Desteni was founded sometime in the middle of the first decade of the 2000s by Bernard Poolman, a former police detective from Namibia. The group developed as an online-based political and spiritual movement that built a global network of followers. It presented itself as a self-help and social justice initiative, though former members and researchers have described features associated with cults. Its development centered on Poolman’s leadership, a belief system structured around personal transformation, and a fee-based model for participation.
Poolman’s role in the organization was rooted in his claims of supernatural experiences. He stated that, during his time in law enforcement, he received warnings from the spirit world that led him to believe he could access an “interdimensional” realm. These assertions established his authority within the group. He also claimed to perform exorcisms through a method known as “self-forgiveness,” which became a central practice in the group’s teachings and a core element of its psychological framework.
The organization took a more formal structure when Poolman relocated to a farm in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where he recruited Sunette Spies. Spies was designated as the group’s “Interdimensional Portal,” described as the sole individual capable of channeling spirits of deceased humans and non-human entities. This arrangement created a dual leadership structure, with Poolman directing ideology and Spies serving as a channel for spiritual messages.
Through Spies, the group claimed to channel figures such as Adolf Hitler, Jesus Christ, and various reptilian entities. These communications were presented as validations of Poolman’s teachings, creating a closed interpretive system that reinforced the group’s worldview and internal authority.
The organization’s belief system emphasized the deconstruction of individual identity. Poolman taught that the human “mind” functioned as a programmed mechanism imposed by reptilian entities to control humanity. To counter this influence, members were instructed to engage in a process known as “writing themselves out,” which involved extensive journaling and repeated acts of “self-forgiveness” for thoughts, emotions, and reactions. This practice became central to the group’s approach to personal development.
At the Pietermaritzburg farm, a core group of approximately 15 to 20 individuals lived and worked in relative isolation. Former associates reported that members were subjected to long working hours, limited sleep, and intensive verbal criticism. Some accounts also described the use of MDMA during group meditation sessions. Poolman was further reported to use the concept of “deletion,” described as the ability to spiritually erase a person’s existence, as a means of maintaining compliance.
The financial structure of the organization was built around the “Desteni I Process” (DIP) and subsequent programs. These courses required participants to pay monthly fees for instruction in “self-mastery.” A hierarchical “buddy system” assigned each member to a supervisor responsible for monitoring behavior and progress. This structure created financial and interpersonal dependence, with participants encouraged to recruit others and advance through the system. Software products and courses were marketed at prices reaching thousands of dollars.
Desteni also pursued a strategy of extensive online activity. Members were instructed to produce large volumes of blogs and video content promoting the organization’s ideas. This approach increased the group’s visibility while limiting members’ engagement with external perspectives. Political initiatives, including the “Equal Money System,” were used to attract individuals interested in social change, who were later introduced to the group’s broader spiritual framework.
Following Poolman’s death in 2013, leadership functions continued within the organization. Members issued tributes portraying him as a central guiding figure. Sunette Spies remained active as the “Portal,” distributing recorded channeling sessions through the Eqafe platform. The group also continued to market educational software under names such as TechnoTutor, expanding outreach to new audiences, including individuals unfamiliar with the organization’s earlier activities.
Key Sources:
The Desteni Cult. destenicult.blogspot.com.
Donaghey, R. (2015, August 4). Meet the struggling South African cult that tried to kill Demon Hitler. Vice.
Leaving Destini. (2023, April 15). Leaving the Cult: Desteni, TechnoTutor & Self-Perfected.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 