The Serpent Rising
Available from bookstores or direct from me - here
The Serpent Rising: a journey of spiritual seduction was one of the first books to shine the light on the dangers of the guru-disciple relationship. It has had enduring appeal and is still very relevant. The recent case of NXVIM, which attracted Hollywood celebrities over two decades, shows that anyone can get lured into a group which promises something better. I’ve written many articles over the years on this issue and my story, the latest being Life with Sexie Sadie in Newsroom. A two-hour interview on The Cult Vault was aired in June 2023 and has just been short-listed for the True Crime Award.
The Serpent Rising was first self-published in 1988. For various reasons, I decided to write it as a work of fiction, even resorting to using a different name, Helena Pearson, for the main character. Regardless, readers and reviewers read it as a memoir. In 2003, after similar stories had been aired, I decided to publish my story as a memoir, the truth that it is. Remarkably, The Serpent Rising won the High Country Indie Book Award 2021, beating Too Much Lip, Rural Dreams and Hearing Maude - all award-winning books published by mainstream publishers. Michael Burge, author of Tank Water and director of the High Country Writers Festival described it as: ‘A knockout read about how one woman finds her voice in the face of gurus, religion and her own fears, The Serpent Rising is an honest account that’s as eye-watering as it is inspiring. The penultimate moments had me cheering out loud.’
A short synopsis:
In 1973 I abandoned a promising academic career in Auckland, New Zealand, to spend seven years in India at the feet of such gurus as Bhagwan Rajneesh, Sathya Sai Baba and an enigmatic yogi in the Himalayan jungle – Swami Balyogi Premvarni. The Serpent Rising is my story of the heaven and hell I experienced as I fell under the spell of self-appointed ‘god-men’, especially Premvarni who wielded incredible and destructive control over his devotees. Rather than someone who could guide me towards the light he turned out to be an unscrupulous psychopath who exploited me emotionally and sexually. I am grateful that I managed to wake up and escape, and survived to tell my tale.
How it began:
The book started out as a short story. In July 1981, I was seven months pregnant and looking for something to do while I waited for the birth of my first child. I decided to do a TAFE short story course conducted by Rolfe Bradley. As a homework assignment we were asked to write a fictional story. I wrote a story called ‘ripped off by ants’: the story of my escape across India from Sai Baba, who I had believed was my guru. This was Rolfe’s feedback:
This is exceptionally well written and I believe you should write a full length book of your experiences and your detailed reactions to India. This could be straightforwardly factual or spiced here and there with a little invention. I’m sure this would find a ready market.
I couldn’t believe it. Me write a book! However, I wasn’t ready to dig up my experiences in India, and I was full of doubt about my writing ability. In the years that followed I’d sporadically scribble down a few recollections, until one day I just knew I had to get this story down. I wrote for hours a day, sitting at the dining room table in the centre of our open-plan house, and sometimes got up in the middle of the night to write. I had two boisterous pre-school children so I was surrounded by noise and chaos. After three months I had a first draft, and a friend of mine, Dr Martin Duwell, a lecturer at the University of Queensland, agreed to edit it for me.
Media and feedback:
Since 1988, I’ve been interviewed many times on radio and television, including Rachel Kohn’s The Spirit of Things on ABC, Steven Austin’s ABC Conversation Hour and Ray Martin on his midday show on Channel 9, and more recently ABC Life Matters http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-12/life-in-a-cult-how-i-escaped/9641852 In January 2020 I was interviewed by Sarah Kanowski for ABC Conversations.
As well as reviews and articles, I’ve received 100s of letters and emails from readers. Some have shared their own stories, their journeys into guruland and cults. In 1990, Earthlight Films (Western Australia) bought the rights to adapt the book for a television drama. They wrote two treatments, but sadly nothing came of it as they could not obtain financial backing.
Extracts from Reviews
There is no other book that I know of which reveals the addictive nature of the search for spiritual enlightenment better than this one. While it does not seek to be sensational, it is so, by virtue of its subject matter and the courageous honesty of its author. Mary Garden’s book may just stop you from falling into that vortex of group hysteria where discernment and commonsense are discarded in favour of dubious mysticism.
Sue Gough, The Courier Mail
This book starts out looking like an act of self-indulgence but it quickly becomes impossible to put down. It is a compelling and shaking account of an extraordinary journey that takes the heroine beyond the superficial religious manipulators of contemporary India to a thoroughly bizarre and sinister situation. It is best described as a spiritual thriller.
Dr Martin Duwell, The University of Queensland.
A courageous memoir and a salutary warning to all shoppers in the spiritual supermarket.
Robin Osborne, The Northern Rivers Echo.
Readers’ feedback
I was fascinated by your book. I picked it up and I sort of looked at it and I thought ‘oh yeah’ but after I had read 4-5 pages I couldn’t put it down and I ended up reading the whole book in about the space of 4-5 hours. It’s an extraordinary story. I’ve learnt more from this book than I’ve learnt in a whole lifetime on this type of subject.
Ian Holland 4KQ Radio, Brisbane.
Received your book today, and started browsing it. Finally I couldn’t stand it and read the whole thing cover to cover. And this when I am only days from deadline. You have a gift for communicating, and after reading your experiences, I am not surprised. My hat is off to you, for having come through all your experiences with an improved view of life!
Duncan Roads, Editor, Nexus Magazine.
I read your fabulous confession on the plane from New York to Munich … If properly marketed you could make a mint with that little book.
Professor Agehanda Bharati, Syracuse University, N.Y.
Compelling reading. A frank and personal account of the search for ‘reality’. Leaves one uneasy about the traps that are there for the genuine but unwary seeker.
Grahame Defty, Anglican priest, Australia.
The book was absolutely fascinating and your story needed to be told.
Professor Ann Faraday, Sydney.
Gripping, interesting, very moving, beautifully written in parts.
Maurice Gee, acclaimed New Zealand author.
A vivid description of one person’s spiritual journey. Much of what the writer shows us of gurus, yogis and swamis may be disconcerting for the reader. This book teaches us to be mindful of spiritual power – and of its abuse.
Dr Don Diespecker, Australian psychologist & psychotherapist.
I read your book in one day, unable to put it down. Thank you for your honesty … it’s certainly refreshing.
Dianne Allen, Victoria.
What an extraordinary tale you tell in The Serpent! Spiritual seduction indeed. You caused me to read into the early hours of the morning.
Bob Walshe, Sutherland, NSW.
I compliment you on your frankness and honesty. As I read your book compellingly one night straight through I cried and laughed with you, wishing a the same time that both of us could find the means to lighten our acceptance of what life dishes out. I had once thought of doing the India trip but you saved me from that.
Helen Foster-Holland, SA.
Your book is powerful and profound. What you are voicing is a critical issue of these changing times. Everyone is trying out a multitude of different cults, paths, spiritual disciplines, etc until we find out that no one outside of us has the answers we seek. Your book bespeaks the fixations of an entire generation (or three). The immediacy was so special, both my boyfriend read it from cover to cover, barely pausing to eat, sleep etc because as a record of experience it was so passionately real and unselfconscious. I would like to affirm your work and its qualities of exceptional directness and revealing honesty.
Sue Booker, Bronte, NSW.
I saw ‘The Wizard of Oz’ the other day with my children and the lion reminded me of your courage. I think your book is very important simply because there is hardly a thing written to expose the bullshit, not to mention the lives that are destroyed. I hope you feel very proud of yourself.
Katia Dark, NSW.
I appreciate you telling your story …your agonising experiences and ecstatic periods I found totally absorbing. I read your book in one afternoon, hardly stopping. Jonathan Hurding, Mapleton, Qld.
I found your book fascinating, could not put it down once I started reading it. What really impressed me was your courage in putting pen to paper.
Sue Delaney, psychologist, Sydney, NSW.
I just finished reading your book early this morning. I bought it yesterday … and found it to be totally absorbing and at times un-nerving. The inclusiveness of your search seems to reinforce my belief that no one or no religion will take you to enlightenment.
Peter Boman, Brisbane, Qld.
I related strongly to your journey and what lengths we will go to have a purpose or even to find a place of peace. At one time I thought my journey was what everyone should do but now days I feel that it is personal and each has there own path of finding losing trying giving up and maybe this is all there is. Grateful you put yourself on display to the world.
Kev Mann.
Loved your writing style, your frankness, your resolve and courage, and your final conclusions; empathised with your profound vulnerability in places, your desperation after accidentally throwing your money and passport out the Indian train window, and laughed near the end of the book as the lioness roared at the predatory taxi driver who was after a bit of ‘corruption’.
Mike Brownhill, Maleny
Thank you for writing the book. It should be read by everyone. I informed my friends about it and am 'forcing' my daughter to read it. I want to inoculate her against gullibility.
Meenan.
I loved your book. I couldn’t put it down. It was so lean and vivid in its prose. A delicate balance, And so raw in its honesty. God you went through so much you must have enormous resilience now. I think so many of us have this post-school yearn for meaning and I certainly went off-track myself but nothing like your story.
Virginia Cook, Canberra
I just finished reading your extraordinary book on your journey in India. I wish to thank you warmly for sharing all of these experiences including the horrible abuses you went through. It struck me how hard it was for you at some point to “extract” yourself from the manipulative and hypnotic mind-control relationship with some of the Gurus you met. I can very much relate to this, since I’ve experienced myself a similar journey, in the USA, more than 20 years ago. I was looking for many years to find a testimony like yours…it is with sharing that one can reach others in need of healing.
Jeanne Capodana, France, 2018.