We Outgrew the Guru. Why Are We Repeating History?

Not that long ago, calling someone a “guru” was the ultimate compliment: the tech guru… the marketing guru… the fitness guru. In Western culture, the word became shorthand for someone with exceptional knowledge, hard-won wisdom, and the kind of insight people line up to access.

The term, of course, has deeper roots, born from the traditions of yoga and Eastern spirituality, where certain teachers were revered as guides through the inner landscape of life. They carried an air of mystery, of esoteric knowledge, of transformation. People trusted them completely.

And then, one by one, the masks came off.

The list of high-profile spiritual figures exposed as manipulators, abusers, and predators is both long and sobering. Bikram Choudhury built a global yoga empire – and used it to victimize students.

Yogi Bhajan, who brought kundalini yoga to the West, left a trail of abuse behind his saintly reputation. Buddhist leader Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche faced serious misconduct allegations. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh – better known as Osho – presided over criminal activity in his Oregon commune. And Amrit Desai, celebrated as a yoga pioneer, preached celibacy to his disciples while conducting secret affairs with female students. (And, of late, Deepak Chopra.)

This is just a sampling. The pattern, however, is unmistakable.

To be fair, these scandals don’t erase the many genuine spiritual mentors who operate with integrity, earn respect as educators, and serve as true guides on the path. They absolutely exist, and they deserve acknowledgment.

Something familiar is happening with the rise of shamanism in Western consciousness. The word carries a potent mystique – ancient ceremony, sacred plant medicine, transformational experiences deep in the Amazon and other jungly places. Ayahuasca retreat centers are booked months out across South and Central America, drawing seekers hungry for something beyond the ordinary.

But the warning signs are hard to ignore.

A 2017 investigative report by The Cut – titled “Sexual Assault in the Amazon” – documented how predatory individuals operating as shamans have used powerful plant medicines to exploit vulnerable participants, particularly women. Researchers and advocates within the ayahuasca community have confirmed that sexual misconduct is a growing and serious problem in this space.

Sound familiar?

There’s a crucial difference here, though: unlike North American-based spiritual leaders who could eventually be held publicly accountable, these incidents often occur in remote, tribal settings where oversight is nearly impossible and justice is rarely served.

Perhaps. The reflexive romanticizing of spiritual authority figures – whether draped in Eastern robes or cloaked in Amazonian tradition – seems to be meeting more skepticism than it once did. Maybe we’re becoming more discerning about who we hand our trust to.

What I keep coming back to is this: the source of genuine healing and spiritual growth lives within you. Teachers, guides, and facilitators can absolutely support your journey, but they are never the destination, and they should never hold the keys to your transformation. An authentic spiritual awakening doesn’t happen at the feet of a master; it happens the moment you reclaim your own sovereignty.

Having said all that, a note of gratitude: I want to honor one of my own spiritual mentors, GM Khalsa – an early student of Yogi Bhajan, who emerged from that community with his integrity fully intact. His work as the creator of Emotional Liberation, which I teach, continues to inspire me deeply.

With Love,

Becca

P.S. On a separate note, I’ll be holding my next free online Elevation Ceremony in April, a guided, active, and expressive space to work with fear, activation, and nervous system overwhelm.

You’re very welcome to join by registering here.