Spiritual Guru vs Spiritual Goon

Spiritual Guru vs. Spiritual Goon 

These days it is hard to know who is telling the truth from a lie. Over the last decade we have seen many traumatic occurrences from domestic terrorism to overt racism all leading to a further separation from Divine unity. Interesting enough, these days most people are spiritual. They come from a religious background but realize that what our parents believed no longer works for us, at this time. So how do we determine the righteous from the unrighteous, good intentions from the bad intentions, and the false from the real? Well, how do you know right from wrong? Who taught you? And after you thought you knew; did someone manage to create a new scheme to get you sucked in? 

I believe we will never know the best decisions to make or who to trust 100% of the time. However, I do believe that deep inside our gut, vagus nerve, and pineal gland, when we come across those uncertain moments of hesitation, we already know the answer is NO. 

I can remember several times my intuition told me something and before my eyes it came true just as I projected. I can also remember having a bad gut feeling and at the end it was my own perception, beliefs, concepts that lead me to that false conclusion. So how do we determine what to believe or not? 

It first starts with having a fresh filter. Having a fresh filter on life means that you have learned and unlearned the things that no longer serve you. The stories of your past are retold from a different perspective and there is curiosity in your daily thoughts and interactions with others. We can no longer assume we know everything or that the facts are all true, so the best way to discern is to maintain a flexible awareness of all things known and unknown. Secondly, examine people's values, beliefs, and boundaries. Like Maya Angelou said “ when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time”.  I always give people the benefit of the doubt. In fact that's my way of trusting however, we often give people too much permission to overstep your boundaries and intrude on our sacred space. And if you don't know, sacred space is something that is consistently pure, nourishing, and significant to you. It's something that you can't risk sharing with everyone because it grounds you. You know if your sacred space has been invaded because you feel an unease in your body. Our body always sends signals, we just have to pay attention and listen to ourselves. That sacred space can be you mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, or financial.  

Another way to determine spiritual guru from spiritual goon is to listen. A while back I had no tolerance for what I deemed as excuses and bull crap, but someone said to me “Shanice if you listen, you can diagnose the problem”. We talk too much. That’s it. We’re oftentimes so consumed in talking about ourselves that we do not truly hear what the other person is saying or not saying. For one week try not talking about yourself and listen to what other people are actually saying and let them steer the conversation. Be patient and challenge yourself to listen, analyze, and ask questions to see, Why do they think and feel that way?   

Then, do an authenticity check. With social media being a multimillion dollar industry we literally have the world at our fingertips. Do your research on people, do not just believe what they say or what they teach, but examine their life to see if they practice what they preach. In most cases you may see that they are just like every other human being trying to figure it out. And that’s okay for as long as the outreach is full of positivity and well-being. However remember Mathew 7:15-20 -You will know them by their fruits . 

 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 

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