8 results for tag: Spiritual Bypassing


Is The Spiritual Movement Counter-Productive?

When you think about the current spiritual movement, what image or images come into your mind's eye? Do you think of a specific style or fashion? Who does your mind create as "spiritual"? What do they look and talk like? What color skin or body type do they have? What jargon do they use to let you how "spiritual" they are? I have been fascinated and at times felt saddened by how spirituality has become more of an industry, than a practice. My Teacher always used to say to me whenever I thought I was becoming "spiritual" that stills sticks with me today, especially in regard to how I market and promote my professionalisms private practice. She would say, "Michael, you need keep your practice in the basement". I knew she was not literally referring to me setting up an office or a place to meditate in the basement, although I have done that before, she meant that I need to stay vigilant about thinking I have arrived and/or I am special. This does not mean I am any less special than anyone else. I am special in my way as you are special in your way, as equals, not more or less special. The ego is relelentless in its pursuit of creating an illusion in our mind that we "know something" that others do not know, or in more current lingo, that we are "woke". Is The Spiritual Movement Counter-Productive? - Providence Holistic Counseling Services ...

We Can Still Be Crazy – Pema Chodron

We can practice meditation, Yoga, and Qi Gong every single day and night, and we can still be crazy! We can still be crazy if we practice all of the above, eat organic "healthy" foods, take herbs, and drink kombucha daily, and we can still be crazy. We can meet with an acknowledged expert in therapy or counseling, and we can still be crazy. In fact, it is possible that we may even become crazier if we diligently commit to these practices and follow them up with a 7-day cleanse and a weekly water fast. Nothing can guarantee that we will not be crazy. Nothing. Is the goal not to be crazy or to live an amazingly imperfect life that we get to be ourselves on a regular basis? Would you agree to practice daily if you knew you would never stop being crazy, BUT you would begin accepting yourself for who you really are? If you are curious about how we can still be crazy after daily meditation for years or decades, and that is OK, I invite you to read this short essay by Pema Chodron below. If you are unfamiliar with her and her work, please follow the link in the previous sentence; she is a living gem!  We Can Still Be Crazy - Pema Chodron - Michael Swerdloff - Providence Holistic Counseling, Coaching and Reiki ...

Spiritual Bypassing, Relationships and The Shadow

I first started becoming aware of spiritual bypassing a few years ago. My eyes opened wide as I was reading the page in front of me. "A spiritual bypass or spiritual bypassing is a "tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks" John Welwood & Tina Fossella. This was it! This was the thing I had been aware of for years in myself and others that I had not known what it is or how to describe it! I was so excited that there really was such a "thing" and it had a name. I have cut out parts of the article below but most of the content on spiritual bypassing is included. <span class='highlight lazy'>Spiritual Bypassing</span>, Relationships and The Shadow - Providence Holistic Counseling Services...

Rock Stars and Groupies: Narcissistic Co-Dependence in the Yoga Teacher-Student Relationship

Narcissistic co-dependence exists in many fields, not just the yoga teacher-student relationship. As the author mentions, narcissistic co-dependence is prevalent in the therapy and counseling community, it is a "thing" for sure. I can honestly say that I have experienced narcissistic co-dependence in relationships as both a student and a teacher through Reiki and other modalities of the spiritual community. Rock Stars and Groupies: Narcissistic Co-Dependence in the Yoga Teacher-Student Relationship - Providence Holistic Counseling Services - one does not become enlightened ...

Going Beyond Our Prisons

"The real power of the Buddha was that he had so much love. He saw people trapped in their notions of small separate self, feeling guilty or proud of that self, and he offered revolutionary teachings that resounded like a lion's roar, like a great rising tide, helping people to wake up and break free from the prison of ignorance." Tich Nhat Hanh   Going Beyond Our Prisons - Providence Holistic Counseling Services - you-must-first-realize-the-prison-of-your mind ...

Spiritual Greed and Gluttony – Dark Night of The Soul

I Remember about a dozen years ago, I was going through a particularly challenging time that felt like a hopeless period In my personal and spiritual development. Among other things, my mentor had suggested I read and meditate on Dark Night Of The Soul by St. John of The Cross.  She suggested I pay close attention to the teachings on spiritual greed and gluttony. I immediately became furious at her, but pretended as if I was okay. Of course, she knew better. Like any "good student" who wants to prove to his mentor just how good a student he is, I left her and directly went to buy a copy of the book.   st john of the-cross dark night of the soul- Spiritual Greed and Gluttony - Providence Holistic Counseling Services - Beyond The Dark Night Kathryn Brimblecombe...

Blindness – A Spiritual Teaching in Seeing

As the weather in South Korea starts to turn, so have the leaves. I have looked forward to this more this year than in the past. I wanted to see what it looks like in South Korea in autumn. It has arrived. Red, burnt orange, orange, yellow, ochre, green and light green fill the streets of Cheonan. Today, being a sometimes-sunny sometimes-cloudy day, I wanted to get out on Tang San Mountain with my camera and hiking shoes to enjoy the day. I did not leave my room till about 3:30, which was fine. It is getting dark around 6:00 these days, so I would have plenty of time to explore and take pictures of the trees and whatever else caught my fancy. I got some great shots of the top of the white cement apartment buildings foreshadowing all the mountains in the background that surround the city of Cheonan. I had not seen this view before; it was the first time I made it to this trail. This trail was more vigorous an incline with better unobstructed views of the city....