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Saving souls?: Indonesian millennials navigate tough times by relying on spiritual gurus
The pandemic hasn’t stopped Indonesians from finding spiritual guidance from gurus, and one is ready to guide them.
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Guided by gurus: The challenges of the pandemic have encouraged many Indonesians to seek spiritual guidance. (Unsplash/Courtesy of Conscious Design)
T
he heaviness of the pandemic has inspired Indonesians to find mental guidance from spiritual gurus, even when if they are self-proclaimed.
Indri Weldaningsih started Club Spiritual after thinking of the many millennial Indonesians who needed spiritual guidance but weren't able to find someone who could help them. The 43-year-old muralist/illustrator believes everyone should have access to a spiritual guide, no matter their socioeconomic background.
"The guru is ready when the seeker is ready," she said.
And many millennials are ready, she added.
Indri's own spiritual journey started when she began using her Facebook and Instagram accounts to post questions and musings about life and spirituality. It was meant as a tutorial but also a way for her to discover herself. The response was swift. Her followers began to grow, with many asking their own questions in response to her posts. Being what she calls an "empath", she wanted to actively recognize their emotions, understand their feelings and advise them spiritually.
It led to a now-inactive Facebook group formed in 2018 that focused on discussing things related to human spirituality, from self-motivation to mystical experiences. However, Indri felt that the group lost its way when the members became more interested in discussing spiritual “gifts”, such as having a sixth sense and the ability to see the future, ghosts and things of a supernatural nature. It was straying from Indri’s original vision for the group.
