True spirituality is available all around us, when we know where to look.
Some of 2020’s biggest disappointments for me have included witnessing some “New Age” and “spiritual” communities’ responses to world events.
Way back in March, before we watched Ahmaud Arbery & George Floyd die on our screens, I noticed several of my new-age-y spiritual acquaintances dropping off of my friends list as I questioned their beliefs about conspiracy theories related to COVID-19.
I’ve really enjoyed this podcast recently that analyzes the phenomenon called Conspirituality.
Its been relieving to see that most of my own beloved leaders haven’t fallen to this trend. This time has also revealed plenty of new leaders for me to trust and follow.
Still, it’s been incredibly disappointing to see science & social issues denied by sometimes widely respected “holistic” & “spiritual” leaders. Disappointing, yes, but I guess it’s not surprising.
This isn’t the first time the spiritual community has let me down. Maybe you can relate.
I will always remember when my Sunday school teacher couldn’t tolerate my plethora of questions. “Why does hell exist if God forgives everyone?”
I remember the feeling of betrayal I felt as an adolescent when my therapist suggested her incongruous spiritual beliefs to me. I never returned even though I desperately needed help. That moment inspired me to pursue my own career in mental health.
The way that some organized religions perpetuate racism and homophobia and other hateful, oppressive viewpoints has never felt right to me. Houses of worship should be full of acceptance and free of judgment, but in practice it’s often the reverse.
Fast forward to now, with some religious leaders preaching “faith over fear” as their religious services become super-spreader events for COVID-19, and some spiritual/holistic white women clinging to “love & light” rather than addressing the realities of systemic oppression.
Cult dynamics founded on charisma and groupthink run rampant in spiritual communities.
For much of my life, I’ve steered clear, staying incredibly selective about the spiritual paths I engage with.
That being said, I am still a spiritual person, because my spirit is too strong to deny.
As an adult I aim to be more accepting, forgiving, and open. I find spirituality in things like tarot, ritual, and meditation. I’m also a critically thinking person who questions our system, does my own research, and values science.
Why should we have to choose between spirituality or science & social responsibility? Seems to me that these things are better together.
So, I’ve been thinking about spirituality and discernment… what are the indicators of real, felt, beneficial spirituality? What signs tell us we should turn and run in the opposite direction?
Here are some of the things that resonate with me when it comes to spirituality.
Any true spiritual methodology has serious intricacy & depth. It helps us lovingly navigate our way through life’s challenging gray area rather than forcing us to think in black & white.
Any school of though that ignores the depth of the physical – including pain and hardship that comes with living on earth, and the imbalances we’re causing in the physical world – is incomplete. It’s tone deaf, and ultimately, does more harm than good.
True spirituality is healing. It’s a refuge & a sanctuary for those who have been victimized & traumatized – it doesn’t traumatize & re-traumatize everyone who engages with it.
True spirituality nurtures healthy interdependence with the world around us, not dysfunctional co-dependence with a specific leader or school of thought.
It offers MORE ways to love each other, not more reasons to shame & judge.
It offers hope for those who are downtrodden, not blame.
True spirituality welcomes curiosity rather than shutting it down.
Something tells me that your body knows this is true.
Your body is tired of false light methods, tired of all the lies and bull flying around in the world, tired of those methods that tell you to try and silence or escape your body’s experience.
True spirituality helps you make a positive impact on your world by using the guidance of your sacred body – not in spite of it.
As a collective, we need to stop glorifying ideas (even seemingly “spiritual” ones) over the lived experiences of other people, the planet and our physical selves…
So we can cherish this life we’ve been given and leave the Earth (not just our own estate) truly better off for having had us.
You are divine. I am divine. The most deeply felt spiritual experiences I’ve had, the most profound wisdom I’ve received, re-connects me to that fact.
Conscious Wholeness is how I systematize the groundwork that needs to be done on a regular basis to connect to my spirituality, manage my self-care, fall more deeply in love with myself, and nurture my relationship with the earth.
It’s how I connect with my own inner wise elder & how I strengthen my discernment about who & what to believe… From a place of truth instead of trauma.
It’s a process I follow that unleashes inspiration, expands my edges, and refines my focus.
It’s a framework I fall back on when I want to feel more connected & supported in any area of my life.
It always shows me the way back to myself. I created the Conscious Wholeness course to provide you with this framework, too. I offer lifetime access at an accessible price, always with room to grow.
My clients have shared that Conscious Wholeness helps them dive deeper into connection with their own unique spiritual beliefs – even if those beliefs are totally different than mine.
If you are looking for ways to go deeper with yourself spiritually, or if you want to weave more of your spirituality into your work, I would love to connect with you.
At the very least, I hope you will make it a point to discern the false lights in your world and connect with true spirituality in whatever ways feel best for you today.
I’m sending lots of love, until next time. Thank you for reading.