spiritual journey how to start

A toxic spiritual teacher is a person who claims to have access to spiritual enlightenment and knowledge but instead uses this power to manipulate, control and exploit those who seek their guidance.

They may use mind-control techniques, cult-like tactics, or other forms of psychological abuse to gain power and influence over their followers.

Toxic spiritual teachers can be found in a variety of settings, ranging from religious organisations to yoga studios, meditation retreats, and even online courses.

These individuals often appear to be genuine in their teachings, but their manipulative and exploitative behaviour quickly reveals their underlying intentions.

They may use spiritual concepts to create a false sense of security and superiority while controlling and manipulating those who seek their guidance.

Toxic spiritual teachers bend spiritual teachings to their agenda using lofty spiritual concepts and using spiritual knowledge as a form of power.

They use their authority to control and manipulate those seeking their guidance.

Often, these teachers lack the empathy and understanding necessary to truly help those seeking their guidance, instead using spirituality as a means to further their own self-interests.

They may even take advantage of those seeking their help, by abusing their knowledge or often lack of it to manipulate them into believing they are better or more enlightened than they actually are.

Ultimately, toxic spiritual teachers can be highly detrimental to those vulnerable enough to seek guidance, and they should be avoided at all costs.

They are many pitfalls on the spiritual path and many false awakenings; although an old book, I found reading glamour by Alice bailey helped me become aware of the ego traps I would fall into and although I couldn’t stop myself from falling into all of them.

I was aware they were traps; hence the power of delusion and ego on the path can be strong, and we should seek the end goal of enlightenment but instead focus on building self-awareness.

Top Signs of a spiritual cult are:

Remember that the signs are sometimes difficult to discern, but it’s important to be aware of the risks of joining any cult.

• The group is led by a single charismatic figure who has complete control over the group and its members.
• The group has a rigid hierarchy and strict rules that must be followed.
• The group is intensely focused on recruiting new members.
• Members are discouraged from questioning the leader or the group’s beliefs or practices.
• Members are discouraged from forming relationships or having contact with outsiders (i.e., family and friends).
• Members are expected to give up their personal possessions and conform to the group’s way of life.
• The group isolates its members from the outside world (i.e., they live in a compound or commune).
• The group uses mind-control techniques, such as sleep deprivation, fear, guilt, and peer pressure, to keep members in line.
• The group engages in illegal or unethical activities.
• The group is secretive, and members are not allowed to leave.

Be very cautious about joining if you see any of these signs in a spiritual community. There is a risk that the group may be a cult and that you could be subjected to mind control and manipulation.

Self-awareness is a concept that has been around for centuries, but only in recent years has it gained greater traction.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognise ,understand and reflect on your emotions, thoughts, and behaviour.

It’s the capacity to be conscious of one’s feelings and identity, to be aware of what you’re feeling and why you’re feeling it. It’s the ability to take a step back and gain a broader perspective on what’s happening in and around you.

Self-awareness is a powerful skill that can help you understand ourselves and the world around us and can also be a source of great personal growth.

 It can provide clarity into our strengths and weaknesses, helping us recognise and embrace them both to become better, more confident communicators, problem solvers and overall successful individuals.

Self-awareness also allows us to recognise our emotions and behaviours, as well as the emotions and behaviours of those around us.

This can help us develop stronger relationships and better understand how to interact with others meaningfully and positively.

Ultimately, cultivating self-awareness can be an incredibly rewarding journey, leading to greater self-confidence, improved communication, and overall contentment.

A spiritual journey is an incredibly powerful aid to self-awareness. It can lead to profound personal transformation and help us better understand and appreciate our true selves.

Embarking on a spiritual journey can help make us more in tune with our desires and beliefs and allow us to look within and explore our innermost thoughts and feelings.

As we hone our inner wisdom, our outer world can start to become clearer and more fulfilling.

A spiritual journey can be an empowering experience that allows us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. By embarking on a spiritual journey, we can gain insights and guidance that enable us to face life’s challenges with courage and resilience.

Through this exploration, we can find answers to questions lingering in our minds, and discover new perspectives that can help us make decisions that are best for us.

We can also gain a greater appreciation of our place in the Universe, and an understanding of our connection to all things.

By connecting with our spiritual side, we deepen our self-awareness, open ourselves up to a world of possibilities, and find a sense of inner peace and purpose.

5 techniques to help you connect with your intuition and inner guidance?

Here are five effective techniques to help you find that connection and reap the rewards of listening to your inner voice. 

The first technique is to trust your gut. When faced with a tough decision, take a moment to pause, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Then, ask yourself how you truly feel about the situation.

Do you feel a knot of apprehension or a sense of calm in your stomach? Listening to your gut feeling can provide you with valuable insight into your intuition. 

The second technique is to meditate. Meditation helps to clear your mind of the constant chatter of daily life, and allows you to focus on your innermost thoughts and feelings. As you become more adept at meditation, you may find it easier to hear the quiet voice of your intuition. 

The third technique is to pay attention to your dreams. Dreams can be a powerful source of guidance and often contain messages from our subconscious mind.

Keep a dream journal by your bedside, and note any significant or recurrent dreams you have. 

The fourth technique is one that I personally use on a daily basis – and that is to consult my “inner council”. This involves visualising myself surrounded by wise advisors, such as past teachers, parents, or spiritual guides. I then pose a question to this group, and wait for an answer to come through. You may be surprised at the clarity of guidance that you receive in this way. 

The fifth technique is similar to the previous one, but instead of consulting an inner council, you imagine yourself speaking with your higher self.

This is the part of you that knows your deepest desires and highest potential. When you pose a question to your higher self, you may find that the answer comes to you in a flash of intuition. 

Many other techniques can be used to develop your intuition, but these five are a good place to start.

By regularly practising one or more of these techniques, you will begin to notice an expansion in your awareness and an increased ability to trust your intuition.

Pay attention to how you feel when you receive an intuitive message. If it feels good – peaceful, expansive, etc. – then it is likely that the message is coming from a place of love and truth.

Conversely, if it feels bad – anxious, constricted, etc. – then the message may be coming from a place of fear or falsehood. 

Second, notice whether the message you receive aligns with your highest good. If it is, then it is likely to be accurate. However, if the message does not align with your desire, it may be inaccurate. 

Finally, trust your gut instinct. If something feels “off” about a particular intuitive message, then it is probably best to disregard it.