Spiritual bypassing is the use of spiritual ideas or practices to avoid facing painful emotions, unresolved wounds or real-life responsibilities, a term coined by psychologist John Welwood in the 1980s.
Why It Matters
It can sound like positivity that skips grief, or forgiveness offered before the hurt has been felt. True awakening includes the shadow, so growth means feeling fully while holding the light. At Next Level Soul, we teach spiritual bypassing as an invitation to bring honesty, tenderness and shadow work into every spiritual practice.
Related Terms
Go Deeper
Read the full guide: The Stages of a Spiritual Awakening: A Seven-Stage Map From Call to Return