Living in the world today, many of us feel challenged by politics, global warming, affordability, and the many cross-currents of these times. It can be easy to feel pulled down by the weight of it all — by the constant stream of happenings, opinions, and predictions.
For sensitive people especially, this raises a real question:
How do we stay informed and participate in the world, without losing our energy, joy, or capacity to contribute? How do you, as a sensitive, hold the light in dark times?
There’s a palpable sense of darkness in the collective field right now — not necessarily because things are worse than ever, but because we are more exposed to everything, all the time. Add in very real concerns about survival, sustainability, and the possible degradation of the lifestyles we’ve known, and it’s no wonder many sensitives feel overwhelmed or dysregulated.
Two Ends of the Spectrum
Some of my most spiritual colleagues and friends hold the view that the challenges we’re facing now are not new. Humanity has always navigated political upheaval, environmental threats, and the basic realities of survival on this earthwalk. From this perspective, one response is to not get too riled up — to stay less informed, less emotionally invested, and to trust that “it’s always been this way.”
That’s one end of the spectrum.
At the other end are people who feel called to stay aware, engaged, and to actively “hold the light.” There’s truth here too — especially when we consider teachings like the Law of Attraction, which suggest that what we focus on, energize, and emotionally inhabit is what we help bring into form.
So the real question I want to explore in this blog is:
How do we hold the light in dark times — without bypassing reality or burning ourselves out?
How do we find the balance between being unconcerned or detached on one hand, and being so immersed in the world’s suffering that we lose our center? And if we feel drawn toward activism or engagement, how do we do that with open hearts, with love, and with our connection to Spirit still intact?
Being In the World, But Not Of It: Wisdom Traditions We Can Lean On
This tension is not new. Many spiritual traditions have grappled with the same core question: How do we live fully in the human world without being defined, consumed, or distorted by it?
Some of the work I find supportive right now is an offshoot of Christianity, well if you can call channelings from Jeshua Ben Joseph (i.e., Jesus) an offshoot. The writing from the Way of Mastery books discusses how to be in the world, but not of it. Like the other traditions below, often there is an anchoring to love, to connection with spirit, as the most important “reality” to anchor to.
Here are a few additional lenses that may be especially helpful right now:
1. Christianity (Mystical and Scriptural)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays that his followers be “in the world, but not of it.” The teaching isn’t about withdrawal, but about allegiance. You live among people, engage with society, and serve — while locating your identity and guidance in the Kingdom of God rather than in fear, power, or domination.
In this view, holding the light means embodying love, truth, and compassion in the midst of a broken world — without letting the world define who you are.
2. The Bhagavad Gita (Hinduism)
The Gita offers the path of karma yoga — action without attachment to outcomes. You do your duty, show up fully, and act ethically, while releasing your grip on results.
This is a powerful model for sensitive people:
Be engaged, but don’t be consumed.
Let your actions arise from alignment with the Divine, not from anxiety about how things will turn out.
3. Buddhism
Buddhist teachings emphasize non-attachment, not disengagement. The problem isn’t the world — it’s clinging to outcomes, identities, and emotional reactivity.
From this lens, holding the light means cultivating awareness and compassion while staying out of fear-based reactivity. You respond skillfully, rather than reactively — which feels especially relevant in today’s polarized climate.
4. Sufism (Islamic Mysticism)
Sufism speaks of fana (the dissolution of the ego) and baqa (living in God). Life continues — relationships, work, service — but the sense of a separate, controlling self loosens.
Action flows from love rather than ego. You remain in the world, but the world no longer owns you.
5. Shamanism
In many shamanic traditions, the practitioner walks between worlds — the ordinary, physical world and the non-ordinary, spiritual realms. The task is not escape, but mediation.
Shamans stay deeply connected to Spirit precisely so they can serve the community. Nature, ritual, and relationship with unseen allies help them remain grounded, resourced, and clear — even in times of crisis.
This is a beautiful reminder that being “not of the world” doesn’t mean disengagement; it means rooting yourself in a deeper source of guidance while tending the collective field.
Regulation as a Spiritual Practice
My own approach — both in my personal walk and in my professional work — comes back again and again to regulation.
I will always vote for daily practices that help you stay grounded in the midst of current tumult. And I will always vote for tools that help you deconstruct spiraling thoughts and over-dramatic emotional loops that derail your nervous system.
Even dropping your stress level a few points matters.
You respond more appropriately.
Then, you stay connected to your values.
This way, you can actually be of service.
When we’re in fight-or-flight, we may think we’re helping — but we’re often just amplifying the very energy we’re trying to heal. So perhaps “being in the world, but not of it” simply means staying out of fight-or-flight, doh!! Lol! Joking – that just hit my funny bone as an additional spiritual practice for the current time… 😂
Here you’ll find an illustration of the three levels of healing here, where you can more deeply explore that healing model I use in therapy work. You might also view work and any challenges you are going through in life, as spiritual practice.
Final Reflection
Holding the light doesn’t mean ignoring reality.
And it doesn’t mean carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
It means staying anchored in Spirit, resourced in your body, and guided by love — while you live, vote, speak, serve, and choose how you engage. While you decide what you need to do to be prepared for disruption both personal and collective.
That balance is not static. It’s a living practice. And in times like these, it may be one of the most important spiritual disciplines we can cultivate.
Side note from today (12/19/25)
As I write this, my town of Boulder is on alert due to higher than normal winds that led to a very destructive fire about this time last year. Instructions are to have that “go bag” with the important papers and irreplaceable items. (!) We’ve lost three trees, and one of them was up against a neighboring building. I’ve not lost power thus far; others have.
“Preppers” are those who feel we need to be prepared for grid and power disruption, empty food shelves, etc. It may be prudent to find a level of this kind of prep that supports you. This would be active coping. Passive coping would be to listen to these concerns as I did this week, but two months later, not have taken any action.
You can google “Preppers lists” for more info. The quick guidelines might mean 2 weeks (months) of food, 50 gal water for drinking, cash, fill up the car with gas, charge phones/cars/etc., go bag, alternate energy sources – be they lamps, batteries for radios, etc.
I’m pretty new to the prepper world, though I did go through Y2K. As I went on a hike today before the wind was supposed to hit hard, I grabbed my passport. Irreplaceable? I thought of my guitar, but I haven’t had to evacuate before, as some neighbors have closer to the foothills here. Wild times! At times it feels like an adventure, at times it’s pretty frightening. Take care, friends.
Resources for Spiritual Exploration
If you’d like to go deeper with some of the spiritual traditions noted above, here are some starting points:
- Christian Mysticism
- The Gospel of John, Chapter 17
- Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
- Hinduism
- The Bhagavad Gita, especially Chapters 2–4 (karma yoga)
- Buddhism
- The Dhammapada
- Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
- Sufism
- Shamanism
- Michael Harner, The Way of the Shaman
- Sandra Ingerman, Soul Retrieval
- Jeshua channeled
Resources for End of year/New Year reset
These were included in the solstice newsletter – you can sign up to receive these at the right.
Or text me to get those, 303 501 7402, with NL in the subject line; included your email address.
Coaching Update: Prices increasing
My coaching rates will be increasing in 2026.
If you’d like to work together next year, you can lock in 2025 pricing by enrolling and paying by 12/30. This applies whether you’re starting in January or later in the year.
If you’ve been feeling the nudge, this is a good moment to listen.
Visit this page to find out about my coaching services.
You can text me with any questions, 303 501 7402
Or email mdenisebarnes at gmail. Note: I’m on duty through 12/24,VK starts 12/25 through 1/5.
thank you so much! I always appreciate your newsletters, but especially today appreciate the serendipity of this particular content.
Wonderful Alix! That theme certainly has been pinging here lately. All the best for your New Year