I’ve had some interesting experiences on my journey, when it comes to coming across people who you perceive to be spiritual teachers.

A great spiritual teacher is one who:

• Inspires with all that are, and all that they do
• Creates love within yourself, not fear.
• A great spiritual teacher does not provoke the ego, he or she, soothes and creates inner calm, so that the ego has no place
• Creates a trusting and loving environment so that you feel safe to explore your shadow-self and acknowledge all that you are
• Guides and supports you, to remember who you really are
• Celebrates with you, your uniqueness
• Honors and respects your unique journey
• Sees your relationship as a student-student relationship. In fact, they may not acknowledge themselves as a teacher at all
• Has no vested interest in the outcome of your personal or spiritual development

A spiritual teacher does not:

• Does not impress him/herself onto you
• Have a need to be acknowledged as your teacher
• Encourage you to take a particular path
• Persuade you to follow their ‘cause’
• Make you feel uncomfortable in any way
• Talk about others with you, in a disrespectful way
• Create fear and confusion