkedin.com/in/theheidithompson/

Deer Tribe and affiliate organization links:

dtmms.org/

www.amaracharles.com/

www.quodoushka.org/

rudracenter.org

You can sign up for Rachel's webinar series LIVING IN FREEDOM here:

rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html

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