Let’s Talk About Spiritual Gatekeeping
One of my favorite parts about spirituality is the community that it naturally attracts. I am continuously fascinated by the incredible people that I have met on this journey - each one with their own unique gifts. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a mediumship retreat in North Carolina. The event was beautiful and, of course, Spirit brought forth beautiful messages that left all of us amazed. While the programing was great, I also enjoyed meeting with the other participants and learning about their unique spiritual practices, communication methods, and professions. No two were exactly alike, and I was so glad to be in an environment where these differences could be celebrated and explored without comparison or judgment.
I was so moved by this experience that I feel called to address a subtle but impactful phenomenon that I see plaguing the spiritual community. And just to be clear, spirituality belongs to everyone because we are all spiritual beings. But for the purposes of this discussion, I am referring to those who are most interested in spiritual practices, spiritualism, psychic abilities, etc. This unfortunate phenomenon is spiritual gatekeeping, and it refers to the attitudes, judgments, and comparisons that suggest only a select few are truly gifted or properly “practicing” spirituality.
I have seen spiritual gatekeeping happen in a variety of ways, but here are a few examples:
Suggesting that there is only one correct way to train and certify as a spiritual channel
Suggesting that meditation needs to be executed in a certain way to be effective
Suggesting that some psychic abilities are more powerful or meaningful than others, i.e. those who are highly clairvoyant or clairaudient are somehow better than those who are mostly clairsentient or claircognizant
Suggesting that being a medium or psychic indicates a unique closeness to God
Claiming that Spirit only communicates in a certain way
Thankfully, I have not experienced many cases of spiritual gatekeeping that were deliberate. Most of the time, it happens subtly and unintentionally. In fact, we often do it to ourselves when we allow our ego to entertain comparisons. How easy is it to switch from celebrating the abilities of another, to feeling upset because we don’t experience the same thing?
So, why is spiritual gatekeeping a problem?
Let’s look at each example . . .
Mediumship Certification - I have found many well-intentioned resources that suggest a practice like mediumship requires certification from a governing body or a specific training regimen to be legit. While I agree that channeling services should be offered with great integrity and reverence, given the sensitivity of the information, there is no governing body or certification program for Spirit. Period. Sharing experiences and lessons-learned is wholesome and useful for those wanting to explore their own abilities. However, suggesting that there is only one correct way to do it discourages others from pursuing their natural abilities and trusting their teachers in Spirit.
Meditation Requirements - There is no doubt that meditation is a wonderful tool for connecting to Source and self, but who is to say what proper meditation looks like? Just because your friend begins and ends each day with an hour-long chanting meditation doesn’t mean that you have to. Perhaps your version looks like washing dishes, running, or just sitting quietly and breathing. Let’s be clear that there are as many paths to God as there are souls. True lightworkers should not seek to replicate themselves, but to help others discover their own unique way of connecting to Source.
Comparing Clair’s - Psychic abilities are a natural part of our human experience as spiritual beings. Suggesting that some abilities are more powerful or meaningful than others can degrade confidence and slow development. Believing this can actually make it more difficult to access our abilities. Is an artist or violinist more talented? The answer is yes! As humans, we tend to be very reliant on sight and sound, because these are the senses that we rely most heavily on in the physical plane. As a result, it is easy to overvalue clairvoyance and clairaudience and to think that these are the only valid ways of connecting with Spirit. In reality, all of our senses should be celebrated as powerful tools for connection, especially given that Spirit communication is not bound by words or symbols.
Psychic and Special - This one is important. Being a medium or psychic does not make someone closer to God or even a “better” person. There are many factors that contribute to the degree of sensitivity that a person has towards energy (and Spirit), and it is often passed through (physical) family lines. Unfortunately, it is not wise nor safe to assume that just because someone is a psychic or medium, that they are grounded in love and light. These same “affinities” can be used for nefarious reasons.
Spirit Speaking - I am always intrigued when I read about or encounter people who believe Spirit speaks in a particular way. While there are many common experiences and symbols used for interpreting messages, channeling is unique to each person. Spirit effectively uses the life experiences and personality of the channel to relay messages. An image of an apple might suggest a farmer to me, but a teacher to you. Neither is wrong.
Speaking of images, my guides are currently trying to summarize these points with a picture. I’ve tried to recreate it below . . .
For my fellow students of operations management, you may recognize this as a bottleneck.
Forgive my lack of drawing skills, but I feel the point they are making is that spiritual gatekeeping not only limits individual development but also slows the conscious awakening of humanity as a whole. I know that sounds really dramatic, but we shouldn’t defer to a limited number of individuals for accessing the wisdom that belongs to all of us. The greatest teachers come to lift up others, not to be put on a pedestal.
In short, we should seek to understand and share our own unique light, so we can maximize the reach of love (cue Kumbaya song).
I like to call this Light Networking.
You don’t have to be a practicing psychic medium or a healer to make the world a better place to live. You have your own unique abilities and characteristics that are perfectly suited for your presence on this planet right now.
Let’s celebrate our differences and keep the gates open, shall we?
About the Author:
Sam is a certified Reiki practitioner and intuitive life coach with a passion for helping people reclaim their power and optimize wellness. As a spiritual channel, veteran, business professional, and mom, she seeks to destigmatize psychic abilities and remind others of their true essence as spiritual beings.