What it truly means to live your spirituality

'First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they attack you. Then you win.'
- Mohandas Gandhi

There seems to be a backlash against people who choose to fully live their spirituality in the public these days. I think that we are riding the after-wave of the coming-out of spirituality as cool and refreshing with now widely accepted practices such as Reiki and Yoga, and moving into the depth of our collective spiritual awakening that is challenging us to accept more of what it means to be on the path of spiritual awakening.

First, I’d like to say that one does not choose to be on this path. On one hand, everyone is on the path of spiritual awakening course, but some people do have a profound calling to live a life that is focused around their spirituality. For me, this was the case. I never chose to dive deep into Yoga, Tantra, Divine Feminine empowerment and Shamanism. When I came across these ideas, it was like coming Home to mySelf. These were systems of understanding what I had always known to be true. They gave words to my feelings and symbols to what I knew to be Truth and, although I had to move everything around me to follow this calling, I knew that it was the right decision for nothing had made me feel more like mySelf before.

Being a spiritual teacher isn’t a side gig or a job at all! When your whole being is telling you that you are your spirituality, your whole life becomes your spiritual path. Everything from brushing your teeth, to speaking to a stranger, walking down the street, to any illnesses that you may have and any emotions, feelings and thoughts! All of these have spiritual significance that you need to take responsibility for because, if only for one reason, you know that the responsibility is yours.

Indeed, when you walk the spiritual path which is a path that increases your awareness and your sensitivity, you have no choice but to respond to what is. You can no longer walk asleep without taking care of your trauma, your shadow, your addictions, your wounds, your fears, etc. Because everything becomes amplified to the point of no return. You either face deep depression (also part of your spiritual awakening) or wake up every single day to do your best to stay present and in your heart while life launches the biggest tests for your to grow and learn. And it will test you! In fact, the more awareness (light) you have, the more difficulties (shadow) will come your way. This is the way of the yin and yang dynamic that rules the Universe.

So, although my women’s circles and yoga workshop seem glamorous and sexy, be aware! There is a much harder side to spiritual awakening than you think. It is deep. It is challenging all that you thought you knew and all of what society has told you. For this reason, you might be in direct conflict with your family, your cultural background, your workplace, etc. Because, when you take the torch of enlightenment, you become the bearer of the weight of responsibility to bring light (awareness) and healing to all areas of your life and all of the people around you as well. 

That said, every single sacrifice that you make to develop yourSelf, every moment of darkness and pain and doubt, is always rewarded by the deepest fulfillment: knowing that you are indeed on your Path and that you have countless spiritual and earthly allies with you on this journey. Furthermore, the result which we all hope for: the opening of our Heart to hold more Beauty, more Bliss, more Light and more Darkness, truly equate with more peace in your life.

Over all, I believe that we all have different roles to play on this planet and that some roles are very different and sometimes puzzling for some, but all of these roles are nevertheless crucial and all of them have their shadows too. Being a spiritual leader for your community is a noble and humbling calling in this lifetime, just as working in a restaurant, assisting elderly people, or any other job can be. It does not elevate you to a higher level than anyone else. What it does is that it propels you to find a way to live your life with more understanding and meaning. It propels you in a direction from which you never really come back exactly the same as when you left, and yes, this transformation is hard and difficult and yet it brings you closer to yourSelf and to others who resonate with who you Truly are and came for.

May we all find the courage and know the freedom to live our lives with meaning and Truth.. May we find the kindness and humility to keep doing our best, every day, knowing that we always have more to learn for as long as we are alive and even after that.