Orders and Organizations: 9

Indications of conditioning, stabilization, crystallization, or deterioration of the order.

• There is the lack of a feeling of connectedness to those making up the order.
• The presence of those in the lineage is hard to reach or is unreachable.
• There is a sense or feeling of being special, or doing a work that no one else can do.
• There is a deliberate isolation and feeling of secrecy in relation to other orders.
• There is indiscriminate initiation of anyone who seeks it.
• There is an element of proselytizing.
• There is a clinging to rituals as important in the field of function.
• There is a sense of membership in an exclusive group.
• There is a feeling or belief that "our way is the right way".
• There are rigid outer requirements for membership in the order such as time spent, classes attended, contributions, work, etc.
• There is required reading of information to learn and to be tested on.
• There are special outward signs, dress, words, symbols, or affects of membership.
• There are repetitive phrases emblematic of being in the group; and there is a corresponding negative reaction to people who do not conform either in word or action to these "ideals".
• There is dissention at meetings - (not just different points of view) - especially caused by feelings of superior knowing.
• There is a rule book for the order.
• There is the same way of doing things as previously, because it was done by the originator or his disciples.
• Outer symbols are valued as signs of spirituality, and in particular, there are "holy" objects of the order; without which it would be lessened or hurt.
• There is a satisfaction of personal companionship by association.
• There is a seeking of "feeling good" and reinforcement through association.
• There is a strengthening of resolve and value through association.
• There is satisfaction of emotional needs through association.
• There is a greater sense of self-worth through "belonging".
• There are "names" given as titles of importance, and as a result, people with them feel and act more important.
• There is a general disregard for anything not of the order.
• There is a sense of "us and them".