How do you react to misfortunes or sad phases in your life? Do you deal with the pain or remain with unresolved wounds for fear of becoming vulnerable? Well, chances are, you are spiritually bypassing.
The Origin
Spiritual bypassing is a term first coined in 1984 by John Welwood—a Buddhist teacher, psychotherapist, and author deeply immersed in both Eastern wisdom and Western psychology. He used this term to describe a common phenomenon among spiritual seekers: the tendency to use spiritual beliefs or practices as a way to escape from unresolved emotional wounds, painful psychological patterns, or shadow material.
Rather than doing the deep inner work required for true healing and integration, individuals engaged in spiritual bypassing seek refuge in high-frequency ideals such as unconditional love, transcendence, “oneness,” or “positivity only.” On the surface, these may appear as signs of spiritual maturity—but in truth, they often mask a deep resistance to vulnerability, emotional discomfort, or personal accountability.
Welwood observed that this bypassing is not just an individual defense mechanism; it reflects a deeper cultural tendency to leap into the upper chakras while neglecting the foundational healing of the lower ones. In many cases, seekers attempt to “rise above” their emotional pain without ever descending into it. They pursue light while denying their own darkness, seeking enlightenment without integrating the lessons of embodiment.
But true spiritual evolution demands wholeness—not avoidance. The path to authentic awakening leads not just upward, but inward and downward. It asks us to face our shadow, to embrace the uncomfortable, and to feel what we’ve spent lifetimes suppressing. Enlightenment is not escape; it is integration.
What of Today?
In today’s world, spiritual bypassing often happens not out of deceit, but out of sincere yearning. People turn to spiritual practices like affirmations, yoga, Reiki, or meditation with the hope of healing, seeking peace amidst inner chaos. And these tools do offer genuine light and support. But when deep emotional wounds remain unacknowledged, these same practices can unintentionally become a refuge from truth rather than a path toward it.
The issue is not with the practices themselves—these are sacred and powerful gateways. The challenge lies in using them to rise above pain without fully meeting it. When grief, shame, or fear are left unprocessed beneath layers of spiritual positivity, the healing becomes incomplete. The result is a delicate peace that may feel uplifting for a while, but lacks the rootedness of real transformation.
Over time, this avoidance creates inner dissonance. Unspoken emotions surface in unexpected ways—through anxiety, burnout, spiritual disillusionment, or conflict in relationships. The soul begins to ache not for more spiritual teachings, but for deeper honesty.
This is the moment of truth. The moment when one is called to stop reaching for the light and start descending into the shadow—not to dwell there, but to reclaim the parts of the self that were left behind. That descent is not a regression. It is a sacred journey of integration.
Is Spiritual Bypassing Negative?
Often, we associate spirituality with positive aspects of our lives. You know, feelings of inner peace, contentment, or fulfillment. But, spiritual bypassing confirms that there are dark and painful areas in spirituality. Yes, it creates a false feeling of security and satisfaction, blocking any efforts for emotional healing.
Types of Spiritual Bypassing
Do you often resort to spirituality to bypass the unpleasant phases of your life? Here are the ten possible ways: –
#1: Optimistic Bypass
An optimistic bypass will insist on seeing life as a glass half full. This person is always focusing on the sunny side of life, ignoring the other half that is not so pleasant. In turn, these persons never engage their anger, inner conflict, or aggression. For, they fail to see that life isn’t always a happy fairytale.
#2: Aggrandizement Bypass
Do you know of a spiritual leader or seeker who seems overly enlightened and superior? Chances are these individuals struggle with personal insecurities and deficiencies. For, aggrandizement bypass is a self-delusion that convinces the self-proclaimed spiritual gurus that they have achieved a level of enlightenment or higher being.
#3: Victim Bypass
Are you a victim of your gifts? If these gifts hinder you from living a healthy or happy life, you could be a victim bypass. For example, a victim bypass may identify as an empath and use their gift of compassion to others to the extent of neglecting their happiness. Likewise, a victim bypass may disguise as an indigo child, a gifted healer, or a Starseed.
#4: Psychonaut Bypass
A psychonaut bypass exploits psychedelic drugs to escape their painful reality. In turn, they get into a psycho-spiritual crisis that hinders them from pursuing personal development.
#5: Horoscope Bypass
Do you love astrology, or are you dependent on it? Well, if you struggle with fear or self-doubt to the point of living an indecisive life, you could be relying on others to predict the outcome of your life. For this, a horoscope bypass trusts the predictions of a psychic or an astrologer. It becomes destructive when this trust supersedes their inner feelings to make significant decisions in their lives. In turn, their obsession with astrology makes them incapable of coping with traumas.
#6: Saint Bypass
When growing up, kids learn that spiritual leaders are saintly, kind, and compassionate. Only, these leaders have weaknesses and dark sides like any ordinary human being. However, a saint bypass holds on to this holier-than-thou notion from their childhood, even when they are now adults. In turn, a saint bypass will sacrifice themselves to appear sweet, approachable, heavenly persons.
#7: Spirit Guide Bypass
A spirit guide, whether an angelic or godly being, serves to protect humanity, right? Well, this belief is quite soothing to the mind but constricts the soul. That is, we forgo the need to be resilient, courageous, or take charge of our safety. We become like children under the protection of the parent. Living this way deprives us of the ability to grow our spiritual character. Instead, we should look to the spirit guide to learn more about our spirituality, not babysit us.
#8: Guru Bypass
A guru bypass is overly attached to a spiritual teacher or guru, to the extent of worshipping them. They accept all the teachings from their spiritual guru as absolute truths. Eventually, the guru bypass never grows spiritually. Further, they fall prey to manipulation or any ill-intentions of their spiritual leaders.
#9: Finger-Pointing Bypass
When on a spiritual journey, we develop clarity of mind. Here, we intuitively determine when someone is lying, honest, or trying to manipulate us. More so, we can tell reality from delusions and make rational decisions. A finger-pointing bypass uses this ability to declare them as self-righteous. In turn, they are quick to finger-point anyone who has a contrary opinion or acts differently from them. In essence, a finger-pointing bypass is procrastinating. They find fault in others instead of working to correct and improve themselves.
#10: Prayer Bypass
Finally, a prayer bypass ignores their responsibility. Instead, this person entrusts a higher being to deal with their problems. For example, this person will pray about a sickness they have without taking any steps to seek medical attention.
What Next?
Does any of the above types of spiritual bypassing resonate with you? Here are some tips you can use to stop this negative tendency: –
#1: Be Open Minded
Know that all spiritual seekers are human beings, hence, bound to make mistakes at some point. Then, be willing to learn and receive correction from others.
#2: Deal with Any Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance arises when our beliefs are challenged or misaligned with reality. You will experience cognitive dissonance as your change your attitudes and beliefs from spiritual bypassing. That is, you may feel guilty, anxious, or ashamed for letting go of your thoughts that do not align with what you now know to be true.
When this happens, you should examine your life for areas that do not add up. For example, you should question a narcissistic leader who preaches compassion but uses physical abuse against you.
#3: Seek Honest Feedback from Others
Discuss spiritual bypassing with your friends and loved ones. Let them tell you what they see in you that suggests that you could be a spiritual bypass. View the feedback as positive criticism, and use it to grow spiritually.
The Bottom Line
Spiritual bypassing is subtle. It doesn’t announce itself with resistance or rebellion—it wears the mask of kindness, spiritual insight, and good intentions. It often looks like a compassionate heart, a wise voice, or a calm demeanor. It may even show up as disciplined daily practice, a gentle tone, or beautiful words about love and forgiveness. But beneath the surface, it is still avoidance—soft, graceful avoidance that never touches the root of suffering.
This is why it can be so difficult to detect, especially within ourselves. The ego prefers the illusion of harmony over the rawness of truth. It whispers, “You’re above this. You’ve already healed. There’s no need to go backward.” And so, instead of feeling our grief, we quote spiritual texts. Instead of expressing anger, we smile in silence. Instead of facing shame, we talk about transcendence.
But true spiritual growth begins when we stop performing healing and begin living it—when we turn our gaze inward with radical honesty and ask:
Am I using spirituality to grow, or to hide?
Am I integrating my shadow, or denying it with light?
Am I grounded in truth, or floating in spiritual identity?
This kind of inner inquiry requires courage. It asks us to dismantle the masks we wear, even the ones we thought were holy. But it also marks the beginning of real healing. Not the kind that polishes the surface—but the kind that liberates the soul.
Take time to reflect. Observe your patterns without judgment. Acknowledge where you may have bypassed pain in the name of spirituality, not as failure, but as part of the journey. We all do it, at one point or another. The goal is not perfection, but integration.
When you’re ready, begin. Sit with your emotions. Revisit the shadows you left behind. Be brave enough to descend into the depths of your being and bring light there. That is where true transformation begins. That is where the Divine meets you—in the wholeness of who you are, not just in the parts you’ve already polished.