I’m sure we’ve all heard stories about a spiritual teacher or energy healer being more toxic than they are helpful.
I want to do what I can to ensure that everyone in this space is as safe as possible. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of Red Flags when it comes to spiritual teachers/yoga instructors/energy healers.
These are the Red Flags to look out for when searching for/following a guru:
The person claims that they are the powerful one, not the energy they channel.
Read the subtle messages the person says. eg.
Do they imply they are all-knowing?
Do they think that they are the authority, not everyone’s inner self?
Do they deny your own intuitions in favour of their own?
Do they dismiss stories of your own psychic/intuitive gifts?
If it’s an energy healing system that you’re learning, how many people have achieved the highest level of this system? Is there only one person at the top (or only a very few people?)
Does your intuition tell you something is off about this person?
When in groups with the person, are contradictions or challenges to their ideas accepted or punished (even subtlely)?
Does the person seem to want followers or “yes-people”?
And, finally, remember the ultimate rule of spirituality: Whatever someone says, if it doesn’t resonate with you, disregard it. This prevents dogma and cult-like practices from infiltrating spiritual teachings.
There are plenty of genuine spiritual teachers/yoga instructors/energy healers out there who can help you. But sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a good one and a harmful one. I hope this helps you differentiate between the two.