It’s tempting to believe that you can escape your personal responsibility and change and awaken by simply meditating into the higher realms, upgrading your DNA at a weekend workshop, or downloading divine light activation codes from the Akashic records.
If you think that you are somehow spiritual because you call yourself a lightworker, starseed, non-terrestrial being, or learned in two days how to be a reiki master and unlock your third eye, you are really missing the point. And I am talking from experience.
The Fall of the Old Paradigm
It’s clear that the old paradigm of religion and science is falling apart because it doesn’t allow for personal spiritual experience and lacks the contemporary understanding of consciousness and the human experience. I think we have had enough of the original sin, and our search for external salvation ultimately failed. We became disenchanted with mechanistic explanations based on institutionalized science that prioritize profitable discoveries and refuse to change. The truth is that we yearn for direct mystical experiences; just look at how sacred plants like ayahuasca are becoming so popular as we enter into the second psychedelic renaissance.
We feel lonely and yearn for connection. The rapid evolution of technology has interestingly increased social isolation, and it seems that for this new generation the only purpose and meaning is to become a social media influencer. On top of that, when you look around you see war, an insane loss of life, environmental degradation, a growing mental health crisis and basically the commodification of every aspect of the human experience. What we are really good at is destroying the Earth and each other. How do you feel about that? I guess not too good. Me either.
The Spirituality Business
When you believe that somebody will save you, that in some way, somehow, it’s possible to escape the pain of awakening and remembering who you truly are, you become vulnerable.
Countless businesses are riding the spiritual awakening wave as we ascend into the (supposed) fifth dimension. Their prey is a huge crowd of disappointed new-age humans who believe that they are breaking free from the shackles of the old paradigm of religion and science and finally found the elixir of life. At least they are open-minded. Unfortunately, they are also childlike and naive, like I was. They are easy prey.
“DNA Activation” workshops charge thousands of dollars for weekend retreats claiming to activate your “dormant DNA strands” to unlock your supernatural abilities and accelerate your evolution. Or “Starseeds Activation” retreats that promise to reconnect you with your “galactic origins” and unlock cosmic memories through expensive initiations.
There are many more examples of how these businesses create a sense of specialness and promise shortcuts to spiritual development, but of course, only if you follow them and buy all their products. I hope I can save you some time by telling you that this is the wrong path.
Spiritual Bypassing
I used to believe that you can avoid facing your deep wounds and ignore the darker aspects of personal growth. But spiritual practices that lead to immediate relief but don’t contribute to long-term fundamental change are just a form of bypassing and an emotional band-aid. I have seen many times, for example, people drinking ayahuasca every couple of weeks without any integration and any change in their life. Spiritual tools can offer temporary relief but without embodiment, they don’t lead to lasting transformation.
Authentic Spirituality
Authentic spirituality isn’t about escaping human experience. It’s about fully accepting it. It’s found in the ordinary moments of showing up for others, in the humility of admitting you don’t have all the answers, and in the courage to face your shadows rather than convincing yourself that you are already above them.
Why do you think you are here on this earth now? To focus on some heavenly realm? To deny and escape your human nature and the physical realm? I don’t think so. Be here now. Be a responsible creator. Take care of each other. Take care of the Earth. Live from your heart. Be humble. Follow your path. Be generous. Be kind. That’s what I call being spiritual.
7 Steps to Spot Spiritual Deception
The spiritual marketplace often promises enlightenment while ignoring foundational well-being. When you are struggling with disease, depression, financial lack, or isolation, you can’t self-actualize; you have to take care of your basic needs first. Spirituality can help you with that, but how can you tell the difference between fake spirituality and genuine spiritual guidance? Just follow these seven steps.
1. Embodiment vs Experience
Real spirituality integrates spiritual insights into actions, relationships, and conscious choice. True growth is reflected in behavior, not just mystical experiences.
2. Acceptance of the Shadow
You can easily spot fake spirituality that avoids discomfort, pain, or personal responsibility. If you believe that there is only love and light you are heading into a rude awakening that will force you to embrace the full spectrum of your human experience including your shadow.
3. Humility vs Superiority
Fake spirituality believes that it’s superior, better than others and has a higher spiritual status. Real spirituality practices humility, knowing how much there is still to learn, knowing that we are all equal and we are in this together.
4. Responsibility vs Denial
When you deny and avoid your problems instead of addressing them, you fall into the trap of fake spirituality. When you are truly spiritual,you are a responsible creator, you take action and you take good care of yourself, others and the Earth.
5. Change vs Stagnation
Fake spirituality remains in the realm of ideas, visions, and concepts without embodiment and practical application, while real spirituality will transform your life, your work, and your relationships. It is reflected in kindness, generosity, and presence in your daily life.
6. Presence vs Escape
When you use spirituality to escape your reality through endless practices, ceremonies and altered states, you are on the wrong path. True spirituality teaches you how to be present, live your life fully, and take care of what matters here and now.
7. Connection vs Isolation
In the end, fake spirituality leads to isolation, elitism, and disconnection from real-world relationships and responsibilities. When you are truly spiritual, you nurture connections, and you walk a path of service to others, contributing to the greater good.
Shortcut to Enlightenment?
In the end, is there a shortcut to enlightenment? I think there is and there isn’t. Let me explain.
For me, sacred plants, especially ayahuasca, proved to be powerful tools to see through the spiritual deception and catalyze rapid change, healing, and evolution. But they are not magic pills, either. To reach sustainable results, we cannot bypass the deep inner work and temporary discomfort that is a natural part of real transformation and happens outside of the ceremony container.
However, when you are willing to surrender to this death and rebirth process and fully embrace this journey, sacred plants can speed up your transformation but you will face more intensity.
The Key: Personal Guidance and Support
The best you can do to find the right path and not waste your time is to work with a trusted guide or teacher when you embark on your journey of self-discovery and spiritual transformation. Remember that healing and awakening are not always comfortable. Personal growth can sometimes be overwhelming, but having a guide can prevent you from being discouraged or lost.
Your teacher or guide can help you to see your blind spots and see the bigger picture to find your best solution and move on. More than that, having someone who listens to you and encourages you through difficult moments can make the journey less lonely and more empowering. Spiritual transformation is a powerful and sometimes challenging journey. Having the right support helps you to embody your spirituality in a grounded and integrated way.
Awakening Is a Destructive Process
Through my personal experience, I understood on a soul level that awakening is a destructive process, like a seed breaking out of its shell. For the seed to be expressed in its full potential, it has to be undone first, destroyed so the plant can be born.
A universal metaphor for this truth is the caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Did you know that the caterpillar transforms first into a disgusting goo before it becomes a beautiful butterfly? The caterpillar is destroyed and the butterfly is born.
First comes death, clearing the path and destroying all our illusions. Then comes rebirth, bringing new life and a more authentic expression. It’s a package deal; you can’t pick and choose, I am sorry to say.
Heaven isn’t somewhere else, it’s right here when you choose to live from your heart, and be in the right relationship with all beings. The true spiritual path isn’t about ascending away from Earth, it’s about bringing heaven down to Earth through our actions, choices, and presence.
What will you do? Stay in the comfortable deception of spiritual materialism, or will you choose the challenging, beautiful path of authentic spiritual awakening?
