‘Source’ magazine offers a glimpse into what goes on at Scientology’s Florida ‘mecca’

 
Thanks again to Rasha for finding us the latest copy of Source magazine, the official propaganda organ of Scientology’s worldwide “spiritual Mecca,” the Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida.

This issue has some great stuff in it for Scientologists who are thinking about going to Flag for the most standardly delivered standard tech in the whole wide world, and we wanted to highlight some of it for you.

We’ll start with the cover (above) which, gosh, suggests that “Going OT” is maybe still kind of important in Scientology?

(Recently, we heard from a certain quarter that “ordinary” Scientologists were no longer concerned with L. Ron Hubbard’s “embarrassing anachronism” of OT levels, which is, as you can see, a completely mistaken notion.)

Let’s take a look at a page inside the publication. Oh, look, more of Scientology’s “good works,” in this case the Fort Harrison Hotel hosting a fundraiser for “human rights” involving an NFL alumni organization…

 
That’s really cool that they managed to get former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants wide receiver Michael Clayton to participate. But it looks like they overegged things a bit.

“The event was co-hosted by Michael Clayton, a former NFL player who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2012…”

Well, uh, we happened to check NFL records, and while former LSU standout Clayton did spend six seasons with the Bucs and two with the Giants, the only playoff game he ever took part in was in 2008 with Tampa Bay. In the 2011 season, he played five games for the Giants, the last of which was on November 20. There’s no record that he participated in the Giants’ playoff games that season or in the Super Bowl on February 5, 2012. Whoops.

But hey, human rights!

Speaking of rights, as a Scientologist, you have the right to donate money to the next monument in David Miscavige’s MEST collection…

 
We also love the subtlety of Source magazine. Take this pimp for New OT 4. Who wouldn’t be excited for becoming “free from the effects of drugs”? Sounds great, doesn’t it?

 
It’s a shame they don’t explain that on New OT 4, you’ll be paying about $10,000 to free not your own body from drugs, but the invisible space junkies that are attached to you as “body thetans” who were abusing drugs millions of years ago in other galaxies. We are not kidding.

(And it sure would be interesting if someone could ask Greta Van Susteren about this, as we’ve pointed out in the past.)

Yes, there are some pretty unusual processes that people do at the Flag Land Base, and they’re not only weird, they’re not cheap. One of our favorite is what’s done on the massive sixth floor of the Flag Building (also known as the “Super Power Building”) which is a domed space surrounding a lighted column. Scientologists pay about $2,500 to spend hours running around that lighted pole in the center of the room.

 
That’s what the “Cause Resurgence Rundown” is, running around a pole for hours until you have some kind of “cognition” or epiphany. (Supposedly something besides, “Am I crazy for paying for running around a pole?”)

This issue of the magazine has a special article describing how great it is to come to Clearwater and pay money to run around the pole. We thought you’d want to see it…

The Gift of Cause Resurgence
A 12-year-old Scientologist gets her birthday wish and the whole family wins.

Every year, Ananya Tare’s father, Prasad, would ask her what she wanted for her birthday. When she was turning 11, she said a guitar. When she was about to turn 12, she had something more substantial and spiritual in mind. As she explains, “Most kids would likely say, ‘I want the latest iPhone’ or ‘I want my own iPad,’ and the parents would sigh and say, ‘Simple enough!'” Yet this 12-year-old told her parents her birthday wish was to go to Flag. “I knew this was my chance,” Ananya recalls. “When my dad said, ‘Pick any gift you’d like,’ I asked for the Cause Resurgence Rundown!”

Ananya’s father introduced her to Scientology when she was eight years old. Her journey started with Learning How to Learn, Student Hat and the Basics Books and Lectures. And the lucky girl was about to experience her first Flag service — all before becoming a teenager!

Prasad had already done Cause Resurgence himself. In fact, it was the Source magazine that led him to Flag for the service initially. He read “Unleash Your Energy,” an article that included “5 Reasons to Sign Up for Cause Resurgence,” and that convinced him to book the service. The results far exceeded his expectations. Upon returning home as a transformed man, he shared his experience with his wife and daughter. His feedback resonated in a delightfully unexpected way, particularly with young Ananya.

Shortly after making her dream known, the family of three packed their bags and traveled from New Jersey to Clearwater, where they would experience the life-changing wins of the Cause Resurgence Rundown as a family. In fact, Ananya’s aspiration had also become her mother’s. Madhura signed on for the rundown as well.

Ananya was wowed from the get-go. “When I first entered the Cause Resurgence space, I was in awe,” she remembered. “I was amazed at the simplicity of the rundown and as I read the indoc pack, I realized that knowing what I know from the Basics was very helpful.”

Her wins started to flow a few days into the service. From addressing her problems waking up each morning and a longtime resistance to completing chores when asked, every realization and cognition helped her grow as a being. “Every single ridge concerning my First Dynamic blew,” Ananya said. “On top of that, every single flow concerning my First Dynamic straightened out.”

Madhura also made great gains on the rundown. “As soon as I started the rundown, my middle class PTSness blew away and I regained my creativity,” she said. “I experienced some of my ridges being blown and saw the real me stepping out of a cocoon. I truly feel like a changed person.”

While Ananya and Madhura were having ridges blown on the Cause Resurgence Rundown, Prasad made progress on his own Bridge ascension, completing Method 1 Word Clearing.

When the Tare family wasn’t on service they took advantage of the world-class amenities available at Flag. They spent many hours under the sun by the Fort Harrison pool, enjoying each other’s company and meeting other Scientologists. They played Ping-Pong by the Pavilion and walked the grounds.

“As we walked the Flag premises, we loved the awesome energy of fellow like-minded beings,” Prasad shared. “The cumulative theta available here isn’t available anywhere else.”

Family meal favorites included omeletes for breakfast at the Hourglass, the vegan rolls and chocolate lava cake served at the Hibiscus and Italian night at the Garden. Madhura and Prasad were particularly fond of the coffee at the Oak Cove when made by their favorite barista, Giuseppe. Afternoon tea became a family ritual in the Fort Harrison Tea Lounge, too.

Ananya’s favorite things about Flag? “I love to hang out with my friends at the Tea Lounge,” she said. But of course, the highlight of her trip was receiving the gift that was her birthday present. “If someone asked me to describe the Cause Resurgence Rundown with one word, I would say, ‘WOW!’ I don’t think that I could have used my birthday wish in a better way.

The Tare family shows that no matter what age you are or where you are on the Bridge, Flag truly offers exceptional experiences and personal gains for every Scientologist. Says Prasad, “As a family, we found out that really magical things do happen at Flag.”

 
Hey, and when you’re not running around a pole or drying out your junkie invisible body thetans, come to the Osceola and…

 
…just chillax.

OK, discuss.

 
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Countdown to Denver!

 
HowdyCon 2017: Denver, June 23-25 at the Residence Inn Denver City Center. Go here to start making your plans.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 27, 2017 at 07:00

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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
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