Yes, You Should Become A Spiritual Teacher

Today, let’s explore why you, too, might consider becoming a spiritual teacher. If you’ve lived through experiences and gained wisdom, then you’re equipped to teach.

Spiritual Teachers Are Needed

These are extraordinary times. More and more people are awakening spiritually, and this collective shift is reshaping our world. Every day, it becomes clearer that we need more spiritual teachers, more guides to help others navigate this influx of newly awakened souls. Think about this: over 95% of the world hasn’t embarked on the inner work essential for true peace, joy, and abundance. With everything unfolding globally—from conflicts to crises—it becomes evident that the most powerful way to change the world is to change ourselves. Standing on the brink of a New Earth, the need for spiritual teachers is greater than ever.

In the past, profound spiritual wisdom was handed down from seasoned teachers to dedicated students, from elder shamans to newly initiated practitioners. Seeking this knowledge required commitment, awareness, and genuine curiosity, particularly in places like America, where the spiritual lineage was severed by colonialism and religious restrictions. Two pivotal moments that brought spiritual wisdom to America were Edgar Cayce, known as the “sleeping prophet” and father of holistic medicine, and the Spiritist movement of the mid-1800s, which spread mediumship worldwide. Interestingly, these movements blossomed in a culture with no historical ties to shamanism, yet elements of shamanic wisdom emerged nonetheless. Spiritual truth has a way of surfacing.

What Does A Spiritual Teacher Teach?

A spiritual teacher guides others to connect with their true essence and develop inner awareness. They offer tools for navigating life’s challenges through self-discovery, meditation, and the practice of presence. Rather than providing rigid doctrines, a spiritual teacher helps students cultivate resilience, humility, and authenticity. Lessons often focus on understanding the nature of the mind and ego, recognizing self-imposed limitations, and releasing fears to foster joy and inner peace. Spiritual teachers empower individuals to reconnect with their inner wisdom, reminding them that lasting fulfillment arises from within. Through exploring universal truths, these guides inspire others to live more compassionate, balanced, and purpose-driven lives.

There are countless spiritual texts, books, and teachings available today, each offering unique wisdom and insights. If a particular work has had a meaningful impact on you, there’s nothing that says you can’t use it as a foundational tool in your teaching. Drawing from these texts as you guide others not only reinforces the core principles but also helps deepen your understanding. Teaching spiritual concepts isn’t just about imparting knowledge; it’s about embodying the principles, as students will be quick to notice any gaps between your words and actions. In this way, teaching becomes a reciprocal process—each lesson serves as a reminder to integrate what you’re teaching into your own life, making you a more authentic guide. Through this practice, teaching spiritual texts benefits not only your students but also enriches your own journey, grounding you in deeper awareness and continuous growth.

Unprecedented Access To Spiritual Teachings

In our modern world, access to spiritual teachings has never been more widespread. Anyone can encounter profound wisdom with a simple click. Many people are experiencing spontaneous awakenings and seeking guidance online, where answers are abundant. Self-initiated shamans find communities to support them through the intense, often disorienting journey of becoming a spiritual leader in a culture that doesn’t always understand. This phenomenon reflects a deeper spiritual truth: after being hidden or suppressed for so long, this wisdom is ready to re-emerge.

Some of us may stumble upon this knowledge and learn from masterful teachers without leaving our homes. But the availability of this wisdom doesn’t lessen the work’s difficulty. Most will need a guide, a mentor, or an elder to support them, and that’s where you come in as a teacher.

Why you? What Makes You So Special?

Spiritual awakening can sometimes brush close to madness and instability, but from that struggle, deep healing emerges. Too often, those with a gift for healing end up lost in the system, half-awake and heavily medicated, unable to fulfill their role as spiritual leaders. If you’ve come through such experiences, you have something invaluable to share.

You might ask, “Why me? Why should I teach?” The answer is that if you’ve walked this path, grown, and transformed, you have something of value. Teaching doesn’t require knowing everything; it calls for a willingness to share what you know and continue learning.

Here’s a key point: Consciousness shapes form, not the other way around. There’s a part of you—often subtle but ever-present—that knows your potential is greater than what your day-to-day self shows. By teaching, you’re not only helping others but deepening your understanding. You’re contributing to the collective experience, helping shape the shared reality.

Dealing With Ego Is Non-Negotiable In A Spiritual Teacher

Let’s also talk about the ego, the greatest obstacle you’ll face. The ego craves recognition, superiority, and validation, but a true spiritual teacher must move past this. It requires humility—acknowledging what you know and what you don’t. You don’t need to know everything; you need the courage to learn.

When you teach about the ego, you’ll find it challenging yet profoundly transformative. The ego resists such teachings, but beyond that lies a whole new level of reality. Many teachers avoid addressing the ego, but if you feel called, dive in.

As a spiritual teacher, you’ll encounter resistance, doubt, and sometimes outright criticism. Embrace it. Be an example of grounded skepticism, yet open to listening. This aligns with the wisdom of the Toltec path, keeping you grounded, honest, and connected to the truth that teaching is a two-way street. Your critics may teach you as much as you teach them.

The Teachings Are Nothing New

When you share spiritual truths, you’re not introducing new concepts but reminding people of what their true self already knows. It’s a process of awakening memories, like finding something long forgotten. When we’re effective, we’re helping people reconnect with their authentic selves.

So, where do you start? Simply share your journey. Blog, create videos, or offer readings. The medium doesn’t matter—what matters is starting. Be genuine. Share your experiences without worrying about money or followers; the right people will find you. Let your truth speak for itself. True teachings don’t need to be adorned with mystical claims; they shine through lived experience.

Even if you feel you have no groundbreaking insights, you can teach from existing texts. At Concrete Shamanism, we draw from works like A New Earth, Seth Speaks, A Course in Miracles, and The Spirits’ Book. Starting with these foundational texts is a great way to build your path.

And while your ego might whisper that you don’t need established frameworks, having structure and purpose will help others greatly. In time, you may develop your own teachings, as we have with our Shadow Work and Spirits decks and our upcoming book Transcend The False Self.

What If You Are Called Names?

Being called a charlatan or fraud, or facing skepticism, is a rite of passage that nearly every authentic spiritual teacher must experience, especially for those outside established hierarchies like Buddhism, Christianity, or other formal institutions. Those who walk a “wilder” path—such as Shamanism or independent spiritual work—will face ego-shaking challenges, often through accusations or doubts from others. These tests serve a purpose: to humble the ego and remind you that true spiritual teaching is not about admiration, but about service. If you genuinely have something valuable to share, these challenges will strengthen your resolve and refine your intentions. The ego craves validation, but resistance from others highlights where you must let go of that need, shaping you into a teacher rooted in integrity rather than in approval.

This process is especially valuable in teaching spiritual wisdom, where both your students’ and your own egos will inevitably surface. Facing critique and doubt is an invitation to transcend these dynamics, knowing that the work itself, rather than your personal identity, is what truly matters. With each trial, you’ll find that your understanding deepens and your ability to share with humility expands. We’ve found it helpful to avoid claims of extraordinary powers, even if you feel connected to certain abilities. Allow your actions and teachings to speak louder than any claims of the supernatural. By focusing on grounded teachings, you prevent your ego from drawing unnecessary attention and create a safe environment for students to learn openly.

Teaching from established texts, tools, and decks—whether created by others or by yourself—can act as a stabilizing anchor for both you and your students. These resources guide the focus toward the content rather than your own persona, helping to alleviate ego-related issues. Spiritual teachings, by their nature, are profound and not easily grasped by the mind alone; the ego cannot truly “understand” the spiritual, as it is always rooted in form, comparison, and identity. Let the work of teaching be a path of mutual benefit, allowing both you and your students to deepen without attachment to recognition or status. This grounded approach not only cultivates a safe, authentic space for growth but also lets you embody the humility and wisdom that true spiritual guidance requires.

Getting over yourself and just doing the work is the greatest guard against ego.

How Will I Make Money Being A Spiritual Teacher?

The question of making a living as a spiritual teacher is natural, and it’s essential to remember that teaching spirituality can be a legitimate profession like any other. If you feel inclined to charge for your work, do so confidently. For many, the energy exchange that comes with paying allows them to value and commit to the work more deeply. As the teacher, the choice to charge or give away teachings for free is yours to make, and both paths are valid. Wisdom may indeed be found freely by those who search, yet people who come to you for guidance are often seeking a supportive environment and direct mentorship, which you’ve invested time, resources, and effort to provide. Charging for your services doesn’t diminish their value; in fact, it often anchors the experience for students, grounding them in their own commitment to growth.

Critics might argue that spiritual wisdom should always be free, and indeed, the most profound truths are available to anyone who earnestly seeks them. However, many spiritual teachers have dedicated years, finances, and deep personal sacrifice to cultivate their knowledge. Charging for your time and insights is not an indication of lesser authenticity—it’s simply one approach among many. If you choose to charge, the decision should feel genuine to you, not influenced by outside opinions. There are many ways to earn income as a spiritual teacher, from one-on-one sessions to group workshops, online courses, books, or even donation-based offerings. The choice to charge or offer your services freely is a personal and spiritual decision that you must feel aligned with. It’s ultimately about what feels right to both you and those drawn to your teachings, allowing for a sincere, mutual exchange where the work itself remains at the center.

A Shortage Of Core Spirituality

Spirituality is about living with love and being present for others. The heal and grow and being of service. To not judge others and to treat others as if they are ourselves. The major religions fail to teach this so many of those in traditional religions begin to question their faith and might even leave it. We do not encourage people to leave their church or abandon their faith. Core spirituality is often a wonderful complement to an already established belief system. Shamanism is not at odds with any other spiritual practice or religion and, in fact, might be the basis for them all.

Core shamanic and spiritual concepts are found in all religions and even though some religions might reject certain practices or forbid their church members from seeking healing in other ways, we know that people eventually come to understand that it all come from God. And any divisions or separations or us vs. them is of the ego and not God. We are all children of God. And we want teachers to tell everyone that this love is available to anyone at any time.

Consider this: in America alone, there are over 1.5 million math teachers and half a million Christian pastors, yet how many spiritual teachers guide people toward the present moment, well-being, and abundance? Not nearly enough. As more people awaken, they’ll need genuine, humble teachers focused on growth rather than competition.

So if you feel that call, heed it. Now is the time. The world is changing, and we need as many guides as possible to help navigate this shift. Share what you know, own what you don’t, and keep learning. By stepping into the role of a teacher, you’re not just aiding others; you’re co-creating a more connected and enlightened world.

Thank you for reading. Remember, do the inner work first to spare yourself and others from unnecessary struggles. Don’t fear failure. My first class at the recovery center went so poorly that I ended up crying in a closet. A colleague found me and asked if I’d learned something. I had, and he said, “If you learned, then you didn’t fail.” So, truly, nothing fails if it teaches.