People seek knowledge for personal enrichment and enlightenment. These are  truth seekers. Regardless of what your background is or what your religion is, we all strive toward the same goal: truth.

A conversation with a very good friend last night is prompting this post. She has been a close spiritual ally for a dozen years. She looks mainstream. She has a cute bob haircut, her size goes up and down, she wears makeup, and the clothes she wears are like Express/Gap-ish. She knows as much about spirituality as anyone I have ever met. She talks about all the deep and important things with caring and wisdom, and can do so for hours. She told me that she loves eating Vegetarian and healthy foods. In Eugene, OR where she lives, there is a healthy restaurant she loves to go to once a week.

When she enters people give her dirty looks. They peruse her up and down and start whispering. She does not look like anyone else who goes there. She does not have dreadlocks or long hippie/gypsy skirts or wear hemp jewelry or wear tye dyed tank tops or have tattoos or piercings. She confessed last night that she feels like it is reversed judgement.

Although frustrated, she is resolved to keep eating there. She will not allow anyone to judge her unfairly or cause her to go somewhere else.

In Orlando, I have friends similar to the one in Oregon who are dealing with the same issue: judgement. There are several drum circles in Orlando. A couple friends went to one and were greeted with near hostility. It got to the point within 20-30 minutes to where they felt downright unwelcome and left. One of these amazing women is in her early 50s and notes, "I was going to drum circles in the 1970s, something these kids are just discovering. Who are they to judge me? We're all there for the same thing. We were all there to enjoy the drumming, make friends and have a good time."
 
People break away from tradition for a reason. People want to distinguish themselves from the pack. Yet, at the same time, we want to be with people of like minds and hearts and philosophies. This causes us to befriend people who look the same, talk the same, eat the same, drink the same, etc. What is then created is alternative tradition. But it is tradition nonetheless. This alternative tradition mirrors the exact same tenets of the original tradition we tried to break away from!! Hello?? Does anyone see the inherent problem?

Communities are cultures. Culture is beautiful and open to anyone. Culture is not only for "these people." This segregated view point is disturbing. Moreover, it's stupid. Many people leave the traditions of religion, for example, and search high and low for their place and purpose through other spiritual disciplines. For example, a man who is Christian wants to start Yoga. He takes classes once a week and is ultimately part of the Yogi culture. Culture is open. Judgement is not. If a Christian man wants to open his perception and start Yoga, why would anyone stop his spiritual progression? He is expanding. That is the point. 
 
It is heartbreaking to realize that spiritual cultures have become high-school-clicky environments. We are not in high school anymore so, stop judging others and road blocking good people from searching and experiencing the exact same things for which you are striving and reaching and expanding toward.

In spiritual communities, we all say, "reach for the light" or "expand your consciousness" or "be the change you want to be." But how and why would you prohibit others from doing the exact same thing you are doing? Are you the only one on the planet who is allowed access to Divinity? When did spirituality become so narcissistic?? CUT THE CRAP! Starting with Orlando's spiritual community, please stop doing this. Certain "crowds" and "groups" are hindering people from embracing truth because of your own limited judgement. Stop it!

Here is something to chew on. Let's take a personal story from my own high school environment. In junior and senior years, I chose a program called DECA for elective classes. The program let you out of school early so students could go to work. DECA taught how to dress for an interview, how to construct a resume, how to speak to an employer, etc. You get the picture. Since I left school around 11am every day to go to work, I simply dressed in work clothes. My work clothes consisted of business suits and general business attire. The first two years of high school, I had been part of my town's rock music scene. People were used to seeing me in ripped jeans, long t-shirts and going to concerts. Well, in junior and senior years that all changed because I needed to help my mom pay some bills. I was going to school and working 40 hours a week at 16 yrs old. My friends began to treat me differently. I still listened to the same music. My phone number had not changed. I had not moved away. Yet, friends could no longer identify with the new me. I was pretty much "kicked out" of the scene - one by one, they passed judgement on me.

In an emotionally undeveloped environment like high school, that is to be expected.

In an enlightened adult environment of spiritual culture, it is not expected.

If you judge others, you obviously have a long way to go on your own journey to Divine Truth. I hope you expand sooner than later, for your sake. Please break free of judgement.