Sometimes the Viaggio is away for weeks or months and citizens travel by car to rendezvous with it. They do not know when they will return and are not allowed to contact anyone at home while they are away. People just mysteriously disappear and no one knows where they are. According to Damanhurian tradition, the Viaggio is used for conducting magic, alchemical and esoteric research. It is designed to take citizens out of their normal surroundings on a magical journey of inner transformation.
Citizens are strictly forbidden to disclose what happens during the Viaggio to their fellow Damanhurians, with the excuse that it could spoil the experience for others. Airaudi uses the secrecy of the Viaggio to conceal the fact that he has sexual relations with his female adepts. The women, all over 18 and consenting adults , are led to believe that the sex act is part of an alchemical process or a vital element of esoteric research. Many women become sexually involved with Airaudi because he tells them that they alone have the unique characteristics required for a particular magic operation.
Some of the women actually fall in love with him, especially if they are vulnerable, have lost a relative, are going through a divorce or facing a life crisis of some kind. It is noticeable that the women who have sexual relations with Airaudi whether on a short or long term basis all remain very loyal to him, some travel with the Viaggio regularly for many years. Airaudi uses his sexual relationships with the women to divide and rule: depriving Damanhurian men of their power, and intervening in couples to prevent the formation of strong emotional bonds.
He often criticizes citizens for making their romantic relationships a higher priority than their commitment to Damanhur.
He also publicly expresses his disapproval of Damanhurians who do not exercise control over their sexual energy, urging everyone to conserve it for their spiritual path. He, however, does exactly the opposite.
