Autonomy, The value of free will and choice.

Free will is the capacity to choose.

Autonomy is the uninterrupted right to make that choice in truth, with access to all available information, and without manipulation or suppression.

I recently had an experience with a "spiritual leader" where I had to withdraw from the course I was taking. I was met with kindness and told that my payments would be stopped. However, when I asked if I could go into the chat group and personally say goodbye to the women I had made connections to and grew relationships with my autonomy was taken away from me. The reasoning behind this was the "spiritual leaders" fear that me speaking my truth, that I could no longer afford the very high payment of $222 per month, would cause the other ladies to think that they had the option to drop out for what ever reason they might have. This "leader" said to me that she didn't want the others to think that they could quit her program and give their money to someone else for a different program that they may have found that they want to attend. The "leader" also stated that she was making an exception for me as we all signed a "contract/agreement" before starting that stated if we drop out we will continue to pay until the year and a day course is complete.

I have sat with this interaction for a few days to see if I would feel any better about what had transpired, the longer I sit with it the more anger/upset I feel about it. Not only did the "leader" take away my ability to speak my goodbyes to women who I have grown with over the past several months, the "leader" also is taking away the autonomy of her "followers". This "spiritual leader" is purposely taking away the full field of possibilities from anyone in her program, by doing so she is not allowing those who can no longer financially afford her offerings the "choice" or "option" to be able to withdraw, same goes to those who do not feel in alignment with her teachings. All for what? To protect her financial interests under the guise of spiritual leadership.

That is not what spiritual leadership or guidance looks like.

That is spiritual bypassing, cloaked as sacred guidance.

So to all the women, men, and children out there, know that you always have the right to choose, you have autonomy. If you ever find yourself in a situation where a "spiritual leader" is taking away the most important cosmic law, the free will of your self or others, removing your autonomy. You have every right to say no, to say I will not be a part of this corruption. If they say you are bound by contract to continue paying, you have the right to go to your financial institution and tell them to stop payments.

Please know that you do not have to fall in line, you do not have to allow these manipulations to take hold,

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE!

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO!

Spiritual leadership should never be about taking others choices away to protect their own financial stability, security, freedom. In doing so, damage is done, when taking freedoms and the right to choose away from people they are contributing to a corrupt and broken system instead of saying "No more" they are saying money is the most important thing to me, not guidance and free will and autonomy.

If you find yourself in a similar situation please know you have the choice to stand up for yourself and do what is right for you!