There’s little information in life today that isn’t ultra-accessible or searchable online. We feel entitled to know things, anything, all the time. Beautiful as this thirst for knowledge is, quenching it doesn’t always work out quite so well, especially if the facts are incorrect, or placed into the wrong hands.
Within the spiritual community I see knowledge being shared respectfully and carefully, but there are also instances where it’s distributed neglectfully and carelessly; for likes, money or ego. When I began my own journey into spirituality, I was young and had no idea the foundations that I was laying for myself. I had an interest in literature, and so I read. I felt drawn to understanding how people function and why, and so I asked questions. I wanted to know why we’re even here at all, and these were active, not passive thoughts. There was no desire to become enlightened, or to excel in the field of mysticism (whatever that was). I wasn’t even trying to heal myself, not consciously at least. I was driven by a passion to understand. No agenda, no rush.
Slowly I started to notice, and pay attention to, the role I had in friendships and other circles. I was able to have the deepest conversations with the most unlikely people, to hold space and help them in ways I was told were uncommon. And I enjoyed it, because these were the conversations and moments worth having. This was the warmth I felt amongst the pages of those books, where the most important questions and answers were being shared. This was home.
When I began to actively acquire knowledge, I was eager to use all these skills to help people. I learned how to rewire my emotional responses, understand my personal history, research old texts, work with spiritual teachers and connect directly with source, guides, ancestors, deities. Why wouldn’t I share how much more aligned life can be, how much power is possible over this matrix? And not egomaniacal power but soft, gracious power. Power that is conscious of its outcomes, and fully accountable.
In the early days of practicing, I often took for granted the amount of work it had taken, that it takes, to even be able to see universal lessons, before learning them. I forgot the years of consciously exorcising personal demons, breaking unhelpful patterns, the looping trauma preceding eventual emotional and mental healing. The process is sacred, spellbinding, all consuming. Along the way, I’ve seen many step on and off the path of personal and spiritual development. I’ve seen how whimsically some approach it, how short their interest span, and how inauthentic their intentions. It’s true that not everyone who tries something new will become proficient in it, but sadly my profession is easier to fake than some others. It’s not difficult to attend a couple of Reiki lessons, dabble in a little astral projection and then pretend to be the font of all knowledge. It’s easy because people who know less must be extraordinarily discerning to spot someone who is disingenuous. Or they must simply be desperate and ignorant of the truths they’re missing.
I went through a long phase of telling people that the things I do are uncomplicated, that talking to the dead is effortless, past life regression is a cinch, meeting your guides is basic work, that magic is all intuitive, no big deal. And, actually, I stand by the sentiment I had. But what’s not easy is knowing what to do, when you connect into the spirit world and a dark entity tries to slip through the portal you’ve created, onto your body and into the home you share with your family. What’s not straightforward, is knowing exactly what to say to a client who suddenly begins reliving trauma mid-session, or how to help a person differentiate between their intuition and an overactive imagination.
The problem with information being so readily available, is that its value becomes tainted. The lack of work invested into acquiring the knowledge can mean that important steps are skipped, that people believe they have arrived at their destination, when they’ve only travelled half the journey. I used to think mystery schools were elitist, an antiquated ideal that should no longer apply to teachings so crucial to personal growth. And while there are definitely elements within these schools which are overkill, what’s undeniable is the sanctity they uphold. They are unapologetic in their guarding of ancient practices and the mystical arts. There is knowledge that takes a lifetime to acquire because it can take a lifetime to know why it is necessary.
When seeking to learn what pleasures and truths a spiritual life can bring, one must be honest about one’s reasons and true intentions. If it is a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, you will only be left poor of spirit. For the sake of all our souls, practice patience, and humility. Understand what discernment is. There is a great difference between sitting in circle with woman who is good at tarot, and sitting in circle with a high priestess, that has direct connection to a pantheon of gods and goddesses who meet her as an equal. One of these women will likely guard her knowledge a little more robustly.
If you have not done the work, have not put in the consistent effort, then you do not deserve the depths, that others who have, are able to reach. It would be like handing a loaded rifle to a child. Bluntly speaking, while no one is perfect on this journey, some are not even trying. It’s crucial to be mindful of the shortcuts you try to take and to respect why not every teacher will teach you what you think you need to know.
