hmmm.. it is unknown to me if there is a "danger" of this ... as i have never been to Peru... or the Native Aya regions. ... however ... i do notice somewhat idolatrous attitudes towards certain shamans, curanderos and indoctrinization of the teachings as in infallible truth to be abided to by all... however my feeling is that this is an old structure that we are outgrowing as people... my feeling is that at this point in the evolutionary development of humanity, many are almost desperately seeking elders, seeking wayshowers, starving for truths long obscured by the follies of patriarchy and the ideas of weight, measure, and separateness. ..in the wake of the powerful realization that there is more than meets the eye... it is disconcerting to many to feel the once solid foundations crumbling from decay beneath their feet.. and no doubt we all wonder from time to time if we are ready for flight.... however i feel we are ready for flight ... and i hold in my prayer the future where we begin to realize the unique medicine inherent in our conception... as well as the unity and validity of the wisdoms held by our elders and Pachamama.

I personally was highly sought out by a "cult" leader once... and i was quite fascinated by his power over his disciples... and how he would exercise his will through their energy... however over a due course of time i saw several of the once disciples leave to pursue broader horizons, much to my amazement .. as i was feeling inclined to make a rescue maneuver... and from this encounter with the man of power ... and their ability to imbibe needed qualities, and then their courage to depart from the group after self realization and actualization ... was almost like an immunity they needed ... almost like a booster shot.

so ... perhaps it is par for the course... to come into our own power ... we must learn to assert ourselves over archaic dogma.


*

I'll get hate mail for this I know but most "religions" I know fit these criteria nicely. being raised a devout Irish Catholic I can provide some examples.

Here's a list of behaviors that researchers have associated with cults:
‪1. The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

Jesus? The Pope (is infalable right??) The Bible??


‪2. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

Anyone else been put through 12 years of parochial school? I was locked in a closet, had paper weights thown at me, was told I was a no-good-sinner-going-to-burn-in-hell

‪3. Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

Chanting? check. repetative prayers? check. Repetitions of creeds? check.

‪4. The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

I was not allowed to associate with "friends" outside of the church. I was made to dress with a high neckline and modest skirts or pants always covering the knees. typical American teenage fashion was concidered "inappropriate", "provocative" and even "slutty"

‪5. The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

"Jesus is the Lord, Savior and Messiah, if you do not believe you-are-not-saved-you're-going-to-burn-in-hell-for-all-eternity. We are the chosen, we are the saved" etc. etc.

‪6. The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

This fits in with #5

‪7. The leader is not accountable to any authorities

{{(unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations)}}REALLY??
Most Religions/Cults have some kind of inner hierarchical structure.


‪8. The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

Selling Indulgences, The Inquisition, Priests molesting little boys (and could I mention girls too, but that doesn't get as much press)

‪9. The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

Don't even get me started on Catholic guilt. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept a few examples of teachings: your body is inherently evil, sex is a sin-unless you intend to produce children, masturbation kills kittens, you're not even born sin-less, because of origional sin, so if your an un-baptised baby, and you unfortunatly meet an untimely demise you don't even go to heaven you end up in Limbo (yes its a Catholic term) which supposively is a happy place but not near to or with God/Jesus/the saints. ((Yes this one was so outrageous it was taken off the books after Vatican II convention to"modernize" the Church))

‪10. Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

Assuming you're a new recruit, but many cult/religions are very family oriented and use the family structure to further ingrain their doctorine.

11.‪ The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

Do you know a Church thats not into converting people??

12.‪ The group is preoccupied with making money.

Did I mention the Catholic Church is STILL one of the richest organizations in the world??

‪13. Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

Sunday School, parochial school, Church every holiday, Church summer camp, prayer every night at bedtime, before every meal.

14.‪ Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

A rehashing of #4

‪15. The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

OH AND DID I MENTION, IF YOUR DON'T BELIEVE LIKE THIS YOUR NOT SAVED AND YOU'RE GOING TO HELL

So there you have it folks. Quit looking for outside answers and think for yourself!

I do not believe that there will ever be - could ever be - a "cult of Aya" - not if the cult was actually using Aya since She would not permit such a thing. There could always be a cult revolving around some human using Aya, though.