Everyone knows that when I blog it’s because I am writing about something that is very close to my heart; today it’s New Age Preachers.
A situation happened that concerned me deeply. A friend of mine was badly attacked. I won’t go into the details but it was serious enough to be hospitalized. A natural, (in my mind) response to this would be to ask someone that had been through such an ordeal what they need or how you can help but not in the eyes of the New Age Preachers.
Let’s face it we’ve probably all done it at some point in our life when we began on our ‘spiritual’ path, been so enthralled by Eckhart Tolle that we’ve dropped a few:
‘Be present,’ or; ‘That’s your ego talking.’ And how about those old chestnuts; ‘Surrender in the moment,’ and ‘attachment is the root of all suffering.’ But hang on for one minute. Do you think anyone really needs to have a spiritual new age bible verbally vomited in their direction when they are in a space of deep pain, trauma and suffering? It’s just as cringe worthy as some staunch Christian reciting bible verses in an emotionally heated situation. When did spirituality become a series of pointless phrases to patronize someone that clearly needs emotional availability?
In this particular situation while my friend was bedridden and vulnerable, the advice she was offered was this.
“You created your own reality.” Wtf?
The situation is so much more multifaceted and layered than that and it makes me shudder to think that when we need compassion and heart the most, there are people out there that are so lacking in connection to their own emotions that this is the only advice they can offer.
Nobody needs advice when they are suffering and if and when they do they will ask for it. Comments like that do more damage than good and we’ve all on this path received them at some point or another. New age spirituality gives me the creeps. It’s like people hide behind concepts and notions they have yet to experience. For example; the reoccurring patterns that happen to frequent most of our lives were created during childhood when we were unable to think or act for ourselves. We were innocents. These patterns continue to play out in our adult lives where yes being accountable for our actions and aware of our blind spots is extremely important but there are also subconscious deep rooted beliefs embedded within our lives that play out daily.
Yes on a higher level maybe our spirits did choose these paths ‘in order for us to transcend’ but when we are reliving or experiencing deep, painful emotions that is not what needs the healing. It is our inner child that is crying out for love and protection because all of us, spiritual or not carry wounds from our childhood and are learning about emotional availability and the healing of the parts of us that were so damaged.
Spiritual advice is best left in books and yoga salas when it comes to emotional healing. It is something that needs to be experienced during meditation, yoga or when we are in our spiritual learning phase not during a traumatic situation.
My friend is on a huge healing path right now and no one is working harder to heal their past than this person. My heart and support goes out multiplied for the path this angel has chosen, and as for the spiritual preachers?
Maybe it’s time you get out of your head and into your body. Deal with your own shadow before you patronize someone else’s. Take a look at yourself; trust me your shit does not smell like roses. Those of us that have done the work on ourselves understand that the layers keep coming and it’s the heart and emotional body that needs to open and release in order to move forward free of our own particular insidious karma. I should know, shit still happens to me, it’s just easier to deal with as I have better tools, stronger boundaries but I still have a blueprint I am clearing, I just don’t get burned like I used to.
So next time you hear of someone in a dark or painful space really think before you speak. Are you going to offer them some pointless piece of spiritual book read information that hasn’t been completely digested and understood? Or are you going to see the human, the person that needs your love and support?
Love and light may be ‘where we’re all supposed to be heading’ but the darkness and shadow within us is something that needs the most attention right now because until you have embraced and transcended your own emotional baggage it will keep chasing you until there is nowhere left to run.
Coming Soon…
so exactly TRUE !!!!
Yes, some new age people are full of it.
Let your friend know you’ll be there no matter what. Encourage her to talk about her trauma but don’t press or push. Let her know it’s okay to be feeling whatever she’s feeling…
That’s all she needed in that moment… Yes!! She is recovering well. Thank you 🙂
Absolutely spot on! Most of these new ager tree huggy hippy types make me want to vom! Many are sociopaths, deluded and narcissistic! Thanks for posting this.
I don’t think new age preachers are preaching this. I just think new age followers are hearing it. So I think you’re blaming the wrong folks here! The ones who seem to forget common sense, common connection, because of something they think their guru told them. Let’s not blame the right person, huh! 😉
And I speak as someone who has listened to many gurus in the last 15 years or so – Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Abraham Hicks, etc. – but not to the point that I never questioned what they’ve said, or ended up blaming them for actions I’ve taken!
Hope it’s okay to share this, Abigail! 🙂 If not, fair dos…
* Oops, that should read “Let’s blame the right person, huh! 😉 “
Thank you Steve, that’s a valid point!! Yes everyone out there that is on this path is seeking to ‘better’ themselves and I certainly don’t wish to alienate or ‘blame’ anybody… Just as you say add a little bit of love and connection or awareness to the whole situation and life is always multifaceted so there’s truth in everything I totally agree with your comment as another angle! I have also read many books, meditation retreats, yoga etc on this path and have stayed away from ‘gurus’ because it’s not my particular theme, but we all have our own journeys of self discovery and are always looking to broaden our perspectives which is why feedback is so important and our paths are so unique and personal to us. Thank you for your reply 😉
A good observation Abigail. For many – spiritual enlightenment has become a replacement religion (as seen in forms – check box if you are ‘x’ or ‘y’ religion or ‘spiritual’). Therefore – in the time honoured way – the more people rely on something – the more they rationalise everything around it (and use it as some form of swiss army knife in all situations).
I was sat yesterday morning in my monthly business networking group – and someone gave a short talk (very much NOT business as usual) about universal energy driving your instincts (with a practical example). People reacted (predictably) in different ways. Some listened intently, some attempted to hijack it for their own purposes, some sat smirking that “uh oh, woo-woo alert” face and some just sat on their smart phones texting the office.
I see spirituality as a walking pole for use up the steep slope (and it IS steep) of better self-understanding. I’m ok with that. I don’t see it as a crutch to walk with along a flat surface – I wouldn’t be OK with that as an able-bodied soul.
This is the problem – people do get rather lazy. Give them something to lean on – they’ll lean on it.
Hope your friend gets better..
Really, really well said!! Are you blogging? I think you should be!!! Thank you 😉
Thanks very much Abi. I am – on my site: http://www.sensescape.co