The Trap of Spiritual Fireworks
Why your "transcendent experiences" might be a reflection of your internal state rather than a message from the stars
The Psyche’s Projection In the path of Jewish mysticism, particularly in Chassidut and the Zohar, we learn a sobering truth: a powerful spiritual experience is not necessarily a prophecy. Often, it is the internal movement of a soul hungry for meaning. When you relax the body through music, breath, or meditation, the imagination becomes hyper-active. The brain can project images of light, soul-travel, or “divine messages.” These feel 100% real, but they are often a dialogue between you and your own subconscious.
The Test of Reality The Tanya (the foundational text of Chassidic psychology) explains that while you have a pure Divine Spark, its primary mission isn’t to give you “trips” or visions. The true test of any spiritual experience is not what you saw, but how you live. The Lubavitcher Rebbe often warned that mistaking internal experiences for “heavenly missions” leads to massive confusion. Instead of living simply and clearly, you begin to over-interpret every bird that flies by as a “sign.”
The Exile of Love This applies to your relationships too. After a painful breakup, it’s tempting to label the connection “cosmic” or “soul-bound” to make sense of the pain. While every deep bond teaches us something, a “soul-connection” does not override human freedom. You can love someone deeply and still be meant to walk different paths. True love doesn’t cancel out reality; it honors it.
The Messianic Era (Torat Mashiach) isn’t about more mystery; it’s about more simple truth. Your soul is revealed in the quiet, in the integrity of your work, and in the way you navigate grief without needing a “supernatural” explanation.
Oriya’s Note:
You’re not having a “vision”; you’re having a nervous system response.
I know that sounds cold, but stay with me. When we go through a massive life shift or a brutal breakup, our internal world is looking for an anchor. So, we create one. We start seeing “lights,” we hear “messages,” and we convince ourselves that we’re being “guided” by some celestial GPS.
We do this because the alternative—that life is complicated, that we made choices that didn’t work out, and that we have to stand on our own two feet—is terrifying.
Stop spiritual-gaslighting yourself into believing every internal image is an executive order from the Almighty. If you saw “light” during your meditation, great. Maybe it was your soul reminding you that you’re not empty. But don’t use that light as an excuse to ignore your common sense.
The most “spiritual” thing you can do right now is to stop looking for signs and start looking at your life. If the relationship is over, it’s over, regardless of how many “soul-memories” you have. The Source doesn’t communicate in riddles; He communicates through reality. You don’t need a mystic or a vision to tell you the way forward. You just need to be honest. Put the “messages” away and just be a person for a while. That’s where the real light is.