As spiritual teachers and leaders, we are here for others. We guide and provide support to our students, clients, followers, and community members. But where do we ourselves go when we need support? Where do we turn when we need to be held in confidentiality and safety? This ASI community discussion explores the value of having people and places where we find it safe to express ourselves honestly and openly acknowledge that we need support.

Lots of wisdom was shared at our last community discussion “Finding Our Way Through Uncertain Political Times” (watch the recording here), and we’re keeping the conversation going since many of you asked for more. Join us for “Finding Our Way Through Uncertain Political Times II: An Emerging Process” as we explore together what is being asked of us in this moment. Regardless of our spiritual attainment, our human experiences (and those of our students and clients) will be impacted longer term by what is happening now. As spiritual leaders and practitioners, what is our responsibility, if any? What is our role individually and collectively? Many have walked this path before us such as: Rigoberta Menchú – Indigenous Guatemalan K’iche’ woman who combined Mayan spiritual traditions with Catholic faith while fighting for indigenous rights, leading to her Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. Mahatma Gandhi – Deeply grounded in Hinduism, led India’s nonviolent overthrow of British rule and inspired Baptist preacher Martin Luther King and other American civil rights leaders. Dorothy Day – Catholic social activist who co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement, advocated for the poor, and promoted pacifism during wartime. Thich Nhat Hanh – Vietnamese monk who publicly opposed the Vietnam War and coined the term “Engaged Buddhism.” What is being asked of us now? Are we being called to some form of social or political engagement? How can we best serve our students and communities? We invite our members to share what has worked for them. Please come to our next ASI community discussion and share your experience navigating political turmoil. Have you discovered meaningful ways forward? What approaches and actions have proved effective? Lightly facilitated by Philip Goldberg.

Regardless of our spiritual attainment, our human experiences (and those of our students and clients) will be impacted longer term by what is happening now. As spiritual leaders and practitioners, what is our responsibility, if any? Are we called to be silent or to take action? What do the alternative paths look like? Is there a role for us, individually or collectively? We are noticing several attitudes among spiritual leaders and practitioners: • I’m tuning out. The news disturbs my hard-earned inner peace. It threatens my connection to the divine. I have to protect my spiritual life and my mental health. • I’m unattached. There’s nothing I can do about it, so I’m shifting into neutral. No judgment, no worries. I’m staying anchored in Spirit, witnessing it all. • It’s all meant to be. It’s in God’s hands. I trust the universe to work things out. Whatever happens is part of the divine plan. • It’s all illusion. Unreal. Maya. Nothing ever happened anyway. • I’m working on the spiritual level, healing the world by meditating / praying / chanting. That’s more powerful than any action in the material world. • I’m staying positive. Darkness comes before dawn. There has to be destruction to make way for the beautiful new age that’s coming. • I’m unaffected but I have a responsibility to help my followers deal with fear and anger. • I’m rolling up my sleeves. There are dangers afoot. We can’t afford to be indifferent. We can’t hide behind our spirituality. We all have to pitch in. Let’s share with each other how we navigate (or can’t navigate) our political climate. How can we protect ourselves and our followers and best serve the greater good? How do we stand on our spiritual values and not get caught up in political ideology? How can we honor precepts and principles that are ethically sound? Lightly facilitated by Phillip Goldberg.

Many spiritual teachers and guides grapple with the challenge of providing valuable guidance while ensuring their financial needs are met. This meeting aims to foster an open dialogue about best practices for financial compensation in spiritual teaching/guidance, and identify pitfalls to avoid. During this session, we: – Explored ethical considerations around charging for spiritual services. – Discussed various compensation models, including donation-based, fees or the sacred economics model. -Shared success stories and effective strategies with each other drawing from our experiences as professional spiritual leaders. -Discussed practices that can lead to misunderstandings or mistrust within the community. Whether you are a seasoned spiritual leader, a newcomer to the field, or someone interested in spiritual practices, this meeting invites you to contribute your thoughts and experiences. Together, we can develop a framework that respects the value of spiritual work while promoting ethical financial sustainability. The meeting was lightly facilitated by ASI advisor, Kimberley Lafferty.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy presents unique ethical issues above and beyond traditional psychotherapy. Underground guiding is expanding rapidly and is by definition illegal. Self-appointed shamans complicate the underground scene. Entrepreneurs are focused on how to exploit the so-called psychedelic renaissance. As these medicines enter our Western culture, we are challenged to learn how to preserve their spiritual nature and hold the entheogenic journeys sacred. Rachel Harris, PhD is a Psychologist with both a research and a clinical background. She was in the 1968 Residential Program at Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA and remained on the staff for a number of years. During the decade she worked in academic research, Rachel received a New Investigator’s Award from the National Institutes of Health and published over forty scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals. She was in private psychotherapy practice for forty years. Rachel is the author of Listening to Ayahuasca: New Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Anxiety (2017) and Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground (May, 2023).

An open and respectful discussion on the intersection of entheogens and spirituality. In this community meeting, we: •⁠ Discussed the use of psychedelics in eliciting state experiences and how that relates to spiritual stage development. •⁠ Shared ⁠personal experiences and stories of psychedelic-assisted spiritual growth. •⁠ ⁠Explored the risks and potential misuse of psychedelics in spiritual contexts. •⁠ Shared thoughts about the integration and responsible use of psychedelics in spiritual practice. All perspectives were welcomed and respected. This discussion aimed to foster a deeper understanding of entheogens and encourage an open dialogue on all related issues. Guiding Principles: •⁠ ⁠Respect for diverse perspectives •⁠ ⁠Inclusivity and accessibility •⁠ ⁠Harm reduction and responsible use The meeting was lightly facilitated by Kimberley Lafferty. An enlightening and thought-provoking conversation! Disclaimer: ASI neither advocates for nor endorses the use of entheogens. We are organizing this webinar—and developing a new code of ethics for psychedelics—because entheogens have long been integral to many indigenous spiritual traditions, their use in Western spiritual and therapeutic contexts has surged in recent years, and there is a significant need for ethical guidance.

History shows that religious and spiritual principles have been used both to justify atrocities and to promote peace and compassion. Some spiritual leaders engage in worldly affairs to foster peace, while others withdraw to affirm the peace within. As spiritual leaders, do we have a role in shifting collective consciousness through our inner practice or social activism? Are we responsible for engaging with current issues? Can we stay non-attached without falling into spiritual bypass, or do we need to disconnect from the news entirely? How do we, as a community of spiritual leaders and friends, navigate today’s political and societal challenges? Is it possible to synchronize inner peace with skillful means to bring wisdom into the wider community? These questions are more relevant than ever. Join our community discussion for a productive exploration, facilitated by Georgi Y Johnson. Points to Ponder: • Have you felt ethical discomfort discussing politics or facing opposing views in your work? How did you handle it? • Have you felt pressured by spiritual authorities or colleagues to take a political stand? • Are there situations where spiritual teachers or therapists should engage with a student’s or client’s political opinion? • When should a spiritual teacher or therapist disclose their political views, and when could this be coercive or unethical? • How can we maintain spiritual integrity without ignoring real-world challenges? Video of an ASI Webinar on August 26, 2024.

An open enquiry into issues around authenticity, representation, emotional well-being, and the image of spiritual teachers and leaders. Together, we’ll address questions such as: What does being spiritual look like to you? As spiritual leaders, do we foster an image that does not represent who we really are and how we live? Do we believe we need to show that we ‘have it all together’ ? To what extent do we conceal our authentic selves for the sake of a spiritual image? Is there value in speaking about our human challenges and breakthroughs with our clients/followers? Does image management come at the expense of genuine connection with our clients/followers? In prioritizing our public image, are we being dishonest with ourselves? Does being in integrity require us to address our emotional well-being independently of our professional and social roles. Do we need to revise our cultural image of what being spiritual looks like? Our discussion of these and other pertinent questions were facilitated by Robert Strock, an expert on emotional well-being. Robert Strock is a teacher, counselor, author, and humanitarian who has developed a unique approach to communication, contemplation, and inquiry. He promotes national and international conversations on healing, has been a featured speaker at the UN, and has contributed to global documentaries. Robert is the host of the Awareness That Heals podcast and live webinar. You can learn more about Robert at AwarenessThatHeals.org

Cancel culture is the practice of publicly rejecting, boycotting, or ending support for people or groups because an individual believes another’s views or actions are unacceptable. It is often acted out on social media in the form of group or individual shaming. When well motivated with valid critique, it has been used for good. Other times, online shaming has been taken too far without context, ruined lives, and created lasting damage. Join our conversation as we wade into the paradoxical questions: * What are the benefits and pitfalls of the cancel culture that seems so prevalent in today’s society? * How do we remain respectful in the midst of cancel culture popularity? * If we are the target, how do we respond to and support our humanness in the barrage of online accusations that may or may not be valid? * When do we defend ourselves? * What does our practice tell us to do? * When others we might know are the target, what do we feel and how do we respond? Can we do better? Let’s engage in discussion to explore these complexities and strive for better understanding and constructive approaches.

The ASI Community Education and Growth Webinar with Scott Brown on April 1, 2024. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Guidelines for the ASI Gathering 00:02:00 - The Multi-Faceted Work of Rootedness 00:02:56 - Body-Centered Psychotherapy and Restorative Justice 00:04:03 - The Journey to Restorative Justice 00:07:01 - Introduction to Restorative Justice Foundations 00:10:27 - The Five R's: Relationship, Responsibility, Respect, Repair, and Reintegration 00:12:38 - Introduction to the Four R's of Restorative Justice 00:14:45 - The Five Rs of Restorative Justice 00:16:21 - The Importance of a Restorative Mindset 00:18:23 - Q&A and slide availability 00:20:16 - The Relevance of Restorative Practices in Power Imbalances 00:23:17 - Reflecting on the Five R's and the Restorative Mindset 00:26:06 - Reluctance to Engage 00:28:30 - Recognition of the Restorative Mindset 00:30:14 - Restorative Mindset in Community Settings 00:31:37 - Strengthening Communities and Restorative Justice Basics 00:33:56 - Support in Restorative Justice 00:35:21 - Unpacking the Full Extent of Harm in Restorative Justice 00:36:50 - The Role of the Community in Restorative Justice 00:40:00 - Initial Enrollment Conversations 00:43:03 - The Circle Process 00:46:07 - Opening the discussion on harm as unmet needs 00:48:14 - The Importance of Meeting Human Needs 00:49:27 - The importance of acknowledging needs in the context of harm 00:50:47 - Framing harm as unmet needs 00:52:52 - The Importance of Being Trauma-Informed 00:54:32 - Mediating between teachers and students 00:56:46 - The Willingness and Capacity for Repair 00:59:14 - Next Steps and Resource Recommendations 01:01:00 - Strengthening Human Interpersonal Relationships 01:02:47 - Saving the Chat and Next Webinar Announcement Takeaways from this webinar include: Learn the 5 foundations of restorative justice and the core principles and practices that support personal, interpersonal, and collective healing; challenge and strengthen your own restorative mindset and become a stronger force for conflict transformation; and receive inspiration and resources for building your capacity to repair harm and strengthen communities in an ongoing way. Scott Brown is a mediator and restorative justice practitioner, a workshop leader, life and relationship coach, transpersonal psychologist and author. He has worked as a restorative justice program coordinator, a wilderness rites of passage guide, and as a mentor to youth both in and out of the criminal justice system. He is a leading advocate for bringing the principles and practices of restorative justice to bear on the full range of social issues and is the author of Active Peace: A Mindful Path to a Nonviolent World. He holds a master’s degree from Naropa University in transpersonal psychology and ecopsychology and has comprehensive training in Nonviolent Communication and body-centered psychotherapy. More information about Scott and his work can be found at https://4ActivePeace.com.

At our ASI community meeting on March 4, 2024, we discussed Tenet #13 of the ASI Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice: “Acknowledging that, regardless of our spiritual attainment, we are human beings with human personalities, limitations, drives, and needs.” We explored questions about the intricate balance between spiritual attainment and the realities of being human, examining how these aspects influence our understanding of ethical conduct, individual accountability, and personal responsibility. Key discussion points included: Does authentically expressing one’s humanness reduce or enhance one’s efficacy as a spiritual teacher? How can we best navigate the Two Truths Concept, i.e., holding both divine and human truths simultaneously? Can certain levels of spiritual attainment limit the awareness of our human needs and limitations? How does personal development continue, or not continue, beyond the achievement of awakening? Why is the presumption of awakening, or the claim to having disidentified with personhood, sometimes used to justify inappropriate behavior? How does awakening affect the expression of personality traits associated with the human being who no longer identifies with that individuality? What are the links among transcendence, evolved embodiment, and authentic humility? How can we best apply the principles of accountability (transparency, participation, evaluation, and feedback) in both our personal lives and in our roles as spiritual leaders? Can there be real accountability if a teacher does not identify as an individual person? Thanks to all participants who took part in this enriching conversation!

Also see https://www.spiritual-integrity.org/asi-webinar-with-dr-steve-hassan/ Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Speaker Introduction 00:03:09 - Introduction and Background 00:06:09 - Destructive Cults and Deceptive Recruitment 00:09:00 - The Awakening and Deprogramming 00:11:37 - Dissonance in Destructive Cult Groups 00:14:22 - The Conflict Between Conscience and Dogma 00:17:13 - Recognizing Red Flags in Organizations 00:21:09 - Behavior Control and Information Control in Destructive Cults 00:24:05 - Unhealthy groups and thought control 00:28:09 - Manipulative Tactics in Mind Control Cults 00:31:23 - Undue Influence and Mind Control 00:34:14 - Sharing the Healed Side of Myself 00:38:02 - Steps to Leaving a Controlling Cult 00:40:59 - The Wholesomeness of Guiding Actions 00:43:20 - Recovery and Untangling Assumptions 00:45:56 - The Book Misleading Readers 00:48:45 - AI and Radicalization 00:51:50 - The Power of Mind Control and Personal Responsibility 00:55:28 - The Abuse of Power & Escaping Cults 00:58:05 - The Impact of Cults on Mental Health 01:00:55 - Experiences in Cults and Cult-Like Communities 01:03:31 - Developmentally Appropriate Parenting and Cult Hopping 01:06:31 - Skepticism towards self-proclaimed Kabbalists 01:09:19 - Dangers of Hypnosis and Manipulation 01:11:51 - Organization's Evolution into a Cult 01:14:33 - "The Guru Papers" and Truth-Telling 01:19:09 - Healing from Religious Trauma 01:21:51 - Wrapping up and Moving Forward 01:24:37 - Examples of Cult-like Behavior 01:27:32 - Walking Away from a Cult 01:29:49 - Resources on our Website At this webinar ASI Education and Growth webinar on January 8, 2024, former Moonie and mental help professional Steve Hassan shared his Influence Continuum and BITE (Behavior, Information, Thought, Emotion) Model of Authoritarian Control. His four books, online courses, podcast, and 47 years of experience offer a framework for discerning ethical from unethical influence. His work has helped people who were raised in cults as well as those who were recruited into them. Steve Hassan, PhD is a mental health professional and expert in undue influence tactics used by authoritarian leaders and destructive cults. His expertise includes harmful influence in cases of destructive religious and political cults, human trafficking, extremist and terrorist groups, one-on-one relationships, families, parental alienation, mini-cults, therapy and self-improvement groups, professional and institutional abuse, corporate and multi-level marketing programs, and harmful belief systems. He is the author of four books including Combating Cult Mind Control, Freedom of Mind and The Cult of Trump. He is a translated author with books in 10 languages. His online video courses include Understanding Cults: A Foundational Course, which is available for the public, and also as a mental health professional continuing education program. He is the Founding Director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, which provides training, consulting and support to individuals who are struggling to leave or recover from a cult and to families and organizations that are concerned about cult behaviors. He also is the founder of Freedom From Undue Influence, a not-for-profit entity with the purpose of conducting and publishing the research on undue influence that is needed to update legal and social policies. He developed the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control to identify control tactics and the Influence Continuum Model to discern ethical from unethical influence. He developed the Strategic Interactive Approach (SIA), as an effective and legal intervention alternative for families to help cult members. Dr. Hassan believes that access to the truth, freedom of thought, and freedom from undue influence are basic human rights. A complex systems approach, based in science and supported by the rule of law, is necessary to protect these rights. He is a member of the Program in Psychiatry and the Law at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. He is an experienced educator having served as an instructor for the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop, as an elective teacher and a presenter for the Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program, and in other educational and training capacities for other higher education, professional, law enforcement, governmental, non-governmental and advocacy group audiences. Dr. Hassan began helping people affected by undue influence after he was deprogrammed from the Moon cult in 1976 at age 22. His 45 plus years of experience give him a unique perspective on the damaging effects of undue influence and exploitation by destructive cults. He is a frequently requested speaker and media interviewee. Dr. Hassan holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College and a Doctorate in Organizational Development and Change from Fielding Graduate University School of Leadership Studies.