Spiritual leadership is a skill. You can think of it as the ability to create conditions that are conducive to the development of consciousness in others, using our intentions, speech and actions. No other skill is so important, yet we scarcely recognise it as a skill unto itself.

The skill of spiritual leadership is not just for those in designated roles – it will make you a better parent, partner, friend, neighbour, manager, colleague, and overall contributor to society. It is an arcane skill that has historically been the remit of religious leaders. Of course that can’t work anymore for all people and the needs of today, so it is helpful to consider spiritual leadership as a standalone skill, open to all people, that involves investigating, guiding and leading by example.

I believe that individuals, organisations and society at large must continually expand in awareness, empathy and responsibility in order for civilisation to be preserved. And recognising spiritual leadership as a standalone skill is a key part of that.

You can read my article about spiritual leadership here: https://makeitconscious.com/spiritual-leadership/

Exploitative control dynamics exist at all levels in our culture - between individuals and across organisations. Everyone is affected by them whether or not they realise. So whether you've had an encounter with a narcissist, exploited at work or joined a group that turned out to be a cult, you are in the majority. But recognising it as such, overcoming it and leveraging the experience for growth - that is unusual.

In this episode I discuss the exit and recovery process - whether from an abusive relationship, an exploitative cult or a toxic workplace. As usual this involves personal responsibility, gaining insight and seeing the situation as it really is. As part of this I also discuss the Five Phases of Codependency, how to make an exit plan, and Jungian Shadow Work.

The Five Phases of Codependency can help an individual understand where they are in an abusive relationship or exploitative cult, as well as gain insight into a previous situation. The model can be used to understand the challenges, risks and opportunities at each phase, and inform decision making on how to resolve the situation and integrate the experience.

The idea is to provide a model based on what is happening in the mind, as opposed to what a narcissist/abuser is doing, to serve as a useful tool towards individuation, spiritual growth.

The Five Phases of Codependency are:

1) The Attraction Phase

2) The Bliss Phase

3) The Conflict Phase

4) The Clash Phase

5) the Recovery 

You can also read about The Five Phases of Codependency in my ebook The Cult Recovery Guide, which is available here: https://makeitconscious.com/freeguide/