Understanding the Spiritual Ego and its games
#AWARENESS is the first step toward transformation
What is the Spiritual Ego?
Spiritual ego is when people use their spiritual beliefs or experiences to make themselves feel more important or special. Instead of focusing on the real meaning, which is about personal growth, understanding, and love, they use spiritual beliefs, practices, or experiences as a means to bolster their own sense of self-importance, superiority, or identity.
The Thin Line Between Spirituality and Ego
Awakening journey is about growing on the inside, learning more about ourselves, and understanding the world around us. It's like taking a journey inward to discover our true selves and connect with something greater than us. For example, someone practicing meditation to find inner peace and clarity is on an awareness journey.
Ego is all about wanting others to see us in a certain way, to admire us, or to feel like we're better than them. No empathy, just pure worship and admiration. It's like wearing a fancy outfit, not because it feels comfortable or looks good to us, but because we want others to notice and praise us for it.
And people mostly do it from the place of hurt and unhealed traumas that they are not aware of. Another thing is if we become That Person intentionally and have no intention to grow.
Sometimes it seems that ego is our unhealed inner child, but from my own experience, I can say it is just a step in the awakening process - becoming aware of the difference between a wounded inner child and an ego.
Characteristics of Spiritual Ego
Spiritual Narcissism: This involves using spiritual language, concepts, or practices to enhance your own self-image or to seek admiration and validation from others. No empathy. Like being a spiritual influencer sharing only other people's quotes and their (other people's) experiences, to be Someone is more important than who you really are. Being real and sharing your own inner growth and experiences, being vulnerable, is a real awakening journey. Messy and ugly. Many people use being a spiritual or holistic coach as a practice to get external attention and approval that they didn't get from their parents.
Competitive Spirituality: Some people use their spiritual knowledge or experiences to feel superior to others whom they perceive as less enlightened or less spiritually evolved. You see other healers and coaches as competition. Everyone is trying to outdo each other instead of being unique and just sharing their experiences.
Identity Fixation: Over-identification with one's spiritual beliefs, practices, or experiences to the point where they become rigid and limiting, preventing further growth or understanding, “Guru State”. These people have a strong mental picture in their mind of how they should look and act and think, and talk, and also a "My way or the highway" or "I am so Holy" mentality.
Judgment and Criticism: Criticizing or judging others for not adhering to certain spiritual beliefs or practices, or for having different experiences or interpretations. Again, "my way or the highway" mentality. For example, representatives of religions compare their religion/beliefs with other religions/beliefs and point out why theirs is better, and label other people by their beliefs and religion.
Materialistic Pursuits: Using spirituality as a means to attain material wealth, success, or other worldly desires, by using others for their own gain and cheating. There is nothing wrong with taking money for your services as an energy exchange, but if you are doing it only for the money and there is no growth from your side, it is feeding the Ego. Have you noticed the difference in energies in Crystal/mineral shops - owners who do it from the heart or just because it is a good business idea...
A genuine awakening journey often involves compassion, open-mindedness, and a willingness to continuously learn and grow, rather than clinging to fixed beliefs or identities. Or sometimes just be an open-minded, non-judgmental person.
Here are some beliefs that I've observed being misunderstood, which are preventing people from progressing in their journey.
Blaming your parents for your unhappiness.
This is your Ego's game, victim mentality talking in you. You are an adult now, and you alone are responsible for your emotions. Stop the blame game and take care of your unresolved and suppressed emotions and feelings.
You can't move forward if you are still angry and afraid.
Lots of workshops and holistic therapies focus too much on anger and self-pity, and in the end, fail to help us.
I have noticed in myself and with my clients that sharing feelings about your childhood traumas has a powerful healing effect. Sometimes we just want to be heard. The important part is not to get stuck in a circle of complaining and victimhood. The spiritual ego just loves it and feeds from it.
While you are talking and having visual images in your mind about the event, your body goes through it as if it were happening now; it doesn't know the difference.
So, before you start to whine again about how awful your life was/is, STOP, correct yourself, and work with your suppressed feelings instead.
Superficial vulnerability and openness
Superficial vulnerability and openness are like wearing masks to appear open, vulnerable, or understanding, but without truly connecting or being genuine, everything about this person feels rehearsed, exaggerated, or calculated. It's like they're reading from a script. It's about putting on a show of vulnerability or openness to get attention, praise, or sympathy from others, rather than building real connections or truly understanding others.
Sharing your feelings is a sign of weakness
In my opinion, sharing is self-caring.
Sharing is an important part of our healing and growth as humans.
For the healing to begin, it is important to share feelings from the time of the trauma and afterward. You need to understand that: You and only you can give yourself the compassion and kindness you needed at that moment of pain or trauma. Otherwise, you will become dependent on other people's reactions, because the ego wants self-pity and attention and to be heard and noticed all the time.
Open up to someone you trust and who does not judge you; this will be the beginning of the healing process for you. The good side of sharing your experiences and feelings with someone you feel safe with is that your subconscious mind releases information you have suppressed for a long time.
It is important to train yourself to be aware of your growth at all times and to notice when you are falling back into the victim mentality so that you can stop yourself. Just bring your energy back into the present time/moment, reminding yourself that it is just a memory.
Remember dealing with Spiritual Ego is just one step on your journey, everyone goes through it.
Certain BACH FLOWER remedies can help address underlying emotional states and imbalances that may contribute to the development or reinforcement of the spiritual ego.
Here are some suggestions:
Agrimony is for people who hide their inner turmoil behind a mask of cheerfulness and may use spirituality as a way to avoid facing their true feelings or issues. Agrimony can help promote inner honesty and the courage to confront and address emotional pain.
Water Violet is for those who tend to be aloof, proud, or overly self-reliant, potentially using spirituality as a means to maintain a sense of superiority or separation from others. Water Violet can help foster greater openness, humility, and connection with others.
Vine is for people who have a strong will and may be domineering or authoritarian, using their spiritual beliefs or practices to exert control over others or to bolster their own sense of importance. Vine can help promote a more balanced and compassionate approach to leadership and personal interactions.
Impatiens is for those who are impatient, irritable, or easily frustrated, potentially using spirituality as a way to seek quick fixes or instant gratification rather than embracing the journey of personal growth and transformation. Impatiens can help cultivate patience, understanding, and acceptance.
Rock Water is for people who are strict, rigid, or overly disciplined in their spiritual practices, potentially leading to feelings of self-criticism, guilt, or a sense of failure if they are unable to meet their own high standards. Rock Water can help promote greater flexibility, self-acceptance, and a more holistic approach to spiritual growth.
HOMEOPATHY is another natural healing system that uses highly diluted substances to stimulate the body's self-healing mechanisms.
While homeopathy also does not specifically target the spiritual ego, there are homeopathic remedies that may help address underlying emotional, mental, and spiritual imbalances that can contribute to or exacerbate spiritual ego issues.
Here are some suggestions:
Lycopodium: This remedy is often indicated for ambitious people who have a strong desire for power and recognition and may use spirituality as a means to achieve social status or material success. Lycopodium can help promote humility, self-awareness, and a more balanced perspective on personal achievements and spiritual growth.
Nux Vomica: It is perfect for those people who are competitive and perfectionistic, and may use spirituality as a way to prove their worth or superiority over others. Nux Vomica people have a strong ego and pride in how they want the world to see them. This remedy can help reduce irritability, impatience, and the tendency to overwork or push oneself excessively, fostering a more relaxed and harmonious approach to personal growth and spiritual practices.
Sepia: This remedy is often indicated for people who feel disconnected from their emotions, others, or the world around them, potentially leading them to seek spiritual experiences or beliefs as a means to escape or avoid underlying feelings of emptiness or dissatisfaction. They have a strong need for freedom of expression. Sepia can help promote emotional balance, connection, and a deeper sense of fulfillment and contentment.
Pulsatilla: A Pulsatilla person is overly dependent on others for validation and may use spirituality as a way to seek approval or acceptance from others. Pulsatilla can help foster greater self-confidence, independence, and the ability to connect with one's own inner wisdom and guidance.
Aurum Metallicum: This remedy is often indicated for people who have high ideals and strong ambitions and may experience feelings of guilt, self-criticism, or depression if they feel they are not living up to their own or others' expectations in their spiritual or personal lives. Aurum Metallicum can help promote self-acceptance, self-worth, and a more compassionate and forgiving attitude towards oneself and others.
For homeopathy, CM potency is "the bottle opener". To read more about megapotencies and how they work, please read the book "Getting Back On Track: Using Megapotency Homeopathy" by Jill R. Turland, or just use a Google search.
It's important to note that Bach Flower Remedies and Homeopathy work best when chosen based on the specific emotional and mental states of the person, rather than just the outward symptoms or behaviors.
Remember, your awakening journey is not a competition. It's a journey of continuous learning, exploration, and finding a deeper connection to thyself.
And as always, remember to MEDITATE or practice MINDFULNESS
Thank you for joining me in this exploration, and may your path be filled with light, love, and authentic connection.
Namaste, CL
