Spiritual healing has been attracting increasing interest. Whether it be meditation, reaching out to spirit guides, praying, chanting, or reading spiritual books, they’re all being seen as coping techniques.
Celebrity spirituality evolved in the 1960s and 1970s, when The Beatles were interested in Eastern spirituality in search of inner peace. It is a concept that has existed for ages, but it has grown in popularity in recent years. Julianne Hough, an American actress and singer, underwent a spiritual metamorphosis in which “stuck” energy was cleared from her body by energy practitioner John Amaral. This trend has prompted media interest and debate, with many questioning increased interest in spirituality.
“People in the present Kal Yuga feel the desire to discover and experience diverse spiritual knowledge through occult, paranormal, or transpersonal practices because standard ritualistic practices are insufficient to cure their concerns. This urge drives them to discard age-old religious practises and conventions in favour of experimenting with new ones,” explains Dr. Trupti Jayin, a renowned Natural language processing (NLP) therapist, Transactional Analyst and Spiritual Numerologist.
The Path
“Spirituality involves a sense of connection to something greater than oneself. This connection could be with a higher power, nature, the universe, or one’s inner self. It encompasses beliefs, values, ethics and practices that provide purpose to life,” says Archana Singhal, certified Counselor and founder, Mindwell Counsel.
THE SOUL
“Religion often perplexes us rather than guide us to a perception of who we are, who God is, and what life is all about. This is when spirituality comes into play. Spirituality is the study of the spirit, Atman, or Soul. It is an attitude. It is about realising the truth of who we are, not the body, mind, or ego, but the soul,” says Atman in Ravi, a spiritual mentor, humanitarian, transformational author, singer and philanthropist.
“Practices like meditation and chanting help us discipline and calm the mind, improving focus and concentration. Prayer gives strength and helps build a connection with God. All these are effective practices, coping mechanisms that can help us battle fear, anxiety, and depression,” he adds.
SELF POWER
When Jacqueline Fernandez was going through a rough patch in her life, the actress took to reading self-help and spiritual books like Louise L Hay’s works which talk about forgiveness and healing. She also meditated and did breathing exercises.
“Reading spiritual books not only imparts spiritual wisdom but helps us understand what life is, what death is, how Karma works,” says Atman in Ravi. Healing books are transformative and go beyond physical healing. They offer insights, knowledge, and practical methods for tapping into natural healing and growth potential. Celebrities such as Will Smith have praised Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder and head of the Isha Foundation, for his New York Times bestselling self-help book Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy for years.
Diverse healing
The Law of Karma states that ‘what we sow, so shall we reap’. Health problems or diseases that are considered to be the result of negative karma from previous incarnations. This theory promotes acceptance. “When pain or trials come our way, we accept and surrender, knowing why and rejoicing that our negative Karma is being neutralised. Spirituality is the only path to personal and global pleasure and peace,” says Atman in Ravi.
Tejal Patel, a meditation and mindfulness expert, sees karma as a circle of cause and effect that is more concerned with action than with consequence. Karma is a concept that teaches us how to spend our life so that we can be the best versions of ourselves and live the most fulfilling lives possible.
Meditation & mindfulness
Meditation or introspection are the most delicate and elegant forms of karmic purification. It is one of the Master’s quickest ways to help with the karmic backlog’s clearing. Many famous people, including Beyoncé and Oprah, have spoken about the benefits of meditating and developing mental focus.
Revealing her struggles with mental health, Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson posted, “Meditation or going for a walk, being kind to your body... Those little things make a difference ultimately.”
Katy Perry, one of the world’s biggest pop performers, has struggled with depression and anxiety throughout her life, and acknowledged that Transcendental Meditation has been a major help.
“One of the fundamental principles of intuitive spirituality is the recognition that there are countless paths to the divine,” says Kamlesh D. Patel, the fourth spiritual Guide in the Sahaj Marg system of Raj Yoga meditation. “Meditation is completely compatible with the notion of intuitive spirituality, providing a practice that transcends religious barriers and embraces all seekers,” says Kamlesh D. Patel, popularly known as Daaji.
“In times of difficulty, meditation has provided tools for bedtime prayer, evening rejuvenation or cleansing, providing solace and guidance. It has given me a feeling of purpose and perseverance as I face life’s obstacles. It has provided me with inner strength and calm, supporting my belief that spirituality is a deeply personal and relevant component of human existence,” says Daaji.
Mind-Body Connection
Archana Singhal says there is a growing body of evidence that suggests spirituality can play an important role in the healing process.
“Spirituality, which is generally associated with practices such as meditation, prayer, or mindfulness, can reduce stress and promote inner serenity and peace,” says Archana. American singer Christina Aguilera, has talked about using Reiki therapy three times a week to help her lose weight. “Reiki puts my mind in a good place and gives me the discipline to eat healthy and maintain weight loss,” media reports quoted her as saying.
Letting Go
During difficult circumstances, spirituality can provide emotional and psychological assistance. It provides a framework for individuals to cope with sorrow, trauma and the hardships of life. Gwyneth Paltrow, the American actress and founder of the spiritual lifestyle brand Goop, reportedly attended Reiki healing sessions around the time she and ex-husband Chris Martin, the lead singer of the popular band Coldplay, announced their divorce.
Holistic Well-being
Spirituality promotes a holistic approach to health, addressing not only the physical but also the emotional, mental, and even existential aspects of health. Shahid Kapoor is a devotee of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. He has been reported as saying, “I have issues with situations I can’t control. But at the same time, I have this spiritual side where I know that nobody has control. I believe in that – that there are larger powers at play and you can participate in life.”
Spiritual treatment may include the following holistic approaches in addition to regular talk therapy:
Mindfulness Practices
Meditation
Yoga
Breathwork
Energy Work
Reiki
Psychedelic Integration Therapy.
Meditation is completely compatible with the notion of intuitive spirituality, providing a practice that transcends religious barriers and embraces all seekers.” — Kamlesh D. Patel, spiritual guru.
People in the present Kal Yuga feel the desire to discover and experience diverse spiritual knowledge through occult, paranormal, or transpersonal practices because standard ritualistic practices are insufficient to cure their concerns. This urge drives them to discard age-old practises in favour of experimenting with new ones.” — Dr. Trupti Jayin
Shahid Kapoor is a devotee of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. He has been reported as saying, “I have issues with situations I can’t control. But at the same time, I have this spiritual side where I know that nobody has control.
It’s a personal journey that allows individuals to draw inspiration from a wide range of sources and practices, from meditation and learning from different religious traditions to exploring and connecting with spirit guides. This openness to various spiritual practices can indeed foster inner peace, resilience, and self-discovery.” — Master Del Pe, founder & creator, the BElife Institute for Higher Consciousness (BIHC)
