Walking the spiritual path is a tricky adventure. We are often deceiving ourselves into thinking we are developing spiritually when instead we are strengthening our egocentricity through spiritual techniques. This kind of self-deception is called “spiritual materialism” which is a “toxic” form of spirituality.

In this article, I want to share with you what spiritual materialism is and 8 warning signs you could be practicing it.

What Is Spiritual Materialism?

Spiritual materialism is a term coined by Chögyam Trungpa in his book Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. 

This term is used to describe mistakes spiritual seekers commit which turn the pursuit of spirituality into an ego-building and confusion creating endeavor, based on the idea that ego development is counter to spiritual progress.

Spiritual materialism means making use of spirituality to gratify the desires of the ego.

No matter what the practice or teaching, ego loves to wait in ambush to appropriate spirituality for its own survival and gain.

– Chögyam Trungpa

According to Chögyam Trungpa, spiritual materialism can fall into three categories:

#1: Physical materialism

This form of materialism is based on the belief that possessions can bring release from suffering. However, in fact, they may bring temporary happiness but then more suffering will follow. Or on another level, physical materialism can manifest itself as a belief, “I am rich because I have this or that” or “I am a teacher because I have a diploma.”

#2: Psychological materialism

This category is based on the belief that a particular philosophy, spiritual tradition, belief system, or point of view will bring release from suffering. Therefore, seeking refuge by strongly identifying with a particular religion, tradition, philosophy, political party, or viewpoint, for example, would be a manifestation of psychological materialism. The goal of psychological materialism is to use external concepts, pretexts, and ideas to prove that the ego-driven self exists, which manifests in a particular competitive attitude.

#3: Spiritual materialism

It is based on the belief that a certain temporary state of mind is a refuge from suffering. For example, when you’re using meditation practices to create a peaceful state of mind or using drugs or alcohol to remain in a numbed out or a euphoric state, you are merely heightening the suffering when these states cease. Therefore, attempting to maintain a particular emotional state of mind as an escape from suffering, or constantly pursuing particular emotional states of mind, will actually lead to more long term suffering.

Spiritual materialism is an attachment to the spiritual path as a solid accomplishment or possession. It is said that spiritual materialism is the hardest to overcome. The imagery that is used is that of golden chains; you’re not just in chains, you’re in golden chains. And you love your chains because they’re so beautiful and shiny. But you’re not free. You’re just trapped in a bigger and better trap. The point of spiritual practice is to become free, not to build a trap that may have the appearance of a mansion but is still a prison.

– M. Caplan

Spiritual Ego

We all need to realize that nobody is immune to spiritual materialism. As long as we have the ego, we are living on the edge. And no matter how spiritually developed you think you are, there is a tricky ego trap for each “level” of development.

Most of us have a delusional idea that the spiritual path is always steady and secure. It is only later that we begin to realize that the spiritual path is very slippery and you have to maintain balance and constant awareness not to fall into old “traps”. The thing is that the more we learn theoretically about spirituality without applying it to our everyday lives, the more likely we develop the spiritual ego in our beliefs.

Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the spiritual ego can hide behind judgment, spiritual dogma, or even a false sense of moral superiority over others. And this could be very dangerous for our spiritual development since it can blind us and prevent us from doing the necessary deeper spiritual work we need for inner growth and self-healing.

It’s hard to see our ego and therefore it’s hard to control it. Buddhist say that in the war of ego the loser always wins. Which makes complete sense to me. The second you realized you overcame your ego, you have fallen into its trap. Therefore, the best way you can deal with your ego is by observing it. It is by observing that you can learn how to take control of your ego.

8 Signs You Could Be Practicing Spiritual Materialism

The most important part of shadow work is taking an honest look at ourselves no matter how hard and painful it could be. Let’s take a look at 8 signs of spiritual materialism and determine which ones could be describing us.

Sign #1: Spiritual Superficiality

Modern forms of spirituality and therapy are often accused of selling superficial and sunny answers to life’s complexity and pain. Spirituality isn’t about protecting ourselves from real-life challenges. Any philosophy that is based on the belief that thinking positively always protects us from suffering and emotional pain, or that there is something wrong with you if you suffer or fail, is offering superficial promises.

Sign #2: Spiritual Elitism

Spiritual elitism is based on using spiritual ‘achievements’ or ‘gifts’ to disconnect from and feel superior to others. If you find yourself becoming unbearably profound, feeling that you are somehow different from others and destined for sainthood, perhaps you are suffering from grandiosity.

Our desire to be special can be manifested in many different self-aggrandizement ways, like:

• Claiming to have “special access” to spirit guides, Ascended Masters, angels, spirits, etc.;
• Claiming to be the reincarnation of a guru, superior being, a famous spiritual historical figure, etc.;
• Claiming to figure out all the world mysteries, conspiracy theories, governments’ secrets, etc.;
• Claiming access to special and exclusive spiritual knowledge that others can’t access.

In order to overcome this trap, ask yourself: “Do I really need to prove my specialness by using different titles (like lightworker, Starseed, etc.), the memories (or fantasies) about my past incarnations, etc.?”

Sign #3: Spiritual Shopping Obsession

Do you find yourself habitually buying spiritual trinkets/tools/items or accumulating the blessings and initiations from sages, shamans, saints, etc.? Does having spiritual items make you feel more “special,” “awakened,” “aligned” or spiritually worthy. If so, you could be practicing spiritual materialism!

The truth is all those endless workshops, tools, trinkets, and techniques which all promise to make you a wiser, more intuitive, more blissful, more “spiritual” person, are designed for distracting your attention from profound spiritual practice. You see, in order to follow your spiritual path you don’t need to “look” or “feel” spiritual. All you need is already inside you.

Sign #4: Entertaining Spirituality

This is a common trap many seekers get into. Instead of enjoying the blessings of everyday life, you seek after entertaining spirituality and supernatural experiences like angelic visitations, seeing visions, meeting UFOs, spirit guides, Ascended Masters, beings from other planets and dimensions, etc. All these supernatural experiences can be a part of your spiritual journey. However, if they are your main focus, you could be practicing entertaining spirituality.

Sign #5: Ripping Off the Traditions

Many modern seekers skim off the ritual trappings of a tradition with little respect for the depth behind it. This attitude trivializes powerful spiritual systems that often demand years of study. It is so important to be committed to your spiritual practice and realize the difference between carefully creating a spiritual path that includes genuine practices from a variety of traditions, rather than flitting from flower to flower like a drunken honey bee.

Sign #6: Power Abuse

Another sign of spiritual materialism is the disparity between spiritual teachings and the behavior of teachers. These are the things to be wary of:

• extravagant claims of enlightenment or healing;
• minimizing the hard work that accompanies any true spiritual or healing path;
• excessive commercialism that betrays the deeper spiritual message;
• blind adherence of followers.

With their deceitful double standards, some gurus, healers, and spiritual teachers have given mentorship a bad name and tarnished the image of humbling oneself to wiser and more experienced spiritual guides.

Sign #7: Spiritual Narcissism

The spiritual narcissist unconsciously believes he/she is more “awakened” than others and will do anything to reinforce that “specialness” including harming others through arrogance and forcing his/her beliefs on them. They also use spiritual jargon that you can relate to when recruiting their victims. A spiritual narcissist will make you think that you have a special gift or that you are their soul mate when in a real sense they are grooming you for the abuse. 

Do you always back your desires with only those spiritual facts that suit you? Then, you could be developing spiritual narcissism. Be mindful when you purposely omit those facts that don’t advance your course.

There is a thin line between narcissism and “following your bliss.” Be aware of your tendency toward excessive self-centeredness even as you work to heal and love your own tender self.

Sign #8: Future Obsession

Do you believe that if you do certain spiritual practices or chant certain mantra you will get to a special elevated state of consciousness in the future? Well, there is nothing wrong with this belief unless you become so possessed with your future achievements that you stop living in the present moment. If you become too obsessed with your future and stop recognizing the fundamental ego-centricity of this obsession, you could be stuck in another spiritual materialism trap!

The Bottom Line

The spiritual path can be a truly joyous and satisfying journey of self-realization. It quickly becomes very clear to anyone who has spent significant time on their journey that the path is riddled with many obstacles and traps designed specifically for the ego.

Have you found yourself saying “They are Asleep”, “I am Awake” or any other self-proclaimed statements of spiritual achievement in comparison to others? This type of comparison can be the first of many dangerous behaviors that can lead a hopeful spiritual student down a path of despair, spiritual degradation, and unfortunate suffering.

True spiritual development is almost always a long and arduous journey that spans many years and lifetimes. Maintaining a high level of compassion and humility along with a strong desire to serve can be a very helpful tool to ensure one keeps their ego in check.

Abundance Haircuts is a sutra based on the Tibetan calendar. It reveals the negative consequences of cutting your hair on the bad days and the incredible benefits of cutting it on the good days. Dates of Abundance Haircuts are calculated according to extremely complex formulas by experienced Feng Shui Masters.

Most people in the Western world have never heard about abundance haircuts. While for Eastern people, it’s not a new practice. This article will share this powerful sutra and give you a calendar for abundance haircuts in February 2023, with good and bad days for haircuts. Pay attention to what day you’re picking for your next hair appointment – only choose good days for abundance haircuts in February 2023.

Why Is Hair So Important?

Since ancient times, people have given hair a sacred meaning. It was thought that people could connect with the Universe through one’s hair. Hair serves as an “antenna” and “guide” between our world and the world of Heaven. And so far, this knowledge has not lost its relevance. Hair connects us with Higher forces, cosmic energy, God, and Higher consciousness. By connecting through the hair to the Cosmos, we can fill ourselves with the energies of abundance and health.

There were many beliefs associated with hair; some of them have survived to the present day. For example: in any case, you should not get a haircut by yourself, as in this case, deformation of your energy field may happen, which can lead to health problems and energy loss. It is also not recommended to get a haircut on the days of a lunar or solar Eclipse: the hair can suffer, weaken, and lose shine and volume.

What Are “Abundance Haircuts”?

It has long been known that there are days when it is especially favorable to cut hair. Among these days, there are days of “Abundance haircuts.”

Abundance haircuts are a special ritual to attract abundance flows into your life. It is good to say abundance affirmations and mantras on this day. So you will strengthen the ritual haircut and make it a more effective and efficient force.

Here are examples of the mantras:

• For wealth and abundance: OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA BASU PUSHTIM KURU SOHA
• Mantra for vitality and life force increase: OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MARITSE YE TSE BHRUM NRI DZA SOHA
• For fame, power, and charisma: OM TARE TUTTARE TURE BODHI CITTA SOHA
• Mantra for health and longevity: OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUR PUNYE JNANA PUSHTIM KURU YE SOHA
• For magnetism and attractiveness: OM TARE TAM SOHA

If you are not a mantra practitioner, you can use affirmations instead.

Examples of abundance affirmations:

• I deserve to be abundantly happy and healthy!
• My abundance is constantly growing!
• I always have money for everything I need!
• Money comes to me easily and fast!
• I’m grateful for my abundant life!

Abundance Haircuts In February 2023

One of the most important properties of crystals is their ability to accumulate and store energy and information. Therefore it’s essential to know how to cleanse crystals from negative energy and old information that doesn’t serve you anymore. In this article, we will share with you the 8 most effective ways to cleanse your crystals.

Why do We Need to Cleanse Our Crystals?

One of the key properties of all crystals is the ability to absorb and store the surrounding energy. And when you get a crystal, you should understand that it already carries certain information. That is why physical and energetic cleansing should be carried out before use.

When Should We Consider Crystal Cleansing?

You should consider crystal cleansing when you:

• have just bought a new crystal from a store;
• received a crystal as a gift;
• have inherited a crystal or gemstone jewelry (usually, such a crystal carries the energy of the former owner);
• just found the crystal (since you don’t know what happened to the crystal, who owned it, and what events and information it captured, you should consider cleansing it before using it);
• use crystals for healing or cleansing the energy of the house (healing crystals must be cleansed regularly);
• had a negative person touching your crystal;
• feel that the crystal has lost its properties and power (if you often use your crystals, they overflow with different energies and need to be cleaned);
• didn’t use your crystal for a while (even in this case, the crystal still continues to absorb the energy surrounding it).

In all these cases, crystals can accumulate and store a huge amount of old information and stagnant or negative energy that not only adversely affects the owner but also minimizes the crystal’s healing and other properties.

How to Cleanse Crystals?

There are many ways to cleanse crystals. You can choose the most suitable option or use several methods at once. It is best to cleanse crystals on the waning moon – the moon’s power will make the cleansing especially effective. But if you don’t want to wait, do it anytime you need it.

Here are the 8 most effective methods to cleanse your crystals.

#1: Sea Salt Cleanse

One of the most effective methods of crystal cleansing is sea salt cleansing. Sea salt has the ability to pull out all the negativity.

How To Cleanse Crystals With Sea Salt?

To do this, you will need a glass or ceramic container. Put your crystals in this container and cover them with salt completely. Leave the crystals in the salt for a day. After that, you should throw out the salt, and rinse the crystals in water.

IMPORTANT! Use dry sea salt! Salt solutions can damage the appearance of your crystals. Not all minerals can be allowed to directly come in contact with salt!

If you are unsure how the salt will affect your crystals, you can use an alternative sea salt cleanse option. Pour salt into a deep container. Wrap your crystals in a piece of cloth and just fill it with salt. Or simply put a napkin on top of the salt, and place your crystals and jewelry on it. This method is no less effective and will help avoid troubles with your crystals’ appearance.

#2: Water Cleanse

This is the easiest and most affordable way to cleanse your crystals. It would be ideal to wash your crystals in spring water. But even regular water is also suitable for this purpose.

How To Cleanse Crystals With Water?

Just hold the crystals under cold running water for 10-15 minutes, and the water will carry away the extra heavy information that has accumulated in them. It is good to combine such cleansing with visualization. Imagine that water is washing out all the negativity from the crystals. After that, put the crystals on a dry surface but do not wipe them.

Important! Not all crystals go well with water. Before you choose this method of crystal cleansing, make sure to check the list below.

Never cleanse these crystals with water:

• Angelite
• Calcite
• Carnelian
• Galena
• Halite
• Hematite
• Labradorite
• Lepidolite
• Lodestones
• Malachite
• Mica
• Moldavite
• Muscovite
• Obsidian
• Opal
• Pearl
• Pyrite
• Selenite
• Turquoise
• Ulex and some others.

3. Fire Cleanse

Did you know that fire has a powerful cleansing effect? Therefore, it’s very effective to use fire for crystal cleansing.

How to Cleanse Crystals With Fire?

Take a candle of the color of the crystal you want to cleanse (for example, for cleansing rose quartz, you will need a pink candle). Light it and draw a couple of circles with a candle over the crystal, and then move the crystal over the candle. If it’s possible to hang the crystal on a chain, then you can move the crystal through the flames a couple of times.

When performing the fire cleanse, visualize how all negative energy and information burn in the flame of fire. Then put your crystals next to the candle until it burns completely.

#4: Crystal Cleansing With Earth Element

Another effective way to cleanse your crystals is to use the power of the Earth. Earth is the home for all stones, the place of their birth, so in their native element, they are not only cleansed but also gain strength.

How To Cleanse Crystals With the Earth Element?

To cleanse your crystals with the Earth element, bury the crystals in the ground for 3 to 7 days. The energy of the Earth resets all the information accumulated in them. If you don’t have your own yard, then you can use a regular pot with soil in it. Bury your crystals in the soil. After a few days, dig up your crystals and wash them with water.

#5: Fumigation

How To Cleanse Crystals With Incense?

To cleanse your crystals, you can use incense sticks or dried herbs. Suitable options: lavender, sage, incense, juniper, myrrh, wormwood, and cedar. Light the incense and while it’s burning, carry your crystals through the running smoke several times. Then put your crystals next to the burning incense stick until the incense is completely burned. Do not forget to ventilate the room after this cleansing ritual, to get rid of all the negative energy after cleansing.

#6: Sound Cleanse

Sound can create certain vibrations that purify and balance the energy around. For these purposes, you can use singing bowls or bells.

How to Cleanse Crystals with the Sound?

Arrange crystals in a row or in a circle, and then play the singing bowl or ring the bells to create a sound vibration.

#7: Cold Cleanse

Cold cleansing or freezing is another simple way for quick cleansing.

How to Cleanse Crystals with Cold?

To do this, put your crystals in the freezer for 2-3 hours. After this simple action, the negative information contained in your crystals will be destroyed with cold.

#8: Crystal Cleansing with Other Crystals

Yes, you read it right! You can cleanse your crystals with the help of other crystals with cleansing properties. For this purpose, you should use transparent crystals of a pointed shape.

How to Cleanse Crystals With the Help of Other Crystals?

Place your cleansing crystals around the crystal that you want to cleanse. Make sure that the sharp ends of the cleansing crystals are pointed at the crystal that needs to be cleansed. Leave the crystals in this position for at least 6 hours.

The Bottom Line

You can choose any of the methods above or use several of them at the same time. The most important thing is to perform crystal cleansing regularly. If you constantly wear crystals in the form of jewelry, you should consider cleansing them every 1,5-2 months. If you wear crystal jewelry from time to time, you can cleanse it every 6 months. If you use crystals in your healing work, then you should cleanse them each time before and after the session.