The Dangers of Spiritual Bypassing Post-Election: Why It Hurts BIPOC Communities
Dear Reader:
I’m writing this today slowly witnessing my conscious experience and bodily sensations of grief, anxiety, hope, remembrance, calling in my ancestors, and resting—because there’s something pressing on my spirit, something I know needs to be addressed—especially now, as we find ourselves on the other side of another election cycle. I want to talk about a concept I explored over a decade ago in a workshop I facilitated at a Massachusetts university. I stood before a room of over 50-100 people: politicians, wellness practitioners, medical professionals, therapists, professors, educators, and those who transitioned to retirement. In that collective space, I introduced the topic The Art of Spiritual Bypassing.
Understanding Spiritual Bypassing:
Coined by psychologist John Welwood in the 1980s, spiritual bypassing refers to the use of spiritual practices to sidestep unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, or unfinished developmental tasks.
Spiritual bypassing is like putting a bandage on a festering wound—it’s that act of leaning into extreme and persistent positivity, affirmations, or spiritual practices to avoid the discomfort of difficult emotions and painful realities. It's masking deep issues with a veneer of "love and light," hoping that if you just meditate, engage in charity, or spiritual community dialogue enough, all will be well. But let me be clear: it’s not about denying the power of positive energy or spirituality. No. It’s about recognizing when these spiritual practices or tools are used to distract , distance or avoid confronting the hard truths that are staring us right in the face.
And here’s the thing, not everyone has the luxury to spiritually bypass. Let’s be honest: spiritual bypassing is often a privilege of those who can afford to look away—who don’t have to face systemic racism, police brutality, or the generational impacts of colonization. When BIPOC communities are told to "just think positive," or “its done, so lets move on”, “lets think positive”, or to "manifest a better world," it minimizes, re-traumatizes their lived experiences and struggles. It perpetuates the idea that their pain isn’t real, or that somehow they’re to blame for the oppression they face.
Who Benefits from Spiritual Bypassing?
Let’s me break this down. Spiritual bypassing often aligns with ideologies that are deeply embedded in privilege. It allows those who are not directly impacted by systemic oppression to distance themselves from the uncomfortable truths that others can’t escape. The beneficiaries of spiritual bypassing are often those who can afford to disengage. They are the ones who are not targeted by the police, who have access to generational wealth, who can access healthcare without questioning whether they'll receive quality care. Meanwhile, BIPOC communities are left to fend for themselves in systems that weren’t built to serve them.
2024 Post-Election Realities: The Spiritual Trap We Must Avoid
After any major election, especially one filled with as much vitriol and division as we’ve seen, there’s a collective grief, and fatigue. People want to rest, to breathe a sigh of relief, to shut it all off and retreat into their safe spaces. But let’s be clear: while some folks can afford to spiritually bypass the harsh realities that elections bring into sharper focus, BIPOC individuals often can’t. Elections have real consequences—on policies, on communities, on bodies.
I want you to take a moment to sit with this truth: when we encourage people to simply "send love and light" instead of actively challenging systemic injustice, we inadvertently tell those most affected to silence their active pain. It’s a form of gaslighting, wrapped up in a pretty spiritual gesture. We’ve seen this happen time and time again—calls for unity and healing that prioritize the comfort of those in power over the genuine healing of people of the global majority communities.
What Can You Do to Avoid Spiritual Bypassing?
In moments of collective distress, like what we’re feeling now post-election, there’s a temptation to retreat. I get it. Consider the following approaches:
Acknowledge Discomfort: Recognize and sit with uncomfortable emotions rather than avoiding them. This practice fosters personal growth and empathy.
Educate Yourself: Learn about systemic issues and the experiences of marginalized communities. This knowledge can inform more compassionate and effective actions.
Engage in Active Listening: Listen to the voices of BIPOC individuals without interjecting or offering unsolicited spiritual advice. Validate their experiences and feelings.
Honor Lived Experiences: If someone in your life is struggling, don’t diminish their pain with toxic positivity. Instead, hold space for them. Listen. Acknowledge that their experience is real and valid. It’s not your job to fix it; it’s your job to witness it.
Take Concrete Action: Support policies and initiatives that promote collective liberation through equity and justice initiatives. Participate in community efforts that address systemic issues. Think about ways you can contribute to the collective—whether it’s through activism, mutual aid, or simply being a voice of truth in your own circles.
Reflect on Personal Practices: Examine how your spiritual beliefs and practices may inadvertently contribute to avoidance. Strive for a balance between personal spiritual growth and social responsibility.
My Bottomline
I know these conversations aren’t easy; they are not suppose to be easy, but they are necessary. And if you’ve stayed with me this long, it’s because you feel it too—the urgency, the call to do better, to believe better, to be better. What the world needs is love with action, light with truth, and spirituality that embraces the fullness of our human experience—especially the parts that are hardest to face. And in that labor, we find a deeper, more grounded peace, deeper connection, and insight than spiritual bypassing could ever offer.
With love and light (for real real)
Vierge