Spiritual Bypassing Is A Colonial Poison To Humanity.

liberate yourself from the oppressor within

Crafting community care through weekly reflections, practices, and teachings on inner and collective liberation. (Exclusive podcast for paid subscribers)

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Spirituality, wellness, and healing should be integral parts of our lives. Healing serves as the salve to our souls, and spirituality keeps us connected and liberated, as long as we are not adhering to colonial and capitalist ways of living and practicing. These systems not only convey toxic messages but also harmful. Healing and spirituality are not selfish, nor are they separate from reality, activism, and politics. Believing so aligns with the agenda they want you to adhere to. 

Recognizing that you are a powerful multifaceted force capable of being in tune with spirit, engaging in healing, and standing up for humanity is crucial.

Understanding spiritual bypassing as a colonial poison.

There has been a growing awareness of the concept of spiritual bypassing and its impact on individuals and communities. I wrote the book on it back in 2022, The Altar Within. Defined as the use of spiritual beliefs and practices to avoid confronting emotional, psychological, and social issues, spiritual bypassing has been recognized as a significant obstacle to personal growth and societal progress.

When viewed through the lens of history and the enduring legacies of colonialism, it becomes clear that spiritual bypassing is a poison that has seeped into the fabric of humanity, perpetuating harmful dynamics and obstructing genuine healing and transformation. At its core, spiritual bypassing represents a form of avoidance—an attempt to sidestep the discomfort and complexity of human experience by retreating into the realm of spirituality. While spirituality can offer solace, guidance, and meaning, its misuse through bypassing can lead to a superficial approach to personal and collective challenges. Instead of delving into the depths of our emotions, traumas, and societal injustices, individuals may use spiritual beliefs as a shield, failing to address the underlying issues that require acknowledgment and resolution.

When we examine spiritual bypassing in the context of colonialism, its detrimental effects become even more pronounced. The legacy of colonialism has left deep wounds in societies around the world, perpetuating systems of oppression, erasure of cultural identities, and intergenerational trauma. Within this framework, spiritual bypassing can be seen as a tool of perpetuating the status quo—a means of avoiding the uncomfortable truths of history and the ongoing impact of colonial structures. By recognizing spiritual bypassing as a colonial poison to humanity, we acknowledge its role in upholding power imbalances and obstructing the necessary work of healing and reconciliation.

Just as colonialism has imposed a narrative of dominance and control over diverse cultures and belief systems, spiritual bypassing can reinforce an oversimplified, one-size-fits-all approach to spirituality, negating the richness and diversity of human experience.

A Toxic Connection to Capitalism and Privilege.

In recent years, spirituality has become increasingly popular as people seek inner peace, purpose, and connection to something greater than themselves. However, amid this surge, spiritual bypassing has been embedded into the “blueprint” of how to be more in tune with the divine, a way to higher frequency, good vibes only, and manifesting . This deceptive practice, often disguised as an enlightened approach to life, actually disconnects us from true spiritual growth and entangles us in the web of capitalism, ultimately perpetuating a system that is inherently racist at its core.

It promotes the idea that positive thinking, high vibrations, and detachment from the material world are the keys to spiritual enlightenment, while dismissing the very real challenges and suffering that many individuals face. This approach not only hinders personal growth but also obscures the interconnectedness of spirituality and social justice. At its foundation, spiritual bypassing fosters a disconnect from the realities of oppression and inequality, leading individuals to turn a blind eye to the systemic issues that plague our world. By overlooking the need for societal change and failing to address the root causes of suffering, spiritual bypassing inadvertently aligns itself with perpetuating a system that thrives on maintaining power differentials and reinforcing privilege.

The commodification of spirituality has become rampant, as capitalism seizes the opportunity to capitalize on the pursuit of inner peace and self-discovery. From expensive yoga retreats to overpriced wellness products, the spiritual marketplace has been co-opted by consumerism, creating an illusion that one’s spiritual journey can be purchased with a hefty price tag. This not only alienates those who cannot afford such luxuries but also distorts the essence of spirituality, which should be accessible to all, regardless of economic status.

On Appropriation.

The spiritual industry has often been criticized for appropriating and whitewashing traditions from marginalized cultures, thereby perpetuating racism and erasing the cultural and historical significance of these practices. This exploitation of spiritual teachings for profit further entrenches the inequalities and power dynamics that exist in our society, rather than dismantling them. Spiritual bypassing is a mirage – an illusion that promises unity but leads us astray. It disconnects us from the very essence of spirituality, which calls for compassion, empathy, and an active pursuit of justice. It is imperative that we recognize the insidious ways in which spiritual bypassing aligns with capitalism and perpetuates privilege and racism. Only then can we begin to dismantle these harmful connections and forge a new path that integrates spirituality with a commitment to social equity and collective well-being.

Confronting Genocide and the Accountability of Humanity.

The act of bypassing reality, particularly in the context of historical atrocities such as what we are seeing on the war on Gaza, which IS genocide, represents a profound failure to acknowledge the gravity of human suffering and to take responsibility for addressing systemic injustices. When individuals and societies turn a blind eye to such atrocities, they not only perpetuate a cycle of harm but also evade their moral obligation to protect humanity. The repercussions of this evasion reverberate through history, underscoring the need for a collective reckoning with the consequences of inaction and a commitment to meaningful accountability.

Genocide, as one of the most egregious crimes against humanity, demands unflinching acknowledgment and remembrance. The deliberate and systematic destruction of entire groups based on ethnicity, religion, or other defining characteristics represents a dark reality in human existence, characterized by unimaginable suffering and loss. Like the genocide we are witnessing now with Palestine. Yet, despite the undeniable enormity of such atrocities, the tendency to bypass the reality of genocide persists, manifesting in various forms of denial, minimization, and indifference.

At the heart of this issue lies a fundamental failure to acknowledge the lived experiences and the intergenerational trauma that continues to reverberate through affected communities. By dismissing or downplaying the magnitude of genocide, individuals and societies perpetuate a form of collective spiritual bypassing—one that sidesteps the uncomfortable truths of our current reality and history and shields them from a deeper engagement with the profound suffering endured by countless individuals.

The act of bypassing reality in the context of genocide represents a stark lack of accountability for the inaction and complicity that allows such atrocities to continue. Whether through active participation, indifference, or willful ignorance, the failure to protect vulnerable populations from genocide reflects a systemic failure of humanity to uphold its most fundamental principles of compassion, justice, and solidarity. To address these issues, genuine accountability and a commitment to confronting the reality of genocide are essential. This requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses individual introspection, societal acknowledgment, and meaningful action.

Individually, it is crucial to cultivate a deep awareness of the historical and ongoing impacts of genocide. This entails actively seeking out and listening to the narratives of the victims, survivors, bearing witness to their experiences, and honoring the resilience of affected communities. By engaging in this process, individuals can move beyond the temptation to bypass the reality of genocide and instead foster a compassionate understanding of its profound human toll.

Societally, the acknowledgment of genocide demands a commitment to truth-telling, spreading awareness, and education. Establishing groups of like minded people to organize with, learn from, unlearn together, support marches, protests and events fighting for collective liberation. Fighting for Palestine. Fighting for Sudan. Fighting for Congo. Fighting for Native Americans. Fighting for Puerto Rico. Fighting for all the oppressed because there is no true liberation without the liberation of all people.

How to start liberating yourself from the oppressor within:

To combat spiritual bypassing, we must strive to cultivate a spirituality that is rooted in awareness, authenticity, and social responsibility. This entails acknowledging and addressing our own biases, actively engaging with the uncomfortable truths of our world, and working towards creating a more just and equitable society. We must foster a culture of authentic engagement—one that embraces the complexities of our emotions, histories, and social dynamics. This involves cultivating self-awareness, empathy, and a willingness to confront discomfort, both within ourselves and in our broader communities.

It entails recognizing and respecting the diverse spiritual and cultural frameworks that individuals draw upon for healing and meaning, without succumbing to the pitfalls of bypassing. Addressing the colonial dimensions of spiritual bypassing requires a commitment to decolonizing our spiritual practices and beliefs. This involves interrogating the ways in which colonialism has shaped our understanding of spirituality and reclaiming ancestral wisdom and traditions that have been marginalized or suppressed. By doing so, we can work towards restoring a more inclusive, equitable, and compassionate approach to spirituality—one that honors the interconnectedness of all beings and actively dismantles the toxic legacies of colonialism.

By unveiling the poison of spiritual bypassing and recognizing its entanglement with colonialism, we take a crucial step towards fostering genuine healing, understanding, and transformation. By embracing a more nuanced, introspective, and inclusive approach to spirituality, we can begin to unravel the threads of the colonial poison that has permeated our collective consciousness, paving the way for a more just, empathetic, and liberated future for humanity.

Liberation from spiritual bypassing also calls for a holistic approach to healing that integrates the emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of our existence. Rather than seeking quick-fix solutions or using spirituality as a means of escape, we are encouraged to engage in practices that invite us to sit with discomfort, process our emotions, and confront the complexities of our lived experiences.

How we heal as a people.

Beyond individual healing, the liberation from spiritual bypassing also demands a commitment to addressing systemic injustices and fostering collective transformation. This involves recognizing the ways in which spiritual bypassing can perpetuate complacency and inaction in the face of social inequities, and actively challenging these patterns within ourselves and our communities. Engaging in social justice activism, advocating for marginalized voices, and supporting initiatives that promote equity and inclusion are integral components of this process. By aligning our spiritual values with a commitment to social change, we can actively work to dismantle the structures of oppression that have been upheld by colonialism.

We heal as a people when we start to come together with empathy, understanding, and a shared commitment to support one another.

With revolutionary love and solidarity, Juliet

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Crafting community care through weekly reflections, practices, and teachings on inner and collective liberation. (Exclusive podcast for paid subscribers)