powerful and influential people

like Sheila Johnson, co-founder
of BET and current CEO of
Salamander Hotels, and former
American Surgeon General
Antonia Novello. Hollywood was
not exempt from recruitment. One
of NXIVM’s most high-profile
members, and someone who

has been included in the recent
onslaught of legal charges against
the group, is Allison Mack. Mack
is best known for her role as Chloe
on CW’s Smallville.

However, the most surprising
connection is the organization’s
connection to, of all people, the
Dalai Lama. Though the exact
link between the Dalai Lama and
NXIVM is unclear, the Tibetan
Buddhist leader has had repeated
contact with Raniere—even to
the point of writing a foreword
in Raniere’s book, The Sphinx &
Thelxiepeia.

You might be asking yourself,
how does all this add up to sex
trafficking? According to the
FBI’s investigation into NXIVM,
they claim to have uncovered a
disturbing sub-sect within the
organization. Early on in his career,
Raniere was very vocal about a
belief he and his followers have,

called the “primitive hypothesis.”

This is a psychological theory that
men are by nature polyamorous,
while women are by nature
monogamous.

Media outlets have speculated
that in 2015 this primitive
hypothesis became a founding
principle for DOS, a secret
society within NXIVM. Former
members have alleged that
the name stands for “dominus
obsequious sororium.” Loosely
translated, 1t means “Master of
the Obedient Female.” According
to reports, Raniere was the
only man in the group and was
thereby automatically identified
as a “master,” while all female
members were called “slaves,”
though female members could
move up to “master” status if
they recruited more women. This
recruitment process involved the
potential member providing the
group with some form of blackmail
material to ensured cooperation,
lest the new member risk such
material being released.

Of course, the reality of DOS
and its system of indentured
service was never revealed to
potential recruits. Instead, the
secretive group used specialized
language to claim that membership
into DOS was an exclusive chance

to achieve higher goal levels in
NXIVM, with some referring

to it as a “women’s mentorship
program.” Recruiters were also
taught to target emotionally or
psychologically compromised
women—women going through a
difficult emotional time, or those
suffering from depression or
financial troubles.

The obligations of “slaves”
within the group were called
“acts of care.” This could include
anything from getting their
masters food, to running errands,
to obeying a female master’s
command to provide sexual
favours to Raniere himself. Female
masters that did so were rewarded
with various accolades, such as
receiving financial benefits. Some
female masters were even tasked
with grooming future sex slaves for
Raniere.

If that wasn’t psychologically
damaging enough, recruits were
required to perform various
tasks of self-mutilation and self-
torture—including starvation, ice
baths, and sleep deprivation. They
were also required to undergo a
surprise branding ceremony where
they were stripped naked and
held down as a cauterizing pen
was used to carve Keith Raniere’s

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initials into their skin—a process
which took upwards of 20 minutes.
These ceremonies were reportedly
filmed, and the video was then
used as further blackmail material
for DOS members.

In March of 2018, Keith
Raniere and Allison Mack were
both brought up on charges of
conspiracy to commit forced
labour, sex trafficking, and
conspiracy to commit sex
trafficking after a former DOS
recruit, Sarah Edmonson, spoke
to various media outlets about
her experiences with the group.
Edmondson, a Vancouver-born
actress, gave specific details
regarding the hierarchy and day-to-
day operation of the group, as well
as the branding process.

Raniere responded by claiming
that DOS did exist but that he
had no part in it. However, the
FBI claims that they have gained
access to emails, WhatsApp
messages, and various other digital
communiques that identify Raniere
as the DOS creator—included
amongst these are repeated
references to the “Vanguard.”

Raniere’s trial, and that of
those arrested with him, is set to
begin on Apmil 29.

aniere by Patrick Dodson via The Times Union