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Slave Says DOS Branding Was Symbol of Empowerment – Even With KR’s Initials

12/02/2022·

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Leah Mottishaw was a DOS slave who believes Keith Raniere’s creation was good for her and could be for other women.

Making a Mark: Branding as a Symbol of Empowerment

By Leah Mottishaw

Like all the women invited to DOS, I was told about the brand in advance of saying yes.

I remember when I was told about it, I asked whether I got to choose the design.

The answer I got was, “no.” The design was already set, and I stopped my line of questioning there.

Why?

Because I was cool with it.

Why was I cool with it?

It simply never occurred to me that I would be put off or offended by the design.

In hindsight, this might have been reckless. What if the brand had been a swastika? What if it had been Bugs Bunny?

I didn’t concern myself with the design, because I was focused on how special and meaningful it would be to have a secret, shared brand with other women committed to making themselves better, stronger, and wiser.

Some people feel there never should have been a brand, because the nature of a brand is somehow offensive, no matter what the symbol is. This leads to the question: should women be free to make decisions about their own bodies, even if others view the decision as wrong?

Some people might be okay with the concept of a brand, but feel incensed that this brand contained a man’s initials.

The brand is nothing less than the initials of Keith Raniere

MK10ART’s ‘smart brand.’ But was it so smart?

I sympathize with such a response. This, however, brings us to a different and important question: should the design elements (specifically, the “KR” initials) have been disclosed to the sorority women before receiving the brand?

I’ll explore these questions below.

Choices and consequences

Do women have the right to do what they want with their own bodies?

Most rational, modern people say, “yes, of course!”

Does that mean you should agree with everything a person chooses to do with their body?

No, of course not.

Can you support someone’s right to do something, while vehemently disagreeing with them exercising that right?

Of course, you can.

Personally, I find ear spacers off-putting once they become the size of a quarter or so. I don’t condemn anyone who stretches their earlobes, but I really don’t get why anyone would want to go that far!

On the other hand, I have observed that my own opinions on these things can change or morph over time, so I endeavor to keep an open mind.

For instance, ten years ago, I thought it was just plain wrong for women to get breast implants (barring reconstructive surgery for breast cancer survivors or the like).

I condescendingly judged breast implants as a vanity surgery that played into the objectification of women as no more than a sexual object to satisfy men.

In the last ten years, my opinion has softened to the point where I see there are many layers and complexities in how a woman relates with her body. With this understanding, I now believe that the choice to get breast implants is extremely personal to each woman. I support every woman’s right to have the augmentation done if she chooses and can afford it.

How do you feel about a woman’s right to get a tattoo? I’m not asking if you like tattoos, but would you agree that an adult woman should be allowed to put one on her body?

Maybe you think she shouldn’t be allowed to get a tattoo. However, if you agree she should be allowed a tattoo, then how do you feel if she gets one she later regrets?

Do you know the song “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” by The Offspring?

It’s a song that mocks this “white guy” who does a series of things trying and failing to be “hip.”

In the lyrics, the vocalist sings, “Now he’s getting a tattoo, yeah, he’s getting ink done. He asked for a 13, but they drew a 31.”

In the spirit of the song, this is funny! Go ahead and do an internet search of “tattoo fails” and you will find pages dedicated to laughing at other people’s messed up tattoos.

I believe the “white guy” in the song and all the people wearing “tattoo fails” on their skin have the right to get tattoos, and by exercising that right, they take on the risk of something going wrong.

I am not saying the brand is equivalent to a tattoo fail, but I believe the comparison allows for some relevant insights. And I specifically bring up tattoo fails with some self-deprecation, because I have a tattoo with a Chinese character written incorrectly!

I blame myself for this! And I still love my tattoo because it looks beautiful to me, and the meaning of the tattoo is unchanged for me, even though the character is technically wrong.

I like it so much that I would do it again, even with the mistaken character.

I assert that it is my right and choice to modify my body. The consequences of exercising that choice are also mine to bear. I believe the right to a choice and the right to its consequence are inseparable.

You can judge the sorority women’s choice to accept the brand however you like. You can even sympathize with any woman who regrets making the choice to get the brand. Here is the beauty of my assertions: it is empowering to all womenkind to acknowledge that the women of DOS had the right to both the choice and consequence of the brand.

Should the design elements (specifically, the initials) have been disclosed to the sorority women before receiving the brand?

Should the “KR” have been explained to the women before the branding was performed? You might think “yes, obviously!” and at first glance, I don’t disagree. When I first learned about the initials, I was shocked and emotional.

I began to question why the initials were included and what the intent of the brand was. Because that is the real sticking point – the initials aren’t obvious in the design, so much so the media constantly needs to draw bright lines and turn the brand sideways to show the letters are there – but what did the designers mean by including these letters?

I made a point of speaking to some of the women responsible for creating the design, and since then, I have reflected on other salient things I know. Taking all that into account, here’s what I believe:

Having personal knowledge of all the women who were part of creating the design, I believe they included the initials without any intent to harm or offend.

The context is important. Every woman believed the brand itself, not to mention the design, would remain private. The brand was never crafted to be scrutinized by society. No one ever thought it would be fodder for public discussion, or that perfect strangers and outsiders to the sorority would judge the brand or its design. To me, this idea of privacy and freedom from public adjudication would influence design choices.

The woman who invited me was direct about letting me know that some things were secret and meant to be kept that way. I believe she did her best to give me all the information she thought I needed to make a good decision about joining or not. Even if she didn’t, it was still my choice to join, with the understanding there were things I didn’t know.

The fact that I never asked or was told about the brand’s design or what it symbolized doesn’t change the beauty of what it personally symbolizes for me – a physical symbol of a commitment to a sisterhood of strong women seeking to better themselves and the world.

If you ask someone to have a child with you, marry you, or go into business with you, do you give them all the information they think they need to make an informed decision? I hope so. But you might miscalculate. In my opinion, this is human and ultimately forgivable.

Finally, I have to be slightly critical of my emotional reaction to the initials.

The design of the brand contains “KR,” but also other letters and meanings.

One of these meanings is a representation of the elements (earth, air, fire, water). I don’t know about you, but I do not feel the same gut response to the idea that women were not told about the element symbols compared to the initials.

So what is it about the initials that are so provocative? I believe it points to deep-seated sexism.

Sexism underneath the outrage

This may seem like a leap at first glance, but bear with me while I explain my thinking…

If the situation were flipped and this was about a group of men, then the brand wouldn’t be the same problem. Picture it: a group of men create a secret ceremony, where they all get an abstract design branded on or below their hip. Later, it is revealed that the design included a woman’s initials. Do you think society would be outraged that men were apparently labeled property of the woman? I can’t picture the public making that leap. Why not?

Two reasons: 1) It’s absurd to imagine a woman “owning” men, and

2) Because men are generally given a license to do stupid sh*t (women generally are not).

In the first instance, history typically paints women as property, not property owners, so our societal tendency is to continue seeing women in this role. This is the opposite of equality, because it actually perpetuates the objectification of women, along with the belief they are the “weaker sex.”

In the second case, I’m arguing that society would be fine to pass judgment on this hypothetical group of men (described above) as having done a “stupid” brand, and too bad, they have to live with the woman’s initials on their pelvis.

Underlying this attitude would be the belief that men are capable of making their own decisions (even bad ones) and adult enough or strong enough to deal with the consequences (even crappy ones).

To be clear, I don’t see the DOS brand as stupid, I see it as deeply meaningful. I’m making this point about “stupid sh*t” to illustrate that the media story of the DOS brand could have been spun as a bunch of women making a “stupid” decision, but it wasn’t, due in large part to underlying sexist assumptions that pervade our culture. I believe if it were men with a secret fraternity brand, this wouldn’t have made a splash.

If we want to live in a truly equal society, then men and women should be treated the same — as adults capable of making their own decisions and at times, mistakes.

Final thoughts

I don’t have the authority to speak on anyone else’s experience, only my own. The point of this article is to open an uncomfortable conversation. There are wide ranges of experiences and opinions, and I wrote this to share some of mine.

This wasn’t to convince you to think the brand is great, to be on board with the practice, or to judge whether my thought process makes sense. As was the case when I said yes to DOS, I’m still committed to a world where women endeavor to be better, stronger and wiser, and I believe conversations like this can contribute to that aim.

Additional context, in case you’re wondering

My thoughts and opinions about the DOS brand are based on the following pertinent facts:

The founding members of DOS included the initials of their own initiative, not as a directive from Keith Raniere.

Keith Raniere walking DOS slaves – Dani Padilla
Every woman who received the brand gave approval for the final position of the brand on her hip/pelvis. The process was similar to how a person approves the stencil placement for a tattoo before any ink is applied.
Each woman invited to the sorority was told before joining that part of the membership in the group included getting a brand. Many women heard this requirement and said no to joining. There were no repercussions or hard feelings toward any woman who chose not to join.
The founding members of DOS chose the area just below the hip because it was an area often covered, and would help keep the brand private so that the woman could decide who would see that part of her body. The founding members also understood that this area would be less painful than other parts of the body during the application process.
The Dossier women dispute the popular idea of the DOS branding as depicted by MK10ART.
Male fraternities and athletic teams far and wide have been using brands as a unifying symbol of their membership and dedication to a group or philosophy without making headlines, receiving public ridicule or legal repercussions. On the contrary, it is often admired as a sign of strength and commitment. This was the intent of the DOS women.
In addition to many other symbols and meanings, the design of the DOS brand contains “KR,” which represents Keith Raniere’s initials. Symbolically, the brand was meant to be part of the physical representation of a woman’s commitment to the principles that DOS stood for. The initials were incorporated in the design as a subtle tribute to the person who helped the original DOS members. The initials were not meant to be the main focus, or even particularly obvious, and they were never intended to denote that a woman was anyone’s possession or property. (It was Mark Vicente, the media and the prosecution who made the offensive and horrific interpretation that women with a brand were as cattle or property. The women of DOS stood for the opposite of these diminishing concepts.)
There were zero criminal charges related to the brand. There has been media outrage and moral indignation, but there are no indictments.
Leah does not agree with Frank Report’s published depiction of the DOS branding.

Comments (57)

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Anonymous12/02/2022

I’m pretty sure you already posted her apologetics BS for deception and blackmail.

Anonymous12/02/2022

From the headline you can see that it's all just sheer nonsense. Trying to make sense of it all is simply impossible. There is no empowerment of slaves, certainly not of deceived and blackmailed slaves. Empowerment of slaves does not exist in principle.

Aristotle’s Sausage12/02/2022

Blah blah right to get a tattoo who cares. Has nothing to do with the sex trafficking, racketeering, forced labor, and fraud charges that Raniere was convicted of. Looking at those brandings, no way the design is not AM as well as KR. It’s Allison Mack and Keith Raniere’s initials combined. Look at the first photo of one. An A with a small M under the crossbar. To see it as KR you have to turn it on its side. Sometimes the small R is inverted so you’d have to turn it on its side AND view it in a mirror. Those are Allison Mack’s initials, with Keith Raniere’s intertwined. Y’know, like a love-struck kid would carve into a fence post. Keith and Ally sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. Combine that with the fact that Mack took credit, in print, for the branding idea. This horror was largely Mack’s idea.

Alli12/02/2022

I've heard the audio of Keith and Allison talking about the brand but also Nicki. Nicki was instrumental in the design of the of the brand. She knew it was his initials and said it was a cool alien thing. Also, I thought that Keith was the Grand Master and then Allison, Nicki, and all the other first line slaves we're under him. It was Keith at the top and then the first line slaves wasn't it? The other first line slaves weren't under Allison, right? That is what I thought the graphics that were released I personally thought that and Nicki should have been arrested too.

Anonymous12/03/2022

Allison was supposedly the first of the First Line Masters. In practice this meant that if any of the First Line fucked up on readiness drills etc., she would have the 'privilege' of whooping their bare asses with the paddle. Either her or Keith. When it came to the 'riff raff', it was either the designated First Line Master, or anyone else she nominated. Yeah, sick I know…

Anonymous12/02/2022

There is sexism involved. It's the part where all of the women who were f****** this guy lied to their friends that a man was ultimately in charge of everything. When they had told the women that they recruited that no men were involved at all. It's also sexist for a man to put his initials on a woman who doesn't know about it right near her vagina. Right next to the pubic hair that the slaves would be instructed to groom to his liking . All of the bespoke pornography was created for the male gaze. Specifically one particular man and his gaze. It's so very dishonest to pretend that putting your initials on someone else's flash is not a brand of ownership. This is historically how actual slaves were branded and cattle are still branded. To pretend that that doesn't make it a different situation than a group of people who knowingly get a brand of a team or a institution that they all go to school at is so phony. It's also laughable to try to keep isolating certain atrocities instead of looking at the total picture of the slave ring. Which included women being blackmailed into sleeping with the man whose initials were now branded near their vagina. That makes it very very different then a group of people just getting a symbol together because they were all in the Olympics or something. It's hard not to actually laugh while reading the dossier project women's attempts at deflection. And the dungeon Leah? The Sex Dungeon in the basement of a condo that thousands of dollars of sex toys were ordered for and a cage? None of you ever addressed that element.

Anonymous12/02/2022

Hypothetically now: Say a man in England suddenly comes upon a method to cure cancer. Outright. Boom. A couple of shots and the cancer leaves your body. The media saturate all networks with stories about this incredible cure. All those people saved from further treatment for cancer and death. Say the same man turns his discovery into a vaccine. A vaccine that prevents cancer in the human body. Populations around the world line up to have this vaccine. He gets the Nobel prize. And other awards bestowed on him. Other Professors, Doctors, clinicians, scientists and regular people on the street queue up to sing his praises. Their admiration and feelings of gratitude are impossible for them to impart, they are so convulsed with joy and relief they cannot articulate their innermost relief that this disease is now history. No one will ever have to suffer through it again. One morning, on the morning news a weeping girl speaks on her experience working with this Doctor. He has sexually assaulted her many times in the year she spent studying under his tutelage. He raped her. Performed sex acts on her without her consent. Whenever she refused to come to work, or open the hotel door to him he threatened to derail her career. She discovers she was not the only one. Five women reveal themselves to have suffered the same indignity. He groomed them. Made them feel like they were the only ones who could match his mental prowess. They were special. They were the only ones who ‘got him’, this incredible being who cured cancer for the world. They watched other people interacting with him. International dignitaries, gurus, world leaders, celebrities. And they felt chosen, special, they walked on rarified earth beneath their feet. He walks on stage and catches their eye, they feel special, chosen, blessed, almost spiritually lifted, Earth that he had put there, under their feet.. Without him there would be a void where they would no longer exist. He had ‘defined’ them. Everything they were, in thought, action and deed, was a manifestation of being in his world. Without it they would plunge into an inescapable void where no one could ever find them again. The cases go to court. He is found guilty. The sentence is life, he will die in prison. Does he deserve it? Should he get a pass for curing cancer? Did we get him wrong, was having strange sexual predilections part of his genius, and we should have accepted it as part and parcel of the man he was? He is predator. In a jail he cannot hunt. The worth of his best action, does not dissolve his vilest ones. There is no trading off here. Everyone.., EVERYONE who came into his realm must now re evaluate their life. A stock take a personal audit, if you like. There is only one real truth. As people, we have to protect the vulnerable and the gullible around us. And we must confront unpleasant truths. We have to. Or we become like him….,

Tenzin12/02/2022

Michele doesn’t understand the implications of being branded by a group of white people, on the direction of a powerful white man. She has a lot to learn. I feel the most positive about her. She will go on seeking, trying to find her place in the world, and she will do great things. And she will look back on the time she spent in this messed up group, and she will be stronger and wiser for it. Nicki however. She isn’t going to make it. I feel sad. I don’t think she is a bad person. But she has definitely done bad things. Keith is a predator. I hope he dies in prison. I expect some Mexican gang member will get hold of him at some point. Unfortunately there is a ‘Mansonesque’. allure to him that young girls in the future will be infected by. Hopefully he dies before that happens. I hope his next incarnation is more purposeful

Anonymous12/03/2022

Of course he's going to die in prison – he's not Methuselah!

Anonymous12/02/2022

Hi Leah- The branding in and of itself is not the issue. The branding only helped to sensationalize the NXIVM story. The collecting of “collateral” is the issue at hand. Collateral used to illicit sex acts from women. I love the use of the word collateral as an euphemism for the word blackmail, ***

Just Sayin'12/02/2022

Is this the same article she wrote a while back?

my2cents12/03/2022

Yup. Exact same post as before. And the lies and sexism still make my blood boil. It's truly outrageous how this selfish little man somehow convinced women to hold such low opinions of themselves and of each other. Leah admits to having an emotional reaction about being lied to but then goes on to try and explain her very normal and healthy reaction away. She's making comparisons of apples to oranges and is minimizing the depravity of the situation.

Just Sayin'12/02/2022

Leah, how about the “All mine 😈” text regarding the naked group photos? Explain that. And while you're at it, what about the dungeon that was in the making??

Anonymous12/02/2022

Yes, explain the text, is it empowering? and explain why it was acceptable that these naked photos were sent to a man. Is this not deep betrayal by the high up ladies in this.femle empowerment group? Is it empowering to be lied to? Is it empowering to think of some greasy little pervert wanking off and getting hold of your naked pictures without your consent? There's no shame in admitting you wasted years of your life, got groomed, played, gaslit whatever you want to name the manipulation by these first line women in this sisterhood. Acceptance, first step to freedom and recovery. You will be surprised how many people will show you compassion and support the recovery. It's a brave thing to admit you were duped.

Tenzin12/02/2022

Hi Leah. Maybe when you get a little older, and mix with other people you might get it. You shouldn’t write editorial copy, or opinion editorials, because in about ten years time, some of your work is going to come and bite you on the arse. Like that tripe I’m commenting on. Go to any tattoo shop. Any shop. They always give you a medical form to fill out detailing any problems you might have with blood born problems. AIDS, hepatitis A B C, herpes, clotting problems, sepsis, a myriad of conditions. You sign the medical form. You sign another form attesting to your true age, confirming you are of an age to give consent. Then you sign a consent form. You consent to the tattoo. Remember the concentration camps of WW2? They tattooed people too. They didn’t get consent, or ask for age and medical confirmations. They just painfully tore the skin of Jewish people and inscribed numbers into their flesh. Tattoos aren’t always groovy, or a bonding experience, or an affirmation of belonging to a group. Sometimes they are an act of violence. Like Keith’s branding was. An act of sexual violence. Because, well, he didn’t brand any men did he?

ShadowState195812/02/2022

Leah, your former Mistress Allison Mack is on hiatus after a busy career studying Gender Studies. Here is a helpful video for her. 9 Exciting Careers For A Gender Studies Major

Alli12/02/2022

Leah will do anything to justify DOS and the brand. The dossier project uploaded a new video on YouTube today and it's called victims or victim shamers. I don't know if I'll get through the whole thing because it makes me so angry.

Anonymous12/03/2022

One day she will wake up. You may not ever hear about it, but it will be ugly. The truth is really hard to handle, so the ladies may be avoiding it.

ShadowState195812/02/2022

Sam Bankman-Fried’s FRAUD EXPOSED | How FTX Went Bankrupt | What Went Wrong

Anonymous12/02/2022

Word salad. Justification for being foolish. Individual rights to be master of a ones own bogy. Women equality is not the issue. Women have babies, men do not. The outrage is over a dog marking its turf. And doing it evasively. Also it was a tool for the dog to say his initials are on his pussy. And he, like all dogs, did not like to share. Nippy recognized the marking of his wife. Guess my only question is did you get special bars for participating in multiple couplings with and assistance other women to couple with “KR” ? Sad when one can write well but has nothing to add about “How I was fooled and deceived “ Except it was “my choice” to be a fool and I am good at it, “bear with me”

Anonymous12/03/2022

There is a lot of word salad here. Nothing new.

Peter Longworth12/03/2022

Your account raises some interesting issues, but I have a few questions for you, as well as some comments on the points you make. “What if the brand had been a swastika?” That's a very good question, Leah. Did you not think about that at the time? “I was focused on how special and meaningful it would be to have a secret, shared brand with other women committed to making themselves better, stronger, and wiser” But in hindsight, do you not think it made you something quite different – slaves? “This leads to the question: should women be free to make decisions about their own bodies, even if others view the decision as wrong?” Of course they should, but don't you think the women should have been told the brand was Keith's initials, and also where it was to be placed, in order for them to give fully informed consent? Do you think it is conceivable that some of the women were acting under duress because of the collateral they had already given? Why do you think the First Line Masters (FLMs) / KAR did not inform the women about these things? Do you think it was right for the FLMs not to tell their recruits about the Grand Master, and if so, why? Those are the outstanding questions, but I also have a few comments: “You can judge the sorority women’s choice to accept the brand however you like. You can even sympathize with any woman who regrets making the choice to get the brand.” Firstly, Leah, it can't have been a 'sorority' when it had a Grand Master (who was a pedo psychopath by the way). Secondly, because of the collateral, the choice she made was like Sophie's in the eponymous movie, i.e. it was made under extreme duress. Saying they had the right to the consequence of the brand is like saying a Holocaust survivor had the right to the number tattooed on their arm. “I believe they included the initials without any intent to harm or offend”. I believe you, Leah. And I also believe that people in a given context can act in a way that they normally wouldn't; people can use racist language without meaning to. Point is, doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. “The brand was never crafted to be scrutinized by society.” Come on, Leah…Seriously? Did they really think DOS would go on forever and no one would ever twig? In hindsight, would you not agree that's just more than a little delusional? I've seen the brand with and without the highlighting, and it's pretty damn obvious what the letters are, whichever way you turn it. After the media got hold of it, there would be no more sexy bikinis on the beach, that's for sure. “Even if she didn’t, it was still my choice to join, with the understanding there were things I didn’t know.” The innocence of youth…What if the group had turned out to be a pedo-grooming gang (not too far off the mark), or engaged in some other nefarious activity (right on the mark)? Did you not get just a little suspicious, or was the mystery of not knowing some kind of pull? The point I'm trying to make is if you understood there were things you didn't know, your consent to joining would therefore be diminished to that extent. “The fact that I never asked or was told about the brand’s design or what it symbolized doesn’t change the beauty of what it personally symbolizes for me – a physical symbol of a commitment to a sisterhood of strong women seeking to better themselves and the world.” We've already covered the 'sisterhood' misnomer. It's perfectly OK for you to see the 'beauty' in it – that's always in the eye of the beholder, and people should be free to put whatever designs they like on their bodies, unless they're intended to incite hatred or give offence. And yet what it has come to represent in the public consciousness is abuse, subjugation, sexual exploitation, slavery, torture and rape, and the reason for that is Keith Alan Raniere. And if you're happy with that, well I guess that's just dandy. Yes, Nicki Clyne has expounded the same lame theory about sexism concerning the brand. All I can say is that if I knew about a bunch of guys getting brands next to their dicks, personally I'd think they were fucking nuts (no pun intended – I'm talking about the guys, not the brand!). That's just the point: it's absurd to imagine a woman owning men because they generally don't; exploitative cult leaders tend to be men for one simple reason: a cocktail of testosterone and the 4 elements, and you're right about them being part of the brand, but for the wrong reason: I'm not talking about Earth, Fire, Air and Water – the 4 elements of Keith Raniere were Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Sadism, and those elements all inspired the idea for the brand: Psychopathy – he had no feelings whatsoever for anyone, and was entirely driven by his own self-interest whatever the consequences for others Narcissism – he loved only himself and therefore had to have others, particularly women, worship him (look at his online CV, even Suneel thought that was over the top!) – HIS initials on HIS women Machiavellianism – he did things his way in complete contempt of civilised convention and the rule of law. Branding women like cattle – what a novel idea! Sadism – Nothing like watching a real life branding or bare-arse paddling video on a Saturday night in the Studies room No, Leah, men are not entitled to do stupid shit. Getting branded with a symbol when you don't even know what it stands for is completely insane behaviour in my book. Forget history, think now: women are in all ways equal to men, and in some important ways superior. Sometimes men feel threatened by that, particularly in the modern age when it's not all about macho brawn, but more about patience and sitting down calmly to work things out. That's what men like Raniere are really afraid of – they feel so threatened because they realise they're not only inferior to women, but they're inferior to most men too. Think about it. I'm sorry to have to say it, but that's about as meaningful as the DOS brand gets. Sorry to burst your bubble, Leah, but the initials thing was Keith's idea from the start. I know it's perhaps one of the most painful things to do, but sometimes in life you have to just sit back and reflect honestly to yourself, however painful that sometimes can be, and ask yourself the honest question: Did I really fuck up back then? Don't be afraid of the answer you get back. It may be the hardest thing in the world to say sorry, but you'll come to realise later in life it was the best thing you ever did.

Anonymous12/03/2022

Frank, If you're going to bring back old dossier project testimonials maybe you could balance it by posting a detailed account of how DOS slave Nicole was blackmailed into spying on one of Keith's enemies. At least it was an enemy in vanguard's demented purview . A rated R bumbling spy caper type scenario in which highly trained secret agent Nxivm cult member Nicole accidentally on purpose met this guy and started a relationship with him. Think it was the the son of one of Keith's community members? Just one of those totally normal things women do in empowering sororities hahaha

Frank Parlato12/03/2022

I can revisit the story of Nicole, the sex trafficking victim being forced to spy on Robbie – who was the lover of Camila that sent Raniere into mad jealousy and began the whole branding gambit.

Anonymous12/03/2022

Ester Carlson…. Frank remembers his favorite poon hound.

my2cents12/03/2022

“Symbolically, the brand was meant to be part of the physical representation of a woman’s commitment to the principles that DOS stood for.” Like group blowjobs and a lifetime promise of monogamy to their polyamorous boyfriend? No amount of explanation makes this kind of lying okay, Leah. Nevertheless, it's good you're content with having this Chinese word you don't mention plus the initials of a statutory rapist on your body. Maybe next time you can ask for a picture of gislaine maxwell or get her initials branded on you, too. She also lied to women about what she was bringing them into and I think this would be really in line with DOS principles!

Peter Longworth12/03/2022

Well said!

Jane Knutsen12/07/2022

Thank you for your very apt comment!

Anonymous12/03/2022

The issue is not modifying your body. The issue is that you allowed your brain to be modified. I don’t know how long you were in NXIVM/DOS, but it was long enough for you to turn over your decision making power to your master and her master. It happened when you gave collateral to this childish, super secret girl’s club, and now you can’t think your way out of it. Put yourself on double secret probation. Disappear from DOS and everyone associated with it. There’s help if you’re brave enough to take it.

Anonymous12/03/2022

No matter how you slice it, it is still baloney.

LaLaLad12/03/2022

It was Vela (?) who said in the Vow Part 2 that DOS contradicts Kieth's previous teachings. How can a woman be responsible for her actions if she is required to do what her master tells her?

Marc Idiott12/03/2022

Hi Leah ! Can you please also advise what medicine the sorority used to use against all the crap you got from Vanguard? The guy had multiple sex partners from different parts of USA, Mexico and Canada, considering the amount of abortions that occurred, the smartest man of the world did not like condoms. What was easier to handle, UTI, HPV or Herpes ? I find it very ethic to have multiple partners and not to use protection. I am asking for a cousin.

Welcome to the Jungle12/03/2022

Just like putting lipstick on a pig.

Anonymous12/03/2022

Still looks like a pig.

Anonymous12/03/2022

Credit Suisse examining ways to accelerate cost cuts as revenue outlook deteriorates.

Anonymous12/03/2022

Twitter's credit rating withdrawn by S&P on lack of information. Company has $13 billion in debt funded by Banks: BBG

Who are you trying to convince?12/03/2022

Who are you trying to convince? If you're happy with it, why try to justify yourself and your decisions in the eyes of others? If, on the other hand, you get out of your post-rationalisation mind-fck (sorry for the term, but it does describe the content of this piece), get to a quiet place within yourself, ask your heart and soul for the truth and are prepared to hear it without resistance, then you can be at peace with yourself and the world. It can take a lot more courage to admit you were wrong, naive, vulnerable, allowed yourself to be manipulated, than it does to 'defend' yourself with endless rationalisation. Essentially this is a 'dark of the night' personal search for why you got caught up in this drama, your choices and your part in it, and nothing is achieved by being 'in your mind' and defensive – on the contrary.

Aristotle’s Sausage12/03/2022

It’s irrelevant that this woman says she’s fine with it. What’s relevant is that other women, like Sarah Edmondson, were not. They were coerced into it, were told it would be a small tattoo not a large branding, and were not told it was Raniere’s initials. They objected very much to being branded like cattle and marked as that man’s property, his sex slave. Which is precisely what they were. As Raniere himself texted, “All mine! 😈” Put another way, it doesn’t matter how many times you drove sober. It’s the time you drove drunk and killed someone that puts you in jail.

Mary12/03/2022

Drawing comparisons to men’s sororities when explaining the brand is not logical. Saying the practice of banks using collateral to secure loans and mortgages is similar to DOS collateral is insulting. Conflating real life examples with the ones used to explain away the master/slave idea is insane. None of these things are normal or silly or funny or okay. Women’s choice is important. But why were no men branded? Only women needed this extreme form of control because they are inherently wrong? You can say you believe in the good intent of those who planned DOS. But you don’t know the true intent of KR because he kept that hidden. One might believe they were privy to the inner workings and therefore believe everything was above board. That the only problem is the media and society and Sarah Edmondson for being ‘weak’. But only Keith knew every move on his chess board. Each person in this group was only aware of bits and pieces. The whole idea was to be ‘honest’ without full disclosure. Aka lying. I don’t believe other women in DOS necessarily had bad intent, but that is missing the point entirely. Why do the DOSsier project ladies never mention Lauren? Or Daniela?

ShadowState195812/03/2022

“Twitter Files” released! More government collusion exposed || Matt Orfalea The FBI and Twitter colluded to censor the Hunter Biden laptop story to protect Joe Biden from a HUGE scandal. “Twitter Files” released! More government collusion exposed || Matt Orfalea The Government colluded with Twitter to censor the Hunter Biden story. Elon Musk has released Part One of the Files revealing government censorship. Later today Elon Musk will release Part Two of the Twitter Files.

ShadowState195812/03/2022

The Communist Biden Gang were censoring the Twitter statements of actor James Woods! Joe Biden is a dangerous Communist! James Woods Is Suing Democrats For Censoring Him On Twitter

Dianne Lipson12/03/2022

Yes it would be viewed differently if a group of men allowed a woman to demand that they get tattoos using a cauterizing pen, give collateral, and submit to creepy sexual demands. Is this wrong or unfair? Maybe, but there is a reason for it. Alert! Alert! Political incorrectness ahead! Don’t read if you will be offended! Women and men are not alike in all respects. There, I’ve said it. Don’t ban me! Not that I think Frank would do that.

Anonymous12/03/2022

What an unartful dodge. To imply that the brand contains more than Keith's complete initials. That's all the brand contains. Keith says that and it's recorded. It's also recorded that any other alternative suggestion of what the brand actually is and represents was a manufactured preemptive strike to deny and hide that it was vanguard's initials Keith the goofball, dumbass, letch had to include even his middle initial and he makes that really clear on the same recording.

ShadowState195812/03/2022

James Woods Fights Back Against Joe Biden's Tyranny! Breitbart Headlines from Today! James Woods Vows to Expose ‘Corrupt, Vile Vermin’ at the DNC over Twitter Censorship Message to Joe Biden: ‘I Am Not Afraid of You. And I’m Coming for You.’ ‘Government of the United States Conspired to Take my Free Speech’

Fiona Willis12/03/2022

The author forgot to mention that the brandees were instructed to beg their master to be branded. That part makes me gag. I myself am not a fan of tattoos or crazy piercings or even plastic surgery. That said, an adult should be allowed to do what they choose with their bodies…( does that include ‘cutting’ ? I mean someone should not be incarcerated for mutilating their bodies, they should get help, right ?) It’s all stuff to ask. Personally I think NXVIUM is dark and twisted and evil. But these women did agree to give their collateral, they stayed. The girls who were raped ? That’s unthinkable and outrageous and horrific. The whole enterprise needed to be shut down. It’s absolutely horrific. It was just a disgusting thing to coax these people into this bs operation, but my word , they were not forced to take these sinister orders! They did not have to give the collateral. I remember a once “dear friend “ introduced me to her Christian church. She consistently seemed to be a gregarious, giving person. She had been begging me to try out her church. Hundreds of people were there, with an enormous movie screen pumping out mind numbing music and declarations how the church saved their lives and their need for donations to continue to work for the’lord’. No one was allowed to question anything but everyone was smiling. It was a low period of my life and I was needy for support and encouragement but I decided that I would not go back to that place again. ( it scared me Because they were so focused on the $$$) Year went by, my friend tried to convert me into her church again, this time with a small group of 3 people ( to confide in and attach to) she promised me that it was not about money, I just happened to go on an off day before. I enjoyed their enthusiasm and I liked feeling I belonged somewhere but..BUT that shitty moment came …I was told that the hardest part was coming . I would have to confess my wrongdoings and tape record it so I proved I trusted them. Nope. Tape record my foot ! I politely declined. I said well why don’t you let me tape record your wrong doings ( which also includes just thoughts ) and then I’ll decide. I was being a bit of a smart arse yes, but come on! Wtf ? Well, it’s suffice to say that they all were unapologetically angry with me . I was told that I was going to go to hell.. you know, the whole shabang. And the friend I had was suddenly cold and mean and all of the normal creepy stuff you’d imagine. It was laughable really. My loneliness and neediness was bigger than my sound mind to reason. That’s why I “ followed “ my “ friend “ in the first place. So that’s okay I am allowed to follow with the sheep if I want … but I was allowed to leave before I gave them collateral about the time I gave my peas to the dog under the table as a child. And I did leave . In fact, I ran. I personally think that church sucks and that they are dangerous. I think NXVIUM is vile and 1,000 times worse…but these people did not have to follow the herd. Sometimes feeling alone sucks but it’s better than being manipulated by sickos. Im truly sorry the NXVIUM ers had to go through this..but own your choices man. Most religious sects are absolutely meant to brainwash us..most secret societies are too.. Okay, lesson learned now be freakin happy you are out. The branding sucks and it’s gross but maybe it can also be seen as a scar proving that you got out of a dangerous situation and got a chance to live your life on your own accord. Now give back to people who have less than. By the way, the trafficked children? That’s another story. Anyone who messes with kids is a monster and I believe is like a murderer who kills innocence. Zero tolerance. Thank goodness Frank Parlato brought these evil a holes down.

Peter Longworth12/03/2022

Your account raises some interesting issues, but I have a few questions for you, as well as some comments on the points you make. “What if the brand had been a swastika?” That's a very good question, Leah. Did you not think about that at the time? “I was focused on how special and meaningful it would be to have a secret, shared brand with other women committed to making themselves better, stronger, and wiser” But in hindsight, do you not think it made you something quite different – slaves? “This leads to the question: should women be free to make decisions about their own bodies, even if others view the decision as wrong?” Of course they should, but don't you think the women should have been told the brand was Keith's initials, and also where it was to be placed, in order for them to give fully informed consent? Do you think it is conceivable that some of the women were acting under duress because of the collateral thay had already given? Why do you think the First Line Masters (FLMs) / KAR did not inform the women about these things? Do you think it was right for the FLMs not to tell their recruits about the Grand Master, and if so, why? Those are the outstanding questions, but I also have a few comments: “You can judge the sorority women’s choice to accept the brand however you like. You can even sympathize with any woman who regrets making the choice to get the brand.” Firstly, Leah, it can't have been a 'sorority' when it had a Grand Master (who was a pedo psychopath by the way). Secondly, because of the collateral, the choice she made was like Sophie's in the eponymous movie, i.e. it was made under extreme duress. Saying they had the right to the consequence of the brand is like saying a Holocaust survivor had the right to the number tattooed on their arm. “I believe they included the initials without any intent to harm or offend”. I believe you, Leah. And I also believe that people in a given context can act in a way that they normally wouldn't; people can use racist language without meaning to. Point is, doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. “The brand was never crafted to be scrutinized by society.” Come on, Leah…Seriously? Did they really think DOS would go on forever and no one would ever twig? In hindsight, would you not agree that's just more than a little delusional? I've seen the brand with and without the highlighting, and it's pretty damn obvious what the letters are, whichever way you turn it. After the media got hold of it, there would be no more sexy bikinis on the beach, that's for sure. “Even if she didn’t, it was still my choice to join, with the understanding there were things I didn’t know.” The innocense of youth…What if the group had turned out to be a pedo-grooming gang (not too far off the mark), or engaged in some other nefarious activity (right on the mark)? Did you not get just a little suspicious, or was the mystery of not knowing some kind of pull? The point I'm trying to make is if you understood there were things you didn't know, your consent to joining would therefore be diminished to that extent. “The fact that I never asked or was told about the brand’s design or what it symbolized doesn’t change the beauty of what it personally symbolizes for me – a physical symbol of a commitment to a sisterhood of strong women seeking to better themselves and the world.” We've already covered the 'sisterhood' misnomer. It's perfectly OK for you to see the 'beauty' in it – that's always in the eye of the beholder, and people should be free to put whatever designs they like on their bodies, unless they're intended to incite hatred or give offence. And yet what it has come to represent in the public consciousness is abuse, subjugation, sexual exploitation, slavery, torture and rape, and the reason for that is Keith Alan Raniere. And if you're happy with that, well I guess that's just dandy. Yes, Nicki Clyne has expounded the same lame theory about sexism concerning the brand. All I can say is that if I knew about a bunch of guys getting brands next to their dicks, personally I'd think they were fucking nuts (no pun intended – I'm talking about the guys not the brand!). That's just the point: it's absurd to imagine a woman owning men because they generally don't; exploitative cult leaders tend to be men for one simple reason: a cocktail of testosterone and the 4 elements, and you're right about them being part of the brand, but for the wrong reason: I'm not talking about earth, fire, air and water; the 4 elements of Keith Raniere were Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Sadism, and those elements all inspired the idea for the brand: Psychopathy – he had no feelings whatsoever for anyone, and was entirely driven by his own self-interest whatever the consequnces for others Narcissism – he loved only himself and therefore had to have others, particularly women, worship him (look at his online CV, even Suneel thought that was over the top!) HIS initials on HIS women Machiavellianism – he did things his way in complete contempt of civilised convention and the law of the land. Branding women like cattle, what a novel idea! Sadism – Nothing like watching a real life branding or bare-arse paddling video on a Saturday night in the Studies room No, Leah, men are not entitled to do stupid shit. Getting branded with a symbol when you don't even know what it stands for is completely insane behviour in my book. Forget history, think now: women are in all ways equal to men, and in some important ways superior. Sometimes men feel threatened by that, particularly in the modern age when it's not all about macho brawn, but more about patience and sitting down calmly to work things out. That's what men like Raniere are really afraid of – they feel so threatened because they realise they're not only inferior to women, but they're inferior to most men too. Think about it. I'm sorry to have to say it, but that's about as meaningful as the DOS brand gets. Sorry to burst your bubble, Leah, but the initials thing was Keith's idea from the start. I know it's perhaps one of the most painful things to do, but sometimes in life you have to just sit back and reflect honestly to yourself, however painful that sometimes can be, and ask yourself the honest question: Did I really fuck up back then? Don't be afraid of the answer you get back. It may be the hardest thing in the world to say sorry, but you'll come to realise later in life it's the best thing you ever did.

Georgia Rosen12/04/2022

Imagine if Frank Parlato didn’t start this blog. These monsters would still be raping, trafficking and brainwashing people. Parlato is a hero.

Anonymous12/05/2022

I assume that was sarcasm. A fools hero. The emperor has no clothes.

Tenzin12/05/2022

……claps keeps hands together and bows….claps, keeps hands together and bows…… I bet none of the Correctional Officers are thinking what do do for Keith on his V week birthday celebrations

Anonymous12/06/2022

The brand of Keith's initials on women (without their knowledge) was a mark of ownership. That's why Keith texted “All mine”. Devil emoji. If these slaves won't believe anyone else why won't they believe their Grandmaster keith? He unequivocally wrote that he owned them

Anonymous12/07/2022

This is the reason.

Tenzin12/07/2022

He made them feel special. They were addicted to that.

Tenzin12/07/2022

Hey Nicki, Michele, Suneel, Eduardo and the ugly doctor can’t remember her name, and all other still attached dos members. At some point. As a functional, intellectual, sentient human being, you cannot possibly read that evidence and still believe Keith was a divine, incredible being. Can you? As women, who navigate the same culture we all share, you cannot possibly believe that his treatment of Daniela and Camila was in any way shape or form alright? I can’t accept that there isn’t a moment in your day when you have cause to pause, and think for the briefest of moments that maybe, just maybe, you read this thing wrong. That maybe your compassionate open, and caring natures have been weaponised by Raniere, in order to continue to attack his victims from behind the walls of the prison where he will almost certainly die, and to keep you enslaved. You read the texts and WhatsApp messages didn’t you? Heard the testimonies and the victim impact statements? I think the main problem is that you have all gelled together in an attempt to stop yourselves drowning. And you will surely drown as each of you clings to the other in an attempt to stay buoyant. In an attempt to make sense of this new life you must navigate sans Raniere. He’s gone. And he is not coming back. Let go. Stop answering the phone. Stop emailing. Stop writing. Go find a place where you can be alone with your thoughts. Reconnect with that intuition that Raniere worked so hard to silence. Because it is in this silence you will find your way back. As a woman, a Buddhist I pray for you. I feel scared for you. I know how difficult this is going to be. I hope you are strong enough.

Tenzin12/08/2022

“LEAH WROTE. To be clear, I don’t see the DOS brand as stupid, I see it as deeply meaningful. I’m making this point about “stupid sh*t” to illustrate that the media story of the DOS brand could have been spun as a bunch of women making a “stupid” decision, but it wasn’t, due in large part to underlying sexist assumptions that pervade our culture. I believe if it were men with a secret fraternity brand, this wouldn’t have made a splash.’ Hey Leah, what about his ‘rapeable baby’ comment? And his sexual assault of a 12 year old girl, a 15 year old girl and the paedophilic sex trafficking and the regular sex trafficking? Keith got to you didn’t he? Are you in love with him? You aren’t his type. You are too old, too fat (he likes them anorexic) and not smart enough. There will never be a romantic shag in the future. He may well send you some ‘knee trembler’ letters, but that’s it. Leah, as a member of the sisterhood, I have to tell you that you are a very poor example of not only a writer, but as an advocate for raped and tortured women. FFS wise up he is a paedophile and a predator. Wake the f*ck up.