Sacred Activism

A spiritual practice for a time such as this.

“Sacred activists must marry the inner transformation of spiritual work with the outer transformation of compassionate action.”
— Andrew Harvey (Radical Passion; 2012)

Photo by Sam Ladley on Unsplash

What is Sacred Activism?

A couple of posts ago, I focused our attention on the array of spiritual practices that exist to fit a multitude of styles, preferences, and spiritual leanings. I then followed it with my own personal transformative experience that involved a stillness sitting practice. This time I’d like to place a spotlight on activist practices – an area where we’ll notice a wide range of comfort levels in relation to it.

I’d like to specifically address something called “sacred activism”, a term popularized by Andrew Harvey (British author, religious scholar and teacher of mystic traditions). He defines it as a fusion of the following: deep spiritual knowledge, strong courage, the capacity to love, and a passion for justice. It’s the idea that personal spiritual growth should lead to compassionate action in the world.

Does sacred activism include participation in organized protests? Yes, as long as such actions are grounded in genuine spiritual or ethical values and aim to bring about social justice in a nonviolent, compassionate way. Participation in organized protests is a legitimate and often necessary expression of sacred activism when it is rooted in spiritual integrity, nonviolence, and compassionate justice.

Throughout history, many spiritual leaders have demonstrated this type of sacred activism through direct engagement in social movements. A few familiar examples include:

• Mahatma Gandhi, whose satyagraha (truth-force) was deeply spiritual and formed the basis of his protest movement against British colonialism.

  Source: Gandhi, M. K. (1927). An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth

• Martin Luther King Jr., who combined Christian theology with nonviolent protest, most notably during the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. He was deeply influenced by Jesus’ teachings and Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance, and his marches and speeches were sacred activism in practice.

  Source: King, M. L. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail

• Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen master, who coined the term "engaged Buddhism", which advocated that mindfulness and activism go hand-in-hand. He opposed the Vietnam War through peaceful protests and interfaith dialogue.

  Source: Hanh, T. N. (1993). Love in Action: Writings on Nonviolent Social Change

Modern sacred activists often engage in protests around issues such as:

• Climate justice (e.g., faith-based climate marches).

• Racial equality (e.g., interfaith solidarity at Black Lives Matter protests).

• Peace and disarmament.

Is Sacred Activism for Everyone?

The short answer is “no”.

There are circumstances in which individuals might need to refrain from sacred activism, at least temporarily or in certain forms. Sacred activism is demanding, even as it can be a transformative force for justice and healing. It also requires emotional maturity, spiritual grounding, and a strong sense of inner balance. Without these, it can lead to burnout, harm, or misguided action.

Those who may want to steer clear of sacred activism, at least for a time, include people who:

Experience Unresolved Trauma or Emotional Instability

Sacred activism calls for clarity, compassion, and self-awareness. Individuals who are in the midst of psychological crises or carrying unresolved trauma may find that activism retraumatizes them or distorts their motivations.

Andrew Harvey emphasizes that sacred activism must arise from a "marriage of deep spiritual practice and wise, compassionate action." Acting from personal pain rather than from spiritual clarity can do more harm than good.

Source: Harvey, A. (2009). The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism

“If your heart is full of unacknowledged rage, grief, or despair, your activism will be tainted and could replicate the very problems you hope to heal.”
— Andrew Harvey

Lack a Regular Spiritual Practice

Sacred activism is rooted in spiritual discipline—whether meditation, prayer, contemplation, or another path. Without this grounding, activism may lose its sacred dimension and become reactive or ego driven.

Thich Nhat Hanh warned against "activism without mindfulness," calling it a path to burnout and bitterness.

Source: Hanh, T. N. (1993). Love in Action.

“Without peace within, we cannot work for peace outside.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Are Driven Primarily by Ego, Anger, or the Need to “Fix” Others

People drawn to activism out of a sense of moral superiority, anger, or a savior complex may unintentionally replicate systems of domination. Sacred activism calls for humility, not self-aggrandizement.

American author and activist, Parker Palmer, discusses the importance of “leading from within” and doing inner work before engaging the outer world.

Source: Palmer, P. (2000). Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.

Are Physically or Mentally Exhausted

Sacred activism is not a moral obligation. At times, the most sacred act is to rest, heal, or provide support from the sidelines.

Burnout among activists is a well-documented issue. Christina Cleveland, a theologian and activist, has written about the toll activism can take without self-care and spiritual grounding.

Source: Cleveland, C. (2022). God Is a Black Woman.

Sacred activism is clearly not for everyone in every instance. It is a path that demands inner work, spiritual discipline, and emotional resilience. People struggling with trauma, burnout, or spiritual disconnection may need to pause and do healing work first.

Keep in mind that knowing when not to engage is also a sacred act. Those who are not ready for direct sacred activism can still contribute by:

• Supporting activists through donations or logistical help.

• Praying, meditating, or holding space for those more directly engaged.

• Educating themselves and others.

• Healing themselves so they can eventually serve more effectively, in whatever form that takes.

How to Discern Your Readiness

If you’re interested but uncertain about your readiness to engage in sacred activism, here’s a short self-assessment to help in your decision-making. It’s called the “Sacred Activism Readiness Reflection Guide” and was inspired by the framework outlined by Andrew Harvey in his book, The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism (2009).

First, take time for quiet reflection. You might then choose to journal your responses or simply observe your internal reactions to the questions that follow:

1. Inner Alignment & Motivation

• Am I rooted in a regular spiritual practice that nourishes and grounds me?
  Yes / Somewhat / Not yet

• Is my desire to act in the world born from compassion, not just outrage or guilt?
  Yes / Somewhat / Not sure

2. Emotional and Energetic Resilience

• Can I face suffering (mine and others') without becoming paralyzed or overwhelmed?
  Yes / Sometimes / No

• Do I have sustainable ways to process grief, anger, or despair?
  Yes / Developing / No

3. Ego and Humility

• Am I willing to act without needing to be seen, praised, or in control?
  Yes / Sometimes / No

• Can I collaborate with others across differences with humility and openness?
  Yes / Sometimes / No

4. Practical Readiness

• Do I have a clear cause or area of suffering with which I feel spiritually called to engage?
  Yes / Emerging / Not yet

• Do I have the time, energy, and resources to begin (even in small ways)?
  Yes / Some / No

5. Sacred Balance

• Do I honor the need for both inner spiritual work and outer service?
  Yes / Trying to / Not yet

• Am I open to transforming myself as I work to help transform the world?
  Yes / Maybe / Not sure

Interpretation:

This isn’t a test you need to “pass.” Use it as a mirror instead:

• If you answer “Not yet” often, your inner work may need more attention before outer activism.

• If you answer “Yes” or “Somewhat” often, you may be ready to begin engaging more actively—with mindfulness.

• Remember: sacred activism is not perfection; it is alignment with sacred purpose and compassionate action.

Final Thoughts

Weeks ago, I formed a plan for writing about spiritual practices via An Uncharted Path. My intent from the start was to address sacred activism at this juncture, unaware that yet another national network of protests was in the works for this coming weekend.

At this writing, my plan is to attend a related local event with a friend. She is a few steps ahead of me in the activism arena. I am fortunate to have her as a supportive companion. I am also fortunate to have several other friends and acquaintances who blazed the trail ahead of me, who have collectively attended many and varied demonstrations and protests in the past.

They all serve as my guides for a practice with which I humbly admit I am not totally comfortable. I also am not typically called to spiritually engage in this way. With knowledge and support in place, however, I sense that now is the right time for me, at least in a limited way. I used the reflection guide above in my own discernment process, which I found helpful. I’m as ready as I’m going to be.

Along with the reflection guide, another informative source comes to mind. It’s in the form of a recent Substack post from writer Anne-Christine D’Adesky. It is titled, “Stay Safe While Protesting”. She originally shared the post near the time of the April 19^th nationwide “Hands Off” protest.

In the piece, she provides some best-practice safety tips for anyone – vet or newbie – who plans to engage in upcoming demonstrations or protests. It’s important safety information, especially for those of us who are novices in the process.

On that note, I’ll close with some thoughts from Mahatma Ghandi, a sage who lit the way for all of us when it comes to sacred activism. He stressed that the true measure of a society could be found in the way it treats its most vulnerable members. He reminded us, also, that what is more important than changing the world is changing ourselves from within first.

It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.

Mahatma Gandhi