Can You Be Spiritual and Still Get Botox?
By Sara Bacon
I’ve found myself thinking about my physical appearance a lot lately, and not for the reasons you might think. I’m thankful that body image woes aren’t something that have plagued my mind throughout my life (my thought plagues come more so in the forms of romance and relationships), but of course I’m not immune to the conditioning of the world around me, and still catch myself smoothing out wrinkles with my fingers, cursing gray hairs, or practicing flattering poses in the mirror from time to time.
What fills my thoughts more so than wishing I could alter certain physical appearances - whether that’s from makeup and self-tanners all the way up to injectables and surgeries - is the mental moral debate I find myself engaging in around such questions. I notice I’m frequently looking for what other people have to say on the matter, especially people I look up to or spiritual teachers I follow, to justify how I feel one way or another, or to see if something resonates in a way that I agree with them on. And then I of course always try to go inward and check with my Inner Voice - the inner knowing that I believe is connected to the highest source of wisdom and love, to see what answers come through there as well. So between the two categories, I wanted to share what I’ve found that provides the most peace and excitement for my mind on the topic, in hopes it might do the same for you.
We’ll start with my Inner Voice. While some may argue it’s impossible to completely tune out and de-condition from the subtle and overt messaging we’ve been fed our whole lives, I do think it’s possible to check in with yourself and know if you’re making a decision because it’s something you actually want versus something you’re doing for the attention and approval of others. I often revert back to the “well shouldn’t we just accept our bodies exactly as they are?” argument, but realize that even in that statement there are gray areas and sliding scales. We have to get dressed don’t we? Do something with our hair? Take care of our teeth and skin and muscles in some way, shape or form? So to what extent do you take each of those categories? My guess is that this would vary wildly for everyone.
My personal litmus test is checking in on the energy I feel in my body when thinking about something I’d like to change. If there is a desperate, constricting feeling in my body when thinking about a feature I’m not fond of, I pause and look for the root of what’s causing that. I see if there are ways I can find acceptance and kindness towards a part of me I’ve deemed un-lovable. And then I hold off on “fixing” that thing until I’ve allowed myself space to do some work on why I want to change it in the first place.
On the other hand, when I feel a lightness or expansiveness about approaching something - whether that’s an outfit I’m excited to wear, or the thought of smoother lines by my eyes every time I smile in the mirror - I can trust that my feelings are coming more so from a place of play and delight rather than low self worth or the relentless need to “keep up.”
But the wisdom that resonated most deeply with me recently was something I heard from outside of myself, from one of my favorite teachers: Jenna Zoe. She touched on the concept of being spiritual beings in a physical universe, with the word “physical” being the key. Are we perfect, whole souls made up of Love and Truth that will continue to exist beyond our physical form? Absolutely. But we exist now, in the physical realm, where things like appearance and aesthetic and clothes and homes matter and are essential to our experience as humans. Not in a materialistic or superficial way of mattering, but in a way that’s confirmed by the same reason we feel deep and beautiful joy by observing a cotton candy colored sunset, or find presence by smelling a syrupy sweet rose or watching a busy hummingbird buzz around. It’s why we feel comfort when covered in a soft blanket, and delight when we drink out of our favorite coffee mug or vintage coupe. We are spiritual beings having a human, physical experience, so why shouldn’t we let ourselves enjoy and mold that physical experience any way we’d like?
I believe we’re given specific desires and preferences for divine, intentional reasons. Why else would they be there? So if a home filled with marble and gold accents and soft pillows and fresh flowers and crystals lights me up inside like a firefly, I’m going to let my little soul enjoy those things to the fullest on earth. And the same goes for my body. If I want to wear sequined ball gowns, and get extensions for different hairstyles, and eat pasta because it makes me feel cozy and happy, and work out every day until I get a six pack (that one is non-autobiographical), and get Botox because I like how it makes my face look, and wear red lipstick because it makes me feel sassy, I will do those things. It is ok and it is good because I can trust the wisdom and delight of my body. Knowing the root of these desires is important, but freeing ourselves up to trust the desires and following through on them is even more important.
You are free to enjoy this life. Your body, your home, your routine, your job, your people. Stay fully anchored in that mystical, ethereal soul of your’s, but fully embrace and enjoy and play with that body you’ve so perfectly chosen as your soul’s earthly home.
