Many of us who have been working deeply or dabbling in spirituality are finding, one way or another, that we are still stuck. Or maybe we are confused as to why our lives are still so full of struggle, heartbreak, confusion, and unfulfillment.

Is it possible that many of us have found our way into inadvertently using spirituality to avoid facing our more uncomfortable selves? And that we are, by doing so, preventing the very healing and personal evolution that we are seeking?

The notion of “spiritual bypass” is beginning to take hold in the new age community. That being “spiritual” can in fact become a way of avoiding the sensation, emotions, and ideas that we find uncomfortable or challenge our pride, or incite us in ways that we would rather not feel. Prayer, meditation, yoga, various ideas and philosophies, are all being shown to have the possibility – not the certainty – to numb us in ways not all that different than alcohol, drugs, work or any other addiction.