Spiritual Influence and the Concept of Sin

“As you should know, we are all energetically influenced both physically and spiritually. Is spiritual influence the sin that is forgiven because we commit it unconsciously?”

This question landed in my inbox recently, and it touches on something I’m often asked about: the complex relationship between spiritual influence and personal responsibility. Let’s take a look at this from a few different perspectives to help us gain greater clarity and self-awareness.

Distinguishing Influence from Intentional Sin

First, I’d like to speak to the idea of “sin.” The question itself suggests a Christian theological perspective, where sin and forgiveness are central concepts. However, different spiritual traditions understand these dynamics quite differently:

From a Christian perspective, sin is generally understood as a deliberate choice that separates us from God, while unconscious actions may carry less moral weight than conscious choices, and forgiveness comes through divine grace and genuine repentance.

In many Eastern traditions, concepts like “sin” and “free will” are understood quite differently or may not be part of the spiritual vocabulary at all. The focus is often on karma (cause and effect) rather than divine judgment. In these traditions, the emphasis is on awareness and conscious choice rather than on forgiveness.

Coming from these diverse perspectives, rather than focusing solely on sin and forgiveness, let’s consider how various spiritual frameworks address questions of consciousness, influence, and accountability. And how these might actually manifest in our daily lives to help us gain greater awareness, regardless of our spiritual or religious framework.

Before we get into spiritual and energetic influences, let’s clarify a few concepts:

• What is Sin:
  Many traditions see spiritual (and physical) influences as part of our environment that affect our thoughts and feelings. But sin is generally understood as a deliberate, conscious choice to act in a way that goes against moral or divine law. In other words, being influenced isn’t the sin but rather the conscious decision to act contrary to what is good or right.
• The Role of Unconscious Actions:
  Many theological perspectives recognize that if we act without full awareness because factors beyond our immediate control influence us, our moral responsibility might be less. In these contexts, forgiveness is often seen as an expression of divine mercy. It’s not that the “spiritual influence” is forgiven as a sin, but rather that our unintentional missteps, influenced by forces we can’t fully control, are met with compassion.
• Free Will and Grace:
  The idea here is that while we are subject to various influences, we also have the capacity for discernment and free will. Forgiveness typically applies to those deliberate choices where we knowingly stray from our spiritual or ethical ideals. When our actions are more a product of unconscious influence rather than deliberate decisions, many traditions hold that we are not held to the same degree of accountability.
• Different Interpretations:
  Keep in mind that the answers to these questions vary widely among different religious and spiritual frameworks. Some might stress the importance of personal responsibility regardless of external influences, while others emphasize that divine grace covers the inherent limitations of human awareness.

So, spiritual influence itself isn’t considered a sin that needs forgiveness. It’s the conscious choice to act against our moral or spiritual ideals (often made even under subtle influences) that is subject to the need for forgiveness. This perspective invites us to become more aware of how these influences work so we can develop greater intentionality in our actions.

The Nature of Spiritual Influence

Regardless of the theological framework, we are all energetic beings living in an interconnected web of physical and spiritual energies. Every day, we’re influenced by countless forces, from the emotions of people around us to the subtle energies of our environment. This isn’t mystical thinking. It is a practical reality that affects how we think, feel, and act.

Spiritual influence typically manifests in three ways:

First: There’s what I call the “Mental Chatter Effect.” Our minds constantly generate thoughts, many of which originate from old programming and unconscious beliefs. Think of it like a radio playing in the background. You don’t have to believe everything you hear, but it’s always there, influencing your perspective.

Second: We experience environmental energetics. Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt tense or peaceful? You’re not imagining that. That’s your natural sensitivity to the energetic fields generated by people and spaces around you. We all take the temperature of every space we walk into. It’s automatic.

Third: There’s early life programming. Our childhood experiences and cultural programming create deep grooves in our consciousness that continue to influence our spiritual journey. Someone raised with rigid religious beliefs, for instance, might unconsciously resist more open spiritual perspectives, even when they consciously want to embrace them.

Moving Beyond the Concept of Sin

Rather than viewing spiritual influence through the lens of sin and forgiveness, I’m inclined to take a more practical approach. The question isn’t whether we’re being influenced—we are, constantly. The real questions are:

• How aware are we of these influences?
• What choices are we making once we become aware?
• How can we respond more consciously?

Practical Steps for Conscious Living

Here’s what I’ve found works for navigating spiritual influence:

1. Develop Awareness: Start by simply noticing when you’re being influenced. Pay attention to your energy levels, emotional states, and thought patterns in different situations and around different people.
2. Create Energetic Boundaries: Just as you wouldn’t leave your front door wide open, learn to manage your energetic boundaries. This might mean limiting time with energy-draining people or creating a sacred space in your home.
3. Practice Regular Energy Clearing: Develop daily practices to clear and reset your energy. This could be as simple as taking a walk in nature, meditating, or doing breathwork.
4. Choose Your Influences: Be intentional about the energies you expose yourself to. Surround yourself with people who uplift and inspire you. Create environments that support your spiritual growth.

The Role of Grace and Growth

While traditional religious frameworks often focus on sin and forgiveness, I am more inclined to talk about growth and grace. When we act unconsciously under spiritual influence, we’re not committing a sin that needs forgiveness. We’re having a human experience that offers an opportunity for learning and evolution.

Grace comes into play not as divine forgiveness but as the natural flow of spiritual growth that occurs when we bring awareness to our unconscious patterns. It’s the gentle understanding that we’re all works in progress, learning to navigate the subtle energies that shape our lives.

Remember, spiritual influence isn’t something that happens to passive victims. It’s a natural part of being alive in an interconnected universe. Our task isn’t to avoid influence or seek forgiveness for being influenced but to become increasingly conscious participants in the dance of energy that surrounds us.

The more aware we become, the more we can choose how we respond to these influences, creating lives that reflect our highest spiritual understanding. This is the path of conscious spiritual growth.