Last year at a Healing Light retreat outside Rome, they had us all hold one long red string during the closing circle. When the leader, Marta, told us to pass it through our hands one by one, I noticed the guy before me had a panic look and just bolted. Three of us followed him out, and that was when Marta screamed that we were breaking our soul contract with the group. We still made it to the train station in Frascati, but I lost my deposit of 400 euros and my phone number ended up on their prayer list. Has anyone else had a physical object used to lock people into a group like that?
Ugh, that string thing is a classic control move. They hand you something physical so your brain links leaving with "breaking" something, and then the group turns on you the second you show doubt. Good on the guy who bolted first, he probably saved you three. Practical stuff for anyone in this spot: if you paid by card, call your bank and ask for a chargeback since the service changed after you left, that worked for a friend of mine. Also tell them in writing to take you off every list and keep a copy, and if the prayer list stuff keeps up, that can count as harassment. Sorry about the 400 euros, that stings, but getting out early is worth way more than that.