Spiritual Discernment # 1 - Not Every “Good Vibe” Is Safe

 

In a culture obsessed with vibes, aesthetics, and self-proclaimed spiritual gurus, it’s easy to get swept up in a sea of sage smoke, pastel filters, and perfect-sounding messages. The modern spiritual world is full of people who seem enlightened, people who speak in gentle tones, post poetic affirmations, and promise transformation. But here’s the inconvenient truth: not everyone with “good energy” is operating with good intentions.

Discernment is a spiritual skill that gets underused, and dangerously so. It’s the ability to look past appearances, question smooth delivery, and listen to what your own intuition is telling you. When we mistake good branding for good energy, we lose touch with the most important compass we have: our gut.

Let’s break down why you need to be cautious, not paranoid but absolutely discerning in spiritual spaces.

Performance Isn’t Integrity

Just because someone sounds spiritual doesn’t mean they are. It’s alarmingly easy to fake alignment. Some of the most harmful people wear the best disguises. They talk about healing and growth while subtly undermining yours. They claim to be about love and truth but recoil the moment you express discomfort or challenge them.

Spiritual language is powerful and it can be used manipulatively. Words like “alignment,” “vibration,” “energy,” “manifestation,” and “sovereignty” get tossed around so much they start to lose meaning. The problem isn’t the words themselves, it’s how they’re used. When someone uses spiritual buzzwords to mask control, dismiss criticism, or shame you for asking questions, that’s not enlightenment. That’s manipulation wrapped in a pretty package.

How to Tell Something Is Off

You don’t need to be an expert to sense when something isn’t right. Your body knows. Your nervous system knows. You just have to learn how to pay attention to the signs.

Ask yourself:

• Do I feel more grounded or more anxious after listening to this person?
• Do I feel invited into deeper understanding, or subtly pressured to agree?
• Is this space centered on growth, or control?
• Am I encouraged to ask questions, or made to feel like a problem for doing so?

These are not petty concerns. These are the foundation of discernment. If you leave an interaction feeling spun out, small, or like your autonomy has been compromised, that’s a red flag even if the “vibe” was calm and sweet.

Good Vibes Can Be a Smokescreen

Here’s something a lot of people don’t want to hear: “high vibe” isn’t the same as safe. The most polished spiritual influencers are often just that, influencers. They’ve mastered the art of the online aesthetic, the soothing voice, the perfect captions. But a curated feed is not proof of inner work.

Energy doesn’t lie but people are very good at disguising it. Some of the most toxic people know how to talk like healers. They know the script. They know how to mirror your language and play into your spiritual expectations. And that’s exactly why discernment is critical.

Don’t be fooled by a crystal collection or a meditation practice. Don’t assume that someone is wise just because they say they’re channeling divine wisdom. Discernment isn’t about being skeptical of everyone. It’s about trusting yourself more than you trust someone else’s persona.

Discernment Looks Like This

When you’re practicing spiritual discernment, you’re not judging others in a moral or hierarchical way. You’re not saying, “I’m better than them.” You’re simply saying, “This doesn’t feel right to me.”

And that is enough.

You don’t need a ten-point reason or a dramatic exit. You don’t have to prove anything. If it feels off it probably is. Honor that. That’s not paranoia or judgment. That’s wisdom. You are allowed to trust your inner compass over someone else’s vibe.

Discernment sounds like:

• “I’m going to take a step back for now.”
• “This doesn’t feel aligned for me, and I don’t need to explain why.”
• “I notice I feel anxious when I engage with this content or community.”
• “I don’t feel safe or free to be myself here.”

And here’s the key: you are allowed to leave. You are allowed to unfollow, unsubscribe, disengage, or walk away from anything that no longer feels supportive—no matter how pretty it looks on the surface.

Spiritual Manipulation in Disguise

One of the most insidious things about spiritual manipulation is that it often hides behind positive language. You might hear things like:

• “You’re just resisting because you’re not ready.”
• “That discomfort means you’re being called to heal something in yourself.”
• “If it bothers you, it’s your shadow speaking.”

Sometimes that’s true. But often, it’s just another way of invalidating your experience.

Real spiritual teachers don’t weaponize discomfort or use it to silence you. They invite curiosity and conversation. They respect your boundaries. They welcome your questions.

The moment someone uses spirituality to make you question your sanity, dismiss your intuition, or shame your autonomy, that’s the moment you need to step back.

Discernment Is a Spiritual Practice

Discernment isn’t about being critical. It’s about being clear. It’s a quiet, grounded practice of self-trust. It says, “I’m not here to blindly accept. I’m here to feel into what’s true for me.”

You don’t need to be hyper-vigilant, constantly scanning for danger. But you do need to stay awake.

You can admire someone’s wisdom without following them.
You can respect someone’s path without walking it.
You can love people from afar without staying connected to what feels unsafe.

A Few Journal Prompts to Deepen Your Clarity

• When have I ignored red flags because someone seemed “high vibe”?
• What does safety feel like in my body?
• Where have I felt silenced, not seen, in a spiritual space?
• Who in my life truly honors my boundaries and intuition?

Closing Thoughts

Spiritual spaces should nourish you, not drain you. They should help you return to yourself, not disconnect you from your own voice. Not every good vibe is good for you. And not everyone speaking about healing is safe to follow.

At the end of the day, your discernment is your protection. Trust it. Let it guide you. And never apologize for listening to your gut.