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The Path

In case you couldn’t tell, we’re all about Hulu‘s new cult drama, The Path. There are so many reasons for our obsession — Hugh Dancy’s disturbingly evil sexiness, Aaron Paul’s hugability, Michelle Monaghan’s fierceness, those haunting opening credits, the allure of cults in general — but there’s one amazing element holding all of those incredible things��together we need to address. We’re talking, of course, about the mythology behind the Meyerist Movement.

Hulu and showrunner Jessica Goldberg did not give us a half-baked cult. Oh no, they went full cult, creating their own terminology and symbols for this fictional movement. It’s that investment in the creation of the Meyerist Movement and its members that transforms The Path from a show about living the cult life to a reflection on faith, humanity, and spirituality as a whole. However, as much as we love the attention to detail when it comes to this fabricated religion, sometimes it’s hard to keep track of what 6R means opposed to 3R or the difference between Offsetting and Unburdening. So we decided to take the problem into our own hands.

Consider below your cheat sheet to all things Meyerist. Most of this information comes from the mouth of god himself (read: Hulu), but we threw in a couple of other tidbits to help you out. Whether you’re having a difficult time keeping the lingo straight or if you want a beginner’s guide to creating your own Meyerist Movement (please don’t do that), we have you covered. Pick up some organic veggies, and start studying.

SYMBOLS, SYMBOLS, SYMBOLS

**The Eye:** The symbol of Meyerism. It serves as a reminder that its members are not alone and that their actions are always being watched and recorded. Members also pray to The Eye. Think of it as the Meyerist cross.

**The Ladder:** The level system used in the Meyerist Movement used to indicate rank. New members enter on the 0 rung (0R) with the top members having completed the 10th rung (10R).

**Allegory of the Cave:** Plato's often quoted allegory is often used in the Meyerist Movement, especially by Cal. It's used to explain the difference of the men stuck in the shadows (the general population) and those who have found The Light (members of the Meyerist Movement).

**Nature:** The Meyerist lifestyle is heavily connected to nature. Members are vegan. Mountains in particular are often used because they connote climbing.

**The Yellow Snake:** This is part of a life-altering vision Eddie has. In Christianity, the snake often has to do with Satan and Original Sin. TL;DR watch out for the snake.

THE CULT LINGO

The Ladder: There are 10 different rungs of The Ladder, with the bottom run being used by new members and the 10 rung indicating the top members of the Meyerist Movement:

0 — Receptive
1 — Initiate
2 — Servant
3 — Student
4 — Scholar
5 — Shepard
6 — Explorer
7 — Reflective
8 — Mender
9 — Augur
10 — Protector

#R: Shorthand for someone’s highest completed rung

IS: Ignorant Systemite. This is an unenlightened member of the general population who is not part of the Meyerist Movement. Basically, us. You lose the IS label once you start your training on the lowest rung of the ladder.

Possible: Someone interested in the Meyerist Movement but hasn’t started to climb the ladder.

Denier: Someone who was part of the movement and has left. This person is way worse than an IS.

The Future: The apocalypse. When it comes to the Meyerist Movement, the end of all days is man-made, AKA not uplifting.

The Garden: Where all the devoted members of the Movement will be reunited after The Future happens. Essentially, Meyerist vegan heaven.

Meyer Machine: Much like Scientology’s E-Meter, the device supposedly acts as a spiritual realigning guide.

Ayahuasca: A traditional spiritual medicine used in ceremonies by Indigenous peoples of Peru. This is especially important because the Meyerist Movement has unexplained ties to Peru. Also, the drug makes you hallucinate like you’re in a ’80s music video.

Damage: All of the terrible environmental and emotional trauma we accrue.

Transgress: Like a sin in Catholicism, but they’re numbered for identification based on the severity.

Unburden: The process of confronting and releasing negativity, which can take the form of negative emotions, actions, or impulses. According to Meyerism, a member cannot grow unless all the negativity has been purged.

Resister: A member who won’t unburden.

Offset: The practice of correcting your wrongs by doing good deeds. This is similar to performing penance, and after completion, the member returns to neutral balance point. However, unlike penance, the member chooses offset, not a high-ranking member of the religion.

IRP: Infidelity Rehab Program. The Meyerist Movement believes heavily in the power of family and spousal transparency, so that’s a big no to cheating. However, if you do cheat, there’s a system for that. That system involves a lot of meetings with a counselor, and it’s assumed that the spouse will eventually be forgiven. Eddie (Aaron Paul) knows all about this one.

Realignment: Like Offsetting in overdrive. It’s used to quickly reset a member’s recently gathered Damage, and it’s common for other members to pressure the offending individual into Realignment. This two-week process takes place on the Meyerist compound under supervision of a counselor. During the two weeks, members are given a strict diet of fruits and vegetable and aren’t allowed to leave the Realignment room.

Watch new episodes of The Path every Wednesday on Hulu.

[Where to stream The Path]

Photos: Hulu