Category: Spiritual Life
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The Quest for Purpose After Religion
Picture this: I’m 19 years old, bright-eyed and eager, on a mission trip in New York City. I was part of a Bible School program that felt more like a gap year adventure. Armed with the conviction to save the lost souls and bestow upon them the “bread of life” they didn’t even know they…
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Self-Help Books That Caused Me To Spiral: Part 1.
I describe my deconstruction journey like riding a roller coaster in three phases- phase one starts off with getting into the roller coaster, gearing up for the ride, and slowly approaching the top, not really sure what to expect. I strapped into the ride feeling worn out, needing answers, relief from the thoughts that consumed…
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Happy Nude Year!
Last year I was very intentional about connecting to myself and my body, after years of feeling shame for living in this flesh-suit. A few ways I did that was: seeing a pelvic health therapist, having more open communication with my partner, doing a photoshoot in my underwear, and visiting a nudist resort, twice. Going…
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Is It My Fault? Or Is It the Church’s Fault?
Is my religious trauma my fault, or is it the church’s fault? Did I indoctrinate myself? After all, I enjoyed going to church as a child, and no one forced me to go to church as an adult. No one forced me to go to a bible school, work for a ministry, or use my…
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What Happened When I Listened to the Church About Purity.
tw: sexual abuse Oh what I wish I could tell my past self- that what happened to you does not mean you’re tainted. You are not dirty. You are not impure. I drew this picture in 2014 a few days after being in a circumstance that I didn’t know how to process. A girl balled…
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Life Coaching for Religious Recovery and Spiritual Abuse.
I was three sessions deep into my counseling appointments, each time thinking I would come out cured and never needing help again, only to find myself in a bigger mess than when I came in. I started therapy in the hopes that it would help lift my overwhelming burden, that I was not being authentic,…