The Dark Side of Lightworkers: When ‘Healing’ Becomes a Narcissistic High

There’s a strange thing that happens when you enter the world of spirituality.

At first, it’s a lifeline. A deep breath after years of drowning. You find language for your pain. You meet people who talk about things you thought only you felt.

You start pulling tarot cards, taking salt baths, reading about soul contracts and shadow work—and suddenly, life feels meaningful again. But then… something shifts. Slowly, the focus turns outward.

The desire to heal yourself morphs into a compulsion to heal everyone else.

You find yourself becoming the “strong one,” the “guide,” the “lightworker”—whether or not you’re ready to hold that role.

You start to feel needed. You start to feel important.

And without realizing it, you may fall into the very trap you swore you’d never repeat:

✨ Healing becomes a high.

✨ Guiding becomes a performance.

✨ Lightwork becomes ego work in disguise.

Let’s talk about it.

☠️ When Healing Turns into a Narcissistic Identity

There’s a form of spiritual bypassing no one talks about.

It doesn’t look like denial. It looks like over-identifying with the healer archetype.

This is when people build their entire personality around helping others— not because they’re healed, but because helping gives them a sense of value they never had before.

It’s subtle. It’s seductive… and it’s everywhere in spiritual spaces.

People preaching “hold space” while secretly needing to be worshipped.

People posting content for “the collective” when really, it’s a cry for validation.

People offering readings or Reiki when they haven’t processed their own trauma—but they’re addicted to how it feels to be seen as wise, awakened, or enlightened.

And it’s dangerous, because healing isn’t a crown. It’s a practice. A process. One that never ends.

🪞I Know, Because I Was Almost Her

I’ll be honest with you.

There was a time when my own pain made me feel powerful.

After my spiritual awakening, after the eczema flare-ups, the heartbreak, the career loss, the stripping of everything I thought made me “worthy”—I rebuilt myself piece by piece.

And when I started reading for others, offering guidance, speaking truth…

I felt seen.

Finally.

After so many years of silence, people were listening to me.

But part of me became attached to that.

Not because I wanted to manipulate, but because for the first time in my life, I felt heard… and I mistook that feeling for healing.

I had to check myself.

Because I realized: the desire to help others can become an addiction—especially when you’ve never had power before.

Especially when your inner child just wants to be important to someone.

And in spiritual spaces, that kind of inner child wound gets easily wrapped in velvet and called “purpose.”

⚖️ Spiritual Narcissism vs. Soul Integrity

Let’s draw the line:

Spiritual narcissism says: “I’m more awakened than you. Let me fix you.”

Soul integrity says: “I’m on a path too. Let’s grow together.”

One is rooted in hierarchy. The other in humility.

If you find yourself constantly posting about what others are doing wrong…

If you feel resentful when people don’t listen to your wisdom…

If you’re drained from always “holding space” but never being held yourself…

Pause.

Ask yourself: Am I healing? Or am I performing healing?

And most importantly: Do I feel loved when I’m not helping anyone at all?

Because that’s the real test.

🧠 Why Some Lightworkers Burn Out (and Start Over)

Many lightworkers burn out not because their work is too heavy— but because they tied their entire identity to their ability to help others.

They stopped seeing themselves as humans.

They became brands. Labels. Spiritual robots.

I’ve seen people in this community hit rock bottom in private while still posting “love and light” affirmations to maintain the illusion.

It’s not your fault.

This industry pushes us to monetize our wounds. To stay on-brand even when our souls are breaking.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t have to save everyone.

You don’t have to be the light every damn day.

You’re allowed to be messy. You’re allowed to step back.

You’re allowed to just be.

💬 A Truth for the Real Lightworkers

If you’re reading this and feeling a knot in your stomach—

You’re probably one of the real ones.

Because the real lightworkers are the ones constantly checking themselves.

They don’t crave power. They crave truth… and they’re willing to be humbled by it.

You don’t have to pretend you’ve got it all figured out.

You don’t need a massive platform or a trademarked healing method.

You just need honesty.

With yourself.

With your clients.

With your path.

That’s what makes your work sacred.

✨ Final Words (and a Loving Nudge)

You’re not here to play God.

You’re here to be human—fully, radically, beautifully.

And if you’re feeling disillusioned right now, good.

That’s where your real power begins.

Not in becoming “the healer.”

But in becoming someone who lives truthfully—no matter how messy it looks.

🔮 Ready to Do the Work from a Place of Truth?

If you’re ready to explore your own path—from soul contracts to karmic wounds to personal empowerment—

I’d be honoured to read for you.

🕊️ Book a reading by clicking here

You’re not here to be perfect.

You’re here to be real.

Let that be enough.