Have you ever considered incorporating spirituality into your business? In this episode of “The Encore Entrepreneur” podcast, Lori explores the relationship between spirituality and religion in the context of business. She talks about the differences between the two and how they can coexist, as well as the potential conflicts that may arise. The most valuable lesson from this podcast is the importance of building a brand as a spiritual business owner and understanding your target market. Lori provides valuable insights for those considering starting a spiritual business, including assessing personal beliefs and skills, committing to personal growth, and identifying a target market. Don’t miss this episode!
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Transcript
Introduction: Spirituality, Religion, and Business
Hi there, and welcome to today’s episode of The Encore Entrepreneur.
We’re going to talk about spirituality and religion — and how they affect our business. Our guest on the last episode, Jess Rydell, talked about being a spiritual entrepreneur, what that meant to her and her business, and how she’s expanded based on her spiritual beliefs.
That conversation raised an interesting question: do spirituality and religion conflict, or do they complement each other? Are they the same? A few episodes back, I asked my guest Rie Malis this question too, because it keeps coming up.
So today, we’re diving into what it means to be spiritual versus religious, how those beliefs coexist or differ, and how they can influence and expand your business. We’ll also explore whether you want to become public about your spiritual or religious beliefs.
It’s interesting — as time goes on, it’s become much more acceptable to talk about spirituality. I’m not going to call it a fad, because it’s deeper than that. It’s a belief system. Religion is a belief system. Sometimes it’s okay to be spiritual but not religious, and vice versa.
It’s an intriguing conundrum — how spirituality and religion coexist, and whether we want to use either in our business.
What’s the Difference Between Spirituality and Religion?
When we talk about religion, we’re referring to a structured system of beliefs, rituals, and practices that center around a deity — whether that’s God, Jesus, or another higher power.
There are many religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and thousands more. Religion is organized and structured.
Spirituality, on the other hand, is more personal and fluid. It’s something within us. You can be spiritual without being religious, and you can be religious without being spiritual.
I’m not a theologian or scholar — I’m coming from observation, research, and conversations with people who are deeply spiritual, deeply religious, or both. What I’ve found is fascinating. People have strong feelings about spirituality and religion, and about how they fit together or not.
A Story: “Coming Out” as a Spiritual Entrepreneur
Around 2017, I had a client and close friend who worked in a very traditional industry. She was intuitive and psychic. She did readings at a holistic store here in Atlanta but was afraid to let her professional network know about her spiritual gifts. She feared judgment and losing clients.
At a networking meeting one day, she stood up and said, “I’m coming out today. I’m a spiritual entrepreneur and an intuitive. If I lose business because of it, so be it — I can’t hide it any longer.”
She explained that when she worked with clients, she intuitively knew when things were right or wrong, and her intuition was almost always correct. She didn’t want to suppress it anymore.
That was six years ago. Today, she probably wouldn’t think twice about being open. Spirituality, intuition, and energy healing have become much more accepted — even mainstream.
Spirituality, Religion, and Beliefs
That brings up an important question: if you have a strong religious belief, does it conflict with spiritual practices like meditation or energy work?
A guest a few episodes ago shared a great perspective. I told her I knew someone who avoided meditation because she believed it was against her religion. My guest explained it beautifully: “Prayer is speaking to God; meditation is how He answers.”
That idea stuck with me. Whether you call it prayer, meditation, or intuition, it’s all a way to connect and listen. There are many ways to frame it — and strong feelings on all sides.
Spirituality in Business
If you feel called toward spirituality in your business, there are many paths. Think of traditional spiritual businesses — yoga studios, meditation centers, or coaching practices with an intuitive or energetic focus.
There’s also a large market for spiritual coaching, counseling, and retail — stores that sell crystals, tarot cards, or energy-related products. One local store owner here in Atlanta started her shop just before COVID, selling crystals and teaching Reiki classes. Her business is booming, both in-person and online.
Other examples include holistic health practices, homeopathy, Reiki, acupuncture, and Ayurvedic medicine — a lifestyle focused on body-mind wellness, clean eating, and energy balance.
Even astrology and tarot have become thriving spiritual businesses. The business of spirituality is huge — and growing.
Applying Spirituality to Any Business
You can bring spirituality into almost any industry. A web designer might describe their work as “energetic” or “intuitive.” A financial planner might rely on intuition to guide client strategies — though they’d have to be careful with regulations.
Ultimately, a spiritual business is any business that integrates spiritual principles to help others. It’s about energy, alignment, and purpose, not just profit.
Deciding If a Spiritual Business Is Right for You
If you’re considering taking your business in a spiritual direction, there are a few key things to assess:
- Personal Beliefs: Make sure your beliefs and interests are authentic. Don’t jump on a trend — people can tell if you’re not genuine.
- Skills and Knowledge: Some practices require training, like Reiki or EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).
- Motivation: Ask yourself why you want to do this. Is it for fulfillment, service, or just business growth?
- Risk Tolerance: Shifting to a spiritual model can change your client base and income flow. Make sure you’re financially and emotionally prepared.
- Commitment to Growth: The spiritual field evolves constantly. New teachings and methods emerge all the time. Ongoing study and self-development are essential.
The Strength and Sensitivity of Empaths
Many spiritual practitioners are empaths — people who deeply feel others’ emotions. It’s both a gift and a challenge.
Empaths often absorb the energy of those around them, which can be exhausting if you don’t have strong boundaries or self-care practices. If you’re considering spiritual entrepreneurship, be honest with yourself about your emotional resilience and support systems.
Building a Spiritual Brand
As with any business, you’ll need to develop a brand that reflects your spiritual identity. Words like “intuitive,” “energetic,” or “psychic” help attract aligned clients — and naturally repel those who aren’t the right fit.
I worked with a client recently on a quiz for her audience. She’s an intuitive energy healer but felt the questions didn’t reflect her gifts. I told her, “Bring them in first, then communicate your energy and language through the results.”
It’s a delicate balance — being authentic without alienating potential clients before they understand your approach.
Spiritual Language and Audience Connection
When building your audience, it’s important to use language that resonates with both curious newcomers and deeply spiritual people. Sometimes, someone might not realize they’re intuitive or spiritually open until they encounter your content.
So instead of labeling everything as “woo-woo” upfront, you can use language that invites exploration. Once they connect with your message, you can gently introduce spiritual concepts that help them open up.
Balancing Spirituality and Profit
Some spiritual entrepreneurs feel uncomfortable charging for their gifts, believing they shouldn’t profit from something sacred. But as I always say: God doesn’t want you broke.
The more money you make, the more people you can help. Profit and purpose can absolutely coexist. You can serve others deeply and still build a sustainable business.
Money allows you to expand your reach, create more impact, and serve from a place of abundance — not scarcity.
Closing Reflections
I hope this conversation makes sense and sparks thought. Spirituality and religion can both play meaningful roles in business.
Whether you’re deeply spiritual, religious, both, or neither — the point is to stay open to possibilities. Explore what feels right to you. Maybe you’ll discover gifts or callings you didn’t know you had.
Think about those moments of déjà vu — that feeling of “I’ve been here before.” Those moments are little nudges from your intuition, reminders of how much more there is beyond what we see.
Take permission to explore. Permission to say, “This isn’t for me.” Or permission to say, “This might be exactly who I am.”
I’d love to know your thoughts. Does this topic resonate with you? Visit my website, The Encore Entrepreneur, or connect with me on social media.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time.
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