A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation

A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTUITION

LIFESTYLE

Q&A

A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation

The ultimate goal of meditation is to reach a different state of consciousness.

States of Consciousness

An altered state of consciousness (ASC), also called altered state of mind or mind alteration, is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking beta wave state.

There are 5 levels of brain frequencies, each representing a different state of consciousness:

Gamma – When you are highly alert and actively taking in information, learning, etc. and your brain is most active.
Beta – The fully awake, alert state that you experience most of the day.
Alpha – Alpha state occurs when you are awake, but your mind is on autopilot. Daydreaming, fantasizing, relaxed or detached.
Theta – Theta state is an even deeper state of consciousness – this is where you are when you are dreaming or during hypnosis.
Delta – Delta is the deepest level of sleep where there is minimal brain activity.

Meditation allows us to reach alpha state most often, and theta state in the most practiced meditators. Each of these states produce a different kind of intuitive experience and allow us to access different levels of our multidimensional self.

Types of Meditation
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, the thing with meditation is – it can be whatever you want it to be. Walking in the woods is a form of meditation. Being creative can be meditative. Cleaning your house can be meditative. I listened to an entire podcast that discussed masturbation as a form of meditation. So don’t get caught up the traditional notion of meditation – any activity that allows you to put your brain into an altered state is what you’re after.

I find that most novices don’t realize that there are different types of meditation and each type lends itself to an entirely different purpose.

Non-Thinking Meditation
The most commonly thought of type of meditation is the traditional “non-thinking” meditation where you sit and attempt to have as few thoughts as possible. This type of meditation lends itself easily to alpha state, theta state, and is imperative for delta state which can be reached through transcendental meditation. This is the type of meditation that seems to be most intimidating to people, as a frequently asked question or suggestion for blog topics from my readers seems to be, “How can I stop the chatter in my mind?”

The key with this type of meditation is not to block out all thought, but rather ignore it and give your thoughts no attention, and therein lies the most common misunderstanding about meditation. The purpose is not to stop thinking, but rather distract yourself from it.

This style of meditation is best used for reaching higher states of consciousness and getting in touch with intuition. It can also be used as a form of relaxation.

Chanting or Mantra Meditation
This kind of meditation incorporates repetition as a way to ignore your thoughts and help you achieve alpha, theta, or delta state. You’ll notice that when you are doing a repetitive, monotonous activity, your mind tends to wander into a more detached (alpha) state. This is the goal of mantras and chants during meditation. These are also optimal types of meditation if you are attempting to undo negative thought patterns or solidify an intention for manifestation. Often times mantras and chants are incorporated into the non-thinking meditation as a way to deflect incoming thoughts.

This “repetition” can also be achieved through physical actions, not just sitting still, and I gave several examples of that above – cleaning the house. Creative projects. Walking.

This style of meditation is best used for reaching higher states of consciousness and getting in touch with intuition. It can also be used as a form of relaxation.

Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation uses a form of heightened awareness as a way to ignore your thoughts by bringing all of your awareness down into the physical body. This type of meditation is exceptionally grounding and fantastic for anxiety. If you find yourself feeling “out of body” more often than not, constantly thinking about the future or the past, I would highly recommend this style of meditation to bring you back into the now.

Visualization Meditation
Meditations that use visualizations also use a strategy that focuses your thoughts instead of ignoring them. Most meditations that are specifically used to access intuition use a visualization technique. This style of meditation is also great for setting intentions for manifestation.

Guided Meditation
Guided meditations are when you listen to another person’s voice instead of your own. A guided meditation can be one geared toward visualization, a mantra or chant, or mindfulness. The upside to this type of meditation is that someone else is doing the “thinking” for you, you’re just following along, which makes it somewhat easier to reach a meditative state. Hypnosis, at the most basic level, is a form of guided meditation.

You’ll probably want to explore these various styles of meditation to discover which is right for you – or you may even use different styles of meditation for different purposes.

There’s so much more to be said about states of consciousness and the type of information that can be reached through them, the level of self that can be accessed, etc. but I’ll save that for another day!

Xo,

Ash

← Finding Your Spiritual Path Why Do Spirits Visit Me? →

Enjoy this post? Subscribe to get ass-kicking inspiration delivered to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE

SUBMIT A QUESTION

Submit a question you want to pick my brain about. I may answer it in a blog post!

New to Spirituality?

Look up the meanings behind commonly used spiritual terminology and concepts in the Spirituality Encyclopedia.

Related Posts:

@ASHRISING ON INSTAGRAM

Some people pride themselves on getting out of the

Some people pride themselves on getting out of their comfort zones, and certainly, if you do what you always did, get you'll get what you've always gotten. But like anything, this all depends on context.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before, like move across the country, and that scares you, that's an opportunity you might miss because of your comfort zone. It might be worth the risk.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before that might actually violate your personal values, and expose you to harmful relationship dynamics, that's a whole other ballgame. That's risky behavior because you don't recognize risk when you see it.

Sometimes our comfort zones exist because we've been severely traumatized, and pushing ourselves out of them too fast, too soon is just like the trauma that created them in the first place. This is harmful.

Sometimes, because of abuse, we don't actually fully understand what our comfort level is. We ignore our discomfort because that's what our abusers taught us to do, and when we come up against some similar, subtle, but potentially harmful experiences, we stick around too long, not realizing what's happening until it's too late.

Those with people-pleasing or codependent tendencies are not great at recognizing risk or when their boundaries are being violated, and a lot of folks think that pushing through this is somehow conquering their fear in the name of spirituality. If you're a recovering people pleaser, or have a history of trauma and abuse, I urge you to ignore the comfort zone messaging on Instagram when it comes to really personal things like relationships, sex, and things which are directly tied to your physical and emotional well-being.

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflower

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflowers whose seeds are only capable of germination after being exposed to extreme heat. They literally require the destructive force of a forest fire to crack open and begin to grow.

From the ash of everything that has burned down around them, they are catalyzed, transformed, and set on a path to blossom.

You’re going to burn through many versions of yourself on this journey.

The growth is in the forgiving.

— Notes to Self

#healing #spirituality #personaldevelopment #writingtoheal #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #writer #healer #lightworker #awakening #quoteoftheday #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel. Le

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel.

Learn more about bypassing and gaslighting: https://inmysacredspace.com/project/spiritual-bypassing/

#spiritualbypassing #spiritualgaslighting #spirituality #wellness #wellnessthatworks #wellnessjourney #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today wh

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today where the prematurely enlightened have placed the desires of the unexamined ego—money, fame, material possessions, success—on the same level as, and in many cases above, the mission and purpose of a higher calling, which wills the healing and liberation of all beings...not just self.

As a result, we have droves of spiritual influencers and business coaches operating from the same level of ego that produced the existing power imbalances in our society which are destroying our planet.

Their only concern is manifesting their desired outcome. The "inner work" is only discussed in the context of its role in helping one manifest that outcome. It's about building six and seven-figure businesses, finding your ideal client, making enough money to work four days a week, and maintaining a positive attitude so that you can manifest all the things you've always wanted, own your own business, and work from anywhere.

There's little talk of self-exploration and awareness, except to become aware of your manifestation blocks. There's little talk of healing, except to the degree that it allows you to get what you want. There's little talk of mission, purpose, and service to the collective, except for its ability to bring you clients and recognition and money.

There's no discussion about who gets left behind because of your business practices. There's no talk about accessibility, equity, fairness, or anyone else's freedom but your own—and those who can afford to pay your fees.

What about the consequences of those business practices? What about asking yourself why you have those desires in the first place? What about helping people heal? What about healing our broken society? What about your duty to anyone other than yourself?

If this is your primary motivation, you're not bringing forth a New Age, you're just recreating old paradigm with yourself in power.

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism i

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism is known as “spiritual ego” and it’s quite rampant. One thing I’d like to emphasize about the second study is that they actually interviewed people who were studying to become spiritual practitioners (specifically energy workers). I don’t find it surprising, but it should be alarming that the people studying to become practitioners are exhibiting narcissistic thought patterns in regard to themselves in relation to spiritual practice, when that is literally the antithesis of spiritual practice—and they’re studying to go out into the world to work with the public.

Narcissists are attracted to positions of power, particularly self-appointed ones.

Please be discerning in who you choose to work with. If you need some help evaluating who is the real deal, here’s a couple of posts that can help:

inmysacredspace.com/spiritual-abuse

inmysacredspace.com/credibility

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 If you’ve got a topic you’d like me to tackle, feel free to DM me. Here’s one from yesterday on spirituality + [insert any controversial subject, but especially those which are political in nature].

People engage in spiritual bypassing for all sorts of reasons, but it typically has to do with avoiding accountability or their own uncomfortable emotions.

You can avoid spiritual bypassing by asking yourself a few questions and answering honestly:

—Pause and examine your emotional state. Ask yourself what emotions you’re feeling. Name them. Is there shame underneath?

—Who is sitting in a position of power in the dynamic in question? Is it you or someone else? The person (or group) with the power is the person with the responsibility for leadership and wielding that power responsibly, and they are the ones who are accountable.

—Is the person or situation triggering this feeling attacking your character (shaming) Or are they holding you accountable for actions (guilt)?

—Are you attempting to bypass accountability by setting a boundary, or avoiding dealing with the situation, subject matter, or the feelings they trigger? Or is it a healthy boundary?

—Does this situation remind you of any past instances where you were abused? Does it evoke emotions attached to a painful memory?

—Does avoiding accountability for or remaining silent about this subject, culture, or action result in other people being harmed? (This is the part of spirituality where we recognize our obligation to the collective)

—Does NOT setting a boundary result in your own harm?

Answering these questions really requires us to dig into the nuances between shame, guilt, accountability, power, and what belongs to us vs. what doesn’t. They’ll give you a clear idea, though, of whether you’re engaging in bypassing by avoiding social responsibility/accountability or not.

I’ve written about this topic a lot, and you can find some of my other posts here:

inmysacredspace.com/separation-consciousness

inmysacredspace.com/shadow-work

Inmysacredspace.com/cancel-culture

I once had a conversation with a man who told me t

I once had a conversation with a man who told me that legacy was very important to him. But what he really meant by legacy wasn’t to be remembered for his impact on the world, it was simply that he be remembered.

That’s not a legacy, that’s just fame, and it’s hollow.

In contrast, I couldn’t give three flying fucks if anyone remembers my name when I’m dead (I’d honestly prefer not to be known even while I’m alive).

I care about the change I initiate while I’m here and it’s exponential growth after I’m gone. I’d be content to be like one of those people who contributes a household item we use every single day that’s completely changed how we live, but nobody knows who the fuck came up with it. Like the guy who invented the wheel—the innovators that history forgot.

I don’t want to create inventions, of course. I just want to help people heal in some small way, and make the world generally more aware of itself. Nobody needs to know who did it, just that it needed to be done—and it was.

That’s true purpose. It doesn’t ask for the spotlight. Just the result.

Some people pride themselves on getting out of the

Some people pride themselves on getting out of their comfort zones, and certainly, if you do what you always did, get you'll get what you've always gotten. But like anything, this all depends on context.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before, like move across the country, and that scares you, that's an opportunity you might miss because of your comfort zone. It might be worth the risk.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before that might actually violate your personal values, and expose you to harmful relationship dynamics, that's a whole other ballgame. That's risky behavior because you don't recognize risk when you see it.

Sometimes our comfort zones exist because we've been severely traumatized, and pushing ourselves out of them too fast, too soon is just like the trauma that created them in the first place. This is harmful.

Sometimes, because of abuse, we don't actually fully understand what our comfort level is. We ignore our discomfort because that's what our abusers taught us to do, and when we come up against some similar, subtle, but potentially harmful experiences, we stick around too long, not realizing what's happening until it's too late.

Those with people-pleasing or codependent tendencies are not great at recognizing risk or when their boundaries are being violated, and a lot of folks think that pushing through this is somehow conquering their fear in the name of spirituality. If you're a recovering people pleaser, or have a history of trauma and abuse, I urge you to ignore the comfort zone messaging on Instagram when it comes to really personal things like relationships, sex, and things which are directly tied to your physical and emotional well-being.

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflower

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflowers whose seeds are only capable of germination after being exposed to extreme heat. They literally require the destructive force of a forest fire to crack open and begin to grow.

From the ash of everything that has burned down around them, they are catalyzed, transformed, and set on a path to blossom.

You’re going to burn through many versions of yourself on this journey.

The growth is in the forgiving.

— Notes to Self

#healing #spirituality #personaldevelopment #writingtoheal #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #writer #healer #lightworker #awakening #quoteoftheday #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel. Le

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel.

Learn more about bypassing and gaslighting: https://inmysacredspace.com/project/spiritual-bypassing/

#spiritualbypassing #spiritualgaslighting #spirituality #wellness #wellnessthatworks #wellnessjourney #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today wh

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today where the prematurely enlightened have placed the desires of the unexamined ego—money, fame, material possessions, success—on the same level as, and in many cases above, the mission and purpose of a higher calling, which wills the healing and liberation of all beings...not just self.

As a result, we have droves of spiritual influencers and business coaches operating from the same level of ego that produced the existing power imbalances in our society which are destroying our planet.

Their only concern is manifesting their desired outcome. The "inner work" is only discussed in the context of its role in helping one manifest that outcome. It's about building six and seven-figure businesses, finding your ideal client, making enough money to work four days a week, and maintaining a positive attitude so that you can manifest all the things you've always wanted, own your own business, and work from anywhere.

There's little talk of self-exploration and awareness, except to become aware of your manifestation blocks. There's little talk of healing, except to the degree that it allows you to get what you want. There's little talk of mission, purpose, and service to the collective, except for its ability to bring you clients and recognition and money.

There's no discussion about who gets left behind because of your business practices. There's no talk about accessibility, equity, fairness, or anyone else's freedom but your own—and those who can afford to pay your fees.

What about the consequences of those business practices? What about asking yourself why you have those desires in the first place? What about helping people heal? What about healing our broken society? What about your duty to anyone other than yourself?

If this is your primary motivation, you're not bringing forth a New Age, you're just recreating old paradigm with yourself in power.

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism i

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism is known as “spiritual ego” and it’s quite rampant. One thing I’d like to emphasize about the second study is that they actually interviewed people who were studying to become spiritual practitioners (specifically energy workers). I don’t find it surprising, but it should be alarming that the people studying to become practitioners are exhibiting narcissistic thought patterns in regard to themselves in relation to spiritual practice, when that is literally the antithesis of spiritual practice—and they’re studying to go out into the world to work with the public.

Narcissists are attracted to positions of power, particularly self-appointed ones.

Please be discerning in who you choose to work with. If you need some help evaluating who is the real deal, here’s a couple of posts that can help:

inmysacredspace.com/spiritual-abuse

inmysacredspace.com/credibility

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 If you’ve got a topic you’d like me to tackle, feel free to DM me. Here’s one from yesterday on spirituality + [insert any controversial subject, but especially those which are political in nature].

People engage in spiritual bypassing for all sorts of reasons, but it typically has to do with avoiding accountability or their own uncomfortable emotions.

You can avoid spiritual bypassing by asking yourself a few questions and answering honestly:

—Pause and examine your emotional state. Ask yourself what emotions you’re feeling. Name them. Is there shame underneath?

—Who is sitting in a position of power in the dynamic in question? Is it you or someone else? The person (or group) with the power is the person with the responsibility for leadership and wielding that power responsibly, and they are the ones who are accountable.

—Is the person or situation triggering this feeling attacking your character (shaming) Or are they holding you accountable for actions (guilt)?

—Are you attempting to bypass accountability by setting a boundary, or avoiding dealing with the situation, subject matter, or the feelings they trigger? Or is it a healthy boundary?

—Does this situation remind you of any past instances where you were abused? Does it evoke emotions attached to a painful memory?

—Does avoiding accountability for or remaining silent about this subject, culture, or action result in other people being harmed? (This is the part of spirituality where we recognize our obligation to the collective)

—Does NOT setting a boundary result in your own harm?

Answering these questions really requires us to dig into the nuances between shame, guilt, accountability, power, and what belongs to us vs. what doesn’t. They’ll give you a clear idea, though, of whether you’re engaging in bypassing by avoiding social responsibility/accountability or not.

I’ve written about this topic a lot, and you can find some of my other posts here:

inmysacredspace.com/separation-consciousness

inmysacredspace.com/shadow-work

Inmysacredspace.com/cancel-culture

I once had a conversation with a man who told me t

I once had a conversation with a man who told me that legacy was very important to him. But what he really meant by legacy wasn’t to be remembered for his impact on the world, it was simply that he be remembered.

That’s not a legacy, that’s just fame, and it’s hollow.

In contrast, I couldn’t give three flying fucks if anyone remembers my name when I’m dead (I’d honestly prefer not to be known even while I’m alive).

I care about the change I initiate while I’m here and it’s exponential growth after I’m gone. I’d be content to be like one of those people who contributes a household item we use every single day that’s completely changed how we live, but nobody knows who the fuck came up with it. Like the guy who invented the wheel—the innovators that history forgot.

I don’t want to create inventions, of course. I just want to help people heal in some small way, and make the world generally more aware of itself. Nobody needs to know who did it, just that it needed to be done—and it was.

That’s true purpose. It doesn’t ask for the spotlight. Just the result.

Buddha Inspired Meditation Spaces

Buddha Inspired Meditation Spaces

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTUITION

LIFESTYLE

Q&A

Buddha Inspired Meditation Spaces

A‘ve been obsessed lately with creating a meditation space in my office, even though it’s not nearly private enough for such a use. And my number one focus that would complete my meditation space is a Buddha statue. Particularly this one from Target, which I’m circling like a vulture waiting for it to go on sale. There’s just something incredibly serene about Buddha – I’m not a Buddhist, but still appreciate his teachings and philosophy – that seems like I SHOULD have a Buddha statue in my meditation space. That said, here’s five Buddha inspired meditation spaces from around the web. Did any of these inspire you? Let me know in the comments!

1. Buddha Head and Crystals from Igniteyourtruth on Tumblr. 2. From CarolynBakker.com. 3. Buddha Heads found on YogaIndiaLove on Tumblr. 4. Photo from An Indian Summer Design. 5. Found on Pinterest.

Xo,

Ash

← Enhanced Kundalini Meditation With Frankincense Essential Oil A Beginner's Guide to Meditation →

Enjoy this post? Subscribe to get ass-kicking inspiration delivered to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE

SUBMIT A QUESTION

Submit a question you want to pick my brain about. I may answer it in a blog post!

New to Spirituality?

Look up the meanings behind commonly used spiritual terminology and concepts in the Spirituality Encyclopedia.

Related Posts:

@ASHRISING ON INSTAGRAM

Some people pride themselves on getting out of the

Some people pride themselves on getting out of their comfort zones, and certainly, if you do what you always did, get you'll get what you've always gotten. But like anything, this all depends on context.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before, like move across the country, and that scares you, that's an opportunity you might miss because of your comfort zone. It might be worth the risk.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before that might actually violate your personal values, and expose you to harmful relationship dynamics, that's a whole other ballgame. That's risky behavior because you don't recognize risk when you see it.

Sometimes our comfort zones exist because we've been severely traumatized, and pushing ourselves out of them too fast, too soon is just like the trauma that created them in the first place. This is harmful.

Sometimes, because of abuse, we don't actually fully understand what our comfort level is. We ignore our discomfort because that's what our abusers taught us to do, and when we come up against some similar, subtle, but potentially harmful experiences, we stick around too long, not realizing what's happening until it's too late.

Those with people-pleasing or codependent tendencies are not great at recognizing risk or when their boundaries are being violated, and a lot of folks think that pushing through this is somehow conquering their fear in the name of spirituality. If you're a recovering people pleaser, or have a history of trauma and abuse, I urge you to ignore the comfort zone messaging on Instagram when it comes to really personal things like relationships, sex, and things which are directly tied to your physical and emotional well-being.

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflower

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflowers whose seeds are only capable of germination after being exposed to extreme heat. They literally require the destructive force of a forest fire to crack open and begin to grow.

From the ash of everything that has burned down around them, they are catalyzed, transformed, and set on a path to blossom.

You’re going to burn through many versions of yourself on this journey.

The growth is in the forgiving.

— Notes to Self

#healing #spirituality #personaldevelopment #writingtoheal #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #writer #healer #lightworker #awakening #quoteoftheday #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel. Le

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel.

Learn more about bypassing and gaslighting: https://inmysacredspace.com/project/spiritual-bypassing/

#spiritualbypassing #spiritualgaslighting #spirituality #wellness #wellnessthatworks #wellnessjourney #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today wh

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today where the prematurely enlightened have placed the desires of the unexamined ego—money, fame, material possessions, success—on the same level as, and in many cases above, the mission and purpose of a higher calling, which wills the healing and liberation of all beings...not just self.

As a result, we have droves of spiritual influencers and business coaches operating from the same level of ego that produced the existing power imbalances in our society which are destroying our planet.

Their only concern is manifesting their desired outcome. The "inner work" is only discussed in the context of its role in helping one manifest that outcome. It's about building six and seven-figure businesses, finding your ideal client, making enough money to work four days a week, and maintaining a positive attitude so that you can manifest all the things you've always wanted, own your own business, and work from anywhere.

There's little talk of self-exploration and awareness, except to become aware of your manifestation blocks. There's little talk of healing, except to the degree that it allows you to get what you want. There's little talk of mission, purpose, and service to the collective, except for its ability to bring you clients and recognition and money.

There's no discussion about who gets left behind because of your business practices. There's no talk about accessibility, equity, fairness, or anyone else's freedom but your own—and those who can afford to pay your fees.

What about the consequences of those business practices? What about asking yourself why you have those desires in the first place? What about helping people heal? What about healing our broken society? What about your duty to anyone other than yourself?

If this is your primary motivation, you're not bringing forth a New Age, you're just recreating old paradigm with yourself in power.

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism i

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism is known as “spiritual ego” and it’s quite rampant. One thing I’d like to emphasize about the second study is that they actually interviewed people who were studying to become spiritual practitioners (specifically energy workers). I don’t find it surprising, but it should be alarming that the people studying to become practitioners are exhibiting narcissistic thought patterns in regard to themselves in relation to spiritual practice, when that is literally the antithesis of spiritual practice—and they’re studying to go out into the world to work with the public.

Narcissists are attracted to positions of power, particularly self-appointed ones.

Please be discerning in who you choose to work with. If you need some help evaluating who is the real deal, here’s a couple of posts that can help:

inmysacredspace.com/spiritual-abuse

inmysacredspace.com/credibility

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 If you’ve got a topic you’d like me to tackle, feel free to DM me. Here’s one from yesterday on spirituality + [insert any controversial subject, but especially those which are political in nature].

People engage in spiritual bypassing for all sorts of reasons, but it typically has to do with avoiding accountability or their own uncomfortable emotions.

You can avoid spiritual bypassing by asking yourself a few questions and answering honestly:

—Pause and examine your emotional state. Ask yourself what emotions you’re feeling. Name them. Is there shame underneath?

—Who is sitting in a position of power in the dynamic in question? Is it you or someone else? The person (or group) with the power is the person with the responsibility for leadership and wielding that power responsibly, and they are the ones who are accountable.

—Is the person or situation triggering this feeling attacking your character (shaming) Or are they holding you accountable for actions (guilt)?

—Are you attempting to bypass accountability by setting a boundary, or avoiding dealing with the situation, subject matter, or the feelings they trigger? Or is it a healthy boundary?

—Does this situation remind you of any past instances where you were abused? Does it evoke emotions attached to a painful memory?

—Does avoiding accountability for or remaining silent about this subject, culture, or action result in other people being harmed? (This is the part of spirituality where we recognize our obligation to the collective)

—Does NOT setting a boundary result in your own harm?

Answering these questions really requires us to dig into the nuances between shame, guilt, accountability, power, and what belongs to us vs. what doesn’t. They’ll give you a clear idea, though, of whether you’re engaging in bypassing by avoiding social responsibility/accountability or not.

I’ve written about this topic a lot, and you can find some of my other posts here:

inmysacredspace.com/separation-consciousness

inmysacredspace.com/shadow-work

Inmysacredspace.com/cancel-culture

I once had a conversation with a man who told me t

I once had a conversation with a man who told me that legacy was very important to him. But what he really meant by legacy wasn’t to be remembered for his impact on the world, it was simply that he be remembered.

That’s not a legacy, that’s just fame, and it’s hollow.

In contrast, I couldn’t give three flying fucks if anyone remembers my name when I’m dead (I’d honestly prefer not to be known even while I’m alive).

I care about the change I initiate while I’m here and it’s exponential growth after I’m gone. I’d be content to be like one of those people who contributes a household item we use every single day that’s completely changed how we live, but nobody knows who the fuck came up with it. Like the guy who invented the wheel—the innovators that history forgot.

I don’t want to create inventions, of course. I just want to help people heal in some small way, and make the world generally more aware of itself. Nobody needs to know who did it, just that it needed to be done—and it was.

That’s true purpose. It doesn’t ask for the spotlight. Just the result.

Some people pride themselves on getting out of the

Some people pride themselves on getting out of their comfort zones, and certainly, if you do what you always did, get you'll get what you've always gotten. But like anything, this all depends on context.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before, like move across the country, and that scares you, that's an opportunity you might miss because of your comfort zone. It might be worth the risk.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before that might actually violate your personal values, and expose you to harmful relationship dynamics, that's a whole other ballgame. That's risky behavior because you don't recognize risk when you see it.

Sometimes our comfort zones exist because we've been severely traumatized, and pushing ourselves out of them too fast, too soon is just like the trauma that created them in the first place. This is harmful.

Sometimes, because of abuse, we don't actually fully understand what our comfort level is. We ignore our discomfort because that's what our abusers taught us to do, and when we come up against some similar, subtle, but potentially harmful experiences, we stick around too long, not realizing what's happening until it's too late.

Those with people-pleasing or codependent tendencies are not great at recognizing risk or when their boundaries are being violated, and a lot of folks think that pushing through this is somehow conquering their fear in the name of spirituality. If you're a recovering people pleaser, or have a history of trauma and abuse, I urge you to ignore the comfort zone messaging on Instagram when it comes to really personal things like relationships, sex, and things which are directly tied to your physical and emotional well-being.

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflower

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflowers whose seeds are only capable of germination after being exposed to extreme heat. They literally require the destructive force of a forest fire to crack open and begin to grow.

From the ash of everything that has burned down around them, they are catalyzed, transformed, and set on a path to blossom.

You’re going to burn through many versions of yourself on this journey.

The growth is in the forgiving.

— Notes to Self

#healing #spirituality #personaldevelopment #writingtoheal #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #writer #healer #lightworker #awakening #quoteoftheday #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel. Le

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel.

Learn more about bypassing and gaslighting: https://inmysacredspace.com/project/spiritual-bypassing/

#spiritualbypassing #spiritualgaslighting #spirituality #wellness #wellnessthatworks #wellnessjourney #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today wh

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today where the prematurely enlightened have placed the desires of the unexamined ego—money, fame, material possessions, success—on the same level as, and in many cases above, the mission and purpose of a higher calling, which wills the healing and liberation of all beings...not just self.

As a result, we have droves of spiritual influencers and business coaches operating from the same level of ego that produced the existing power imbalances in our society which are destroying our planet.

Their only concern is manifesting their desired outcome. The "inner work" is only discussed in the context of its role in helping one manifest that outcome. It's about building six and seven-figure businesses, finding your ideal client, making enough money to work four days a week, and maintaining a positive attitude so that you can manifest all the things you've always wanted, own your own business, and work from anywhere.

There's little talk of self-exploration and awareness, except to become aware of your manifestation blocks. There's little talk of healing, except to the degree that it allows you to get what you want. There's little talk of mission, purpose, and service to the collective, except for its ability to bring you clients and recognition and money.

There's no discussion about who gets left behind because of your business practices. There's no talk about accessibility, equity, fairness, or anyone else's freedom but your own—and those who can afford to pay your fees.

What about the consequences of those business practices? What about asking yourself why you have those desires in the first place? What about helping people heal? What about healing our broken society? What about your duty to anyone other than yourself?

If this is your primary motivation, you're not bringing forth a New Age, you're just recreating old paradigm with yourself in power.

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism i

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism is known as “spiritual ego” and it’s quite rampant. One thing I’d like to emphasize about the second study is that they actually interviewed people who were studying to become spiritual practitioners (specifically energy workers). I don’t find it surprising, but it should be alarming that the people studying to become practitioners are exhibiting narcissistic thought patterns in regard to themselves in relation to spiritual practice, when that is literally the antithesis of spiritual practice—and they’re studying to go out into the world to work with the public.

Narcissists are attracted to positions of power, particularly self-appointed ones.

Please be discerning in who you choose to work with. If you need some help evaluating who is the real deal, here’s a couple of posts that can help:

inmysacredspace.com/spiritual-abuse

inmysacredspace.com/credibility

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 If you’ve got a topic you’d like me to tackle, feel free to DM me. Here’s one from yesterday on spirituality + [insert any controversial subject, but especially those which are political in nature].

People engage in spiritual bypassing for all sorts of reasons, but it typically has to do with avoiding accountability or their own uncomfortable emotions.

You can avoid spiritual bypassing by asking yourself a few questions and answering honestly:

—Pause and examine your emotional state. Ask yourself what emotions you’re feeling. Name them. Is there shame underneath?

—Who is sitting in a position of power in the dynamic in question? Is it you or someone else? The person (or group) with the power is the person with the responsibility for leadership and wielding that power responsibly, and they are the ones who are accountable.

—Is the person or situation triggering this feeling attacking your character (shaming) Or are they holding you accountable for actions (guilt)?

—Are you attempting to bypass accountability by setting a boundary, or avoiding dealing with the situation, subject matter, or the feelings they trigger? Or is it a healthy boundary?

—Does this situation remind you of any past instances where you were abused? Does it evoke emotions attached to a painful memory?

—Does avoiding accountability for or remaining silent about this subject, culture, or action result in other people being harmed? (This is the part of spirituality where we recognize our obligation to the collective)

—Does NOT setting a boundary result in your own harm?

Answering these questions really requires us to dig into the nuances between shame, guilt, accountability, power, and what belongs to us vs. what doesn’t. They’ll give you a clear idea, though, of whether you’re engaging in bypassing by avoiding social responsibility/accountability or not.

I’ve written about this topic a lot, and you can find some of my other posts here:

inmysacredspace.com/separation-consciousness

inmysacredspace.com/shadow-work

Inmysacredspace.com/cancel-culture

I once had a conversation with a man who told me t

I once had a conversation with a man who told me that legacy was very important to him. But what he really meant by legacy wasn’t to be remembered for his impact on the world, it was simply that he be remembered.

That’s not a legacy, that’s just fame, and it’s hollow.

In contrast, I couldn’t give three flying fucks if anyone remembers my name when I’m dead (I’d honestly prefer not to be known even while I’m alive).

I care about the change I initiate while I’m here and it’s exponential growth after I’m gone. I’d be content to be like one of those people who contributes a household item we use every single day that’s completely changed how we live, but nobody knows who the fuck came up with it. Like the guy who invented the wheel—the innovators that history forgot.

I don’t want to create inventions, of course. I just want to help people heal in some small way, and make the world generally more aware of itself. Nobody needs to know who did it, just that it needed to be done—and it was.

That’s true purpose. It doesn’t ask for the spotlight. Just the result.

Enhanced Kundalini Meditation With Frankincense Essential Oil

Enhanced Kundalini Meditation With Frankincense Essential Oil

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTUITION

LIFESTYLE

Q&A

Enhanced Kundalini Meditation With Frankincense Essential Oil

Some of you may be familiar with the chakra system and kundalini, others maybe not so much. I’ve touched on Kundalini briefly in a previous post. You can achieve an enhanced kundalini meditation with frankincense essential oil.

The chakra system is made up of seven energy vortices located at varying points along the spine, as depicted by the chart below:

Each chakra corresponds to a specific color and is intrinsically tied to various emotional states of energy.

Kundalini is the energy that runs through each vortex, beginning at the base of the spine in the root chakra and rising up through each one until it reaches the top of the crown chakra.

To have a full kundalini awakening is to reach that point where the energy is fully awakened through the crown chakra, resulting in a greater spiritual connection to all that is. Many people experience feelings of peace and spiritual bliss during these experiences, but it’s typically reserved for those who have been meditating deeply on a regular basis for quite some time.

Enhanced Kundalini Meditation

Frankincense essential oil is said to promote spiritual awareness and deeper meditation, a better connection to your higher self and you can achieve an enhanced kundalini meditation with frankincense oil. It also corresponds with the crown chakra, so using it on the top of the head and at the brow is typically recommended to enhance your meditation experience and work directly with the pineal gland.

Some of you may know, my mom is a Young Living distributor, and she gave me some Sacred Frankincense a while back after my appendectomy to help with scarring, because it also has regenerative properties.

I decided to try it during meditation shortly thereafter and I had an interesting experience.

An excerpt from the previous article I mentioned up above:

When most people think about spirituality, they think about fluffy things like “love” and “light” and “enlightenment.” Not sex. But sex is not completely different than love and light and spiritual understanding. Sexual energy is, more or less, the fabric of the universe.

It’s creation itself. Kundalini, if you are unfamiliar with that term, in yogic theory, is a primal energy, or shakti, located at the base of the spine.

In other cultures it’s know as

Ka (Egypt)

Chi/Qi (China [Tao])

Ki (Japan)

Prana (Hindu)

Pneuma (Greece)

Mana (Polynesia)

Ruah (Hebrew)

It’s the basic spiritual essence.

Through meditation, one practices raising Kundalini through each chakra to obtain spiritual awakening. Kundalini is not separate from sexual energy. It’s why many meditation practitioners experience intense sexual energy during meditation and even prolonged orgasm.

That may sound a bit hokey to some skeptics, but I’m fairly skeptical myself and I experienced it. Twice. Both times while using Sacred Frankincense during meditation.

It’s kind of funny because most people associate Frankincense with the story of Jesus being born in the manger. Equating it with orgasmic meditation energy seems somewhat sacrilegious in that context… so naturally, I love it. lol

Given it’s typical association with Christmas, I thought it would be a great time to give a bottle away! So now through December 25th, everyone who subscribes to my blog will be entered in a drawing for a free 15ml bottle of Young Living Frankincense, which typically retails for $96. You read that right… this shit’s expensive.

I’ll also do a SECOND drawing and give away a bottle of Nutmeg, also a nice holiday flavor.

AND – for those of you who are already subscribed to my daily blog posts, I’ll be giving away a 5ml bottle of Sacred Frankincense, a $55 value. The difference between Frankincense and Sacred Frankincense is the vibratory quality. Sacred Frankincense might be considered “more potent” than the regular stuff. Look for an email from me with instructions on how to enter that drawing in the next few days!

Even if you’re not the lucky winner of any of the drawings, which will be announced via a blog post shortly after Christmas, you can still get your own bottle of Frankincense or Sacred Frankincense at the wholesale price, which is slightly cheaper at $73.50 and $42.25. Check out the details on my mom’s website here.

Interested in additional essential oils that will work well with other chakras? Check out the article she wrote for me a while back on essential oils for chakra balance and healing.

Xo,

Ash

← Your Definitive Guide to Debunking Orbs: Lens Flares 11 Consciousness-Raising Documentaries For Spiritual Awakening →

Enjoy this post? Subscribe to get ass-kicking inspiration delivered to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE

SUBMIT A QUESTION

Submit a question you want to pick my brain about. I may answer it in a blog post!

New to Spirituality?

Look up the meanings behind commonly used spiritual terminology and concepts in the Spirituality Encyclopedia.

Related Posts:

@ASHRISING ON INSTAGRAM

Some people pride themselves on getting out of the

Some people pride themselves on getting out of their comfort zones, and certainly, if you do what you always did, get you'll get what you've always gotten. But like anything, this all depends on context.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before, like move across the country, and that scares you, that's an opportunity you might miss because of your comfort zone. It might be worth the risk.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before that might actually violate your personal values, and expose you to harmful relationship dynamics, that's a whole other ballgame. That's risky behavior because you don't recognize risk when you see it.

Sometimes our comfort zones exist because we've been severely traumatized, and pushing ourselves out of them too fast, too soon is just like the trauma that created them in the first place. This is harmful.

Sometimes, because of abuse, we don't actually fully understand what our comfort level is. We ignore our discomfort because that's what our abusers taught us to do, and when we come up against some similar, subtle, but potentially harmful experiences, we stick around too long, not realizing what's happening until it's too late.

Those with people-pleasing or codependent tendencies are not great at recognizing risk or when their boundaries are being violated, and a lot of folks think that pushing through this is somehow conquering their fear in the name of spirituality. If you're a recovering people pleaser, or have a history of trauma and abuse, I urge you to ignore the comfort zone messaging on Instagram when it comes to really personal things like relationships, sex, and things which are directly tied to your physical and emotional well-being.

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflower

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflowers whose seeds are only capable of germination after being exposed to extreme heat. They literally require the destructive force of a forest fire to crack open and begin to grow.

From the ash of everything that has burned down around them, they are catalyzed, transformed, and set on a path to blossom.

You’re going to burn through many versions of yourself on this journey.

The growth is in the forgiving.

— Notes to Self

#healing #spirituality #personaldevelopment #writingtoheal #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #writer #healer #lightworker #awakening #quoteoftheday #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel. Le

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel.

Learn more about bypassing and gaslighting: https://inmysacredspace.com/project/spiritual-bypassing/

#spiritualbypassing #spiritualgaslighting #spirituality #wellness #wellnessthatworks #wellnessjourney #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today wh

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today where the prematurely enlightened have placed the desires of the unexamined ego—money, fame, material possessions, success—on the same level as, and in many cases above, the mission and purpose of a higher calling, which wills the healing and liberation of all beings...not just self.

As a result, we have droves of spiritual influencers and business coaches operating from the same level of ego that produced the existing power imbalances in our society which are destroying our planet.

Their only concern is manifesting their desired outcome. The "inner work" is only discussed in the context of its role in helping one manifest that outcome. It's about building six and seven-figure businesses, finding your ideal client, making enough money to work four days a week, and maintaining a positive attitude so that you can manifest all the things you've always wanted, own your own business, and work from anywhere.

There's little talk of self-exploration and awareness, except to become aware of your manifestation blocks. There's little talk of healing, except to the degree that it allows you to get what you want. There's little talk of mission, purpose, and service to the collective, except for its ability to bring you clients and recognition and money.

There's no discussion about who gets left behind because of your business practices. There's no talk about accessibility, equity, fairness, or anyone else's freedom but your own—and those who can afford to pay your fees.

What about the consequences of those business practices? What about asking yourself why you have those desires in the first place? What about helping people heal? What about healing our broken society? What about your duty to anyone other than yourself?

If this is your primary motivation, you're not bringing forth a New Age, you're just recreating old paradigm with yourself in power.

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism i

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism is known as “spiritual ego” and it’s quite rampant. One thing I’d like to emphasize about the second study is that they actually interviewed people who were studying to become spiritual practitioners (specifically energy workers). I don’t find it surprising, but it should be alarming that the people studying to become practitioners are exhibiting narcissistic thought patterns in regard to themselves in relation to spiritual practice, when that is literally the antithesis of spiritual practice—and they’re studying to go out into the world to work with the public.

Narcissists are attracted to positions of power, particularly self-appointed ones.

Please be discerning in who you choose to work with. If you need some help evaluating who is the real deal, here’s a couple of posts that can help:

inmysacredspace.com/spiritual-abuse

inmysacredspace.com/credibility

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 If you’ve got a topic you’d like me to tackle, feel free to DM me. Here’s one from yesterday on spirituality + [insert any controversial subject, but especially those which are political in nature].

People engage in spiritual bypassing for all sorts of reasons, but it typically has to do with avoiding accountability or their own uncomfortable emotions.

You can avoid spiritual bypassing by asking yourself a few questions and answering honestly:

—Pause and examine your emotional state. Ask yourself what emotions you’re feeling. Name them. Is there shame underneath?

—Who is sitting in a position of power in the dynamic in question? Is it you or someone else? The person (or group) with the power is the person with the responsibility for leadership and wielding that power responsibly, and they are the ones who are accountable.

—Is the person or situation triggering this feeling attacking your character (shaming) Or are they holding you accountable for actions (guilt)?

—Are you attempting to bypass accountability by setting a boundary, or avoiding dealing with the situation, subject matter, or the feelings they trigger? Or is it a healthy boundary?

—Does this situation remind you of any past instances where you were abused? Does it evoke emotions attached to a painful memory?

—Does avoiding accountability for or remaining silent about this subject, culture, or action result in other people being harmed? (This is the part of spirituality where we recognize our obligation to the collective)

—Does NOT setting a boundary result in your own harm?

Answering these questions really requires us to dig into the nuances between shame, guilt, accountability, power, and what belongs to us vs. what doesn’t. They’ll give you a clear idea, though, of whether you’re engaging in bypassing by avoiding social responsibility/accountability or not.

I’ve written about this topic a lot, and you can find some of my other posts here:

inmysacredspace.com/separation-consciousness

inmysacredspace.com/shadow-work

Inmysacredspace.com/cancel-culture

I once had a conversation with a man who told me t

I once had a conversation with a man who told me that legacy was very important to him. But what he really meant by legacy wasn’t to be remembered for his impact on the world, it was simply that he be remembered.

That’s not a legacy, that’s just fame, and it’s hollow.

In contrast, I couldn’t give three flying fucks if anyone remembers my name when I’m dead (I’d honestly prefer not to be known even while I’m alive).

I care about the change I initiate while I’m here and it’s exponential growth after I’m gone. I’d be content to be like one of those people who contributes a household item we use every single day that’s completely changed how we live, but nobody knows who the fuck came up with it. Like the guy who invented the wheel—the innovators that history forgot.

I don’t want to create inventions, of course. I just want to help people heal in some small way, and make the world generally more aware of itself. Nobody needs to know who did it, just that it needed to be done—and it was.

That’s true purpose. It doesn’t ask for the spotlight. Just the result.

Some people pride themselves on getting out of the

Some people pride themselves on getting out of their comfort zones, and certainly, if you do what you always did, get you'll get what you've always gotten. But like anything, this all depends on context.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before, like move across the country, and that scares you, that's an opportunity you might miss because of your comfort zone. It might be worth the risk.

If you're talking about doing something you've never done before that might actually violate your personal values, and expose you to harmful relationship dynamics, that's a whole other ballgame. That's risky behavior because you don't recognize risk when you see it.

Sometimes our comfort zones exist because we've been severely traumatized, and pushing ourselves out of them too fast, too soon is just like the trauma that created them in the first place. This is harmful.

Sometimes, because of abuse, we don't actually fully understand what our comfort level is. We ignore our discomfort because that's what our abusers taught us to do, and when we come up against some similar, subtle, but potentially harmful experiences, we stick around too long, not realizing what's happening until it's too late.

Those with people-pleasing or codependent tendencies are not great at recognizing risk or when their boundaries are being violated, and a lot of folks think that pushing through this is somehow conquering their fear in the name of spirituality. If you're a recovering people pleaser, or have a history of trauma and abuse, I urge you to ignore the comfort zone messaging on Instagram when it comes to really personal things like relationships, sex, and things which are directly tied to your physical and emotional well-being.

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflower

There are certain species of pyrophytic wildflowers whose seeds are only capable of germination after being exposed to extreme heat. They literally require the destructive force of a forest fire to crack open and begin to grow.

From the ash of everything that has burned down around them, they are catalyzed, transformed, and set on a path to blossom.

You’re going to burn through many versions of yourself on this journey.

The growth is in the forgiving.

— Notes to Self

#healing #spirituality #personaldevelopment #writingtoheal #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #writer #healer #lightworker #awakening #quoteoftheday #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel. Le

Honor your process and allow everyone to feel.

Learn more about bypassing and gaslighting: https://inmysacredspace.com/project/spiritual-bypassing/

#spiritualbypassing #spiritualgaslighting #spirituality #wellness #wellnessthatworks #wellnessjourney #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today wh

We have a problem in New Age spirituality today where the prematurely enlightened have placed the desires of the unexamined ego—money, fame, material possessions, success—on the same level as, and in many cases above, the mission and purpose of a higher calling, which wills the healing and liberation of all beings...not just self.

As a result, we have droves of spiritual influencers and business coaches operating from the same level of ego that produced the existing power imbalances in our society which are destroying our planet.

Their only concern is manifesting their desired outcome. The "inner work" is only discussed in the context of its role in helping one manifest that outcome. It's about building six and seven-figure businesses, finding your ideal client, making enough money to work four days a week, and maintaining a positive attitude so that you can manifest all the things you've always wanted, own your own business, and work from anywhere.

There's little talk of self-exploration and awareness, except to become aware of your manifestation blocks. There's little talk of healing, except to the degree that it allows you to get what you want. There's little talk of mission, purpose, and service to the collective, except for its ability to bring you clients and recognition and money.

There's no discussion about who gets left behind because of your business practices. There's no talk about accessibility, equity, fairness, or anyone else's freedom but your own—and those who can afford to pay your fees.

What about the consequences of those business practices? What about asking yourself why you have those desires in the first place? What about helping people heal? What about healing our broken society? What about your duty to anyone other than yourself?

If this is your primary motivation, you're not bringing forth a New Age, you're just recreating old paradigm with yourself in power.

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism i

For those in the know, this spiritual narcissism is known as “spiritual ego” and it’s quite rampant. One thing I’d like to emphasize about the second study is that they actually interviewed people who were studying to become spiritual practitioners (specifically energy workers). I don’t find it surprising, but it should be alarming that the people studying to become practitioners are exhibiting narcissistic thought patterns in regard to themselves in relation to spiritual practice, when that is literally the antithesis of spiritual practice—and they’re studying to go out into the world to work with the public.

Narcissists are attracted to positions of power, particularly self-appointed ones.

Please be discerning in who you choose to work with. If you need some help evaluating who is the real deal, here’s a couple of posts that can help:

inmysacredspace.com/spiritual-abuse

inmysacredspace.com/credibility

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷

I’m doing posts by request now, apparently? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 If you’ve got a topic you’d like me to tackle, feel free to DM me. Here’s one from yesterday on spirituality + [insert any controversial subject, but especially those which are political in nature].

People engage in spiritual bypassing for all sorts of reasons, but it typically has to do with avoiding accountability or their own uncomfortable emotions.

You can avoid spiritual bypassing by asking yourself a few questions and answering honestly:

—Pause and examine your emotional state. Ask yourself what emotions you’re feeling. Name them. Is there shame underneath?

—Who is sitting in a position of power in the dynamic in question? Is it you or someone else? The person (or group) with the power is the person with the responsibility for leadership and wielding that power responsibly, and they are the ones who are accountable.

—Is the person or situation triggering this feeling attacking your character (shaming) Or are they holding you accountable for actions (guilt)?

—Are you attempting to bypass accountability by setting a boundary, or avoiding dealing with the situation, subject matter, or the feelings they trigger? Or is it a healthy boundary?

—Does this situation remind you of any past instances where you were abused? Does it evoke emotions attached to a painful memory?

—Does avoiding accountability for or remaining silent about this subject, culture, or action result in other people being harmed? (This is the part of spirituality where we recognize our obligation to the collective)

—Does NOT setting a boundary result in your own harm?

Answering these questions really requires us to dig into the nuances between shame, guilt, accountability, power, and what belongs to us vs. what doesn’t. They’ll give you a clear idea, though, of whether you’re engaging in bypassing by avoiding social responsibility/accountability or not.

I’ve written about this topic a lot, and you can find some of my other posts here:

inmysacredspace.com/separation-consciousness

inmysacredspace.com/shadow-work

Inmysacredspace.com/cancel-culture

I once had a conversation with a man who told me t

I once had a conversation with a man who told me that legacy was very important to him. But what he really meant by legacy wasn’t to be remembered for his impact on the world, it was simply that he be remembered.

That’s not a legacy, that’s just fame, and it’s hollow.

In contrast, I couldn’t give three flying fucks if anyone remembers my name when I’m dead (I’d honestly prefer not to be known even while I’m alive).

I care about the change I initiate while I’m here and it’s exponential growth after I’m gone. I’d be content to be like one of those people who contributes a household item we use every single day that’s completely changed how we live, but nobody knows who the fuck came up with it. Like the guy who invented the wheel—the innovators that history forgot.

I don’t want to create inventions, of course. I just want to help people heal in some small way, and make the world generally more aware of itself. Nobody needs to know who did it, just that it needed to be done—and it was.

That’s true purpose. It doesn’t ask for the spotlight. Just the result.

Pin It on Pinterest