Why 'spiritual' is a dirty word for some?

Why “Spiritual” Is a Dirty Word for Some — and Why I Still Use It Anyway
From the reflections of The Listening Grandmama

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
— Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

For years, this quote anchored me. It gave language to something I’ve long felt but couldn’t always explain — that underneath our titles, wounds, and stories, there is something vast, alive, and sacred in each of us.

But lately, I’ve been sensing a shift. Particularly among younger people.
The word spiritual no longer lands the way it once did.

I saw this firsthand during a storytelling and listening circle I recently facilitated. One young man participated with depth and sincerity, but when I gently said at the end, “I would love to hear your story on what it means to be not-spiritual,” he gave no response. Later, he declined all follow-up contact.

And he wasn’t alone. I’ve noticed it more and more — discomfort, even resistance, around the word spiritual. For some, it feels vague. For others, it feels like a performance or privilege. For others still, it represents something they don’t want to be associated with — judgment, detachment, or superiority.

And I understand that.

Because like any word, spiritual is only as meaningful as the energy we bring to it.

So here’s what I mean when I say spiritual:
I mean soul-level awareness.
I mean honoring the invisible threads that connect us.
I mean working from the inside out, not just behaviorally, but energetically.
I mean being honest when I don’t know.
I mean pausing before I react.
I mean remembering that love, curiosity, and compassion are forces, not just feelings.

Sometimes I still say “spiritual,” because it’s the closest word I have.
But sometimes, I drop the word entirely — and let the listening, the presence, the depth do the talking.

In my book, The Listening Grandmama, I reflect on moments like these — not as polished teachings, but as living questions. Is it working? Does any of this truly change lives? Am I reaching those who feel allergic to spiritual language, but are doing the deepest soul work?

My honest answer is: yes. But not always in obvious ways.

And now, I hear another word creeping in: alternative.

A word that’s meant to be descriptive — but sometimes feels dismissive.

I’ve been called “alternative” too.
And here’s what I know:
I’m not trying to be different.
I’m simply being faithful to the whispers I hear in the Field.

So if you’ve ever been labeled — spiritual, alternative, or “not like us” — I hope you know this:

You’re not alone.
You’re not too much.
You’re not lost.
You’re walking a different path — and that is sacred, too.

Let’s keep listening.

Let’s keep asking better questions.

Let’s keep showing up — soul to soul.