As I reflect on the end of this year, reviewing my journal entries, client discussions, and my own life, I see how much a Spiritual Lifestyle is altogether empowering but also at times can be limiting. As a full-time Consciousness Coach, Spiritual Coach, Writer, Muse, Mother, and Entrepreneur, I'm left to these thoughts and explorations. I realize that many people in today's busy world turn to a spiritual lifestyle as a source of hope and personal fulfillment. Practices like meditation, yoga, and mindfulness offer tranquility and deeper connections. However, some might find their spiritual pursuits to be draining or overwhelming over time.
This raises an important question: Is your spiritual journey empowering you, or taking away your energy?
a glimpse into my journey
For nearly two decades, I have mentored others to inspire spiritual practices and magical living, so that it becomes an organic way of life. This is for both personal lifestyle and career.
During some of this time, I practiced and taught a few styles of yoga, one in particular that I believed held the secret to optimal health and balanced life. I unknowingly gave my power to this practice. My journey started like most others. I thought I discovered the path to healing trauma and repairing my nervous system.
For a short time, I did. I thought I found the answer to my prayers. I built a community. Traveled. I had so many friends. Taught hundreds of classes. It felt bigger than life.
It was, until it wasn't.
Instead, my yoga world came crashing down around me in about 2018. People I trusted and loved were caught up in scandal and abuse. They were deceptive and manipulative. I found myself in deep grief, amidst a sea of chaos, running a business, raising a family, fostering a community, my thoughts tainted with the knowledge of what was happening.
I had big work to do and it was just beginning. I had to share the truth and help others to heal from this all-too-common story of spiritual abuse, brainwashing, cults, bypassing, and hierarchy. The path I had been teaching was schooling me. I took notes. Lots and lots of notes.
Recognizing the Signs of Imbalance
After the scandal hit the news and the word spread internationally for this particular type of yoga practice, Kundalini Yoga, (there have been many, not just KY), I had already closed the doors to my wellness and yoga studio. This is when the real work began. I had to heal from grief and take my power back. I had a community of people I loved who still wanted a teacher to guide them toward optimal health. I embarked on an unbelievable, topsy-turvey journey to unlearn most of what I thought I knew and you guessed it, I began again.
Two weeks after the closure of my brick-and-mortar, Covid hit and shut everything down. The Universe gave me the biggest gift. I used every moment of that time to rebuild and undo the subconscious damage that came from the dark world of cult yoga.
From the ashes, the Phoenix rises.
learning life's lessons
The time spent at home during Covid taught me to persevere. It taught me perspective. What mattered to me as a teacher? As a coach? As a modern spiritual woman? How did I want to show up in the world with authentic thoughts and original teachings? With my extensive background, I knew I had the tools to rebuild it my way.
At the end of 2024, I know I am being presented with another re-organization and re-direction. I'm beyond excited about letting go again of what no longer serves and stepping into an even more empowered sense of self and conscious living. This way I am a better mother, teacher, coach, friend, wife, daughter, and artist.
Sound familiar?
Are you, too, getting the nudge for a new direction? Are you letting go of things to invite what's next?
You see, sometimes we pursue a path from a place that needs healing. Not all paths lead to those results. Some intend to keep us sick, stuck in the mud, within our unconscious mind, feeling powerless and worse off than when we began. It's when we learn to break free from limiting patterns, others' hidden agendas, and spiritual gaslighting, that we begin to heal trauma and our consciousness. It's a journey.
ACHIEVING BALANCE
The first step toward achieving balance is assessing how your spiritual practices fit into your daily life. Do you feel more connected and empowered? Or do your routines feel strict and obligatory?
Many individuals experience guilt when they miss a meditation session or struggle to maintain their spiritual practices. This guilt can grow into stress, which contradicts the benefits that attracted them to these practices in the first place. If your spirituality starts to feel like a demanding chore, it may signal a misalignment of your priorities.
The Allure and Pitfalls of Spiritual Practices
It's important to recognize that spiritual practices can foster identity and community. They often offer comfort during tough times. However, when spirituality begins to overshadow your relationships, work, or personal well-being, it's time to reassess.
Ask yourself: Is your spiritual lifestyle enriching your life, or is it consuming it? Engaging in too many activities or feeling pressured to reach certain spiritual goals can lead to feelings of inadequacy. For instance, if you feel obligated to attend multiple gatherings each week, you may find yourself stressed rather than fulfilled.
Creating a Balanced Approach to Spirituality
Finding balance in a spiritual lifestyle takes effort. Here are some practical strategies and suggestions to help you reclaim your energy and find a harmonious approach:
Limit Commitments: Rather than trying every practice available, focus on a few that resonate deeply with you. For example, if you enjoy meditation and yoga, dedicate time to those activities and skip others that don't bring you joy. This helps to create space for authenticity and prevent overwhelm.
Set Boundaries: It's okay to decline certain spiritual gatherings or commitments if they're disruptive to your peace. Establishing clear boundaries allows you to protect your time and well-being. Check-in with your own body. If it's a "no", listen to that feedback. Perhaps it's just the day or how the stars align. Check in with yourself often. I once asked a teacher why I felt so much conflict in my body about my practices (I was much younger and naive then). This teacher's response was to "work harder and accept the teachings (aka technologies) no matter what. Just do more mantras. The message was that I was the problem. That is gaslighting. It is abusive. I should have left that day. I no longer practice mantra or let others tell me how to live spiritually. No one should ever "tell" you or guilt you into how you live your life.
Practice Presence: Instead of chasing spiritual perfection, concentrate on being present in your chosen activities. For instance, during meditation, try to focus on your breathing rather than your to-do list. This mindfulness can enhance your experience and lessen feelings of obligation.
Reflect Regularly: Dedicate time for self-reflection. Ask yourself: Are your spiritual activities bringing you joy and fulfillment, or are they causing stress? Make modifications as needed to stay aligned with your core values.
Reach Out for Support: Engaging in conversations with friends or community members can shed light on balancing spirituality. You'll likely discover that many others face similar challenges.
Embracing Your Spiritual Journey
The journey toward a conscious, spiritual, and magical lifestyle should be enriching and joyful, not a source of stress or control. By being aware of the signs of imbalance and applying strategies to achieve harmony, you can navigate your spiritual path with clarity and intention.
Remember, the essence of spirituality is its ability to enhance your life, not overwhelm it. Embrace the journey ahead with an open heart, and allow your spiritual practices to become a source of empowerment, balance, and joy.
Thank you for reading about my journey. It is a glimpse into one fleeting "era" of my life.
Every day, greet others with the knowledge that they are 100% unique. There should never be a day when someone should pressure or persuade another with their beliefs, or think they know someone until they do.
Consciousness is about becoming. Sometimes one has to "unbecome" what they think they are to discover what is truly meant for them. The more you can learn to unlearn, the more you discover yourself and find your power again.
In Consciousness,
Danielle Federico
Conscious Living Coach, Muse, Writer, and Guide for Magical Living
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