be shamans, energy healers, and psychics as well as New Age book stores, crystal shops, and self-proclaimed Gurus every other week coming to Sedona to bring truth.
There are also ‘locals’ who know that some of these spiritual practitioners are charlatans, and warn those coming into town that they are ‘fake’. However, who are they to tell others which road to take to the Divine? Who are we to deny someone else the experience of what we call a charlatan. In my experience some of my greatest teachers were those who turned on me, because it taught me to find the truth within myself. It is not another’s responsibility if you cast them in the role of spiritual Guru. In the end, most people end up picking a Guru that agrees with their own personal point of view.
Anyone can unknowingly become a spiritual teacher for us the moment we gift them such a title. This is not to say that everyone is indeed a bringer of Divine Wisdom, but rather being open to the process of learning from all, opens up the pathway for finding Divine Wisdom in all. We are indeed learning from our experiences with others regardless if they are what we call light or dark, we grow. If we open ourselves up to focusing on the teachings, and not the teacher. There is a line that is often drawn around what a spiritual teacher or Guru really is. Many believe that to embody truth, the Guru must be pure and infallible. This standard of Christ-like perfection precludes the seeker from acknowledging the Divine “gift” that disillusionment with the Guru can be.
I have been challenged by the title Guru for most of my life, as I equated it to giving one’s power over to a man or woman rather than finding it on your own. I however continually made my