In 2018, once I began this weblog, My Non secular Shenanigans, I had moved previous the preliminary turbulence of my non secular journey (generally referred to as the Darkish Evening of the Soul). I used to be now starting to expertise a mystical journey, with dozens of every day little miracles and divine nudges from the Universe. So, as usually as I wrote about most of the challenges and the darkish facet of spirituality, I additionally emphasised the way it all obtained higher quickly after.
There was a deep reduction for all of the psychological and emotional storms having handed! And it felt nice with the ability to share it with the world. I incessantly heard again from readers about how the writings impressed them and gave them hope that issues would shift for them, too.
That they may really feel that the Universe had their again, too.
Across the similar time that I used to be falling in love with my life and feeling immensely optimistic due to all of the little winks I’d get from the non secular realm (indicators, synchronicities, insights), it was now time for a distinct seed to be planted.
One of many readers grew to become the catalyst for one thing I’d perceive a few years later. She commented one thing alongside the traces of the Universe isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, and plainly the creator of this weblog hadn’t skilled true loss earlier than.
Ouch! It put me on defence. In my response again to her, I commented with a listing of all of the ways in which I had skilled ache, too – whether or not it was a failed try to resuscitate my grandfather in his final moments with us or watching my grandma succumb to a ventilator on my thirteenth birthday after her knee surgical procedure went incorrect.
I then justified my stance about how rosy this journey was anyway.
As I write this text as we speak, I smile at my innocence.
The reader was proper.
Recent out of a non secular cocoon, the butterfly in me was nonetheless studying to flap her wings. I had no clue what phrases like trauma and nuance meant, not to mention with the ability to deliver that lens into my writings.
Even as we speak, I can’t make any grand claims about my understanding of life however I do know higher than to stay by way of the bubble of rainbows and sunshine!
There’s a lot extra to this journey that, sadly, doesn’t get talked about sufficient as a result of maybe, similar to me, the those who undergo these experiences don’t know tips on how to discuss them or select to concentrate on the great as a substitute.
So I’m placing collectively a mammoth article on this matter: the darkish facet of spirituality.
As a lot as I’ll work to normalize experiencing these bizarre and unfavourable conditions, I can even concentrate on empowering you with instruments to navigate these challenges.
So… what is the Darkish Aspect of Spirituality?
On the one hand, we’ve got honourable guides, mentors, and healers who put their coronary heart and soul into serving to the world change into a greater place.
Then there’s this different facet, of maliciousness and non secular abuse. Leaders and ideologies that do extra hurt than good.
Equally, on one hand, we’ve got highly effective vitality therapeutic instruments designed to realign and empower us nearly instantaneously; you’d suppose it’s magic. I consider the ability of Reiki, crystals, and burning sage and Palo Santo. After which I consider psychic assaults and vitality vampires that depart one drained on so many ranges.
Speaking concerning the darkish facet of spirituality is about accepting that similar to there’s unbelievable potential in unlocking previous lives, meditating on the third eye chakra and protecting a dream diary to interpret the unconscious messages, there’s additionally the exact opposite, disturbing facet of issues like sleep paralysis, night time terrors and different mind-games.
It’s about realizing that if there’s profound enlightenment and a way of Oneness, there are additionally states of despair, loneliness and delusion.
The checklist goes on – some experiences are much less “darkish” than others. However all of them allude to the identical factor:
This journey is actually NOT all rainbows and sunshine. And till we don’t tackle the challenges, they’ll hold attending to us.
So, I hope to make use of the ability of phrases and data to deliver this darkish facet to the sunshine, and to empower you to journey the waves of your non secular shenanigans with extra ease, confidence and power.
5 Issues We Don’t Discuss About (However It’s Time We Do)
This will probably be an ongoing collection, so please bookmark this text and are available again. I’ve tons to say right here, and can hold including to this publish! In my first iteration of this text, listed here are 5 challenges I’ve seen on the non secular path, alongside the related assets that may assist navigate them:
#1 – Non secular bypassing
What’s that? Listed here are some private examples.
The most important hole I used to be beginning to see inside myself was that my every day non secular practices began appearing as a band-aid. Don’t get me incorrect – these had been a strong set of rituals that elevated my thoughts and temper. However in a short time, I acknowledged that getting right into a trance by way of Binaural Beats or specializing in the vibrations of AUM wasn’t sufficient.
I wanted extra instruments in my toolkit as a result of as soon as off the mat, I used to be heavy on judging and preaching to everybody round me for not being as non secular (particularly to my candy, candy mother and father, sigh).
It was simple for me to learn and discuss deep philosophies comparable to oneness and detachment, however boy was I continuously triggered and working away from everybody and their humanness! Are you able to relate?
Additionally, as one other instance, many people, myself included use spirituality to justify issues. “It’s karma”, or “you shouldn’t be so effected, be taught detachment”, or “you learn so many non secular books, you must know higher” and so on are a few of the dialogues that creep in, making this journey really feel unforgiving.
These contradicting behaviours are termed as Non secular Bypassing.
It’s when our thoughts logically “will get” the philosophy however hasn’t actually built-in it. These non secular concepts act as poetic lip-service however fall brief with regards to placing them into motion.
With regards to ourselves, we are able to tackle our non secular bypassing in many alternative methods; whether or not it’s taking the time to decelerate and discover sensible methods to use the philosophy we be taught into every day life, or specializing in deeper instruments comparable to somatic work, projection work and emotional regulation in order that we don’t bypass the human expertise within the title of spirituality.
However what about non secular bypassing that comes from different folks? Since there’s a lot to be lined on this matter, listed here are some devoted articles to assist go deeper, from totally different angles:
#2 – Non secular ego
The phrase “ego” usually has a nasty rep. However the humorous factor is, so long as we choose the ego, we’re caught with it. As a result of mockingly, it’s the ego judging the ego!
So how will we perceive (and overcome) our ego, particularly with regards to spirituality?
My unbelievable non secular information, Acharya Vivekji describes the ego as having two capabilities – figuring out with or defending us from one thing.
Its goal is survival – the whole lot that makes survival simple is value figuring out with. The whole lot that challenges our survival must be prevented. And so it’s a primal manner of current.
Nothing incorrect with that – nevertheless it’s fairly limiting as a result of it holds us again from shifting past animalistic survival into residing a lifetime of true human potential.
And with regards to our non secular development, the best way the ego holds us again is it creates extra duality. Extra causes to not be “one” with our Creator or with these round us. It may well additionally block us from studying, after we start to suppose we all know all of it. Or worse, suppose we’re higher than others, as a result of we’re “extra non secular” or “previous souls”, and so on.
Additionally, ego isn’t all detrimental, per say. It’s what helps us aspire for a greater life, set greater targets and set ourselves to greater requirements. However even this facet of the ego can change into limiting, as a result of it’s what leads many people to our existential disaster. After one level, more cash, promotions or relations simply don’t reduce it. So, it’s essential to get off the autopilot management of our ego and begin connecting with one thing deeper, our soul.
Over time, I’ve had the possibility to work by way of many of those flavours, and have created numerous articles and self-paced therapeutic supplies to assist perceive and overcome the detrimental AND optimistic limitations of the ego-mind.
Caveat: your ego would possibly get tremendous defensive once you learn a few of these, however don’t fear, you (soul) aren’t your ego!
#3 – The “creeps”
In case you’re sitting down and focusing in your breath for a couple of minutes, it’s most likely not scary. However generally, throughout deep contemplation, folks start to have unusual experiences. They usually really feel scared throughout meditation, which makes them abruptly cease their follow altogether.
This isn’t restricted to meditation.
The non secular realm has each, the great and not-so-good entities. Some are in service to us, and a few aren’t. And for a myriad of causes that I talk about in this prolonged article (which additionally comes with instruments to beat the phenomena), we’d up getting creeped out and drained by the not-so-good ones.
As haunting as these items could be, there may be hope.
Past the instruments I share within the above-mentioned article, I’ll be sharing much more instruments and concepts in some upcoming articles about psychic assaults and coping with night time terrors / sleep paralysis.
Keep tuned to the weblog and/or watch this area so that you’ll know once I replace the hyperlinks!
#4 – Non secular abuse
It infuriates me to listen to about “gurus” who benefit from others of their most susceptible states throughout their non secular journey. I’m speaking about cults and self-proclaimed saints that put on the sacred garb however go on to assault their victims in any respect ranges – bodily, mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.
There are numerous horror tales and documentaries that spotlight this maliciousness.
There’s solely a lot I can say about intentional abuse. However there’s much more that I can supply across the different angle: unintentional non secular abuse.
It’s the sort the place a pacesetter or instructor has good intentions of their coronary heart, however their very own traumas or world views get in the best way of their in any other case noble trigger. This taints our expertise of spirituality, as a result of it’s loaded with disgrace, judgement, criticism, and so on.
Non secular abuse can take many shapes and varieties. Like shaming others for not progressing quick sufficient, not meditating extra, not appearing spiritually in difficult moments, and so on. It may well additionally seem like mockery or dismissal of 1’s non secular improvement, with feedback like “is that what your books have taught you?”
It doesn’t all the time should be a instructor – generally our fellow non secular mates and folk too, can deliver us down with such behaviours and feedback. The underside line is: it results how we see ourselves, and when left unchecked can impact our psychological well being to the purpose that it takes us fully away from the journey of self-development.
I’ve a devoted article on this matter right here. Numerous instruments, suggestions and as all the time, my private story (sure, I too went by way of therapeutic from a spiritually abusive group).
#5 – Non secular obsessiveness
Our non secular journey has so any cool issues to show us! And… all these modalities, practices and pursuits can change into a slippery slope when left unchecked.
There are some frequent rabbit holes that the majority of us will go down, like binge-reading numerous non secular books, utilizing natal charts or tarot playing cards to assist navigate each inconvenience, or clicking pictures and screenshots of each angel quantity we see all through the day.
After which, there’s a form of non secular obsessiveness that results in conditions like these:
“I’m writing in hopes of your assist with my brother. I’ve learn your weblog and it sounds nearly precisely what my brother goes by way of and I consider he wants some assist. The angelic numbers, the studying of vitality, communication with spirits, all the way down to the emotional trauma he skilled to achieve this level. He’s been to psychiatrists with no actual assist besides placing him on laborious drugs. This expertise has consumed his life and that is all he’s targeted on now. Myself, I’m skeptical. I can see issues to some extent however he takes it to the acute. He is a brilliant man that wants some assist, is there an opportunity you may assist me perceive? Or possibly attain out to him and mentor him out of your experiences? I don’t know what else to do because the time will probably be coming that he’ll reduce his entire household off as a result of he’s so targeted on this. I consider the whole lot occurs for a cause and there’s a cause I discovered your weblog. Thanks for taking the time to learn this.”
It was this highly effective e mail change with Renee that impressed me to put in writing my e-book, Homecoming: A Non secular Information for the Woke up & the Awaking. I took the assistance of many my purchasers from the time to assist verbalize what was occurring with us, in order that these round us might proceed being there for us.
At what level does one draw the road? And the way would we even know we’ve crossed it?
One symptom of getting gone too far is non secular loneliness, the place one self-isolates to the purpose of a psychological breakdown as a result of nobody appears worthy of being round and nobody appears to get you! Past my guide listed above, I’ve additionally addressed this matter within the following article.
One other facet is non secular fatigue from all the time therapeutic. It’s when no quantity of therapeutic seems like sufficient. There’s all the time one thing to work on, and you are feeling such as you’re working on a hamster wheel – spending vitality however not actually getting anyplace. Right here’s an article on tips on how to take care of that.
After which after all, there’s non secular disconnect. While you attain the purpose of getting been so non secular, you may’t appear to really feel non secular in any respect. Right here’s a rundown on what to do if you happen to and the Universe aren’t speaking to one another anymore.
Concluding Ideas
Whether or not you’re within the thick of such occasions and are on the lookout for a manner out, are a skeptic rolling your eyes at us fellow non secular fans, or it’s merely your curiosity that brings you to this text, I belief that the tales, insights and instruments I share will empower you.
I additionally humbly admit that these writings (or my data) can’t cowl the magnitude and vastness of spirituality’s shadow in its entirety. And but, these are essential conversations to have – and to that I’m dedicated and in your service. There’s a lot extra to be stated!
Let me know within the feedback under how this text helps your understanding of the darkish facet of spirituality. And be happy to share what different components I can add to make it extra all-encompassing.
Vasundhra is the Founder & Author of My Non secular Shenanigans. After seeing 11:11 on the clock one fateful night time, her life circled. Ever since, she has been mixing fashionable psychology and historic spirituality, to assist herself and other people world wide elevate the standard of their lives.
Able to take your therapeutic deeper? Join her for self-paced lessons bundle and/or for personalised 1:1 teaching.
