My Parents Left Me Alone to Forage and Survive on Angeles Mountains

My Parents Left Me Alone to Forage and Survive on Angeles Mountains

As a child, Michelle Dowd grew up on a mountain in the Angeles National Forest. She was born into an ultra-religious cult—or the Field as they called it—started in the 1930s by her grandfather, a mercurial, domineering, and charismatic man who convinced generations of young male followers that he would live 500 years and ascend to the heavens when doomsday came. Comfort and care are sins, Michelle is told. As a result, she was forced to learn the skills necessary to battle hunger, thirst, and cold; she learned to trust animals more than humans; and most importantly, she learned how to survive in the natural world.

At the Field, a young Michelle lives a life of abuse, poverty, and isolation, as she obeys her family’s rigorous religious and patriarchal rules—which are so extreme that Michelle is convinced her mother would sacrifice her, like Abraham and Isaac, if instructed by God. She often wears the same clothes for months at a time; she is often ill and always hungry for both love and food. She is taught not to trust Outsiders, and especially not Quitters, nor her own body and its warnings.

But as Michelle gets older, she realizes she has the strength to break free. Focus on what will sustain, not satiate you, she tells herself. Use everything. Waste nothing. Get to know the intricacies of the land, like the intricacies of your body. And so she does.

Using stories of individual edible plants and their uses to anchor each chapter, Forager is both a searing coming-of-age story and a meditation on the ways in which understanding nature can lead to freedom, even joy.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find Michelle:

Subscribe to Substack

Pick up a copy of Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult

IG: @michelledowdz

https://www.michelledowd.org/

We want to meet you in real life! Come adventure with us on our 2nd C2C VACATION! Click here to go to the official booking page

Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel!

Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.

Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness

Venmo @sheliseann

Find us on Social media!

Instagram @cultstoconsciousness

Host Instagram @sheliseann

Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_

TikTok @cults.to.consciousness

Twitter @cultstocon

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

Chapter Marks

00:00:00 Intro

00:04:02 The Familiarity She Had with "The Field" & Why Her Family Moved There

00:06:17 The Organization Her Grandfather Started & All Its Rules

00:12:48 How The Cult's Teachings Still Stick with Her Today & It's Effect on Her Mother

00:18:00 Michelle Talks about the Healing that She Got By Being With Her Mom at the End of Her Life

00:22:35 Michelle’s Connection With the Earth

00:25:51 CW: CA, Michelle Mentions Her Father's Abuse and How Sickness Led to Her Growing More Independent

00:29:56 Michelle Talks about Being Hospitalized and Discovering She Had an Autoimmune Disorder

00:33:12 Michelle’s Time in the Hospital & Her Education from Reading the Bible

00:39:59 The Cult's Proselyting Methods, Beliefs About Christianity, & Fundraising

00:45:30 CW: Brief Mentions of Suic*dal Thoughts, Michelle Shares the Complicated Experiences Surrounding Her First Romance

00:51:20 Michelle Shares Her First Experiences Outside the Cult & Her Life Now

00:55:44 Michelle's Final Thoughts & Linda Listen

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Avsnitt(351)

Everything I've Always Wanted to Ask John Dehlin, Answered

Everything I've Always Wanted to Ask John Dehlin, Answered

John Dehlin is usually the one asking the tough questions in his Mormon Stories interviews. This time, I turn the tables and find out some of the most shocking things he's heard in his 25+ years of experience podcasting, how he handles the spotlight, public smearing, how it impacts his family life, his current beliefs and more! Click here to watch the episode on YouTube (Clickable timestamps available on YouTube)The most shocking things you've heard in an Interview?What inspires you to keep g... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3 Jan 20231h 11min

I Asked John Dehlin What HE Would Do as The Mormon Prophet

I Asked John Dehlin What HE Would Do as The Mormon Prophet

Every issue with the Mormon church in 90 minutes. John Dehlin has countlessly affected real change in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by using his platform to amplify problems and demand accountability. From inspiring the CES letter, getting "The Miracle of Forgiveness" removed from the shelves of Deseret Book and bishop's interviews being modified after his coverage on Sam Young's story (to name a few), some would say John has inspired more "revelations" than the church itsel... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Dec 20221h 35min

Mormon Sex Therapist's Reaction to Daily P*rn Use Ft. Natasha Helfer

Mormon Sex Therapist's Reaction to Daily P*rn Use Ft. Natasha Helfer

Sex. If the word makes you uncomfortable, then you'll definitely want to watch this episode. It's time we get comfy talking about a healthy sex life and expose the common misconceptions based on scientific research, around sex media. When did sex media originate? What caused the "p*rn panic"? Can we use sexual media for education and what is normal when it comes to viewing it? Natasha, a Mormon certified sex therapist answers all my (and your) questions in this spicy episode!Click here to wat... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Dec 202250min

LDS Sex Therapist Excommunicated for Views on Masturbation ft. Natasha Helfer

LDS Sex Therapist Excommunicated for Views on Masturbation ft. Natasha Helfer

Natasha couldn't stay silent. She put ethics and her license above her religion in the name of helping people who were struggling due to clinically incorrect information given by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church's response was to excommunicate her. From the mythology of masturbation & the details of Natasha's story, to how purity culture is harmful, we ask for change in the religious institutions who are actively hurting their own members.Click here to watch the... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Dec 202252min

Thriving in the OneTaste "Orgasm Cult" (Insider Secrets Revealed)

Thriving in the OneTaste "Orgasm Cult" (Insider Secrets Revealed)

**Content warning- Sexual Assault**From sexual wellness to SEXploitation, this is what happens when cult leader Nicole Daedone convinces people to worship the female orgasm as God. This multi-million dollar cult gained national attention and recognition from celebrities like Gwenyth Paltrow & Tony Robbins with it's Orgasmic Meditation practices, but was hiding a dark side with priest initiations, underpaid and overworked employees, and a breeding ground for blurred sexual boundaries. Ruwa... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Dec 20221h 8min

Does My Mom Regret Leaving Mormonism?

Does My Mom Regret Leaving Mormonism?

I brought Mama back for an un-censored Part 2 where we discuss everything from self worth, boobs, uneasy temple practices and if she has regrets about leaving the church she was born and raised in. I also uncovered my very own Patriarchal blessing in an old memorabilia bin with a letter my religous-at-the-time mom wrote to me. Buckle up! It's a bumpy one!Click here to watch this episode on YouTube! Find Mama on Social Media!Instagram @spiritofottertail Our Merch! Patreon: Patreon.com/cul... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Dec 20221h 3min

High Demand Religions Can Cause C-PTSD (the fix) ft. Therapist Logan Cohen

High Demand Religions Can Cause C-PTSD (the fix) ft. Therapist Logan Cohen

Listen to find out: what constitutes religious abuse, how to spot and heal small t trauma which can be cPTSD, how to break destructive programmed behavior and redefine your trauma responses. This episode is FULL of tips and tricks from licensed therapist Logan Cohen, so make sure to listen to the end and let us know if it was helpful.Click here to watch the episode on YouTube! About Logan:Practicing Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), an Approved Supervisor with American Association of Ma... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Nov 202258min

Fear of End Times: Ex-Jehovah's Witness Confessions ft. @AltWorldly

Fear of End Times: Ex-Jehovah's Witness Confessions ft. @AltWorldly

How to survive the Armageddon. Jake, @AltWorldly a 4th generation (ex) Jehovah's Witness talks about his childhood, growing up with the fear of annihilation, disfellowship, and what he's doing now to help and advise the community of those who have left the JW church. Click here to watch this episode on YouTube!Make sure to go to his channel to watch another video collaboration we did on How Jehovah's Witnesses are similar to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Fi... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Nov 20221h 7min

Populärt inom Samhälle & Kultur

mardromsgasten
podme-dokumentar
rattsfallen
aftonbladet-krim
p3-dokumentar
en-mork-historia
blenda-2
nemo-moter-en-van
killradet
creepypodden-med-jack-werner
badfluence
skaringer-nessvold
flashback-forever
kod-katastrof
hor-har
larm-vi-minns
historiska-brott
p1-dokumentar
p3-historia
aftonbladet-daily