| Introduction | | | | abandonment issues, and rejection onto the individual |
| In my last article I spoke on how to choose and | | | | who has chosen another belief or spiritual path than |
| began the discussion on following one's chosen path. | | | | what they perceive is acceptable. In most of my |
| As we defined this earlier a spiritual path is one | | | | clients, over time, these same loved ones come to |
| where an individual is taking a route whether | | | | realize that the person in question becomes more |
| physically or metaphysically that pertains to the | | | | peaceful, happy, and balanced as they settle into |
| non-physical being of a person. The most important | | | | their own spiritual path. |
| part of such a path, is that the individual grows, | | | | The Business of Spiritual Growth |
| learns, and expands and comes to a reconciliation | | | | As for those who are "in the business", this is |
| with their understanding of the metaphysical realms | | | | unfortunately what happens to spirituality, when it is |
| and their understanding of Deity(s). | | | | replaced with business. In my personal opinion, |
| Stumbling Blocks to Spiritual Growth | | | | jealousy, prosperity, (monetary), and mean |
| As one researches, and gets in tune with their path | | | | spiritedness has no place in ANY business. As a |
| they may find some stumbling blocks to their growth. | | | | facilitator of spiritual paths, I have no investment, or |
| defines a stumbling block as: "an obstacle or hindrance | | | | agenda, that I am following, and neither does ANY |
| to progress, belief, or understanding". In other words, | | | | spiritual coach, facilitator, reader, shaman, or other |
| something that stops the movement on a particular | | | | worker in the field, who is truly following a spiritual |
| path. These blocks are usually temporary unless an | | | | path. According to the Ethics Research Center, in |
| individual chooses to make them permanent. These | | | | 2005, 75% of those polled said they saw NO |
| stumbling blocks may be in the form of lack of | | | | unethical behaviors in their workplaces. It is incumbent |
| understanding, fear, abandonment, (by friends and | | | | upon us as individuals to understand that ethical |
| family), rejection, (personal, or societal), pressure to | | | | behavior is generally demonstrated in the workplace. |
| be normal, or even unfortunately, pressure from | | | | Unethical behavior, when demonstrated is more easily |
| people in the Business of Paganism, to keep people | | | | spoken. Individuals who have been mis-treated by |
| to themselves. | | | | business people are more likely to share their stories |
| Research | | | | than those who are treated well. Any competent |
| The Morrigan, of Irish repute, is sometimes | | | | business person will tell you that their employees are |
| considered a "Battle field Goddess" when instead she | | | | trained to be pleasant to customers. This is true in |
| is actually a Goddess of prosperity and peace after | | | | the business of Spiritual Growth as well. |
| war, and according to some other traditions, while | | | | First, investigate a potential spiritual guide with |
| she may indeed release the two ravens that are | | | | individuals who have actually worked with the |
| depicted with her to her followers, she morns and | | | | individual, who can honestly evaluate if this person is |
| guides the dead of BOTH sides to the Summerlands. | | | | worth perusing as a potential coach. Remember that |
| As you can see, this could become a stumbling block | | | | not everyone is happy with the messages they |
| to an individual who has neither the time or the | | | | receive from a spiritual worker. Your best choice is to |
| inclination to do proper research. | | | | speak to as many people as possible who have |
| As a further example, an individual feels a connection | | | | worked with that individual. One source of this type |
| with Kali. A cursory search of the literature shows | | | | of information is testimonials from these actual clients. |
| Kali as a terrible aspect of a goddess. In fact some | | | | Secondly, be cautious of individuals who are |
| say that she is actually a demon that eats people | | | | susceptible to gossip, or rumors, as these individuals |
| alive. Interestingly enough, in the definitive work, The | | | | tend to exacerbate and exaggerate issues that may |
| Magic of Kali, translated by Michael Magee, it states | | | | or may not be present. After all, most individuals who |
| that this interpretation of Kali comes from the | | | | facilitate spiritual paths that are not in the mainstream |
| suppression of a group called the Thuggies, who | | | | religions/spirituality, don't fit the traditional mold of a |
| were such a problem for the British during the empire | | | | leader. |
| days. In fact, Kali or Mahaprakrti, is " the destroyer | | | | Thirdly, listen to your own guides and intuition. These |
| of anxiety, giving boons, seated on a corpse, and | | | | are your BEST guides for YOUR path. Each individual |
| gives all desires." | | | | that truly facilitates or teaches within this discipline |
| Fear, Abandonment, and Rejection | | | | knows that bringing together individuals of diverse |
| Fear, abandonment, rejection and pressure to be | | | | backgrounds, and paths to bring about the individual's |
| normal are related to our culture and society. In the | | | | highest spiritual enlightenment, doesn't waste time |
| first article in this series (Choosing and Following Your | | | | bashing other workers. Many of my associates, |
| Own Path ) I stated that we are social creatures | | | | follow Wiccan, Christian, Hindu, and First Peoples, |
| that desire acceptance. As the nature of a personal | | | | (Native American), paths and we all work together, |
| spiritual path is not necessarily the same as those | | | | as there is room for all. After all, since a person's |
| around us, these pressures can be intense. It is only | | | | path is INDIVIDUAL, a particular facilitator can not |
| by being truly grounded and committed to our own | | | | help everyone. |
| path that one can stand up to these pressures. In | | | | Financial Remuneration |
| my time as a Spiritual Coach one thing is constant. In | | | | Everyone has financial needs in this society. In tribal |
| the beginning parents, friends, relatives, and spouses | | | | societies, the shaman, or spiritual worker is cared for |
| can be frightened by, (what they perceive), as a | | | | by the community he or she serves. However, the |
| rejection of their values and ideals, yet later come to | | | | individual in question is not doing this work as a JOB. |
| appreciate the growth of the individual. | | | | Most of us, have been called to do this work, and |
| Why does one receive rejection? Sometimes loved | | | | are happy and honored to be able to facilitate other |
| ones exhibit psychological projection. According to | | | | people's paths. This isn't to say, that a spiritual coach, |
| The Language of Psychology, (a psychology | | | | teacher, or facilitator, should never accept support |
| dictionary): Psychological projection (or projection | | | | from their clients. It is all about intent. If the |
| bias) can be defined as unconsciously assuming that | | | | renumeration is paramount, then the work is |
| others have the same or similar thoughts, beliefs, | | | | secondary. I for one, and all those I work with, while |
| values, or positions on any given subject as oneself. | | | | we accept the funds that are offered,we don't turn |
| According to the theories of Sigmund Freud, it is a | | | | our backs on individuals who are guided to us, who |
| psychological defense mechanism whereby one | | | | do not have the financial wherewithal to "support" |
| "projects" one's own undesirable thoughts, | | | | our work. |
| motivations, desires, feelings-basically parts of | | | | As one progresses in their particular path, they find |
| oneself-onto someone else (usually another person, | | | | various combinations of these and other stumbling |
| but psychological projection onto animals and | | | | blocks. Remember, it is YOUR choice what you |
| inanimate objects also occurs). In this particular | | | | follow. |
| example, a loved one projects their own fears, | | | | |