Although this page has no specific information on Ritual Abuse please use caution and we would suggest that this page should only be read if you have a specific counselling interest regarding Ritual Abuse. You may become triggered and or upset while reading some material on this subject. Please have a measure of self- awareness and if at any time you start to become upset STOP and return only when you become sufficiently calm again.

 The very nature of Ritual Abuse means it is an extreme sadistic form of abuse of children and non-consenting adults. Children are most frequently the victims of all types of ritual abuse, largely because of their vulnerability and lack of power which facilitates the dominance over the victim.

  Ritual Abuse is a terrifying repetitive abuse, experiences consisting of methodical, systematic sexual, physical, emotional and spiritual abuse, often including mind control, torture, hypnosis, covert drugging and highly illegal and immoral activities such as murder, child pornography and prostitution.

It is committed by one or more persons, often in the victims home, often multi-generational, whose primary motive is to fulfil a prescribed ritual in order to achieve a specific goal or satisfy the perceived needs of their deity

Child sexual abuse is always about power and secrecy. A child sex ring organises as a group to abuse children and usually produces pornography as part of the abuse. Such pornography is bought by other abusers and used to prepare themselves and their victims for further abuse. Some groups may use elaborate rituals to terrify and silence children, to convince them of the absolute power of their abusers. There lives are sometimes planned before they are born. It is known that  parents can devoted their lives to the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of others - most particularly their own children."

Government is trying  to raise awareness of the practice and help those coming into contact with youngsters to recognise indicators of abuse. The signs they are told to look out for are listed with advice which, include marks such as bruises or burns on a child's body, a child becoming "noticeably confused, withdrawn, disorientated or isolated", and "deterioration in personal care" including weight loss, unkempt or dirty clothes, or even faeces smeared on the body. Children may also report directly that they have been accused of being evil, or that they are having the "devil beaten out of them", according to the advice, which says teachers and others should follow child protection guidelines and pass their concerns to social services or the police.

The most common forms of abuse youngsters may suffer include physical assaults such as beating, burning, cutting, stabbing, semi-strangulation and having chilli peppers rubbed on to their eyes or genitals. Emotional forms of abuse, says the guidance, range from isolation from other family members to threats to abandon the child, who may also be subjected to sexual abuse and neglect extending to denial of food and warmth. Symptoms that are suggestive of ritual abuse are either a fascination with or a phobia of objects, events, or symbols such as: crosses, crucifixes, pentagrams (stars), eyes, "magic" and "occult" symbols, certain numbers, and certain colours. Objects provoking fascination or phobia can include blood, knives, electricity, coffins, dolls, babies, and certain animals.
 

This usually extends into family involvement and may have been practiced as a religion or a way of life for years. Although survivors speak of differing experiences, many elements are common:

• Elaborate rituals, "games" set ups and "ceremonies".
• Systematic emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
• Being used in child pornography and prostitution.
• Being forced to take drugs and alcohol.
• Being tortured almost to the point of death.
• Being forced to participate in the abuse of others.

  If you are a Survivor of Ritual Abuse you may feel .

  TRAPPED- you may feel that you cannot escape. Although it can be difficult to get away from such abuse, it can be done. Many survivors have successfully escaped and lead normal lives.

  FEAR - that you or someone else may be killed, that you may be re-involved, fear of talking, of reprisals, fear that they have power over you, loneliness, disbelief etc. These fears are understandable and are based on past or present experiences. It is possible to overcome this though it takes time and courage.

  DISTRUST - you may feel that you can trust no-one at all. This is completely reasonable given that you have never had someone trustworthy in your life. Trust has to be earned by people and in time you may feel that someone has earned it enough to be trusted a little.

  If you are Supporting a Survivor of Ritual Abuse

  BELIEVE -why would she lie? Only two parties know what happened, the abusers and the survivors. Survivors must be allowed to tell and be believed. Believe what she is saying even although you may find it difficult especially as the memories she is telling may, at first, be fragmented and confusing.

  LISTEN - to what she has to say and let her take her time, it will not be easy for her to start talking about events that she has kept silent about for a long time. It may be difficult for her to begin to feel trust in you or safe enough to talk to you.