Learning As We Grow

16 May 2025

Suppose the process of awakening and stepping into our spirituality includes the calling to become a spiritual practitioner. In that case, we may feel that we must become certified in all the things before hanging our “open” sign.

On the one hand, that’s understandable. After all, the ability to list our qualifications and certifications can be liberating. It says, “I know what I’m doing. Here’s the proof.” On the other hand, that could be an excuse to hold off from hanging that sign.

If we had a third hand, we might notice an option that’s potentially more true to this path: learning as we grow.

“Learning As We Grow” is an original post by Ellen M. Gregg, published on 16 May 2025 on ellenmgregg.com. #learning #evolving #growing #practicemakesprogress #spirituality

Learning in the traditional sense

When I failed to heed the numerous messages and signs that pointed me toward hanging my own “open” sign full-time, I was treated to the spiritual equivalent of a take-down. That take-down involved a five-day ICU stay and six weeks of recovery.

Let’s just say I took the most challenging route possible to accept and embrace my calling fully. I don’t recommend it.

While it did result in my accepting and embracing what was right in front of me, I felt strongly that I could lay a firm foundation for myself by getting certified in more than Reiki. Enter Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. SWIHA’s Associate Degree program seemed custom-made for what I felt sure I needed, and it was.

I learned so much that I use every day in my business, and have no regrets about the investment of time, energy, and money. Earning an Associate’s Degree and several certificates was a “win” for me, in many ways.

Traditional learning environments and avenues are amazing. I’m all for them, especially since I’m a product of them. There is, however, another way.

Learning as we grow

In the 15 years I’ve devoted to my business (five of them part-time), I’ve learned a lot as I’ve grown. That way of learning has developed in a very organic and, I dare say, holistic way. Oftentimes, the learning I speak of has happened on the fly, mid-session, to be more specific.

• It’s how I learned I was a medium.

• It’s how I learned I was a medical intuitive.

• It’s how I learned I was a channel, and more.

In addition to those particular modalities, mid-session is how I learned a variety of techniques related to the modalities I use regularly. Most of those techniques were—are—guided through channeling. If not for the fact that I’m quick to confess, “it’s my first time doing that,” my clients would probably think I was already proficient with them.

That’s the point of this post.

I hope that you’ll reconsider if you think you need a whole bunch of certificates and training before you make your spiritual business official. I might agree with you that some of those are warranted. For example, a certificate in Life Coaching is a foundational gold standard, in my opinion. You can get yours through SWIHA.

Due to the nature of this work, however, it’s much more likely you’ll learn all you need to once you hang your “open” sign and start practicing. Please don’t let the sacred service you’re here to offer be slowed down or derailed by a perceived lack of training.

What do you feel you need to learn?

What is it that you feel you can’t do without before you open your spiritual business? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.